Just what Houston needs: "Rain"
Beatles tribute and Riverdance farewell tour added to Gexa Energy Broadwayseries
"Riverdance"Photo courtesy of Riverdance
"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles"
Go big or go home. That seems to be the modus operandi of Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center, which is adding two big shows to an already packed lineup of productions in the 2011-12 season.
Jukebox musicals — love 'em or hate 'em — are catchy because concertgoers can hum, sing or groove along to the familiar tunes. Throw in the timelessness of The Beatles and you may end up with a chart topper or an artistic disaster.
Grooviness of blasphemy?
Either way, Rain - A Tribute to The Beatles will find its way to Houston Nov. 18-19 for only three performances. It promises to spotlight some of the more tricky and difficult songs from the British band's full discography that includes "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Hard Day’s Night," "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Let It Be," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude" — classics and early hits included.
The show won a 2011 Drama Desk Award.
A strinking resemblance, we think. Here is a preview:
Riverdance was a global phenomenon — not to be confused with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, which was originally part of the show but left before its 1995 debut. What originally began as a 7-minute intermission for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest went viral — minus the interwebs — reaching an audience of 300 million.
The Farewell Tour means the show is still around and going strong but ready to call it a day. The troupe will tap, sing and Irish dance their way into your psyche for five performances Feb. 10-12, 2012.
Riverdance won a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, so it's definitely worth one last look. At least to bid adieu.
Click here for a sneak peek.
Watch the original Riverdance:
The 2011-12 season of the Gexa Energy Broadway series opens with the Tony Award winning Memphis, with performances Oct. 25-30. Others shows slated for the series (all in 2012) include The Addams Family (Jan. 10-15), Million Dollar Quartet (Feb. 28-March 4), Come Fly Away (April 10-15), Wishful Drinking (May 15-20) and a special return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King (July 10-Aug. 12).
