American Classics Performs 'Songs From After The War' Two Shows In Greater Boston

American Classics is the Greater Boston area's only performing organization dedicated solely to both the scholarship and enjoyment of American music. Since their first season in 1995, every concert blends vocal and instrumental music in a musical journey. Critics have called American Classics concerts "pure delight" (Lloyd Schwartz) and hailed them as "people you want to hear" (The Boston Globe).

For their 2018-2019 season, American Classics observed the centenary of the end of World War I with Irving Berlin's World War I soldier show, YIP YIP YAPHANK! in November 2018. Next up, SONGS FROM AFTER THE WAR featuring Bradford Conner, Jean Danton, Michelle DeLuise, Dan Prior, and Benjamin Sears on Friday, February 15 (7:30 pm) at First Parish Church, Bedford, MA. and Sunday, February 17 at 3 PM at Longy School of Music. In the spring, they will return to the stage with another great cast featuring Eric Bronner, Amelia Broome, Bradford Conner, Christina English, Caryn May, Benjamin Sears, and Steve Sussman to celebrate George M. Cohan 2019 REVUE on Friday, April 26 (7:30 pm in Bedford and Sunday, April 28 at 3 pm in Cambridge

The end of World War 1 created euphoria in the nation which lasted through the "Roaring Twenties." Songwriters felt it, too, and after four years of war songs now we were getting songs that were cheery, optimistic. Some were about life after the war such as I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now and How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)? Songs like Swanee and I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time were about positive things, not gloom and doom. Just plain silly songs came back in fashion, one of the most famous being Yes! We Have No Bananas. Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern were popular, and George Gershwin's career was beginning. The nation felt good, and its songs felt good. The spirit of these songs is needed now, not as a distraction but as a reminder that a spirit of optimism is always timely.

Seven decades after his death George M. Cohan remains synonymous with Show Business. Actor, singer, playwright, songwriter, director, producer, Cohan did it all and did it better than anyone else. "Yankee Doodle Boy," "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway," "Little Johnny Jones" and "Harrigan" are just the beginning of the list of Cohan's greats to be heard.

Tickets for all performances are $25 and $20 students and seniors For more information visit www.amclass.org or call American Classics at. 617-254-1125.

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