Chris Van Cleave and Friends to Play Fallon House Theatre, 10/13

Chris Van Cleave and friends from the cast of Sierra Rep's Mark Twain's A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage will present an evening of acoustic music at the Fallon House Theatre on Monday, October 13 at 7 p.m. Van Cleave returns to the Sonora, Columbia area after visiting his grandmother here in 1973. He will premier a new song inspired by that memory at his concert, which will also feature eclectic styles of music, from light rock to country to folk. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for children and are available for purchase online at www.sierrarep.org or by calling the Sierra Repertory Theatre Box Office at 209-532-3120.

"I place no restrictions on my songwriting," Van Cleave said. "I've explored musical theater, gospel, rhythm and blues, folk, rock, jazz, country."

Among his influences he credits The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Dylan Song, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, and Dan Fogelberg. In the theatre world, Van Cleave played leading roles in Chess and Les Miserables on London's West End and starred in national tours of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. But what his music often shares is a larger point of view regarding universal truths and a compassionate, positive support for the human condition.

"I see the potential role for the communicative arts as being the business of building bridges that connect each other's hearts," Van Cleave said.

The singer-songwriter shares his birthplace with rock legend Buddy Holly and began singing professionally at age 16. Eric Worden of Port Folio Weekly wrote, "Van Cleave's voice is clear and expressive, providing fertile ground for his lush lyrical landscape....With a range that slides easily from bass to tenor." According to KAFR 99.1's Francis Bo O'Connell, Van Cleave's music is rich with metaphors and "ear-pleasing poetry. The overall sound is a meditative, often thought-provoking blend of sounds and insights, refreshing and quite rare these days." "His kind of country is smooth, with meaningful lyrical lines blended with strong melodies," wrote Alan Cackett of the Kent Messenger. "His songs have an optimistic edge to them, taking the stance that this world is a good place to be."

In 1972, Van Cleave and fellow musician/actors Laura Branigan and Walker Daniels (the original lead in Broadway's Hair) formed the folk-rock group Meadow and were signed by Paramount Records. An album (The Friend Ship) and two singles were released in 1973. A musical commentary on life from beginning to end, The Friend Ship was enthusiastically reviewed by the major trade publications, including Record World, Cash Box, and Variety.

In addition to his initial major label releases, Van Cleave independently produced eight albums: Christmas Presence, Journeys With The Heart In Mind, Stalkin' A Country Smile, See Beyond, Rise Above, Troubadour Knight (a multi-media musical performed as a one-man show in the completion of his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Virginia), and The Davidson Affair (the score for a rock-gospel musical premiered at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk followed by performances in England and Holland).

Van Cleave has performed in most of the United States, the Virgin Islands, Great Britain, Norway, Canada and The Netherlands. He has collaborated with such well-known artists as Suzi Quatro, Barry Mason (songwriter for numerous hits by Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck), flautist Tim Wheater (original member of The Eurhythmics), Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds, and Louis Cenamo of Renaissance. Since his return to America in 1992, in addition to many concerts, he has opened for Kansas, Poco, Eric Burden, Brian Auger, Leon Russell, and Buckwheat Zydeco.

Sierra Rep music director Mark Seiver and cast members from Murder, Mystery, Marriage will join Van Cleave on stage for the concert located at 11175 Washington Street in Columbia. Mark Twain's A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage plays Wednesdays through Sundays at Sierra Rep's Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park. For more information on the Sierra Rep production or Chris Van Cleave's concert, visit www.sierrarep.org or call 209-532-3120.

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