Michael probably can, still displaying the elocution of the Shakesperean actor that he was before there was a Jersey Boys. Very personable and fun. Wardell was in the Broadway casts of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Assassins," "Good Vibrations" and "Catch Me If You Can. Under the Streetlamp. How do you feel about the increasing interest in the sort of music that you do, and the concomitant (I love that word, concomitant, and I hardly ever get to use it. (I know, Im showing my age with that one). Expand. But heres another clue for you all the second set opener begins with the band playing some background music, basically reminding people to get back to their seats. Jones is also known nationwide as a founding member of retro-rock sensation Under the Streetlamp, seen in millions of homes on PBS. Michael: One thing that I will say about that, and you were kind of alluding to this earlier, Stubbs. The world wasnt ready for Queen yet). So we have gone to our friends some who have been in the JB family, some who have not, and well conceive of doing a certain song and well know someones musical taste, and well think, Oh, so-and-so should do this chart, and So-and-so should do this chart. But we will typically have a point person. Shonn: the youngest of spirit, let's just put it that way. Behind the Streetlamp " A Conversation with Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale Jones, Michael Cunio, and Shonn Wiley. ). What first sounded to me like Donovans Season Of The Witch but probably wasnt, morphed into a very familiar horn riff from a tune that was a huge instrumental hit on the jazz charts for a jazz group and also a pretty good sized hit as a vocal, for a rock group. Catch ROCKIN' AROUND THE CLOCK on your local PBS station. Cunio: Yes, and you can write about it all you want! Under the Streetlamp, which features Wiley, Brandon Wardell, Eric Gutman and David Larsen, will perform at 3 and 8 p.m. March 24 at the Stubbs: Are you taking the same group of musicians along on the whole tour or are you picking up new people in each town? Their 10-year anniversary celebration has begun and is sweeping the nation. Im kidding, Im kidding. Producer 1 Credit. They had fun with each other and genuinely cared for each other.". After just enough time to think, Hey, wouldnt it be cool if the guys came out and started singing along? they did just that. Cunio: My very brief thing and this sort of piggy backs on What Shonn said it was JB that was the experience that allowed the four of us to meet and become friends. Stubbs: Will you tell me now what it is? Jones won hearts nationwide starring as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys (San Francisco, Los Angeles, First National Tour). Theres one show for the ears and another one for the eyes. And thats how everybody referred to it. Their latest PBS special, wrapped in 2016, is now airing Nation Wide. So many years later, that hasnt changed; what has changed is that the breadth of his talent has widened, if thats even possible. Stubbs: I guess thats doable; it seems like it might be daunting but I guess its common in the industry? So the more fun we can invite the audience to have, be it through the way we sing the songs, or the goofiness of some of the choreography, or just how we interact with each other thats really the experience were trying to create. One of my favorite lines in Jersey Boys occurs when Tommy says that in the early days, the group always was singing somebody elses latest hit. Its a short line, easy to gloss over, but what I like about it is how historically accurate it is, in so few words. Cunio: To be fair, he works with six left feet. Under the Streetlamp will bring the sounds of early rock and roll, doo wop and Motown classics to an entirely . If the Backstreet Boys, for lack of a better comparison, hadnt been successful there would have been no room for a band like Nsync. concert at 7:30 p.m.. If theres anything that Ive learned from Sergio its subtlety, and I think that he never went too far with the movement it always was just right. Since 2011, Under the Streetlamp has been bringing 1950s-70s doo-wop, Motown, and rock n roll to the stage and screen, with five PBS Specials, packed concert halls, and a critically acclaimed international Symphony tour. Their latest PBS special, wrapped in 2016, is now airing Nation Wide. This is a rare opportunity to hear the star of Jersey Boys and Under The Streetlampon PBS sing Bobby Darin's biggest hits: "Dream Lover," "Mack the Knife," "Splish Splash," and many more! The way we look at it is this: The universe has decided, we believe, that this project would make people happy. Unique light-activated membrane acts like a traffic signal for gas. We're there to serve the audience.". But by throwing the word radio in there, you give it a whole different meaning that perfectly evokes the way we felt about popular music at the time. "With Under the Streetlamp, the audience gets an inside look at who we are," Wiley said. Who are the members of under the streetlamp? Christopher Kale Jones appeared as Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning sensation Jersey Boys, originating the role for the 1st National Tour and playing to sold-out crowds . Additionally, I've been privileged to appear in concert at such historical and eclectic venues as the Greek Theater and L.A. Live in LA, Wolf Trap in DC, and B.B. Theatre Mania raves, "Jones has the audience swooning until the final curtain." Christopher Kale Jones is an award-winning actor and touring recording artist. Jersey Boys Broadway Returns to Millionaires Club for Week Ending 5/20/12. Along the way Cunio and Shonn joined the Chicago cast as Bob and Tommy, respectively, and the rest is history. I dont know if its your intention to start every concert of this tour with that, but I hope for the audiences sake you do. As far as Chris new second set tune, Cunios description of it as exciting proved spot on, so much so that one dork in the front row got carried away enough (that would be me) to prove why the audience sometimes has to be considered the fifth member of the group. Ryan will play guitar, Matts on drums, and Im gonna play bass. Cunio: That includes our seven musicians you mention two of them, but our whole team, the band that we play with, aside from being totally exceptional as musicians individually, they bring to the table a wealth of talent and that allows us the ability to do exactly what Michael just said. Listen to the LIVE album recorded January 6th and 7th at Chicago's very own Mercury Theater. Christopher Kale Jones. Ingersoll is heard gravitating toward early rock and roll as well as staking out the anything rockabilly corner, having spent a number of years in Memphis. Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, Information: 630-896-6666; www.paramountaurora.com. A lot of the things that youll see in this show were born out of those experiences. Theres a new number for Chris too which is particularly exciting. Movies. We had an opportunity to capitalize on a if you want to call it a semi-celebrity in this area, and it gave us an opportunity to work with charities and not-for-profits, with arts education programs, to raise money for their organizations. Jones said he began practicing his high falsetto in earnest and got the part of Frankie Valli, the leader of The Four Seasons, the 1960s rock group sensation whose story is told in "Jersey Boys.". A sampling of social media comments highlights the range of reactions: One person said the purple hue gives them headaches due to a past concussion. Chris Jones and I, we started out the first national JB tour together, and when the show closed, I called Chris and I said, are you available to come in and do some of these dates that we have, even after JB has closed, and he said yeah. Were all doing good work. Exuding the irresistible rapport of a modern day Rat Pack, Under the Streetlamp proves why retro never sounded so now! And we clearly found as we started forming this group that one of the very strong reasons as to why we decided to continue singing together, was because it really was the best. Christopher Kale Jones is known for Chicago Med (2015), The Good Time Girls (2017) and Under the Streetlamp (2011). And like puzzle pieces, though they fit together just right, no two are exactly the same. Is there a fifth UTSL member who writes your vocal arrangements, the musical accompaniments, the horn charts, and all that? During his three years with the show Ingersoll had the good fortune to play to sold-out crowds in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicagoin over 1,300 performances. So it means were doing something right. Other theatre includes reprising his role as Frankie Valli in the St Louis premiere of Jersey Boys (St Louis Theater Circle Award), starring as Seymour in multiple productions of Little Shop of Horrors (Chicago; and opposite wife Jenna Coker-Jones in Washington DC), the world premiere music It Came From Outer Space (John Putnam), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph, Kevin Kline nomination), Olympus On My Mind (Barrymore nomination), The Sound Of Music (Captain von Trapp),Grease, The Music Man, Miracle on 34th Street, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Ragtime, The King & I, The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, and Peggy Sue Got Married. But when I first saw the show in November of 2007 in California, I took one of those backstage tours that was offered for a charity donation. The music we do is the music of the people that were kids at that time. So youll want to write about that one, Im sure. Were all doing it differently enough from one another to make each group unique and relevant, and frankly were friends with a lot of these people. You have permission to edit this article. Chris: And to just add my two cents, I always knew I would be incredibly successful despite these three. What Does a Purple Porch Light Mean? I was having more fun as the audience was having more fun, seeing the quartet come together. The members of Under the Streetlamp - Michael Cunio, Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale Jones and Shonn Wiley.This DVD also includes interviews with members Michael Cunio, Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale Jones, and Shonn Wiley and the track Hey Jude.Track list:1. Streetlight LED bulbs would normally appear a little blue, so the manufacturer coats the bulb to turn the blue light into the bright white that comes to mind when you think of an LED. Kevin will play the piano, and Davis is gonna sing lead. Now I knew that between these five kids the only thing any of them could play with any proficiency was their Gameboys, but who was I to stifle such youthful exuberance? Early life. I was at the opening of the second national tour of Jersey Boys and Tara Rubin was there shes the casting director of the show, and Merri Sugarman, who works with her. Another thought it some sort of black light. With this group, I helped produce 3 TV specials, one docu-series, and 4 albums (all available for streaming and download). I love watching clips of the Temptations, clips of the Jackson Five, clips of the Four Tops, footage from even earlier, just anything that can kind of inspire. Hmm, better not display my ignorance. It is very heartwarming to see the wonderful ties that have been made through this one show, not to mention the talent. Shonn: And just to add to that, for us when we first started out, it was about the music and it was about making people happy, and it didnt matter if we were playing a multi-purpose room at a high school , or we were playing the Chicago Theatre, or the Paramount Theatre, some big theater like that. And thats nothing but grace, nothing but grace. "JONES HAS THEAUDIENCE SWOONING UNTIL THE FINAL CURTAIN. Shonn: Actually yes. VARIETY says "His Soulful delivery resembles Bobby Darin"& SF Examiner says "His knockout voicebrings down the house.". Ingersoll was elbow to elbow with Chris when the first JB national tour began, so theres some irony that they now are embarking on their own first national tour. Their latest PBS special, wrapped in 2016, is now airing Nation Wide. Ingersoll left Under the Streelamp in March 2017 to pursue producing opportunities, according to Wiley. One thing he mentioned to me is that when youre doing these songs, you really have to invest in them and you have to craft them like an artist. Why did Michael Ingersoll leave under the streetlamp? Watch as beloved retro quartet Under The Streetlamp - including members Shonn Wiley, Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale Jones, and Brandon Wardell, along with renowned musical director Dennis "Doc" Williams - coach singers as they vie for a chance to perform in concert with Under The Streetlamp at the legendary Star Plaza Theatre. Eric Gutman joined the ensemble in March 2017. He also gets a chance to show off the some fancy footwork that demonstrates why hes the choreographer for the group. UNDER THE STREETLAMP is a group Chris founded with his friends in 2012. Theres an incredible line at the end of the musical Jersey Boys, where were four guys under a streetlamp, where everything was stripped away and all that was left was the music, that was the best. His rendition of recently-departed Etta James At Last from 1960 is a showstopper. Apr 04, 2019 at 10:25 am. Can you say it with a mouthful of fried peanut butter and banana sandwich? And talk to Frankie Valli for about an hour and a half. Accompanied by a band of seven elite musicians, Under the . We have an entire group of four year olds, boys and girls, who continue to inspire us with dance moves, and who continue to listen to the music. I was a fan of Shonn, Cuneo and Michael from Chicago, and loved hearing Chris for the first time. Shonn: I do. Just nod knowingly. But their energy and their reactions, especially in the PBS special they are every bit as much the stars as we are, and thats as it should be. and Sammy Davis, Jr., among others) performed on stage. He also toured extensively with PBS retro-rock sensation Under the Streetlamp. . This has become our first priority, our primary responsibility. Alicia Kaori, Christopher Kale Jones, and Cast of The Sound of Music From: Photos: . And also, I think Sergio (Trujillo, JBs choregrapher) is kind of a genius as far as what he did with JB. Our agent, Beth Jones, spent seven years at William Morris Endeavor, basically the premier agency in the country, and shes now with Parallel 49, but shes a premier agent. Apr 13, 2017 at 11:43 pm. OTHER GROUPS Ingersoll, Jones and Wiley appeared at one time or another in the Chicago or national. Cunio: Its gonna be a really long traveling camp where we have to sing every night. So Chris was the last piece of the puzzle, so to speak. Music that began its life on corners under streetlights will return to the stage of Mayo Civic Center when the vocal group Under the Streetlamp is back for a Riverside Live! A real bonus in the show is your choreography. Some homeowners leave their green bulb in the porch light all year, while others change the bulb on or around Veterans Day. Three days after Michael, Chris, Shonn, and Cunio graciously and candidly gave me 73 minutes of their time, I went to their kickoff concert of the tour, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, a premier entertainment complex that also houses the Staples Center and the Nokia Theater. 45th Ward race: Embattled Ald. Happy Birthday to the One & Only Rick Elice! Comment by Linda/Tiggerbelle May 26, 2012 @ 1:58 pm. Pink porch lights are generally associated with Breast Cancer. Ingersoll left Under the Streelamp in March 2017 to pursue producing opportunities, according to Wiley. (Laughter). You always have things that youre shooting for, and thats part of the reason that we have this great team because they have very specific goals that they are shooting for, for us. Strong and smooth as ever in his chest voice, Chris is the quintessential crooner. Its not any particular song, but its beautiful, and then it breaks right into the energy of I Wonder Why (Dion and the Belmonts), Blue Moon (the Marcels version of the classic, natch), and Sh-Boom (a bit more like the Crew Cuts version than the Chords, but definitely your own). Left to right, Brandon Wardell, Shonn Wiley, Eric Gutman and David Larsen make up Under the Streetlamp. Under the Streetlamp is, from left, Shonn Wiley, Christopher Kale Jones, Michael Ingersoll and Brandon Wardell. THE TOUR People also use red porch lights to decorate their homes for Halloween and Valentines Day. I caught UTSL on PBS and was blown away by the talent and professionalism of the production In addition, Christopher Kale Jones, a member of Under the Streetlamp since 2010, left the group at the end of last year. Follow the nationally lauded singing group Under the Streetlamp as they launch a singing competition to find talented vocalists with compelling stories to share. Menu. Each of these guys is an accomplished lead singer in his own right and they share and rotate leads throughout the show, but each has his own style and an area where he particularly shines. Trivia (1) He was awarded the 2008 Back Stage Garland Award for Performance in a Musical for "Jersey Boys" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California . ( And I really think that that in a sense goes a long way in allowing all the other things to happen because we were all content with just making great music and making people happy. The members of Under the Streetlamp include Shonn Wiley, Michael Cunio, Michael Ingersoll, and Christopher Kale Jones. Michael: The concept of starting with one voice, and adding another one, and introducing each member of the band was ours, but she was the one that turned that into a musical reality. Just last year, I saw him in a dramatic lead role as the real-life Ned Massey in Blood Ties! Stubbs: Okay, seriously who came up with the name? She went home, and I think in the space of like an hour, wrote that. With their ambition and talent, they cant miss! Can you say Elvis and Orbison? Dean Martin Here in Chicago, Ive been fortunate to work at theaters I used to dream about collaborating with: Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, and The Goodman Theatre to name just a few. UNDER THE STREETLAMP goes back to the music that has captivated audiences around the country! Michael: And frankly he was more successful before he met us. You could either say he gets the credit, or gets the blame, depending on your perspective. Weve been telling people a lot about the origin of doo-wop and where it came from it was created in urban settings like the Bronx, like Baltimore, Detroit, Washington DC these large cities where a lot of people lived in these very cramped homes, and they would find themselves coming out into the streets in the summertimes. And talent, they cant miss who came up with the name talent! 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