University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

PPAC Mainstage Season, 2019-2020

Tapestry, The Carole King Songbook with Suzanne O Davis

 Saturday, October 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Premium: $42; Regular: $37

Tapestry, the Carole King Songbook, starring Suzanne O. Davis, is a beguiling musical tribute to Carole King. This show recreates the sound and energy of a 1970s Carole King concert experience.

You will be transported back to the iconic image of King’s multi-million selling album of 1971. Davis lends impeccable attention to detail in recreating a flawless presentation of King’s piano and vocal style.

The Tapestry performance is also a retrospective of the iconic songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King.  Their hits extended through the ‘70s and included chart-topping recordings for Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, James Taylor, the Drifters, Donny Osmond, and many more.

Suzanne O. Davis has toured in production tribute shows to ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, and Chicago in addition to opening for acts such as America, KC and the Sunshine Band, Taylor Dayne, Eddie Money, Orleans, Gary Puckett, the Village People, and BJ Thomas. 

At the piano, Davis channels the style of Carole King with a comfortable and conversational presentation that audiences find entertaining and endearing. “I really like to have fun and talk ‘with’ the audience about the history of the songs.  I think people want to feel that we’re all sharing these moments together…and we are.”

You will feel the “Earth Move” under your feet with this show.

 

Johnstown Native and Contestant on this Season of America’s Got Talent Jonathan Burns - Flexible Comedy

Sunday, October 27, 2019, 3:00 p.m.       

Tickets: Adult: $10; Child: $7

A great family show! Born with the gifts of flexibility, curiosity, and goofiness, Jonathan Burns now uses these unique talents to astonish audiences around the globe.

Over the course of his career, Jonathan has appeared on America’s Got Talent, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. He’s been dubbed “Extremely funny” by The New York Times, and was named “Variety Artist of the Year” by Campus Activities Magazine, TWICE!

Jonathan Burns always thought he was special. He was the kid who would put his leg over his head in gym class, get the dance party started at any wedding, or perform musical armpit farts to impress girls.

At age twelve, a magic shop opened near his hometown of Johnstown, PA, and a family friend took him on opening day. Throughout middle school and high school, Jonathan performed at dozens of birthday parties, church functions, camps, and nursing homes. While in school, Jonathan’s act started to break away from the traditional magician’s tricks, and he began experimenting with other skills including juggling, stand-up comedy, contortion, and sideshow stunts. Eventually, these new talents made their way into his current variety show.

 

Founding Member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band John McEuen & The String Wizards: Will the Circle be Unbroken

Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Premium: $42; Regular: $37 

John McEuen has been a “professional performer” since 1962 with a long and varied career – first as a solo artist, then as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

He showcases his guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin talents by performing popular Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs and telling the stories behind them in a manner that earned him the honor Best in the West Award from the Folk Alliance Organization.

McEuen’s 1972 classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken album was inducted into the Library of Congress as “one of America’s most important recordings.”  Often referred to as ‘the String Wizard’, he weaves stories of his travels and family life (he has raised 7 kids), guiding us through his long musical journey.  McEuen’s show takes us ‘behind the curtain’ of the music world and shows us how we have all been a part of it, more than we may know.

McEuen’s Sirius/XM show, Acoustic Traveller, is in its 10th year. He has earned Emmy nominations, CMA acclaim, The Western Heritage Award, and was named a 10 Best of the West Performer from the Folk Alliance organization. He also won a Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for his production of The Crow with Steve Martin. His current Made in Brooklyn album earned the Independent Music Award’s recognition as Best Americana album.

In 2017 Deering Banjo company introduced the “John McEuen model”, complementing his induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

At its release in April 2018, McEuen’s book – The Life I’ve Picked -- débuted at #1 on Amazon’s country music books chart.

Fusing folk, rock, and country musical styles, McEuen’s performance will have the audience immediately engaged with toe-tapping enjoyment.

 

Local Talent Returns to the PPAC! Walt Churchey & Jackie Kopco present Hometown Holidays

Sunday, November 24, 2019, 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: Premium: $20; Regular: $20

Em’s Subs present Walt Churchey & Jackie Kopco in a Hometown Holiday Concert – an entertaining evening of classic holiday and original songs.  Audiences of all ages will love this show, so bring the grandparents and the kids and let your heart be filled with the joy of the season!

Sometimes when the right voices come together, unexpected magic happens, magic that just couldn’t exist any other way. That’s the kind of harmony that Walt Churchey and Jackie Kopco bring as singers, instrumentalists, entertainers, and composers. Powerful vocalists and musicians in their own right, these two solo artists struck the perfect chord when they blended Jackie’s melodic range and soaring style with Walt’s raw passion and bold cadence for an unexpectedly original sound, one that has built an enthusiastic following across Western Pennsylvania.

The duo started out spontaneously, guitar picking together with a revolving group of local musicians. Their duo performances were an instant hit at venues in and around Johnstown (where they’ve been voted the city’s best entertainers), and their shared passion for songwriting drove them to release a debut album of original acoustic music. With the success of that album, Bare, in 2012 -- and the ongoing invitations to play at larger and larger venues like Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center and PPG Paints Arena -- they knew they’d found something special. Like the surprising effect of their combined talents, the result is unforgettable: dynamic in its pacing and performance, poignant in its emotional spectrum, and deeply satisfying from the first song to the last.

With a growing audience, the musical chemistry of Churchey and Kopko shouldn’t be missed, whether they’re playing original music or putting their own spin on a longtime favorite.

 

Christmas Brasstacular with the River City Brass Band

Sunday, December 15, 2019, 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: Premium: $28; Regular: $26

Over the years the River City Brass Band’s Christmas Brasstacular show has become a holiday tradition for many families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The brass ensemble brings the magic of Christmas to life in a program that features Christmas carols, holiday movie music, classic songs, and collaborations with local choirs. Come find out why the readers of Trib Total media have named River City Brass the ‘Best Family Entertainment in the city’ two years in a row.

In 1981, under the baton of conductor Robert Bernat, the River City Brass staged its inaugural concert on November 21 at Carnegie Music Hall. It was an evening of musical inspiration, causing the group to persevere and revive the grassroots tradition of the American brass band.

Nationally, RCB has routinely held concerts at venues including Pennsylvania’s Musikfest, New York’s Chautauqua Institution, Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts, Indiana’s Conner Prairie, and North Carolina’s Thalian Hall, while also appearing on The Today Show and NPR’s Performance Today. Internationally, RCB tours every several years, most recently in Italy last summer.  RCB has produced 15 commercial recordings, the latest of which are River City Brass – 30 Years, Christmas Brasstacular, and Proud to Be American.

 

Jim Brickman - A Christmas Celebration

Tuesday, December 17, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Premium: $49; Regular: $45 

Jim Brickman returns to Johnstown this Christmas to wow the crowd with his uplifting, family-friendly, holiday concert tradition -- "Jim Brickman A Christmas Celebration.”  The best-selling piano artist of our time, Jim Brickman along with his special guests will dazzle the audience with holiday favorites and his own #1 hits, bringing vibrant vocals and melodic tunes in this festive winter's night celebration that the Dallas Morning News calls "Pure Entertainment."

Jim Brickman is a hit-making songwriter and the best-selling solo pianist of our time earning 21 Number One albums and 32 Top 20 Radio Singles in Billboard Magazine. He has garnered two Grammy nominations and received gospel music’s Dove Award, two SESAC Songwriter of the Year Awards, and the Canadian Country Music Award.

 His first album release was 1995’s No Words, and he has gone on to sell eight million albums worldwide. His star-studded vocal collaborations have crossed musical genres to feature recording luminaries like Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis and Kenny Loggins. Audiences may recognize him from his four television concert specials or his long-running syndicated radio show: The Jim Brickman Show.

Brickman is one of pop music’s most fascinating success stories. He jumped from a career as a jingle writer for advertising, to reviving the love song in popular music. His distinctive piano style and captivating live performances have revitalized the popularity of instrumental music, making him a driving force in today’s music world.

Event Sponsor: Somerset Trust Company

 

Walkin’ After Midnight: A Tribute to Patsy Cline

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 7:30 p.m. 

Tickets: Premium: $39; Regular: $35 

Through a colorful mosaic of iconic songs and witty personal storytelling, Carter Calvert uses her own award-winning vocal and acting talents to create this captivating musical tribute. Miss Calvert, a Broadway star and the title character in Always...Patsy Cline (opposite Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers performed at the Algonquin), has gained rave reviews and triumphant accolades for her heartfelt portrayal of this legendary recording artist.

Calvert vocally personifies Patsy Cline’s musical stylings perfectly in the country star’s hits including Crazy, I Fall To Pieces, She’s Got You and Walkin’ After Midnight. Both captivating and charming, this fast-paced performance entertains audiences of all ages!

 

 World's Leading Chinese Acrobatic Troupe The Golden Dragon Acrobats

Thursday, March 5, 2020, 7:30 p.m.                           

Tickets: Premium: $42; Regular: $37

The Golden Dragon Acrobats hail from Cangzhou, Hebei province in the People’s Republic of China and have toured the United States continuously since 1978. Its members are athletes, actors, and artists who have studied and trained for their craft since early childhood. Their spellbinding artistry and unmatched athleticism will thrill and amaze audiences of all ages.

Touring worldwide and performing feats on chairs stacked 10 stories high, The Golden Dragon Acrobats have received two prestigious New York Drama Desk Award nominations for their Broadway performances. Their most recent 5-week run at Broadway’s New Victory Theater marks the only acrobatic troupe from China chosen to perform twice at this prestigious venue.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago. The company's reputation is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and an attention to artistic details that is unparalleled in the art form. World-renowned impresario and the group’s founder and director Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music, and theatrical techniques to construct a performance of breathtaking skill and beauty.

"When the Golden Dragon Acrobats come to town, the wonders stack up," according to The New York Times. "Cathedrals of contortionists in backbend rise before your eyes, body by body. Human obstacles, which tumblers flip over, widen in person-size increments. The thrill is escalation. These touring acrobats from China know how to keep topping themselves."

Event Sponsor: 1st Summit Bank

 

From Galway to Broadway: Starring Ciarán Sheehan & Friends

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 7:30 p.m.                           

Tickets: Premium: $39   Regular: $35

An intimate musical journey performed by Ciarán Sheehan and his eclectic group of friends, From Galway to Broadway magically warms the heart and captures the soul of every audience member. We are happy to welcome Sheehan back to the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center stage since last performing here in 2016 while touring with the World’s Finest Tenor group Tres Voce.

Dublin-born Ciarán Sheehan is an acclaimed actor, singer, and voice healer whose performances have been described as touching the soul. His rich tenor voice easily enthralls the audience. Sheehan made his Broadway debut in Les Miserables, (Babet, Marius), and shortly thereafter Harold Prince cast him as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. After a year of playing Raoul on Broadway, he then moved into the coveted starring role of The Phantom, which he sang in over 1,000 performances.

As a solo artist, Sheehan has sold out four performances at Carnegie Hall and has sung the national anthem at various sporting and political events.  He also sang at the internationally televised memorial for John and Carolyn Kennedy, Jr. and at the funeral service for Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joseph Biden.

Joining Sheehan is the talented Sarah Pfisterer, who has played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera for over 1,000 performances across the country.  In addition, solo violinist Heather Martin Bixler and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Donahue will share the stage with Sheehan.

Event Sponsor: Concurrent Technologies Corporation

 

Neil Berg's 50 Years of ‘Rock and Roll’

Thursday, April 16, 2020, 7:30 p.m.                           

Tickets: Premium: $42; Regular: $37 

With a cast consisting of stars from Broadway's greatest rock musicals along with rock ‘n roll recording artists, Neil Berg will tell the story of rock ‘n roll in Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock and Roll, mostly through the music (with five singers and a five-piece band) but also with his own narrative that includes some little-known and surprising tales.

From the progenitors of Rock and Roll in the 1940s, through the glory years of the '50s, '60s, and '70s, up until MTV in the early '80s, Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock & Roll employs fascinating stories and performances of groundbreaking music that span from Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley to Aerosmith, the Eagles, and Journey.

The composer/co-lyricist of the award-winning new rock musical THE 12, Berg also scored the new Broadway-bound musical Grumpy Old Men, which opened to rave reviews for its U.S. premiere at The Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, the hit Off-Broadway musical The Prince and the Pauper, Tim and Scrooge, which ran at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in NY, and The Man Who Would Be King. Berg created and co-produced the #1 Broadway touring concert in America, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, as well as Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll, and Neil Berg’s Pianomen.

Event Sponsor: Carpenter Financial Services

 

Bennie and the Jets: The Premier Elton John Tribute

Friday, May 8, 2020, 7:30 p.m.                                    

Tickets: Premium: $42; Regular: $37

Relive the hits, the costumes, the extravagance, and the excitement of Elton John’s music through Greg Ransom's production of Bennie & The Jets: The Premier Elton John Tribute. With amazingly similar vocals and showmanship, Ransom and his band transport you back to the concert halls of ‘70s and ‘80s, making you believe that you are attending an Elton John concert.

Greg Ransom began playing the piano at 10 years old.  While in high school, Ransom and his classmates formed a band called The Awakening and performed a mix of styles from rock to blues to gospel-inspired pop songs.

 At age 21, Greg was playing piano in a downtown hotel bar, when the owner of the hotel requested an Elton John song.  Greg played I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues. The owner approached him afterwards and told him his vocals sounded exactly like Elton John’s and that Ransom should consider putting on the hat and oversized glasses and forming a tribute band.  In 1995, Bennie and the Jets formed. The group played only two local gigs in the Springfield area before receiving a call from a nationally known entertainment broker who needed an Elton John band.  Ransom sent him a tape, and since that day, Bennie and the Jets have toured internationally.

Event Sponsor: eMap

 

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