Rec Room Arts Continues Inaugural Season with DEAD ROCKSTAR SING-A-LONG CLUB

George Michael, 53, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963 in Finchley, North London, died December 25, 2016 and left the world broken-hearted. One of the greatest singers, songwriters, and pop sensations of our generation, his catchy, upbeat music demands that the listener move, dance, sing-along, foot-tap, shimmy/shake, and feel good.

Sharon Jones, 60, born May 4, 1956 in Augusta, Georgia, died November 18, 2016. She was the electric front woman of the Dap-Kings with a gritty, soulful voice and a mighty presence. Lovingly referred to as the female James Brown, her funky music floods the listener's soul and makes a person contemplate every relationship she's been in-the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Our part-concert/part-theatre memorial to both musical powerhouses will be held at Rec Room on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm starting Thurs., July 20th and running through Sat., August 12th with a preview on Wed., July 19th. These celebratory events will be open to the public, fun, and provocative. Presiding over the event will be actors/singers Wesley Whitson and Orlanders Jones and jazz singer Mahoganee Renee. The band includes Daleton J. Lee (Drums), Alex Smith (Sax & Keys), Gerardo Velasquez (Guitar) and Nathan Richardson (Bass).

Arrangements are being handled by director Matt Hune (Artistic Director Rec Room Arts), music director Abby Seible, and choreographer/assistant director Emma Singleton (currently featured in Rec Room Arts' THE RITE OF SPRING). The creative team includes lighting design by Greg Starbird (Mildred's Umbrella), set design by Justin Dunford (Horse Head Theatre), projections by Alex Ramos (Red House), and costume design by Maegan Fahy (HSPVA).

"DEAD ROCKSTAR is one very long, live music video," says director Matt Hune. "It's a celebration of music and storytelling," adds choreographer Emma Singleton. "And it brings so many different types of artists together. From musicians to actors to animators to dancers, it's a hugely collaborative process and the kind of work that Rec Room Arts has made its mission to nurture here in our community."

While last year's inaugural DEAD ROCKSTAR SING-A-LONG CLUB honored the music of Prince and Bowie, touching on the theme of grief in the modern age, this year's show is all abouT Loving and living and how those two things intersect. Audiences can expect a tangled web of love weaved on stage in a show that explores sexuality, relationships, make-ups and break-ups.

And yes, promises Hune, like last year, there will be songbooks.

Performances of DEAD ROCKSTAR SING-A-LONG CLUB are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. The bar opens for happy hour at 5 pm and stays open post-show until 12:00 am. General admission tickets are $20. Discounted tickets are available for students with a valid ID for $15. Opening night tickets are $30 and include champagne and an after party with the cast. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at recroomarts.org/dead-rock-star-1/.

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