Thanks for the Memories - A Tribute to Bob Hope

An encore presentation of last year's USO style show, which combines actual video clips of Bob Hope during his shows overseas along with live performances by stars of the day-stars like The Andrews Sisters and Marilyn Monroe.

Warren Peper, NBC News, said "The video excerpts coupled with the 'live' vocal performances in addition to the superb orchestra under the direction of Tommy Gill was nothing short of phenomenal. I was not the only person in the house with a lump in my throat when the five different branches of the service were recognized. As the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines were recognized, those who wore those colors were asked to stand. Soldiers, sailors, airmen...one by one they rose with dignity. I didn't think it could get any better when the cast wrapped-it up with 'God Bless America', but it did."

Four performances only November 7- 9, 2008

(All profit from this show goes directly to benefit Veteran's organizations).

PRESS RELEASE

“Nothing short of phenomenal!” That is how Warren Peper, WCBD News 2, described “Thanks for the Memories”-the all singing, all dancing musical spectacular that recreates all the fun of the Bob Hope USO shows.

The show will feature live performances by impersonators of the stars who performed for the USO throughout the years, as well as actual film footage of Bob Hope bringing a touch of America to our troops overseas from WWII all the way up thru Desert Storm.

Broadway performers Brad and Jennifer Moranz created and star in this USO-style show which pays tribute not only to Bob Hope, but to all the stars that traveled overseas to entertain our troops.

The Andrews Sisters sing a medley of their greatest songs like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree”. Marilyn Monroe, who entertained troops during the Korean War, sings “I Wanna Be Loved By You” to some very lucky man from the audience. Groucho Marx will attempt to get your vote as he announces his bid for the Presidency! Abbot and Costello will try to answer the age old question, “Who’s on First?!” And the Tommy Gill big band will perform Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” as a chorus of dancers joins in on a rousing tap dance to Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing”.

The second half of the show features the songs and stars that performed during the Viet Nam and Gulf wars. You’ll hear “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” by Tony Orlando, along with songs by The Pointer Sisters, Dolly Parton, Toby Keith, Elvis Presley, and James Brown.

“Thanks for the Memories-a Tribute to Bob Hope” will be presented Nov. 7-9 at the Charleston Music Hall 37 John St. in downtown Charleston across the street from the Visitor’s Center.

Showtimes are Nov. 7 at 7pm, Nov. 8 at 2pm and 7pm, and Nov. 9 at 3pm

Fascinating Rhythm - A Musical Tribute to George and Ira Gershwin

An encore performance of what The Post and Courier called "one of the biggest hits of the 2006 season!" The show celebrates the songs and lives of the brothers Gershwin through spectacular song, toe-tapping dance, hilarious comedy and a dazzling visual display of archival photographs, tracing the Gershwin's beginnings on Tin Pan Alley to their work on Broadway and Hollywood musicals, and finally to their greatest achievement, "Porgy and Bess"--written right here in Charleston! You'll hear songs like Our Love is Here to Stay, I Got Rhythm, Embraceable You, S'Wonderful, Strike Up the Band, Summertime and the immortal Rhapsody in Blue.




Blues in the Night - A Musical Tribute to Johnny Mercer

The only great songwriter of his era to stem from the South, Savannah-born Johnny Mercer was hailed by Oscar Hammerstein as "the most perfect American lyricist . . . American. Pure American."
For twenty years his songs dominated the Hit Parade the way Joe DiMaggio did baseball: at one time he had a song in the Top Ten for more than 200 consecutive weeks; at another time 4 of the Top Ten songs had lyrics by Johnny Mercer and thirteen of his songs reached the #1 spot. 18 of his songs were nominated for the Academy Award and 4 got the Oscar. You'll hear such timeless standards as That Old Black Magic, Moon River, That Old Black Magic, Too Marvelous for Words, Ac-cent-tch-uate the Positive, In the Cool, Cool Cool of the Evening, Days of Wine and Roses, and Blues in the Night.|

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Two hours of unforgettable moments from the Broadway stage! Spanning the entire history of the Broadway stage - from the Ziegfeld Follies up thru the newest hits along the Great White Way, you’ll hear songs from South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Kiss Me Kate, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Miserables, Jersey Boys, Dreamgirls, Annie Get Your Gun, A Chorus Line and many more.