As BroadwayWorld previously announced, RAIN - A Tribute to The Beatles On Broadway will play a limited 11-week engagement this fall at the Neil Simon Theatre. Previews begin Tuesday, October 19 with the official opening scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 at 6:30 PM. The engagement will run through Sunday, January 2, 2011.
BroadwayWorld recently caught up with RAIN cast members Joey Curatolo ("Paul McCartney") and Steve Landes ("John Lennon") during their whirlwind visit to New York City, and followed the pair as they stopped by their to-be home at the Neil Simon Theatre, the Ed Sullivan Theatre where the Beatles were "born," and - of course - a classic Times Square deli. Click below to take the tour and hear why Broadway is in for a treat when RAIN moves in from the men who make the music.
As "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!" (Denver Post), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. From the early days of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 through Sgt. Pepper and on to the Abbey Road years, RAIN performs it all. The multi-media concert recaptures the era through all phases of The Beatles astounding musical career including Shea Stadium, the psychedelic late 60s and The Beatles long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. A fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups.
While the music of The Beatles has touched millions of people around the world for the past 45 years, the Fab Four were experienced live in concert by very few. Their final concert tour was in 1966 long before the release of many of their classic albums such as "Sgt. Pepper," "The White Album" and "Abbey Road." Today, all the songs from that time are now performed live by RAIN.
For the creators of RAIN - the original band - Joey Curatolo (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Joe Bithorn (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synthesizer), Ralph Castelli (vocals, drums, percussion), Steve Landes (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica) -- all of whom performed in the hit Broadway and touring productions of Beatlemania -- and Mark Lewis (RAIN's co-founding member, keyboards, percussion), the music is first and foremost. For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences. RAIN approaches The Beatles music with the same respect a classical musician treats Mozart. They worked hard for many years, studying each song, each note, movement and nuance...both vocally and musically.
In addition to members of the original RAIN band, at certain performances the concert will also feature the talents of Graham Alexander, Mark Beyer, Joe Bologna, Doug Cox, Jim Irizarry, David Leon, Jimmy Pou, Mac Ruffing and Tom Teeley.
RAIN is presented on Broadway by Annerin Productions, Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.
For more information visit www.raintribute.com.
