So.
Imagine you’re invited to attend a concert. This concert will have all of the songs you love from different periods of time. You love these songs, having listened to them over and over, first on a record album (yes…record), wearing out cassettes; on CDs searched for and found during a serendipitous visit at a garage sale. Streaming music makes your songs available at the tap of a finger and now, NOW you get to see them performed live on stage by recreations of the artists who created these songs.
THIS is the experience of RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, now playing in Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater February 11 – 14, 2016, as part of Broadway Philadelphia.
The Librarian and I attended the opening night show and it was like being at a concert. He says that the mannerisms and performance of the tribute performers were so detailed that it was like being a part of history.
The opening show was met with some drama; a transformer blew on Broad Street and parts of the theater was dark. The Merriam Theater staff rallied to ensure everyone had a seat or made arrangements with people to see the show on another night.
Yo. This crowd!
Once the show started, it was like a journey through time. Pop culture references flashed across LED High Definition Screens, bits of information about the band was shared before each “tour” and the audience was invited into the show when the performers would greet us and ask us to sing and dance.
Let it Be
According to the Associated Press, “Rain is “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press). RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture, and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. For more information visit www.raintribute.com.
IF YOU GO
RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
Merriam Theater
Dates and Times:
February 11, 2016, 8:00 pm
February 12, 2016, 8:00 pm
February 13, 2016, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
February 14, 2016, 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Tickets
Tickets are on sale to the public now and start at $30. Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, The Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of The Kimmel Center’s 2015-2016 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION has been in the forefront of the American theatre since the start of the 20th century. The company has produced and co-produced hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 historic Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Notable Shubert productions and co-productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Amadeus, Children of a Lesser God, The Grapes of Wrath, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Spamalot. In recent seasons, Shubert co-producing credits have included God of Carnage, Lucky Guy, Once, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, This Is Our Youth, A Delicate Balance, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Audience, Skylight and Wolf Hall. Since 1983, Shubert Ticketing and Telecharge have provided superior ticketing and marketing services to the entertainment industry.
r’s note: I received complimentary tickets to this performance in exchange of an honest review. Honestly? You need to go see this show.
A testament to the quality and impact of the performance: even the most disgruntled and frustrated audience members (because of the transformer blow out and seating improvisations) were up and singing and waving arms by the middle of the show.
As “Paul” pointed out, there were three generations in the audience: millennials (and younger!), Generation X, Baby Boomers (and older?). Timeless, and Rain does the Beatles right!