Carol
Hunter
Hunter
Elvis Tribute Artists Radio
Ladyluckmusic.com
“MAN, IT’S AWESOME!”
Recently, I made the 6-hour trek to Mackinaw City to see Dean Z and a multi-talented cast of singers, musicans and dancers performing in “Reflections Musical Revue” at the 830-seat Mackinaw Theatre. Mackinaw City is an idyllic tourist destination in Northern Michigan, bordering on the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. Sail boats and ferry boats are visible from the main street, beaches abound, trolley rides are available throughout the area, and the downtown area features Victorian-style hotels, trendy boutiques,gourmet eateries and Mackinaw Crossings – where the theatre is housed and which is home for the summer to the cast and crew of the Reflections Musical Revue which is playing there until September l9. Read on!
On the day I arrived, I went to both the 3 pm matinee and the 7 pm evening show. An enthusiastic group of 3rd graders was in the audience during the afternoon while, at night, several busloads of “seniors” had arrived for the show. This was early June, just before the regular tourist season had started but was a sign of things to come, and by the end of June and throughout the summer, the tourists would be arriving in full force to Mackinaw City.
Seated in the theatre, waiting for the matinee to start, I knew I was in for a good time when an audience member sat down beside me and asked if I’d seen the show before. Apparently, he’d seen it several times, and his exact words to me were “man, it’s awesome.” And so it was!
The Reflections Musical Revue pays tribute to the singers and songwriters who have shaped the course of American musical history – and the whole production was a fun “history” lesson for the 3rd graders (and for me!) For the “seniors,” much of the music was music they had experienced in their lifetimes – and, for all those in between, it was a thoroughly enjoyable musical interlude showcasing the singing, dancing, and acting talents of the cast and saluting some impressive music of the past 6 decades. I loved this show.
Throughout the two-hour production, the stage design and changing sets depicted the passing decades beautifully, as did the period costumes worn by the principal cast members and dancers. Combine this with the video screen which portrayed, in many cases, actual footage of many of the celebrities being ‘saluted” during the show, and you were taken on a fast-paced, energetic, and uplifting visual and vocal ride through the years.
It would be impossible for me, in one column, to outline the whole show, so I’ve concentrated on the highlights in order to give a sense of the passing of the decades, the music of the times, and the legacy Elvis Presley has left!
As the show started, we found ourselves in “Chicago l933" – the year prohibition ended – with the very talented “Miss Amanda and the girls” (featuring multi-faceted singer/performer Amanda Kaiser and the Reflections dancers). With their short dresses, bobbed hair, and long pearls, they portrayed the flapper, jazz and blues eras while singing and dancing to catchy tunes such as “And All That Jazz,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz, “ ”It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing,” and the Cabaret-style “Don’t Tell Mama.”
Then, in the blink of an eye, we fast-forwarded to “August 1943" – World War II and the big band era – wiith actual video footage of American troops being entertained by Bob Hope and Danny Kaye. On stage, we were treated to stellar versions of The Andrews Sisters’ “In The Mood” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” -- music that kept America going during the war – again featuring Amanda, with the dancers this time dressed in sailor outfits. After these numbers, Amanda announced that the show was dedicated to those who had served in the armed forces of any kind, and all the “veterans” in the audience were asked to stand. During the evening show, when so many of the “senior men” stood to be acknowledged, it was a touching moment for everyone and I think the veterans very much appreciated being recognized in this way.
Next, we were transported to the post-war ‘50's, which represented “hope for the future,” and watched video footage of Frank Sinatra, one of America’s first teen idols. On stage, “Frank” sauntered out singing a signature tune, “All of Me,” portrayed by super talented singer/entertainer, Scott Foster – who, like Amanda, performed throughout the show, singing the songs of different decades with versatility, flair and pizzazz!
Of course, as we all know, rock and roll music changed forever in l954, and soon it was time for “July 30, l954" and we were watching Elvis’ appearance at the Overton Park Concert Series in Memphis, Tennessee – spotlighting the talents of Dean Z! It was the first time I’d seen Dean in a production of this nature and his outstanding performance bowled me over --even bringing a tear to my eye! His charismatic portrayal of Elvis singing “That’s All Right Mama” at the Overton Park Shell along with his moves, mannerisms, voice, and dynamic energy soon had toes tapping and smiles on the faces of all who were watching him (including mine). I also heard a lot of squeals of excitement from the 3 rd graders!
We stayed in the ‘50's as we visited the Grand Ole Opry for some country music featuring Amanda, as “Patsy Cline,” who delivered a terrific version of “Walkin After Midnight.” After Patsy’s performance, the Opry emcee also announced a “final performance by Elvis Presley who has had 4 hits singles and is going off to Hollywood to make movies”...and out stepped Dean Z again, this time dressed in the gold lame jacket, singing “One Night With You” and “Jailhouse Rock,” accompanied by the dancers who portrayed screaming fans! And once again, .Dean’s charismatic and entertaining portrayal of the young Elvis won the audience’s hearts!
During the afternoon’s intermission, I talked to some of the 3rd graders. Two of them, who proudly stated they were “9 years old” and “10 years old,” told me excitedly that “Elvis is AWESOME,” “Elvis is COOL” – and during the intermission in the evening show, one of the “senior women” commented to me, “that young fellow who does Elvis is going places.”
Back in our seats after the intermission, it was “February 2, l959" and video footage of announcers on the airwaves who were informing America of the tragic deaths of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper. On stage, however, we were still at the “Surf Ballroom” in Iowa where we heard renditions of Ritchie’s “La Bamba,” and “Little Darlin” (sung and played by musical director Tommy Cameron) .and then Buddy Holly, portrayed by Dean Z, bounded on to the stage with “Peggy Sue.” Amid screams and cheers from the audience, Dean continued with “That’ll Be The Day,” with the audience happily clapping in time to the music and singing along.
Next up were “The ‘60's” with Berry Gordy, Detroit, Motown and the “girl groups” ...bringing us classic songs by Scott and Amanda, such as “My Girl” and lyrics such as, “Fee Fo Fi Fum, Look at Me, Here I Come”. We made our way through the ‘60's accompanied by calypso, limbo rock, and beach music, and moved through the “summer of love” represented by songs such as the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love,” complete with psychedelic clothing, love and peace signs, go go dancers, and a great “Jimi Hendrix” aka Scott Foster!
As the 60's, and the general unrest of the time, marched on...we came to December 3, l968 and Elvis’ “Comeback Special.” This segment was very cleverly done, with a beautiful set depicting Elvis, Scotty, DJ, and the guys bathed in red light, sitting behind a transparent stage curtain. From behind the curtain we heard Elvis battling his self-doubt and stage fright before making his first TV appearance in years, and then the curtain lifted, and we could see the large red “Elvis” lettering dropping from the ceiling. – sitting in the round with “the guys,” Dean Z in black leather gave another dazzling and authentic portrayal as Elvis, this time time singing “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog” and “All Shook Up,” in addition to reminding us all to “love our brothers along the way.”
Soon it was time to enter the 70's and then the 80's – as we heard selections from memorable musicals and movies such as Grease and Footloose, featuring Amanda, Scott, the dancers and the musicians and some great danceable tunes from those eras... ...again, this segment epitomized those decades perfectly!
Even though the show lasted close to two hours, all too soon the finale was upon us, as we saw video footage of many of the singers and songwriters who have shaped America’s rich musical heritiage -- Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach, Irving Berlin, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline – while simultaneously on stage, to the backdrop of an American flag , the whole cast of singers, dancers, and musicians assembled to deliver a moving rendition of 1983's “God Bless The USA”, earning a well-deserved standing ovation from the appreciative audience.
Musical director Tommy Cameron from Las Vegas, the Reflections Band and Dancers, and the three principal performers: Amanda Kaiser, Scott Foster, and Dean Z form a cast of talented young people chosen from around the country --.California, San Diego, New York, Las Vegas and beyond – with an average age of just 26. Along with the lighting, sound, and audio crews, they all deserve a salute for this high energy, uplifting production. If you have a chance to go to Mackinaw City before September l9, you’ll love this show! Thanks to everyone involved!
Details:
www.mackinawtheater.com/
A Footnote:
Between the afternoon and evening shows I had a chance to talk to Dean Z (which I very much appreciated as he’d had quite a workout during the matinee, which would be repeated in an hour or so during the evening show). However, it was nice to catch up with him and to be able to tell him how much I liked the show and the multi-talented cast.
I learned from Dean that between May and September, the cast will be involved in 240 shows, playing to a wide range of audiences. In May, before the tourist season had officially started, many middle school and high school classes had visited the theatre. Dean reported that many of the youngsters had made a repeat visit on their own and told him that they’d gone out and bought an Elvis CD as a result of seeing the show! When I asked Dean what he was enjoying most about his summer theatre experience, he said “the smiling faces” in the audience....which make him feel he’s doing the job he set out to do in his portrayal of Elvis and Buddy.
I was curious as to whether Dean had had any input into the “Elvis segments” of the show, and he said that the producer was such a history buff that everything had been thoroughly researched so that it would be historically accurate, but he had suggested the big red Elvis sign and the sit down session for the ‘68 Comeback segment. The hardest thing, he said, was to take key moments from Elvis’ long career and to reproduce them in short 10-minute segments.
And finally, knowing that Dean and fellow tribute artist Lance Lipinsky have produced a movie called “The King, The Killer and Buddy,” I asked Dean how this was coming along. He told me it is in the final stages of post-production and that they are aiming for a release date within a few months.....adding that they are meeting the highest industry standards....so stay tuned for more on that remarkable project!
Many thanks, Dean!.
Details:
www.deanz.com
Photo credits: Bob Frank
On the day I arrived, I went to both the 3 pm matinee and the 7 pm evening show. An enthusiastic group of 3rd graders was in the audience during the afternoon while, at night, several busloads of “seniors” had arrived for the show. This was early June, just before the regular tourist season had started but was a sign of things to come, and by the end of June and throughout the summer, the tourists would be arriving in full force to Mackinaw City.
Seated in the theatre, waiting for the matinee to start, I knew I was in for a good time when an audience member sat down beside me and asked if I’d seen the show before. Apparently, he’d seen it several times, and his exact words to me were “man, it’s awesome.” And so it was!
The Reflections Musical Revue pays tribute to the singers and songwriters who have shaped the course of American musical history – and the whole production was a fun “history” lesson for the 3rd graders (and for me!) For the “seniors,” much of the music was music they had experienced in their lifetimes – and, for all those in between, it was a thoroughly enjoyable musical interlude showcasing the singing, dancing, and acting talents of the cast and saluting some impressive music of the past 6 decades. I loved this show.
Throughout the two-
It would be impossible for me, in one column, to outline the whole show, so I’ve concentrated on the highlights in order to give a sense of the passing of the decades, the music of the times, and the legacy Elvis Presley has left!
As the show started, we found ourselves in “Chicago l933" – the year prohibition ended – with the very talented “Miss Amanda and the girls” (featuring multi-
Then, in the blink of an eye, we fast-
Next, we were transported to the post-
Of course, as we all know, rock and roll music changed forever in l954, and soon it was time for “July 30, l954" and we were watching Elvis’ appearance at the Overton Park Concert Series in Memphis, Tennessee – spotlighting the talents of Dean Z! It was the first time I’d seen Dean in a production of this nature and his outstanding performance bowled me over -
We stayed in the ‘50's as we visited the Grand Ole Opry for some country music featuring Amanda, as “Patsy Cline,” who delivered a terrific version of “Walkin After Midnight.” After Patsy’s performance, the Opry emcee also announced a “final performance by Elvis Presley who has had 4 hits singles and is going off to Hollywood to make movies”...and out stepped Dean Z again, this time dressed in the gold lame jacket, singing “One Night With You” and “Jailhouse Rock,” accompanied by the dancers who portrayed screaming fans! And once again, .Dean’s charismatic and entertaining portrayal of the young Elvis won the audience’s hearts!
During the afternoon’s intermission, I talked to some of the 3rd graders. Two of them, who proudly stated they were “9 years old” and “10 years old,” told me excitedly that “Elvis is AWESOME,” “Elvis is COOL” – and during the intermission in the evening show, one of the “senior women” commented to me, “that young fellow who does Elvis is going places.”
Back in our seats after the intermission, it was “February 2, l959" and video footage of announcers on the airwaves who were informing America of the tragic deaths of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper. On stage, however, we were still at the “Surf Ballroom” in Iowa where we heard renditions of Ritchie’s “La Bamba,” and “Little Darlin” (sung and played by musical director Tommy Cameron) .and then Buddy Holly, portrayed by Dean Z, bounded on to the stage with “Peggy Sue.” Amid screams and cheers from the audience, Dean continued with “That’ll Be The Day,” with the audience happily clapping in time to the music and singing along.
Next up were “The ‘60's” with Berry Gordy, Detroit, Motown and the “girl groups” ...bringing us classic songs by Scott and Amanda, such as “My Girl” and lyrics such as, “Fee Fo Fi Fum, Look at Me, Here I Come”. We made our way through the ‘60's accompanied by calypso, limbo rock, and beach music, and moved through the “summer of love” represented by songs such as the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love,” complete with psychedelic clothing, love and peace signs, go go dancers, and a great “Jimi Hendrix” aka Scott Foster!
As the 60's, and the general unrest of the time, marched on...we came to December 3, l968 and Elvis’ “Comeback Special.” This segment was very cleverly done, with a beautiful set depicting Elvis, Scotty, DJ, and the guys bathed in red light, sitting behind a transparent stage curtain. From behind the curtain we heard Elvis battling his self-
Soon it was time to enter the 70's and then the 80's – as we heard selections from memorable musicals and movies such as Grease and Footloose, featuring Amanda, Scott, the dancers and the musicians and some great danceable tunes from those eras... ...again, this segment epitomized those decades perfectly!
Even though the show lasted close to two hours, all too soon the finale was upon us, as we saw video footage of many of the singers and songwriters who have shaped America’s rich musical heritiage -
Musical director Tommy Cameron from Las Vegas, the Reflections Band and Dancers, and the three principal performers: Amanda Kaiser, Scott Foster, and Dean Z form a cast of talented young people chosen from around the country -
Details:
www.mackinawtheater.com/
A Footnote:
Between the afternoon and evening shows I had a chance to talk to Dean Z (which I very much appreciated as he’d had quite a workout during the matinee, which would be repeated in an hour or so during the evening show). However, it was nice to catch up with him and to be able to tell him how much I liked the show and the multi-
I learned from Dean that between May and September, the cast will be involved in 240 shows, playing to a wide range of audiences. In May, before the tourist season had officially started, many middle school and high school classes had visited the theatre. Dean reported that many of the youngsters had made a repeat visit on their own and told him that they’d gone out and bought an Elvis CD as a result of seeing the show! When I asked Dean what he was enjoying most about his summer theatre experience, he said “the smiling faces” in the audience....which make him feel he’s doing the job he set out to do in his portrayal of Elvis and Buddy.
I was curious as to whether Dean had had any input into the “Elvis segments” of the show, and he said that the producer was such a history buff that everything had been thoroughly researched so that it would be historically accurate, but he had suggested the big red Elvis sign and the sit down session for the ‘68 Comeback segment. The hardest thing, he said, was to take key moments from Elvis’ long career and to reproduce them in short 10-
And finally, knowing that Dean and fellow tribute artist Lance Lipinsky have produced a movie called “The King, The Killer and Buddy,” I asked Dean how this was coming along. He told me it is in the final stages of post-
Many thanks, Dean!.
Details:
www.deanz.com
Photo credits: Bob Frank
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