Under the Streetlamp, one of America's newest vocal groups starring recent leading cast members of Broadway's "Jersey Boys," is already hitting a stage stride.
They are making a Star Plaza Theatre stage return for one exclusive Merrillville performance 8 p.m. July 14, with tickets priced at $39 and $49 at the Star Plaza Theatre box office, Ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000.
And this entertaining foursome never disappoints.
They just launched their new national tour with dates in Los Angeles and Cleveland prior to performing two sold-out shows on Saturday at Park West in Chicago.
It's important to clarify this new music group, consisting of Michael Ingersoll, Michael Cunio, Christopher Kale Jones and Shonn Wiley, perform a concert of songs described as "doo-wop ditties, Motown melodies and cool Rat Pack," and NOT just a carbon copy set of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs.
Their long list of favorite music to perform includes tunes from Van Morrison, The Beatles, Sam Cooke and yes, there are a few favorites from the Four Seasons catalog.
For Saturday's concert, their song list included "At Last," "Look Like an Angel," "Since I Fell for You," "I Get Around" and "Little Surfer Girl," as well as "Happy Together" by The Turtles and "Twist and Shout" by the Fab Four.
Jones had the women in the audience on their feet, while he channeled the energy and charm of singer Tom Jones with a rendition of "She's A Lady," while Ingersoll KEPT them on their feet with his "growl" while doing "Pretty Woman."
Wiley, who is responsible for the group's smooth and comfortable choreography, provides a great tribute to the late, great Johnnie Ray and Cunio embraces a balance between rocker and Rat Packer.
While Under the Streetlamp is produced by Star Productions, it is a joint venture also produced by Ingersoll, who starred as Nick Massi of the Four Seasons in "Jersey Boys" for three years. I first enjoyed Nick testing out this new group concept back in 2008 during a charity performance at Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University.
This incarnation of the concept is the best with such an array of talent and personality. And sweetening the deal, is the natural and unforced rapport these four have together on stage and off.
They explain it best when they say their performances offer something for everyone for audiences ranging from age 8 to 108.
Their concerts are slightly more than two hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
And while Charlie Blum, talent buyer and CEO for Star Plaza is managing these guys for this tour, he also struck a deal that has them represented worldwide by the famed William Morris Endeavor Agency.
As for the singing group's publicist, Blum arranged to have them represented by Liz Rosenberg, who also has entertainers Michael Buble, Cher, Stevie Nicks and Madonna in her stable of clients, all under her PR firm Liz Rosenberg Media.
For more information visit starplazatheatre.com or underthestreetlamp.com.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.
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