If you’re like us, you love the world of art and entertainment showcased on PBS’s Great Performances. Friends, we cannot recommend this week’s new episode highly enough! Check your local listings to catch an extraordinary documentary on the making of Tony Bennett’s Duet’s II album. The legendary Mr. Bennett elegantly continues to bring generations together with great music, and there’s no end in sight. He doesn’t believe in retiring. Not if you get to do what you love.
Streetlamp’s own Michael Ingersoll enjoyed the awesome privilege of meeting Tony Bennett just a few years ago. Both gentlemen appeared as musical guests on the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards. Mr. Bennett, who was honored that night with an Emmy for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for his television special Tony Bennett: An American Classic, sang a scintillating duet with Christina Aguilera. And Mr. Ingersoll, who was then playing to sold-out houses in the San Francisco production of Jersey Boys, performed a rocking Four Seasons medley in tribute to those other Jersey boys, HBO’s The Sopranos. Ingersoll was thrilled to be surrounded by the many show-busniess luminaries the ceremony attracts. But perhaps no encounter with an admired icon was more influential than the one with Mr. Bennett.
Get your first look at Under the Streetlamp, America’s hottest new vocal group, coming to you from their very first PBS Special. The quartet delivers the classic hits of the American radio songbook with the irresistible rapport of a modern day Rat Pack. Take and look and you’ll see why retro never sounded so now.
As we near our PBS Broadcast premiere, we’re just bursting with anticipation. And it looks like some of you share our countdown fever! Fans are sounding-off on Ticketmaster and predicting big things for Under the Streetlamp.
Barb 0809 says: “As soon as PBS airs this concert, they will be loved nationwide. These four men are so talented and truly have star quality.”
Nalafan cheers: “These guys have worked so hard to get to where they are and their passion shows on stage! They truly love to have a good time and their music is infectious. They are embarking on the ride of their lives and are bound to live as true rock stars! Before long, they will be a household name!”
And Daisygirl1740 exclaims: “What a great show! Had us rockin’ in our seats! Their voices were beyond amazing & their stage presence was so entertaining! They are very versatile young men who will go very far. Their singing & acting abilities are wonderful. We would definitely see them again & certainly hope they return to our area!!”
We ‘re so grateful for you. Keep smiling, friends!
Drumroll, please… We’ve just finished the post-filming technical production for the PBS special! And here’s the scoop you’ve been waiting for: Album and DVD will be released in February 2012 alongside the launch of the PBS broadcast. National tour info to follow! We wish to shout from the rooftops our sincere gratitude to the magnificent artists who have collaborated with us to create this remarkable televised concert event. Particular praise is owed to Music Director JoAnn Daugherty, Creative Consultant Caitlin Carter, Production Designer Todd Clark, slick sound engineer Steve Rodby, and the video dream team at HMS Media: Matt Hoffman and Scott Silberstein.
(Cool behind the scenes photo by Jeff Cunio.)
Imagine a group of guys who like to sing together so much they can’t resist gathering under a streetlamp in their urban neighborhood to give an impromptu concert. That is the kind of image Michael Ingersoll had in mind when he gathered some of his “Jersey Boys” co-stars and formed his quartet, Under the Streetlamp.
“It’s evocative of the era (1950s and ’60s),” Ingersoll said. “People would be sitting on their porches and stoops because there wasn’t any air conditioning. Doo-wop was an emerging art form, a working class medium. I just liked that image.”
Michael got in the mood for the holidays a little earlier than usual this year. He was overjoyed to reunite with Jersey Boys friends and family to record vocals for the smashing new holiday collection: Seasons Greetings-A Jersey Boys Christmas. With wonderfully creative arrangements from Music Director Ron Melrose, magnificent vocal performances by Jersey Boys cast members from around the world, and expert leadership from Grammy Winning Producer Bob Gaudio, the album is sure to delight. Michael is filled with gratitude to have worked with these artists. Available now on iTunes and Amazon.
No, it’s not the name of the latest Broadway musical.
Under the Streetlamp is a quartet of thirtysomething singer-actors who are making a big splash on the music-theater scene — including the taping of their Aug. 20 concert in Merrillville, Ind., for an upcoming PBS special. Consisting of founder-creator Michael Ingersoll, Michael Cunio, Shonn Wiley and Christopher Kale Jones, the vocal group shares a stage musical history: all have previously starred in “Jersey Boys,” here in Chicago and/or on national tours of the show. You can catch their Rat Pack-style act when they headline the Star Plaza for the aforementioned television special, or via their first DVD/CD release due later this year.
Ingersoll, who cut his acting chops in a slew of Chicago and regional theater productions, spoke to the Sun-Times about the musical group he launched nearly three years ago.
Question: What’s it like to star in your own PBS special?