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Axelrod Performing Arts Center

Three spectacular events heat up the stage at

Axelrod Performing Arts Center in the next few weeks.

On Thursday, August 25, “Heatwave,” starring Remember Jones backed by Motor City Review, will rock the house with the Motown classics we all know and love. Hits by such legends as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, and the Temptations will be performed. If you’ve never seen Remember Jones, you’re in for a treat. With his amazing and versatile vocals, and dynamic stage presence, he’s sure to entertain, and Motor City Review’s 11-piece band and backup singers guarantee an exciting night. Andrew DePrisco, Axelrod PAC’s artistic director, says the event is selling really well and recommends not waiting to try to buy tickets at the door, as it will likely sell out by the show date.

On Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28, Axelrod PAC’s new Words and Music Series begins. “It’s basically an homage to the 92nd Street Y’s series Lyrics & Lyricists that’s been going for years and years,” says DePrisco. “Miracle of Miracles: The Words of Sheldon Harnick is the first one we chose to do. Sheldon is the lyricist of Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, The Rothschilds, The Apple Tree, A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, and other musicals, so he’s written some very famous songs and some very beautiful songs. Fiorello! won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and it was one of the first musicals to do that.” The cast features six singers led by Deborah Murad Nesser and Ken Wasser. Axelrod PAC is thrilled to have jazz violin and mandolin virtuoso Aaron Weinstein as the host of the evening. “Aaron is probably the leading jazz violinist in New York City. It’s a very rare performer, and he’s also very, very funny, really witty. He’ll be accompanying the singers and telling the story of Sheldon Harnick and giving it his own spin.”

On Saturday, September 24, the Axelrod annual gala and fundraiser takes place. “This year we’re thrilled to have Sutton Foster, who won two Tony awards for her roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes. She’s one of America’s sweethearts of Broadway, and she’s also one of the stars of the TV show Younger on TV Land,” says DePrisco. The gala reception is at 7 p.m., with the concert following at 8 p.m. “We’ve had other Broadway stars here, but I think Sutton’s probably the biggest one that we’ve had, so it’s a nice way to wrap up our year and start our new year.”

Adds DePrisco, “Our attendance is up this year more than ever. This is our 11th year, but we have expanded our programming a lot, we’ve offered more concerts, and our musicals have run an extra week this year, three as opposed to two. A lot of people when they find us can’t believe that they’ve missed us all these years.”

Axelrod PAC has a large, well-lit lot with free parking, complete handicap accessibility, 550 seats, and is air conditioned. “It’s really a beautiful venue. It’s only 10 years old. People when they get here, they’re surprised by what a nice theater this is,” says DePrisco. “Every seat in the house is a great seat. It’s only 13 rows. When people say their tickets are in the last row,’ I say, ‘Well, on Broadway, that’d be row 13. It’s pretty good! We’re also very customer oriented. We always exchange tickets. We always give theater credit if someone in the party is ill and can’t make it, and we have the most reasonable ticket fees of anybody, $3 for the entire order.”

Tickets for all events can be purchased by calling the box office at 732-531-9106, extension 14, by visiting the website, or at the door.

The details:

Address:

100 Grant Ave., Deal Park

Website:

Lynn DeRocco

DeRocco Editorial Services, Writing and Editing

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