Straight No Chaser Plays PlayhouseSquare, 12/15

STRAIGHT NO CHASER, the quirky male a cappella group who became a YouTube sensation with their "The 12 Days of Christmas" video, make their first PlayhouseSquare appearance with a December 15th concert at 8 pm in the State Theatre. Tickets go on sale beginning at 10 am, Friday, Oct. 15th at www.playhousesquare.org, the Ticket Office or at 216-241-6000. Prices will be $35, $30, and $25.

Straight No Chaser began as an Indiana University singing group in 1996 and found its first success playing around the Chicago area and opening for singer Lou Rawls before finally touring the country, sought after by such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall.

The viral success of their YouTube "The 12 Days of Christmas" video landed the ten-member Straight No Chaser a five-album record deal in 2008. Their first release, Holiday Spirits, included the catchy, comic "12 Days" song with its touches of "I Have a Little Dreidel" and Toto's "Africa."

Although the group's name was inspired by Thelonious Monk's 1967 album, they have capitalized on the American slang of "straight...no chaser" drink order, by titling subsequent albums Six Pack, Christmas Cheers and With a Twist. Straight No Chaser has now sold over 500,000 albums and entertained at hundreds of sold out concerts.