Blumenthal Performing Arts, MaxxMusic, and the Visulite Theatre present
Dec. 31, 2013 Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts
John Tosco’s 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Variety Show Zero Hour Barbershop quartet
Circus Stella Dog act
The Patterson Brothers Sound mime
Hannibal Magician
Spiral Multidisciplinary cirque artist
INTERMISSION Shana Blake & Keith Shamel Musicians
Madison J. Cripps Puppeteer
Moving Poets Charlotte Dancers
Steve Langley Juggler/comedian
Caroline Calouche & Co. Aerial silk dancers
J
NEW YEAR’S EVE VARIETY SHOW
ohn Tosco, host of the John Tosco’s New Year’s Eve Variety Show, grew up watching the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights with his family. He says his earliest childhood memory is seeing the Beatles on that show, a memory that stuck with him and could be what shaped his career. Tosco is the founder of the nonprofit organization Tosco Music Parties, Inc. TMP produces a quarterly music showcase of professional and amateur musicians of all styles of music. It also has outreach efforts to support music education scholarships and share the gift of live music with those who might not otherwise experience it. Tosco also owns Tosco Music Studio, which he opened in 2002, and has instructors teaching guitar, piano, drums and voice. In 2004, Charlotte Magazine highlighted Tosco in its Best of the Best series as “Impresario of the Year.” If you ask Tosco, there’s something to be said for great variety shows, especially on New Year’s Eve. For the first three years, the show was held at the 700-seat McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square. After selling out that theater, it was decided to move the show to the nearly 1,200-seat Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. Because of the Knight Theater’s size, Tosco says they can do more things like aerial acts, and use projection screens for the ultimate show experience. John Tosco’s 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Variety Show runs from 8 to 10 p.m. with a 20-minute intermission, which
makes it easy to bring kids and provide a family-friendly entertainment option after dinner and before the midnight count-down festivities. Join us for a night of music, comedy, dance and more! Confirmed acts, in alphabetical order, include: Caroline Calouche & Co. – aerial silk dancers. Caroline Calouche & Co. is Charlotte’s only aerial and contemporary dance nonprofit company. The company entertains and inspires with its innovative performances, like “Spring Forward” and “Star Gazer: A Trek to Outer Space” (April 11 and 12 at Booth Playhouse). The company also offers classes in aerial and dance in Charlotte and has a variety of educational programs. www.carolinecalouche.org Circus Stella – dog act. Circus Stella features husband and wife team Jayna and Dextre Tripp and their pack of rescued dogs. Tonight you'll get to enjoy the dogs as they show off their tricky moves and see glow in the dark juggling as presented by the troupe members who have thumbs! Please check out troupe’s other skills – trapeze, aerial silk and rope walking – by searching Circus Stella on Facebook or at the website www.CircusStella.com.
NEW YEAR’S EVE VARIETY SHOW Hannibal – magician. Chris Hannibal has been in and around theater since he was 6, when he appeared on stage in The Music Man. In 1992, he created a street magician character. The “Magic Man” became a popular fixture in the uptown area, and Hannibal evolved the character into a genuine source of income, working nightclubs and comedy clubs throughout the Southeast. Today, Hannibal performs around the world with his special brand of unique inspirational theater. www.TheMagicArtist.com Madison J. Cripps – puppeteer. Madison J. Cripps became a professional puppeteer in 2006 while working on a small farm in western Massachusetts. Supporting his puppetry is a diverse and intensive history, including fine art, construction, environmentalism and theater. In 2009, Cripps moved to Asheville and set up his puppet workshop at the Phil Mechanic Studios in Asheville's River Arts District. He founded Cripps Puppets in 2010. Since then, Cripps has performed all over the country in puppet festivals and dive bars, as well as on the street. As a performer, his unique hand-carved marionettes come to life with song, improvised interaction and puns. www.crippspuppets.com
Moving Poets – dancers. Sarah Emery is artistic director of the reinstalled dance/theater company, Moving Poets Charlotte. During the company’s previous residency, she danced with the Moving Poets as a principal dancer for eight years. Emery has been a teacher and choreographer in Charlotte for the past 10 years, including North Carolina Dance Theatre and Charlotte School of Ballet. Among others, Emery has performed with Echo Contemporary Dance Company, Alban Elved, Omaha Dance Theater, North Carolina Dance Theatre and Tulsa Ballet Theatre. She has had the privilege of working under Kim Jones, former Martha Graham dancer, for the restaging of Graham’s 1935 ballet, Panorama. Emery received much of her training from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Some of her other studies include the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane summer intensive, Boston Ballet and the Hungarian National Ballet, Budapest. Emery holds a BFA in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. www.movingpoetscharlotte.org The Patterson Brothers – sound mime. Zade and Ted Patterson are two brothers that are of sound and mime. Using noise to make the invisible audible, the duo helps the audience exercise their imagination muscles while also making some giggles.
NEW YEAR’S EVE VARIETY SHOW Both have graduated from Winthrop University and have been participants of several theater organizations around the Rock Hill area. Including shows of hypnotism, balloon animals and traditional choral concerts, they enjoy performing random activities. Shana Blake & Keith Shamel – musicians. Shana Blake and Keith Shamel have been cultivating their unique style over the past several years. The Charlotte duo blends elements of blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and reggae to create a distinctive vibe. The interesting song choices, along with surprising twists on the arrangements, play a major role in their signature sound. Shamel's guitar sings and Blake's voice becomes an instrument, the two weaving a melodic tapestry. At times playful and upbeat, it's not uncommon to hear selections that are lilting and sweet, heartbreaking or breathtaking. In addition to cover songs, the pair mixes in soulful original material. www.Facebook.com/ ShanaBlakePivotalSoul Spiral – multidisciplinary cirque artist. Fatefully kissed by stardust from the rings of Saturn, Spiral developed an uncommon affinity for circles and a passion for revolutionary
motion. Equal parts sorceress, circus artist, whirling dervish and ninja, she brings the kind of tingle to the spine that can only be wrought as a direct result of tireless training, incredible skills and occasional conspiracy with otherworldly forces. A North Carolina native, Spiral is now based in San Francisco and travels the world performing and teaching. Over the last decade, she is honored to have inspired thousands of people to move, heal and express themselves through hoop dance. www.spiracircusarts.com Steve Langley – juggler/comedian. Steve Langley – aka The Great Fettucini, aka Alfredo Fettucini (half of The Fettucini Brothers), aka The Paddle Ball King – has traveled the world performing his unique blend of comedy, juggling, silly stunts and absurd acts of variety entertainment. He is a multiple Guinness World Record Winner and holds the distinction of being the only person in the world to hold Guinness World Records with paddle balls. He's traveled the world performing on cruise ships and traveled the country performing at colleges, comedy clubs and corporate events. He has even performed for many other types of events that do not start with the letter "c." He's made appearances on national TV shows in five different countries and has traveled as far away as Japan and China to make people smile. You may have seen him on A&E's “Evening at the Improv,” The Food Network, The Comedy Channel, or most recently on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, or perhaps on “Guinness World Records
NEW YEAR’S EVE VARIETY SHOW Unleashed.” Langley has been making people smile and laugh for more than 25 years and still enjoys performing as much as the day he started. www.fettucinibrothers.com
Zero Hour – barbershop quartet. Zero Hour loves to entertain with four-part a cappella harmony. The group was
WHAT:
formed in June 2013, and four months later it won the Carolinas District Quartet Championship. Zero Hour is made up of Ben Mills, tenor; Larry Lane, lead; Mark Rodda, baritone; and Scot Gregg, bass. All are proud members of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which was originally formed in 1938 as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. The society currently has just under 25,000 members in the United States and Canada – solid evidence that Barbershop Quartet music is still going strong! www.zerohourquartet.com
An acoustic music showcase with an eclectic mix of styles and singalongs for everyone
WHO: A variety of performers (See www.ToscoMusicParty.org for list) WHEN:
www.ToscoMusicParty.org
These shows always sell out! Get your tickets in advance. Plan ahead … Spring TMP April 12, 2014 Tickets on sale now! Look for us on Facebook and Twitter
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
WHERE: Knight Theater 430 S. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 TICKETS: $17-$23 Purchase online at: www.carolinatix.org For all ticket information call: Box Office 704-372-1000 Season tickets and group discounts available
Refreshments available for purchase
Other Shows You Might Like
Coming Attractions Calendar BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS B.B. King Jan. 12 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts Jon Batiste & Stay Human Feb. 13 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square
Wayne Brady Feb. 23 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts
Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour Feb. 24 • Belk Theater At Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Celtic Nights March 22 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square Preservation Hall Jazz Band March 26 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square
BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS, MAXXMUSIC & THE VISULITE THEATRE PRESENT Angelique Kidjo Feb. 8 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square Pat Metheny Unity Group Feb. 14 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts Banff Mountain Film Festival March 15 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square For a complete list of our upcoming concerts, visit BlumenthalArts.org and click on Category under the Search box. Then, in the Search box, select Music to see all the great concerts coming to our theaters. Or call 704-372-1000.