Thursday, January 30, 2014 11
Coastal View News • Tel: (805) 684-4428
Rotary’s big show Co-directors David Powdrell and Roland Rotz share an infectious enthusiasm for this year’s Rotary Talent Showcase, a show that brings dozens of exemplary acts to MARK BRICKLEY a Carpinteria stage. “The show is getting better each year,” Powdrell said. “We’re just so lucky the talent is so good.” Elaborating on the Rotary Showcase lineup, Powdrell said, “Of the 24 acts we’ve selected, 12 are new, including magician Tom Tourville, who is a member of Hollywood’s Magic Castle. His levitation act is mind-boggling. Another new act is our husband and wife vaudeville comedy team who’ve worked on cruise ships.” “We also feature several teen musicians who study with local piano teacher Gail Michelson. Their skills are astounding. Our oldest performer is 95-year-old harmonica whiz Lyman Barrett,” Rotz added. The fifth annual Rotary Talent Showcase will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Carpinteria’s Plaza Playhouse Theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. This year’s event will also feature several outstanding young artists from past shows including Carpinteria vocalists Xenia Flores, Jamey Geston and the Wasserman sisters. Flores will sing an original composition titled “Home.” “The song is about two old friends who’ve been out of touch. Once they start talking it’s like they’ve never been apart,” Flores said. Geston will reprise the song “Telescope” from T.V. show Nashville. She will perform with guest singer Adele Shraiman. Sarina Wasserman, 14, and 9-year-old sister Leora will blend their flawless harmonies on “Somewhere Only We Know” written by English rock band Kean. “Our professional audio techs make the show run seamlessly. There’s no dead time between acts,” Powdrell said. The show’s Master of Ceremonies will be KEYT news reporter John Palminteri. His quick wit and upbeat personality have made him the area’s most sought after host. The showcase will be filmed by local videographer Larry Nimmer. Rotz, who is also the Rotary Club’s president, said that all of the organization’s 39 members play a role in the annual event. “Some are greeters at the front door. Others are servers, sweepers and ushers. The show’s financial goal is to provide scholarships to Carpinteria High School seniors and musical instruments to our middle school students. This year Rotary will fund a $2,500 scholarship. We hope our younger musicians will someday participate in Carpinteria High School’s music program.” You never know what creative co-directors Rotz and Powdrell will do onstage themselves. Last year they juggled! Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Tickets are available at plazatheater.com, Montecito Bank & 2014 Rotary Talent Showcase performers collage by David Powdrell Trust’s Carpinteria branch and Curious Cup Bookstore. For ticket information, call Donna Treloar at 684-5489. Get your tickets to this fantastic community fundraising event. It has sold out four years in a row. Help make it a fifth.
music beat
Beatles Invasion Weekend
On Feb. 8 and 9, Carpinteria’s Plaza Playhouse Theater will present its Beatles Invasion Weekend. Local pop legends The Tearaways will appear in concert on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. The band’s breakout single “Jessica Something” was hailed as one of 1997’s top recordings. Since then, The Tearaways have toured Europe and the U.S. performing as ‘60s English act Badfinger. Their shows have have supported Badfinger’s only surviving guitarist Joey Molland. The Tearaways’ show will feature both rare Beatles’ covers and the Fab Four’s biggest hits. The Beatles extravaganza is being coordinated by local radio personality Peter Bie who is also a member of the Plaza Theater’s board of directors. The Saturday night concert will be preceded by a 7 p.m. Q&A with Dennis Mitchell whose syndicated radio program “Breakfast With The Beatles” is heard on radio stations throughout the U.S. and England. The evening will include raffle giveaways and the opportunity to bid on a framed serigraph featuring handwritten lyrics to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” signed by John Lennon. A showing of “A Hard Day’s Night” will conclude the evening. All inclusive tickets are $20 at plazatheater.com and at the door. On Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3:30 p.m. the Plaza Theater’s Beatles tribute continues with a Q&A discussion featuring rock titan Alan Parsons. In the early ’60s, Parsons was a recording engineer at London’s Abbey Road Studios and helped record Beatles classics “Get Back,” “Lady Madonna” and “Long and Winding Road.” He also was present at the band’s final rooftop concert at Apple Records Studios in 1969. This is a rare opportunity to hear Parsons’ first-hand stories about working with the era’s most creative band. “Beatles Breakfast” radio host Dennis Mitchell will interview Parsons. Sunday’s festivities will culminate at 5 p.m. with a showing of The Beatles first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The complete show is timed to begin exactly 50 years after its original broadcast on Feb. 9, 1964. That evening 73 million viewers (about half the U.S. population) watched The Beatles perform five songs on the live telecast, “All My Loving,” “Til There Was You,” She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Tickets to Parsons’ Q&A and the Ed Sullivan/Beatles show are $12 at plazatheater.com and at the door. See www.markbrickley.com for Brickley’s music articles and rock photography.
5th annual
S at u r d ay, F e b . 22, 2014
two shows: Matinee 2pm & evening 7pm Plaza Playhouse Theater • Downtown Carpinteria
Buy your Tickets Today at…
Montecito Bank & trust curious cup Bookstore
plazatheatercarpinteria.coM
Seating Limited! adults: $30 Kids: $10 (12 & under) preMier sponsor
richard caMpos Richard Campos
(805) 566-6652 More info call 805-684-5489 dawnuh@cox.net 5565 Carpinteria Ave, Suite 24, Carpinteria Ca