bergenPAC Adds English Beat, Bob Newhart, Sha Na Na & More to 2014-15 Lineup

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood New Jersey announces new shows for everyone!, see legendary comedian, Bob Newhart on Sunday, June 29, The English Beat with Special Guest Smalltown Scoundrels Wednesday, July 23rd and new shows for 2015 include Sha Na Na (The Music of Grease) - January 23 and Mummenschanz on Friday, January 30th ... all these greats shows go on sale on Friday April 11, 2014 at 11am be sure to reserve your tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030.

As a stand-up comedian, Bob Newhart explored the absurdities of everyday life with an underplayed delivery and gentle stammer that earned him three Grammys and the first comedy album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts. His unique brand of humor translated well to television, where he starred in two of the best-loved sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s - the Emmy-nominated "The Bob Newhart Show" (CBS, 1972-78) and "Newhart" (CBS, 1982-1990). While getting along in years, he also experienced something of a career surge in the 1990s with roles in feature film comedy hits like "In and Out" (1997), "Legally Blonde 2" (2003), and "Elf" (2003), as well as an Emmy-nominated dramatic turn on "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009 ) in 2004 - earning a new generation of fans who had neither seen nor heard of his two beloved sitcoms at the time they were ratings winners.

One of the earliest and most important ska revivalist groups, Birmingham's the Beat formed in 1978 (the band had to change its name to the English Beat in the U.S. to avoid confusion with Paul Collins' band of the same name). The band carved a distinct sound through the use of alternating lead vocals by guitarist Dave Wakeling and punk toaster/rapper Ranking Roger, supported by a tight band consisting of Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), and Everett Moreton (drums). The addition of 50-year-old saxophonist Saxa, who originally played with Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker, gave the band credibility and fleshed out its sound. An opening spot for the Selecter led to the band's signing to 2-Tone, where they released the hit single "Tears of a Clown," a wonderful version of the Smokey Robinson classic. In 1980, the band decided to form its own 2-Tone-inspired label, Go-Feet (distributed by Arista). A string of hit singles followed in the U.K., including "Mirror in the Bathroom." Their debut LP, I Just Can't Stop It, combined the early hits with other pop/ska-oriented material. "Stand Down Margaret," with its anti-Thatcher stance, found the band moving in a more political direction, leading to several benefit gigs for "radical" causes. Musically, the Beat slowed down the tempo for a more traditional reggae sound showcased on 1981's Wha'ppen. This direction failed to bring the chart success of its predecessor. Featuring a more pop-oriented approach, 1982's Special Beat Service helped the band increase its U.S. fan base through MTV exposure of "Save It for Later" and "I Confess," but the band members decided to call it quits early the following year. Wakeling and Ranking Roger went on to form General Public, and Cox and Steele formed Fine Young Cannibals.

Infusing and combining different styles of music, they strive to blur the line of 'genre' and in some cases, reinvent that concept. Their 'New Jerzey drive' and passion is fueled by the love of making music and an itch to produce something diverse, exciting, and layered. Influenced by the music they grew up on and been exposed to throughout our different lives, they've blended their rich musical tastes into a sound that defines us and sounds pretty damn good. Hopefully it's music that you'll enjoy just like we do.

SHA NA NA brings their rock & roll celebration to town in a dynamic, crowd pleasing show that includes highlights of their four decade journey from WOODSTOCK, the movie GREASE, THE SHA NA NA TV SHOW and their world wide concert touring. In an interactive show where the audience sings along, dances along and participates in a "Greaser Olympics, a good time is had by all ages. Hey all you greasers, teen angels and party dolls: twist, stroll and hand jive to the classics as performed by the crowned princes of doo-wop and rock & roll, Sha Na Na.

Sha Na Na may not have invented rock nostalgia, but the group has successfully - very successfully - celebrated the music and the memories for the past four decades... in concert, in the movies and on TV, and on record.

Sha Na Na's story is an all-encompassing one: they were in the original Woodstock Festival lineup, starred in "Grease", hosted the "Sha Na Na" TV series for four years, and still play more than 50 concerts a year, from state fairs, performing art centers, casino showrooms to mega corporate functions world wide.

And through it all - flower power, hard rock, metal music, disco, hip hop, rap and more - Sha Na Na remains true to the original concept: rock & roll is here to stay!

The Sha Na Na story begins oddly for a group that, in appearance, runs the gamut from greaser to gold lame. Attired in turtleneck and blue blazers, the nucleus of Sha Na Na were undergraduate members of The Kingsmen, a glee club ensemble at New York's Columbia University that used to perform a cappella versions of 50s rock songs as part of the performances.

These proved very popular and eventually rock & roll took over, instruments were added and Sha Na Na - the name comes from the 50s Silhouettes' hit, "Get A Job" - was born.

Mummenschanz is a Swiss mask theater troupe who perform in a surreal mask- and prop-oriented style. Founded in 1972 by Bernie Schürch, Andres Bossard (August 9, 1944 - March 25, 1992), and the Italian-American Floriana Frassetto, the group became popular for its play with bizarre masks and forms, light and shadow, and their subtle choreography.

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