SWEET HOME CHICAGO
THE BLUES BROTHERS MUSICAL REVUE
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
THE BLUES BROTHERS MUSICAL REVUE
PRODUCED BY
ALEX VALENTINE, KEVIN KENNEALLY, AND MICHAEL DUNFORD
MUSICAL DIRECTION BY MICHAEL DUNFORD
“It’s
106 miles to Chicago... We’ve got a full tank of gas, a half-pack of cigarettes, it’s dark out and we’re wearing sunglasses... HIT IT!”
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
“We’re putting the band back together...” And what a band we’ve put together for Sweet Home Chicago: The Blues Brothers Musical Revue. When it comes to genuine bluesmen, none compare to the one and only Professor Harp. Hailing from Boston with musical blues and soul roots running deep through the Delta and Chicago, the good Professor drives the band with his big sound and powerful phrasing. Matching that harp heat is the guitar slinging duo of young upstarts Shane Fitzgerald (August 21 thru 25) and Keb Hutchings (August 28 thru September 1). These two six slingers tear it up and leave no doubt that the blues is in very good hands. The rhythm section of Rich Hill (bass) and Michael Dunford (drums) lays a rock solid foundation while keyboardist Matt Hutchinson weaves and wails on the 88s with hints of Ray Charles, Pinetop Smith, Charles Brown and Memphis Slim. The Horny Horns round out the band with a full Memphis sound featuring the cream of the crop of our local players featuring the 1-2 punch of Joe Mongelli (lead trumpet) and Steve Ahern, Mike Persico (trombone), Scott Avidon (Alto Sax), Peter Murray (Tenor Sax) and Dave Jost (Bariton Sax). The largest big band ever assembled on the Cotuit Center for the Arts stage… prepare to be blown away while screaming along to your favorite songs from the movie(s)!
Special thanks to David Kuehn and the entire staff, volunteers, and board of directors for their incredible work and support in making shows like this possible... YOU ROCK!
PLEASE NOTE
There will be one 15-minute intermission
Please make sure that you have silenced all electronic devices Please, no flash photography or recording devices
Sweet Home Chicago: The Blues Brothers Musical Revue is a rock concert. Amplification, loud guitars, drums and horns, swear words, chicken wire and alcohol will be used in the presentation of this concert... prepare yourself, and enjoy!
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF
BB King Lonnie Brooks John Lee Hooker Ray Charles
Aretha Franklin Paul Butterfield Blues Band Booker T. & The M.G.’s Sam & Dave And so many more!
CAST
Alex Valentine JAKE BLUES
Shane Fitzgerald LEAD GUITAR
8/21-8/25
Matt Hutchinson KEYS
Scott Avidon ALTO SAX
Dave Jost BARITONE SAX
Tasha Whited BACKUP VOCALS
Kevin Kenneally ELWOOD BLUES
Hugh Holmes
“THE UNDAUNTED PROFESSOR HARP” BLUES HARMONICA
Joe Mongelli LEAD TRUMPET
Peter Murray TENOR SAX
Rich Hill BASS
Madeline Marasa Dorado BACKUP VOCALS
CREW
Michael Ernst SET DESIGN & SET BUILD
Greg Hamm LIGHTING DESIGN
Mary Rice SET DESIGN & DECORATION
Elliott Sicard STAGE MANAGER
Maeve Moriarity VIDEOGRAPHER
Keb Hutchings LEAD GUITAR
8/28-9/1
Steve Ahern TRUMPET
Michael Persico TROMBONE
Michael Dunford DRUMS
Jenn Perrault BACKUP VOCALS
Bonnie Corliss PROPS
Jay Sheehan SOUND ENGINEER
Avery Garrison SPOT OP
Emma Hennessy COMPANY MANAGER
Jayna Simpson PHOTOGRAPHER
“We’re on a mission from God.”
STEVE AHERN, TRUMPET, Steve has traveled extensively performing with such greats as, Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, Liberace, Tito Puente, the Four Tops, The Temptations, The Moody Blues, Frank Sinatra Jr. Michael Feinstein and many others. He also has had the distinction of being the opening Trumpet Soloist for Tony Bennett throughout various Florida theaters. He was the trumpet soloist for the Florida Symphonic Pops for 20 years, The Palm Beach Pops for 10 years and has performed for four presidents. He has recorded on 30 albums. “At Last”, Steve’s solo CD, received national acclaim on which he performs on flugelhorn and flute as well as trumpet. Classically trained, Steve’s range of musical styles include Jazz, Dixieland, Big Band, Rock, and R&B.
SCOTT AVIDON, ALTO SAX, Scott Robert Avidon is trained in both Jazz and Classical idioms, having studied in the United States and France. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, and his Master’s degree in Classical Saxophone from Western Michigan University. The recipient of Down Beat Magazine’s “1995 Collegiate Jazz Soloist of the Year Award, Avidon has moved on to an impressive career as a professional saxophonist performing with such artists as The Branford Marsalis Quartet, The Dave Liebman Group, Mel Torme, The Temptations, The Spinners, Martha Reeves, Eliot Zigmund, and Harvie S, among others.
MADELINE MARASA DORADO, BACKUP VOCALS
, Madeline is so incredibly happy to be back on stage at Cotuit Center for the Arts! She has previously been in The Musical Tribute to Queen at CCftA, as well as It’s a Wonder Life as Cousin Tilly, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Ensemble, Shrek: The Musical as The Dragon all at Falmouth Theater Guild. Madeline is from Mashpee and works as the Assistant Clinical Director & BCBA Supervisor for Reach Costal ABA.
MICHAEL DUNFORD, MUSICAL DIRECTOR/CO-PRODUCER/DRUMS, Dunford began creating shows in 2019 with We Are The Champions (A Musical Tribute to Queen) and followed with Piano Men (2021) & Piano Men II (2022) (Musical Tributes to Billy Joel & Elton John), Women ROCK! (2023), More Women ROCK! (2024) and Sweet Home Chicago: The Blues Brothers Musical Revue (August 2024). Coming just in time for the holidays (November/December 2024) is Bandstand: The Birth of Rock & Roll, a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s to celebrate the early days of Doo Wop, Girl Groups and Rock & Roll! Music Director credits include Tommy (2022), Something Rotten (2023), Rent (2024), Come On-A My House (2024).
SHANE FITZGERALD, LEAD GUITAR (8/21
THRU 8/25) - Originally from Rochester Massachusetts, Shane has been playing music since he was a kid. Starting on drums and continuing on to the guitar, bass, and singing, Shane plays with a variety of musicians and bands throughout the New Bedford area. He was last seen on the Cotuit stage with the Piano Men, and has also worked with the Barnstable Comedy Club in their production of Rock of Ages and is a guitar instructor at Steeple Street Music Academy in Mashpee.
RICH HILL, BASS, Cape’s Rich Hill began playing piano at age 8, then Bass at 11 and was working lounges and functions at 12 years old. Rich studied music at UMASS Amherst, Berklee College of Music and recently New England Conservatory. Rich maintains a robust schedule as a freelance electric and upright bassist, and recently synth and keys. From his home studio, Rich also teaches bass, music theory and electronic music as well as offering recording and chart writing services. Visit his website at richhillbass.com.
HUGH HOLMES A/K/A THE UNDAUNTED PROFESSOR HARP, BLUES
HARMONICA, Although born and raised as Hugh Holmes of Boston, Mass., the emanations from his harmonica and vocals make it clear that Professor Harp has the blues of Texas and the whole wide Delta coursing through his veins. Given his stage name by the legendary soul man Solomon Burke, Professor Harp has been enthralling blues music fans on stages all the world over for nearly 45 years.
KEB HUTCHINGS. LEAD GUITAR (8/28 THRU 9/1)
MATT HUTCHINSON, KEYS
DAVE JOST, BARITONE SAX, David Jost is a woodwind specialist known for his performance and teaching on clarinet, saxophone, and flute. Prior to retiring to Cape Cod, he was a music educator in the Westborough Public Schools, where he also served as Coordinator of Fine Arts. He has directed concert bands, and jazz ensembles at all levels, and continues teaching at his home in Falmouth where he also runs a woodwind repair business. He performs regularly with the Dave Jost / Don Ryan Jazz Duo, as well as several Cape Cod based music ensembles including Puffy Elvis, Cranberry Jam, and Stage Door Canteen. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of live theater at The Cotuit Center for the Arts.
KEVIN KENNEALLY, ELWOOD BLUES, Kev is thrilled to be back here at the Cotuit Center for the Arts with this phenomenal team of performers, musicians, and production crew. He recently appeared as Elle’s Dad in Legally Blonde here at CCFTA. Recent credits also include Joey Primo in Rock of Ages and FDR in Annie both at the APA. He will appear in the rock musical RENT later this Fall at FTG. A life long Blues Brothers fan, he sends much love and thanks to Alex and Michael for including him on this incredible ride making this a true dream come true, the magic maker David Kuehn for his constant support and giving this show the green light, and of course to his wife Rachael for everything. To everyone involved in this production, We made it babies, it happened! Let the Good Times Roll!
JOE MONGELLI, LEAD TRUMPET, Joe has been a mainstay in the Cape music community since moving to Harwich full time in 2015. His jazz groups, the Joe Mongelli Jazz Trio and The Cape Jazz Crew, have performed sold-out concerts recreating the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Ruby Braff, Art Blakey and Horace Silver at many Cape venues. Joe regularly plays in Cape musical productions, as well, including Legally Blonde, Company, Come on a My House, and Piano Men 1 & 2. He is a frequent trumpet soloist at area churches.
In addition to his performance engagements, Joe arranges music for various ensembles and productions on the Cape including: Piano Men 1 & 2, tonight’s Sweet Home Chicago Blues Brothers Revue, Brentwood Brass quintet, and Cranberry Jam, a contemporary big band based in Osterville of which he is a founding member. In his spare time he sings with the Chatham Chorale and We Are The Men choral groups. He has served on the Chatham Chorale Board of Directors and chaired its Scholarship Committee. Joe has a Master of Performance degree from The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) and a Bachelor of Science from New York University. He has numerous published works including big band compositions, brass quintet arrangements and a collection of original trumpet descants. His CD WashAshore received high critical acclaim for creative arrangements, stellar ensemble playing and inspired improvisation. It can be heard on Spotify, Pandora and Apple Music and is available on Amazon.
PETER MURRAY, TENOR SAX, Peter studied at Berklee College of Music in the mid 70’s and has played in the New England area extensively over the past forty years with recording session work and live performances. Peter has played with Donald Byrd, Mili Bermejo, Bob Moses, Oscar Stagnaro, Jim Gwynn, Brad Hatfield and The Rings. On the Cape, he appears with Cla da Bossa Nova, The George Gritzbach blues band, Cranberry Jam (formerly Cape Conservatory) Big Band and his new project The Wave jazz quartet.
JENN PERRAULT, BACKUP VOCALS, Jennifer is a Cape Cod native who resides in Falmouth. She is a fourth grade teacher at Quashnet Elementary School. She is thrilled to be back on the Main Stage at CCftA and is also excited to perform in Blues Brothers here this summer! Her favorite roles include Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Lily in Secret Garden, Emma in Jekyll & Hyde, Gingy in Shrek, Judy in White Christmas and Doralee in 9 to 5. Jenn has also performed with the Falmouth Theater Guild. Love to Steve, Kyle, Lex, and the fam.
MICHAEL PERSICO, TROMBONE, Michael Persico has been a staple of the Cape Cod jazz scene for over 40 years. After retiring as Band Director from Mashpee Public Schools in 2008, Persico began the “Classic Jazz Visions Concert Series” in 2017, combining music from the Classic Jazz & Swing Orchestra and photos of jazz greats by Jack Bradley.
ALEX VALENTINE, JAKE BLUES, Alex is psyched to be in this production and happy it exists, and excited to work with this cast and crew. You may remember Alex from Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince) or Something Rotten (one of Cape Cod Times’ “favorite shows of 2023” in which they write “Noted Cape performer Alex Valentine was superbly riotous as Nick Bottom). Alex was also featured in Jesus Christ Superstar and many other shows at FTG , where he also directed Godspell. Alex has also performed in many shows at Cotuit Center for the Arts including Victor/Victoria, Muskrat Love 2, and Sweeny Todd. Alex is thankful for his theater family and as always thanks Mom, Tita, Jenny, Mame, HRH the Storyteller and his Princess.
TASHA WHITED, BACKUP
VOCALS,
Having recently been seen at Cotuit Center for the Arts in two Greek choruses (i.e., Trixie in Little Shop of Horrors and Serena in Legally Blonde), and previously as a Singing Telegram Girl in Clue, a dancing omelette in Something Rotten, and a dancing napkin in Beauty and the Beast at Falmouth Theatre Guild, Tasha is ecstatic to join Jake and Elwood Blues and the All-Star Band for one final hurrah before exiting stage left to frolic in the woods.
BEER SPIRITS WINE
Complimentary Tastings
Organic, Biodynamic Wines
Cellar Selections
Wine Accessories, Gifts
Event Consultations
Quantity Discounts
Craft Spirits
Premium Mixers & Bitters
Ready to Drink Cocktails
Rare & High End Selections
Barware & Accessories
Walk-In Cooler
Craft Brews
Mix-a-Six, Mystery 6 pks.
Hard Seltzers & Ciders
Artisnal Cheese, Crackers, Meats,
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LET’S HANG OUT IN THE BACK YARD
Our new seasonal gathering space, The Back Yard, awaits! Bring your family and friends (and snacks and chairs if you’d like, too!) and join us on Fridays from 5 to 7PM. Enjoy a cold drink and enjoy live music by local musicians. Admission is free, so come along, and enjoy our lovely space. We can’t wait to hang out in the Back Yard with you!
