Country Legends Invading Wharf 
Midland Free Press
August 5, 2009


Following in the style of smash-hit productions Twist and Shout : The British Invasion and Legends, comes a brand new Drayton Entertainment musical extravaganza that is guaranteed to raise the roof of the King's Wharf Theatre.

Fusing elements of classic country, gospel, and bluegrass with hilarious comedy and dance, Country Legends is a toe-tappin', foot-stompin' walk down memory lane.

Conceived, written and directed by Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, Country Legends is a tribute to the artists and the repertoire that ultimately defined country music.

Their personal influence is celebrated in this energetic, fun-filled musical revue that features classic songs by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, and many, many more.

"Country Legends gives recognition to the extraordinary artists who put Nashville on the map, and made such an enormous impact on North American popular culture," says Mustakas. "Whether you are a devoted country music fan or not, everyone relates to the memorable lyrics and the music is simply infectious."

In this world-premiere production, audiences will venture back to the honky tonks and saloons of country music's glorious history for a nostalgic journey to a simpler time... when hayrides, road shows, and dance halls reverberated with the sound of twin fiddles and steel guitars.

"Many patrons have commented that Twist and Shout and last season's Legends are among their all-time favourite Drayton Entertainment shows," says Mustakas. "This new production promises to meet very high expectations. The talent is unbelievable."

Some of the company's most adored performers are reunited in this innovative musical revue, including Danny Williams and Melissa O'Neil (winner of Canadian Idol), as well as the unmistakable Keith Savage, alongside Karen Coughlin, Trevor Covelli, Ryan Gifford, Carla Giuliani, Paula MacNeil, Jack Nicholsen, Bobby Prochaska, Patrick Stiles and Heather E. Wilson.

The production also features Nicole Gusé on fiddle, Jeff Scott on keyboards, Earl Filsinger on Guitar and Steel Guitar, and Kevin Dempsey on drums.

Country Legends is proudly sponsored by Pepsi and Midland Free Press. Media Sponsors are KICX 105.9 FM, 97.9 The Beach FM, and Orillia Today. The Design Sponsor is H. S. St. Amant & Sons Inc.

Ticket sales for his highly anticipated production have been brisk with over 65% already sold. Theatregoers are encouraged to call the box office as soon as possible.

Country Legends will entertain audiences eight shows a week, Aug. 5 to Aug. 29. Tickets can be ordered by calling the King's Wharf Theatre Box Office at 549-5555 or 1-888-449-4463.

For more, visit www.kingswharftheatre.com.

Tribute Show Boasts ‘Unbelievable’ Talent
Midland Free Press
July 29, 2009


King’s Wharf Theatre has been a little bit rock ’n’ roll with its popular productions of “Twist and Shout: The British Invasion” and “Legends.”

Next week, the Penetanguishene venue is going a little bit country when it presents “Country Legends.”

The show, which fuses elements of classic country, gospel and bluegrass with comedy and dance, will run from Aug. 5-29.

“Country Legends” was conceived, written and directed by Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas, and is a tribute to the artists that made country music so popular.

The energetic musical review will feature classic songs by country legends Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette – to name just a few.

“‘Country Legends’ gives recognition to the extraordinary artists who put Nashville on the map, and made such an enormous impact on North American popular culture,” said Mustakas in a news release. “Whether you are a devoted country music fan or not, everyone relates to the memorable lyrics – and the music is simply infectious.
“Many patrons have commented that ‘Twist and Shout’ and last season’s ‘Legends’ are among their all-time favourite Drayton Entertainment shows,” said Mustakas. “This new production promises to meet very high expectations. The talent is unbelievable.”

Returning to the King’s Wharf stage to take part in the show will be “Canadian Idol” winner Melissa O’Neil, who opened the King’s Wharf season starring in “High School Musical.”

Danny Williams, Keith Savage, Karen Coughlin, Trevor Covelli and others will lend their vocal talents to the show, which will also feature Nicole Gusé on fiddle, Jeff Scott on keyboards, Earl Filsinger on guitar and steel guitar, and Kevin Dempsey on drums.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 549-5555.

Twist & Shout at the Grand, Spring 2008

Twist & Shout: The British Invasion ~ Nostalgia Made for Baby-Boomers 
Grand Bend STRIP
Review by Mary Alderson

  If you were glued to the family TV set on that fateful night in February 1964, and watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show as they flickered across a snowy black and white screen, then you’ll love Twist and Shout: The British Invasion now playing at London’s Grand Theatre.
  This show is aimed at the demographics of our times. Statistics tell us that the baby-boomer population is now in the 45 to 55 age range. If the theatre’s goal is to put “bums in seats”, then it makes perfect sense to put on a show that will appeal to the bulk of the population.
  Twist and Shout: The British Invasion will not only attract the populace, but it is a crowd pleaser, as well. In fact, you’d better order your tickets early, as it’s sure to sell out.
  The show was conceived and written by Alex Mustakas, the artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. It debuted three years ago at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. Mustakas designed it to take baby boomers on a nostalgia trip and show them a good time. And he succeeded – it quickly sold out at the various Drayton Entertainment venues.
In some areas, the Grand has improved on Mustaka’s success – flashier costumes with all the bright colours and sparkles of the sixties. But they were also careful to hang on to what made the show so good: they kept the two key voices. Danny Williams and Christine Glen were the show stoppers three years ago, and clearly demonstrated they still hold that position in the Grand’s version.
  The audience is taken back to a mid-sixties TV studio, complete with microphones on booms and old TV cameras. Two high large-screen televisions show the action on stage in living black and white. Watchers are treated to some 1960’s commercials – a Heinz pickle ad is particularly entertaining.
  A five-piece band under musical director Mike Lerner plays in a loft above the stage, recreating the early rock and roll sounds. A cast of 14 fills the various roles as required, transporting us back to those heady days.
Mustakas, with the help of his historical consultant Michael Bignell, has done excellent work in pulling together a wide variety from those British Invasion years. They educate as well as entertain – trivia concerning the different acts flashes on the TV screens. For example, did you know that Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits was a child star on the British soap Coronation Street?
  As well as the Beatles and all their familiar tunes, we see Dave Clark Five (Glad All Over), The Searchers (Needles and Pins), Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (Game of Love), Donavon (Mellow Yellow – and he still appears to be suffering from that early drug bust), Gerry and the Pacemakers (Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying), Freddy and Dreamers (I’m Telling You Now), Swinging Blue Jeans (Hippy Hippy Shake), Spencer Davis Group (Gimme Some Lovin’), Herman’s Hermits (Henry the Eighth sing along version), The Hollies (Carrie Anne, Bus Stop, ) and more groups with many more familiar songs.
  I admit that I didn’t know all the groups – and even when I knew some of the bands, I didn’t know that they were part of the British Invasion. Frankly, I was surprised (and embarrassed) to learn that many groups I thought were American were indeed British. But I did know every song, and I loved them all.
  And while all the early rock groups are covered, there is good representation of the female singers: Lulu with To Sir, With Love, Petula Clark’s Downtown and I Know a Place, Mary Hopkins, (Those Were the Days), and the late great Dusty Springfield with fantastic songs like You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and You Don’t Own Me.
  The showstopper is Danny Williams, first when he sings The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun, then Procul Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, and also He Ain’t Heavy; He’s my Brother, which is better than the original. Next he brings the house down when he does his Mick Jagger imitation for Honky Tonk Woman, Let’s Spend the Night Together and Satisfaction.
  Similarly, Christine Glen’s powerful voice rocks the house with Dusty Springfield’s Son of a Preacher Man.
  The musical numbers are interspersed with Robin Ward as TV host Roy Solomon telling background stories on the various singers. Ward gives a decent Ed Sullivan impression.
  Also remarkable are the dancers – Dance captain Michelle DiGioacchino is outstanding, as is Michel LeFleche. Kudos to choreographer Gino Berti who intersperses some Fosse moves with the sixties dance.
  After a long winter, this show is guaranteed to put you in the mood for some hot summer weather. This is good entertainment from a talented cast of strong singers and dancers with amazing energy.
  Twist and Shout: The British Invasion continues at the Grand Theatre in London until May 11. Tickets are available at the Grand box office at 672-8800 or 1-800-265-1593.

A legendary evening at the theatre, Drayton Entertainment salutes musical pioneers
Published - Sep 11th, 2008
By Julie Sawyer Staff Reporter

With so much to look at and listen to during the performance, there isn’t one moment of Drayton Entertainment’s production of Legends that will have you bored.
Great movements all over the stage, which are well timed and exceptionally choreographed, are just the icing of the performance. The basis of the show, the singing, is unbelievable.
The opening number, Proud Mary, is lively and performed by one of the most outstanding singers to grace the Drayton stage — Christine Glen. She also brings down the house with the Dusty Springfield tune Son of a Preacher Man. Glen and Michael Clarke team up for River Deep, Mountain High and are very evenly matched in this powerful tune. While the two take the lead in the song, the entire cast provides support and turns the song into an ensemble piece.
Every member of the cast is a great performer, bringing their musical talent to the stage in each and every number.
From ensemble numbers to individual performances, the entire 13-member cast is great. Each singer is given a moment to shine — and do so very well — but also work seamlessly together to entertain.
Ben Birchard shines for his moment in Bad Moon Rising. Danny Williams is phenomenal in Bridge over Troubled Water — nearly receiving a standing ovation at the end for the Simon and Garfunkel tune. Ange Pagano sings her heart and lungs out for the Janis Joplin tune, Me And Bobby McGee — a truly outstanding performance by Pagano.
Michel LaFleche provides his strong voice to many songs, bringing harmony to the foursomes of the Motown groups. Duff MacDonald takes his moment in the spotlight with Crocodile Rock — channeling the over-the-top style of Elton John quite well.
Danny Williams, while performing many songs during the show, really is breathtaking with John Lennon’s Imagine, having the right emotion and diction in his voice to give the audience a glimpse of what a performance by the music legend was like. Kraig Waye is a very talented musician — from his ability to hit the high notes in the Beach Boy tunes to his guitar playing he is outstanding in each and every song he is a part of during the show.
Also adding their talents to the cast are Michelle DiGioacchino, Tory Doctor, Julia Juhas, Karen Coughlin and Michael Falcucci.
Legends revisits the discography that forever changed the landscape of modern music. From the 1950s to the 1970s many artists left their mark on rock and roll. The show visits some of the most popular songs from the time, from The Beatles to the Beach Boys, Elvis to The Monkees all cross the stage in delightful numbers.
Legends is a follow up to the show Twist and Shout: The British Invasion that took to the stage two years ago at Drayton.
There are more than 100 songs in Legends, and each one had the audience’s full attention — and participation.
Winding down the show is a great ensemble piece, during the tribute to Elvis Presley. Caught in the Trap is sung in wonderful unison, with no one trying to one up another singer, and the blend of voices wafts out from the stage wonderfully.
A well-deserved extended standing ovation sends the cast into another snippet of Proud Mary.
As the band plays a large role in the production, it is nice to see them perched above the performers. While the singers have a major component of the show, without equally excellent music the show would not be as outstanding as it is.
Legends has already been extended by a week, running until Oct. 4th with eight shows a week. Tickets can be ordered by calling the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-888-449-4463.

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