"Great Entertainment in the Heart of Downtown Springfield"

Jim Brickman bringing 'Christmas Celebration' tour to Springfield

November 30, 2011
(As originally seen on MassLive by Keith O'Connor)

When you think of Christmas music, singers like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, and Johnny Mathis often come to mind.

But what about Jim Brickman?

The popular songwriter and performer – who has released a total of seven Christmas albums – will bring his "A Christmas Celebration" tour to Springfield's Symphony Hall on Friday night featuring his solo piano along with several guests.

"It's my favorite time of year, and celebrating across the country with fans and friends makes it that much more special," said Brickman.

"So much of my music focuses on the positive and hopeful nature of life, and at Christmas-time my shows are a great way to invite audiences to be a part of a hopeful and beautiful experience that is live and not digital," added Brickman, who opened his tour on Nov. 26 in St. Louis.

And, when Brickman comes to Springfield, he promises his fans more than just 'jingle bells' from beginning to end.

"I'll be performing a combination of Christmas music and my hit songs. I am lucky enough as a songwriter to have hits like 'Valentine,' and my audience, many of whom have personal connections with my music, expect to hear those songs," said Brickman.

The popular song stylist will be bringing along guest singers Anne Cochran and Benjamin Utecht, as well as electric violinist Tracy Silverman to add to his blend of fan favorites and seasonal classics alongside brand new Brickman compositions.

"Anne is always with me at my Springfield shows and is a fan favorite. She and I grew up together in Cleveland. Tracy's brand of electric violin is Black Sabbath meets Santa. And, this year I'm bringing along Ben, who has a really fantastic and unusual background. He's a former NFL Super Bowl champ and his voice adds a really nice complement to the music," said Brickman.

Since the release of his debut album "No Words" in 1994, Brickman's romantic piano sound has made him today's best-selling solo piano artist.

Brickman's best-known compositions include the chart-toppers "Valentine," "The Gift," "Love of My Life," "Simple Things" and "Peace." He has established a reputation for his collaborations with many of today's most talented musical artists including, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins, Michael W. Smith, Carly Simon, Herb Alpert, Collin Raye, Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, and Olivia Newton-John.

His signature style has brought him six Gold and Platinum albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, and two Grammy nominations. He recently tied for most Number One albums on Billboard's New Age chart, and he currently holds four of its Top 10 spots. Brickman received top honors with two SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" awards, a Canadian Country Music Award and a Dove Award presented by the Gospel Music Association.

A native of Cleveland, Brickman began playing piano at the age of five and studied music at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. He founded his own advertising music company in 1980, writing commercial jingles for such advertisers as McDonald's, Pontiac and Kellogg's.

He has received international acclaim as a concert performer, taking his popular live concerts to more than 125 cities each year, including debuts at Carnegie Hall and the White House, as well as touring the world from Spain to Thailand. His Jim Brickman Cruises have become an annual hot-ticket event.

As more and more music stores disappear across the country and abroad, and department stores reduce the size of their compact disc sections as downloading continues to grow, Brickman said he is resorting to non-traditional methods to push and sell his music.

"You have to know who you are as a songwriter and performer and who your audience is. In my case, my music is very intimate and personal and is used at a lot of weddings, births and other intimate moments like bubble baths. People play my music while trimming the Christmas tree, or while friends are over partying," said Brickman.

"I started to listen to what my audience was telling me about their experiences. I want to be where my audience is, and for me that's at Bed and Bath, Target, BestBuy, Barnes and Noble, Walmart….most of my audience is there," he added.

In addition to having an exclusive arrangement with Target to sell some of his albums, Brickman has teamed up with American Greetings, lending original music to create some of their best-selling e-Cards, and is also featured on StarGreetz, a new internet greeting phenomenon.

His other artistic endeavors include a popular weekly radio show called Your Weekend and two best-selling books, "Simple Things" and "Love Notes".

Brickman gives back to the community by lending his support to many charitable foundations for children, including Autism Speaks, UNICEF and Camp Heartland. A scholarship was recently established in his name at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Brickman's two new exclusive albums for Target stores were just released this month and include "Romanza," a collection of Italian-inspired original love songs, and "All Is Calm," filled with peaceful traditional carols celebrating the Christmas season.

"It's my hope that my Christmas show will serve as an antidote to the chaos of Christmas and will provide an escape for audiences for a couple of hours," said Brickman.

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This weekend it's a Rock of Ages Weekend on Rock 102!

Rock of Ages is a five-time, Tony Award® nominated smash-hit musical featuring hits from JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. It comes to Symphony Hall on December 8th at 7:30pm!

Listen all weekend this weekend for songs featured in the show, and when you hear one text ROA to 77000... You'll automatically be entered to win a pair of tickets to the show and a copy of the soundtrack CD. We'll choose winners at random from all entries received, and one grand prize winner will score front row seats to the show and dinner for 2 at UNO's!

Here's a full list of songs featured in the show:

It's a Rock of Ages Weekend, this weekend on Rock 102, Springfield's Classic Rock!

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Rock of Ages

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:55 AM PST
by Eric Sutter on www.didyouweekend.com

Set in L.A.'s infamous Sunset Strip in 1987, "Rock of Ages" tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit and Sherrie, a small town girl. Both are in L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. This feel good, five-time Tony Award nominated musical is in its second National tour. Shannon Mullen portrays Sherrie. In the Spotlight (ITS) caught up with Shannon to get her viewpoint on this retro 80′s rock musical.

ITS: Let's first ask how you got your start in the music business.

Shannon: I worked hard at roles as Tammy in "Hairspray" and then as Brooke in "Legally Blonde," in which I was assigned dance captain.

ITS: How did you get the break to play the lead role of Sherrie in this tour of "Rock of Ages"?

Shannon: Very lucky! I knew the type of singing style I was capable of – this rock belter style in the show. I made a video and sent it to the casting director in New York. I was at SUNY in Buffalo in 2009. Two days before rehearsals for "Rock of Ages," I got a call. After callbacks, I got the role. I was ecstatic and cried a lot.

ITS: How is the fourth wall broken between cast and audience?

Shannon: The character Lonnie, who is our narrator, talks directly to the audience.

ITS: Do you have a favorite song?

Shannon: Yes, the duet with Drew, "High Enough."

ITS: Who inspired you to sing?

Shannon: My fun uncle was a child of the 80′s and played this music when I was a little girl. Later, Celine Dion became a role model. Now, the music from any Broadway show, especially "Hairspray" and "The Lion King," has influenced me.

ITS: Any humorous anecdotes to share?

Shannon: Lots, but a moment between Dominique Scott (Drew) and myself, as we exit on opposite sides and pass each other to reappear on stage…we catch the glimmer that keeps us going.

ITS: Any future aspirations for Shannon Mullen?

Shannon: Absolutely! Bring on anything with song and dance. "Don't Stop Believin'."

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'4 Sides of 40' to bring laughter to CityStage in Springfield

November 26, 2011
(As originally seen on MassLive by Keith O'Connor)

It's stand-up with a different twist.

From Wednesday through to Dec. 4 at City Stage in Springfield audiences will be treated to a special evening built around four 20-minute stand-up routines as part of the "4 Sides of 40" comedy tour making its way around the country because as their website explains "life begins (to suck) at 40."

"4 Sides of 40" takes its audience on a hilarious look at the prime of their life from the viewpoints of a single man, a newlywed, a man married for 20 years, and a divorcee.

Four performers, all in their 40s – Lenny Marcus, single; Patty Rosborough, divorced; Eric McMahon, married; and Al Ducharme, newlywed – make up the ensemble cast with each offering a different perspective on the milestone. All four bring over 60 years of stand-up experience to the stage.

"We've moved our act to the theater for those in their 40s or 50s who might not want to sit in comedy clubs with drunks," laughed McMahon.

But you don't have to be 40 or older to enjoy the show.

"With '4 Sides of 40' there's something for everyone whether single or married. And, it's a learning experience for someone, maybe 25-30 years old, who plans on getting married and having kids in the future," said McMahon.

The comedian brings a type-A, high strung, alpha male perspective to married life at 40. His routine is designed to help audiences understand the struggle of trying to keep a marriage "blissful" after 20 years – all while trying to keep the high school boys away from his daughters and protecting their innocence, and dealing with an aging body that simply doesn't function like the well-oiled machine it once was.

"My act draws heavily on my own experiences, all of our acts do," said McMahon. "I don't even have to write material. You see something happening and say 'that works' and then put it together for the show," he added.

Like the time a boy came over to McMahon's house for his first date with the comedian's daughter.

"I wish I had a tape recorder when I answered the door. All the kid said was 'I'm here to hang out with your daughter.' And I thought if anything is hanging out then I'm going to chop it off," said McMahon.

"It's little things like that which I talk about……like how moms today need to drive kids to the bus stop. We baby our kids, there are no tuff kids around anymore," he added.

In the past few years, McMahon has pitched a sitcom to CBS television, starred in an off-off Broadway drama called "The Chill on Lake St. Clair," and played Billy Flynn in a Broadway review of "Chicago." He hosts a weekly radio show called "What's Your Problem?" and is one of the writers and performers in Jim Florentine's comedy sketches on HBO's "Inside the NFL."

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Justin 'Kredible' Willman brings his bag of tricks to CityStage on Saturday

November 14, 2011
(As originally seen on MassLive by Keith O'Connor)

When Justin "Kredible" Willman stands before audiences with his bag of tricks at CityStage in Springfield on Saturday, he wants to hear more than "oohs and aahs," he wants to hear laughter, too.

More than just a magician – he claims to not own a rabbit – Willman considers himself an overall entertainer traveling internationally with his "Tricked Out Tour." "Think about going to see your favorite stand-up comedian, like Jimmy Fallon, but add magic to it," said Willman about his act.

His one-man comedy and magic show – he finds assistants from the audience and involves others in his magic – has earned him the vote four years in a row as "Entertainer of the Year" by Campus Activities Magazine.

"My first love is magic, comedy is second. When I was a kid, magic introduced me to the world of show business where idols like Steve Martin and Johnny Carson used comedy as a means for entertainment….they would make you laugh and feel good. When doing tricks, it's impossible to make someone laugh, but when magic is paired with comedy, your show becomes equal parts of both," said Willman.

Willman has taken his act beyond the stage to television where he hosts two popular programs – Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing on the Food Network. He is also star of HubWorld and Scrabble Showdown on the recently launched Hub Network. And Willman is also well-known as the witty correspondent on the Rachael Ray talk show where he has made over 20 appearances.

He recently toured with musician and friend Jason Mraz serving as emcee and ringmaster of the Music, Magic & Make Peace Tour. The groundbreaking endeavor was a neo-vaudeville, eco-friendly, circus-on-wheels.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Willman is a graduate of Emerson College.

"I was a journalism major at Emerson and always loved the power of change that could come out of it, along with the medium of television. I never really knew if journalism was my fallback for magic or magic was my fallback for journalism," said Willman.

He began entertaining at the age of 12. After breaking both of his arms trying to ride a bicycle while wearing rollerblades, he started learning card tricks as an alternative to physical therapy.

Nicknamed by his mother as "Justin Kredible," he officially turned "pro" when his parents hired him to perform at his sister's fifth birthday party, for which he claims he still hasn't been paid.

"Before I discovered magic, I was shy and introverted….not necessarily the most outgoing person. Then I discovered the craft of magic. You work hard on your own learning tricks and it can break the ice when you are performing them for someone, especially your parents, who don't know how you did the trick. It's crazy, it's an empowering role reversal, and it's a side of my personality that I never realized existed. I now think I was meant to make people laugh and be happy," said Willman.

For young magician wannabes, Willman will present a free children's magic class at noon on Saturday at CityStage for patrons with tickets to the 2 p.m. matinee. The class is for kids ages 7 and older. For tickets, or to register a child for the magic class, call (413) 788-7033.

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Comic Bobby Collins Coming to CityStage

November 8, 2011
(As originally seen on MassLive by Keith O'Connor)

Fans of comedian Bobby Collins can thank their lucky stars that he was actually able to make it to Springfield this weekend for his appearance on Saturday night as part of the Bud Light Presents Stand Up Comedy Series at CityStage.

Collins recently found himself in Santa Monica reporting for jury duty.

"You know when they ask about hardship, if anyone would have a problem serving on a jury if selected? Put your hand right up, I've done it, it works," laughed Collins, who said he told the girl behind the window when reporting in that he was "from New York where if you're in the system, then it's assumed you're guilty.

While in the jury room, Collins said he was surprised to hear someone say, "Hey funny man."

"It was the actor (Michael Clarke Dunce) who played the big black giant in the film 'The Green Mile.' I had him crying (in laughter). I looked at him and around the room and then said, 'Don't tell me you haven't seen some of these people on 'America's Most Wanted.' Let's get out of here,'" Collins said.

"Did you ever see a jury of your peers? Cop a plea," he said with a laugh.

It's just that type of observational comedy that the audience will hear in Springfield on Saturday from the funnyman who is best known for his tell-it-like-it-is shtick.

Collins, who has traveled around the world performing, said he knows how to read people and loves returning to Springfield.

"These are people who know the value of a dollar and you can look into them instead of at them. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and you can talk to them…speak to them on that level ... they'll go with you anywhere," Collins said.

Collins' comedy star began to shine when he was given his own Showtime specials and became Rosie O'Donnell's – he calls her a good friend – predecessor to host VH1's Stand-Up Spotlight. He has also opened for such names as Cher, Dolly Parton, Julio Iglesias and Tony Bennett and has been nominated for a CableACE Award, as well as for the American Comedy Awards "Stand-up Comic of the Year." His first compact disc, "On The Inside," showcased his wide-ranging observational humor and his second release, "Out of Bounds," earned him a Grammy nomination. His fifth comedy CD release, "I'm On The Boat," was released earlier this year on the Uproar! label. Along with live stage performances across the country – from New York City to Las Vegas and Atlantic City – he has also appeared in five feature films and numerous television shows.

Collins is readying a new DVD for release which he said he will be taking on the road with him to sell within the next three weeks.

"We're calling the DVD 'Telling It Like It Is,' and we just changed the artwork. It shows me with a bunch of newspaper headlines in the background," he said.

His other DVDs include "Bobby Collins Live," released in 2007 and "You're Not Coming With Us" from 2006.

The native New Yorker, who was raised in Queens, is also completing a book for release next year with a working title of "Funny You Should Ask."

"It's about everything I wish someone had told me when I was a kid," Collins said.

The book centers around parables such as "What goes around comes around," "Never show your enemy your face," God first, family second, career third," and "Fail to plan, plan to fail," which he uses to tell comedic stories of lessons learned while growing up.

"I don't think that I'm a bad writer, but I write the way I speak, which is not so good when you see it literally on the page. That's why I have an editor," he quipped.

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News Directory

Jim Brickman bringing 'Christmas Celebration' tour to Springfield

This weekend it's a Rock of Ages Weekend on Rock 102!

Rock of Ages

'4 Sides of 40' to bring laughter to CityStage in Springfield

Justin 'Kredible' Willman brings his bag of tricks to CityStage on Saturday

Comic Bobby Collins Coming to CityStage

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