RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles Returns to the Pantages Theatre Thru 4/17

RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand to Hollywood's historic Pantages Theatre, where they enjoyed astounding success during their special one week engagement in 2009. RAIN will play the Pantages for the final time on April 17, 2011.

Together longer than The Beatles themselves, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary group, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance. From the early hits to later classics that The Beatles never got the chance to play live, this multi-media concert recaptures the era through all phases of The Beatles' astounding musical career.

They look like them and they sound just like them. RAIN covers the Fab Four from their very first Ed Sullivan Show appearance through the Abbey Road album, the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. For these longtime band members, the authenticity and quality of the music is, and always will be, first and foremost. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences.

The concert experience has been hailed "The next best thing to seeing The Beatles" by the Denver Post. "Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right...as The Beatles, they triumph!" cheers the Boston Herald. "An adoring Valentine to The Beatles," declares the Washington Post.

Now RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles has conquered Broadway - having made its Broadway debut this past October when it opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, marking the first time that the Beatles' music has been licensed on Broadway.

And when The Fort Worth Star-Telegram calls RAIN "Boomer Heaven," it's an accurate reporting of the crowds who flock to the theatre to cheer, remember, celebrate and sing along to such favorites as "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Come Together" and "Can't Buy Me Love," and to relive Beatlemania and a group of boys from Liverpool who changed the face of rock ‘n' roll forever.

It's difficult to believe that it has been more than four decades since The Beatles first came to America and that two of its members tragically left this world all too soon. Equally hard to believe is the fact that this band whose music touched so many millions of people around the world was only experienced live in concert by very few. Their final concert tour was in 1966, long before the release of many of their classic albums such as "Sgt. Pepper," "The White Album" and "Abbey Road." This left a tremendous void in the music world and concert halls which now has been filled by RAIN.

COME TOGETHER: RAIN FORMATION

The story of RAIN began in the mid 1970s when keyboardist Mark Lewis joined forces with four other local musicians who together formed the band that was originally called "Reign" and played throughout the Los Angeles/Orange County, CA area. With their mutual love for the music of The Beatles, Reign was in demand to play Beatles music and rode an enormous wave of nostalgia for the band that had broken up in 1970.

Before long they had built a strong devoted following in and around Los Angeles. Following numerous misspellings in the media and advertising, "Reign" became RAIN (also the title of a 1966 Beatles single). A big break came for RAIN when Dick Clark hired them to record the music for the 1979 made-for-TV movie Birth of the Beatles.

RAIN's intention was not just to cover Beatle songs, but to take it to a new level. To do songs that The Beatles had never performed live, and do them note-for-note, just like the records. At this time, ‘tribute bands' were non-existent.

The five band members now on Broadway (and who played the Pantages two years ago) are Joey Curatolo (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Joe Bithorn (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synthesizer), Ralph Castelli (vocals, drums, percussion), Steve Landes (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica) in 1998 and Mark Lewis, RAIN's founding member (keyboards, percussion).

For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. They approach The Beatles music with the same respect a classical musician treats classical music. They have worked hard for many years, studying each song, each note, each movement and nuance - both vocally and musically. Today, RAIN have a repertoire of over 200 Beatle songs.

RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles is produced by Annerin Productions, Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

Tickets for RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-ARTS(2787). Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street, and the box office opens daily at 10am.

The performance schedule for RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm.

Single tickets for RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles start at $25. Patrons are invited to visit www.BroadwayLA.org for up to date price information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

For more information on RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles, please visit www.RainTribute.com.

For more information about RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles' Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre's official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.

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