FSPA's Electric Youth Presents 'Bon Voyage' Concert Tonight Before European Tour

Electric Youth (EY) 2015, the international touring ensemble of young singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), presents a Bon Voyage concert at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin tonight, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The performance comes just days before the ensemble departs for a two-and-a-half week concert tour of England and France. Backed by the eight-piece band of world-class musicians, Electric Youth delivers a fun, high-energy evening of family entertainment with an extensive range of contemporary pop, classic rock, Broadway and country hits for audiences all ages. The EY show at THE BLACK BOX will feature fully choreographed performances of the best of Adele, Aretha Franklin, Imagine Dragons, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz, Frank Sinatra, Styx and more.

The group's 12th European tour will feature three shows at Disneyland Paris and several concerts along the coast of Normandy. Performances in England will include a July 4th show for U.S. troops stationed at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell Air Force Bases and shows at Wimborne's Tivoli Theatre and in Arundel and Hastings. Electric Youth first debuted in England and France in 2013 and this season's itinerary marks a return to those countries after last summer's tour of Austria and Italy.

Selected annually by audition, the group is chosen for superior musicianship, stage presence, and triple threat accomplishments in voice, dance, and acting. This season's ensemble of performers, ages 15-17, studies multiple dance disciplines, voice, and acting at FSPA. Electric Youth 2015 includes Madison Asgeirsson, Adriane D'Amato, Kendra Dombroski, Jocelyn Jones, Shaina McGillis, Lauren Szczepanowski and Melissa Wyner of Franklin; Michael Fajardo of Hopkinton; Sam Evans of Medfield; Maddy Williams of Medway; Katie Gray of Milford; Kylee Rollins of North Attleboro; and Jenna McDermott, of Wrentham.

The EY singer-dancers are backed by Boston musicians who've performed, recorded and toured with such music legends as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Van Morrison. EY's show band features Kenny Hadley on drums, Bill Miele on bass, Artie Montanaro on trombone, Walter Platt on trumpet, Ken Reid on tenor saxophone, Ben Whiting on baritone saxophone, John Wilkins on guitar, and Raye Lynn Mercer on piano. Under the direction of Mark Poniatowski, musical arrangers for Electric Youth are Rick Hammett, Jeff Perry, Walter Platt, Poniatowski, Mark White and Ben Whiting. Hallie Wetzell is Electric Youth's Vocal Director. Choreographers include Mercer, Casey Andrade, Cheryl Madeux, Nick Paone and Kellie Stamp.

Electric Youth has released six professional CDs and toured Europe 11 times, with performances at England's Arundel Festival, Disneyland Paris, professional theaters in Bristol, London and Windsor, and such renowned venues as Sanremo's Ariston Theatre and Vienna's Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace. EY has also headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops and their families stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby, and Aviano Air Force Base. The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Mechanics Hall, the Smithsonian Museum Theater and the United Nations. EY's music, including the 2014 album, Power Chord, is available at amazon.com and iTunes.

Tickets for Electric Youth In Concert at THE BLACK BOX are $26. To purchase tickets, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin. For more information about Electric Youth, visit www.electricyouth.com.

Pictured: Electric Youth is pictured during the group's March 2015 concert at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin.

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