Lyric series offer nostalgia, Broadway

Shelley Koppel Staff writer skoppel@YourVoiceWeekly.com 

STUART – The Lyric Theatre’s Broadway and Nostalgia series for 2014-2015 take you back to the Middle Ages and as far away as Mars and Venus.

The Nostalgia Series begins Dec. 2 with Medieval Baebes. This group takes medieval music and poetry and performs it in everything
from Latin, Middle English and French to Cornish and medieval Welsh. The group also takes texts of the period and sets them to original compositions, often featuring the group’s brand of sometimes dark humor. There are tales of unrequited love, the darker side of faerieland and alcohol-induced misadventures.

If your taste in music runs several centuries later, Darlene Love presents “A Darlene Love Christmas: Love for the Holidays.” A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Love, has become famous for her Christmas shows and her hit song, “Baby, Please
Come Home.” She will make her Lyric debut Dec. 8.

The Bronx Wanderers, Lyric favorites, return with “Merry Bronxman” Dec. 15 and 16 for four shows. Yo’ Vinny and sons Vinny “The Kid” and Nicky “Stix” will rock the house with songs from their new album, “Merry Bronxman.” It’s a holiday show with a Bronx twist. Ya dig?

Tito Puente Jr. presents “A Walk in my Father’s Shoes” Jan. 17. With a mission to keep his legendary father’s music alive,
the performer has toured the country, taking the mambo and salsa rhythms of his father and giving them a modern edge.

La Diva Tenors return to the Lyric Feb 14 for a performance of the best of contemporary pop, Broadway show tunes, a dash of opera and their blend of humor and wit. The three tenors and a soprano have worked with some of the biggest names in show business and a ticket to the show makes an excellent Valentine’s Day gift.

March 2 brings “Stayin’ Alive: One Night with the Bee Gees.” Singers Mitch Seekins, Todd Sharman and Tony Mattini recreate the unique sound of a group that defined a musical style. If swing time is more your style, The Jive Aces come from the United Kingdom to make their Lyric debut. The “Britain’s Got Talent” stars have a high-energy show that brings the music of Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, the Rat Pack, Ella Fitzgerald and others to life. The sextet has performed for Queen Elizabeth.

Cirquesco comes to the Lyric March 11. The show blends the magic and artistry of European circus with the campy flirtatious spirit of burlesque for an evening of dance, humor and extraordinary acrobatics.

Earl Turner’s Box of 45s returns to the lyric after a successful show last year. Las Vegas’ “Male Vocalist of the Year” brings the best of the 70s rhythm and blues from the O’Jays, the Temptations and more. The Duprees close the Nostalgia Series March 22. It is more than 50 years since their song, “You Belong to Me,” became a national  hit. They are known for taking love songs and giving them a romantic interpretation.

The Broadway series begins Jan. 9-10 with the show, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Live!” The show is based on the famous book by John Gray and has played throughout Europe. It’s sexy, fast-paced and definitely for adults.

The Tony-winning musical, “Next to Normal” comes to the Lyric Jan. 23-24. Its score won a Tony as the show uses humor to tackles the issue of mental illness in a family. It will star the Lyric’s own Karin Leone.

The Best of Broadway presents “Broadway Showstoppers!” Feb. 3-4. This show, from the group that brought last season’s tribute
to Andrew Lloyd Webber, will take a musical journey down Broadway with stops at “Chicago,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” The Producers,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Wicked” and more.

“Big River” closes the Broadway series Feb. 17-18. Based on “Huckleberry Finn” and with music by Roger Miller, the show
tells the story of how Huck helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom. The show won seven Tony awards including Best
Musical.

The Lyric Theatre is located at 59 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart. For more information, call the box office (772) 286-7827 or visit the
website www.lyrictheatre.com.