Last Sunday afternoon I went to see a show at the Scottish Rite Theatre. It was a musical stage show celebrating Dan Fogelberg and I had seen a preview of it a couple of weeks ago at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and I really enjoyed it and was looking forward to the show.
I was not prepared for what I saw last Sunday. This show was unbelievable.
Words fail me when I try to describe it and that’s saying something because I never shut up! There’s not an adjective out there that can describe what a wonderful and magical show this was.
They had an eleven piece band, a singing ensemble, ballet dancers and a wonderful light show throughout the whole production.
If you missed it or even if you went, scroll down to see photos of this fantastic production!
It was an amazing and fantastic show!
Here we are at The Scottish Rite Theatre in downtown Peoria. This is a beautiful, recently restored theatre to see a show at.
Let’s get inside and see what’s happening!
As soon as I walked I ran into my old buddy, Mike Starcevic with his daughter Christina. Mike and I worked together at Fleming Potter for years and it’s always great to see him and it was wonderful to meet his pretty and friendly daughter!
Mike told me to find him after the show, because he had something for me. Now I’m filled with intrigue as to what this will lead to!
Then Mike took the camera and snapped a photo of myself and Jenny Burnett Parkhurst, who we saw at the preview show a couple of weeks ago!
Great to see her again, now let me find my seat, the show is just about to begin!
As you can see, there’s a good-sized crowd in the theatre for the show.
I got a program and since the pictures I took speak for themselves, instead of captions, I’m going to put in credits and information from the program.
Okay, here we go…it’s showtime!
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Dan Fogelberg - Native Son
Vocal Ensemble: Cheri Beever, Randee Blickenstaff, Rose Blume, David Broan, Cleo Dailey, Ali Dixon, Troy Hamilton, Thom Lacy, Guido Rochin, Adam Sitton, Kates Sitton and Jamika.
Youth Vocal Ensemble: Carlton Bell, Cooper Campbell, Raegan Copeland, Daniel Duran and Kennedy Sitton (Young Daughter.)
Central Illinois Ballet Dancers: Katie Connell, Shelby Hildebrand, Gillian Letonoff, Elayne Podolske, Dyson Ramey, Kyle Shradel and Jessica Skinker.
Song List For Act One: Nether Lands, To The Morning, Dancing Shoes, Language of Love, Sometimes a Song, Run for the Roses, At Christmas Time, Missing You/What You’re Doing, Hard To Say, Longer, Only The Heart May Know, Leader of the Band, Paris Nocturne, Heart Hotels and Magic Every Moment.
There’s a bar on the floor below the theatre and it’s where intermission happens. I’m anxious for the show to start back up!
And here we go!
Musicians: Jeremy Clark - Drums, Rich Diepenbrock - Guitars, Randy Emert- Bass, Mark Filip - Saxophones & Clarinet, Harold Greene - Musical Drirector, Keyboard, Guitar, Tim Harr - Guitars, Heather Maughan - Trumpet, Andrea Molina Ensemble Music Director, Piano, keyboard, Maggie Slater - Trombone, Gita Srivinasan - Cello and Shannan Sullivan Werckle - Violin.
Production Staff: Bob Pankhurst - Director, Harold Greene - Musical Director, All arrangements - Andrea Molina - Ensemble Music Director, Rehearsal Accompanist - Randee Blickenstaff - Ensemble Choreographer, Rebekah von Rarthonyl - Central Illinois Ballet Artistic Director, Jessie Williams - Central Illinois Ballet Associate Artistic Director, Ryan Delong - Backstage Manager, Theresa Black - Props, Kristin Whitaker - Props, Sarah Blume - Costumes and Lisa Burnett - Production Secretary.
Song List For Act Two: Down the Road/Morning Sky, Sutter’s Mill, Power of Gold, Love Gone By, The River, The River of Souls, Tucson, Arizona (Gazette), The Spirit Trail, Party of the Plan, Same Old Lang Syne, Souvenirs, There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler and Illinois.
Dedication: This production is dedicated to twin sons of different mothers. And Fogelberg and Peter Parkhurst. Both born in Peoria in the early 1950’s to prominent local parents, both professional guitar players and musicians, and both taken too soon by advanced prostate cancer.
Before the show, Mike told me to meet him because he had something special for me.
This is a piece of Dan Fogelberg art he made for me and I love it!
It’s beautiful and when I told him how nice it was to make this for me, he simply said, “Hey, it’s just part of the plan.”
Thanks Mike this was the perfect way to end a perfect Sunday afternoon!
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Related Post: Dan Fogelberg Native Son Preview Show @ The Peoria Riverfront Museum.