American popular music of the 1950s and 60s takes center stage as Quality Hill Playhouse presents its latest cabaret revue, UNCHAINED MELODY. Samantha Agron, Christina Burton, Tim Noland, and Robert Erik Sobbe will perform nearly 30 hits of the Baby Boomer generation, backed by Ken Remmert on drums, Brian Wilson on bass, and J. Kent Barnhart on piano and backup vocals.
From its origins in a cappella street corner singing and 1940s African American popular music, doo-wop emerged in the mid-1950s as the dominant sound of radio airwaves. Its popularity continued for over a decade, thanks to simple melodies, tight harmonies, and frequent themes of love and relationships. The Playhouse’s vocal quartet will present some of the most popular songs from this unique American singing style, including “Sh-Boom Sh-Boom,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Blue Moon,” “Trickle Trickle,” “Only You,” “Heart and Soul,” and “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”
In addition to doo-wop, popular music of the jukebox era was famous for its singing groups featuring a lead vocalist with backup trio or quartet. The revue’s second act pays tribute to these hits, with favorites like “At the Hop,” “My Boyfriend’s Back,” and “Cry.” Perhaps the era’s most beloved singing group in this style is Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, so it’s fitting for the act to end with a medley of their biggest hits: “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” “Working My Way Back To You,” “Stay,” “Let’s Hang On,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” “Who Loves You.”
Quality Hill Playhouse’s intimate theatre, located at 303 W. 10th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, is the perfect venue for this romantic trip down memory lane. With seating for only 153 patrons, no seat is far from the music. The small capacity also leads to many sell-out performances, so purchase tickets early.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 816-421-1700 or visit www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com.
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