Wednesday, December 29, 2010

We're taking "Prine: A Tribute Concert" to Chicago!


For those of you who gloriously followed our "Pure Prine" project, we have great news to share: the new touring-friendly. concert-only production "Prine: A Tribute Concert". Same tremendous line-up of 30-plus John Prine compositions, and same tremendous cast - with one notable exception: the very talented (and very pregnant) Jenni Gregory has been replaced by delightful Chicago-based singer-songwriter Megon McDonough. Lou Harry, in the Indianapolis Business Journal, just listed "Pure Prine" in his "Ten Best Of The Year" column, and here's what he says:

"The Phoenix Theatre not only staged, but created. “Pure Prine” transcended the usual jukebox musical to such an extent that it was brought back for a revisit just months later. It’s also likely to have an afterlife, with a concert version opening this month in Chicago. See what happens when great raw material, a first-rate cast, and an ideal set are managed by a talented director with a passion for the material? This one made it look easy, but anyone who knows theater knows it wasn’t. Kudos to all involved. Some of the “Pure Prine” crew were also involved in the infectious, surprisingly joyful “Hoosier Dylan” at the Athenaeum..."

The shows run Friday, Saturday (two shows) and Sunday, starting January 14th. (No show on Jan. 29). Hope you can make it! Who doesn't love Chicago in the winter, you babies!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Different Beat Radio #7: "That Time Of The Year: 2010 Holidaze Edition"


Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men, everybody! Different Beat Radio returns just in time to close out the year with the long-awaited "Episode #7: That Time Of The Year: 2010 Holidaze Edition." A cornucopia of seasonally aural delights of all creeds and denomination, including:

+ "That Time Of The Year", the original recording of Tim's holiday chestnut that appeared on the 1995 WTTS-FM "Overeasy Xmas" CD that also featured holiday fare from Matthew SweetLisa Germano and Henry Lee Summer...


+ Two tracks produced by Tim for the Phoenix Theatre "A Very Phoenix Xmas" franchise: "How Do You Spell Channukkahh" (written by Adam Gardner of Guster fame) and "Toys", from a sketch written by Tim and Bryan Fonseca for this year's "Regifted" production...


+ A wonderful "found" gospel medley courtesy of Emmett Cooper and Lloyd, Avanell, Bertha and Floyd, recorded in southern Indiana sometime in the early to mid-1940's...


+ The quirky "I Saw Santa Driving A Hearse" from Louisville's quirky "Rock and Roll Grandpa" Lynn Charles (Chuck) Foster...

                                                                                                                             and....

+ The soon-to-be-holiday-classic "May Your Light Shine Brightly" from Detroit's Rosetta Pebble, from their upcoming album which may or may not be titled "Three"...


Plus, a holiday gift for you from Ben Wah Salami,


and information on the upcoming January, 2011 Chicago production of the new "Prine: A Tribute Concert".



(2010, approx 30 mins.)