BLUES BROTHERS Show Comes To Marcus Center's Vogel Hall Thru 3/4

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is set to present The Official Blues Brothers Revue as part of the Off Broadway Series in Vogel Hall through March 4. Tickets are on sale at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Downtown Milwaukee, by phone at 414-273-7206 and online at www.MarcusCenter.org and Ticketmaster.com. Groups 10 or more save by calling 414-273-7121 ext. 210.

The Marcus Center talks about the show: "It almost seems like yesterday that brothers Jake and Elwood Blues - played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd - invited the world to join them on their 'mission from God'." The hit movie The Blues Brothers was a loveable tale of redemption about a pair of overage juvenile delinquents who set out to save the Catholic orphanage where they grew up from the tax man. In the film, they re-form their rhythm and blues band, The Blues Brothers, and organize a benefit concert to raise $5,000 to help "the Penguin" pay off the debt. But things didn't go quite according to plan for Jake and Elwood and their mission devolved into a journey of misadventure and mayhem. In the process Aykroyd and Belushi created one of best-loved movies of all time with some of the most extraordinary musical performances ever recorded on film."

It's that music that The Official Blues Brothers Revue is all about. The production is a blues show officially sanctioned by Dan Aykroyd and the John Belushi Estate.

After auditioning over 400 performers, Aykroyd and John Belushi's widow, Judith, hand-picked veteran blues artists Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty to play Jake and Elwood Blues.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue comes to the stage at the Marcus Center's Vogel Hall for a stage show that recreates the music of the Blues Brothers.

The show features Blues Brothers staples like She Caught The Katy, Shake A Tail Feather , Minnie The Moocher, Sweet Home Chicago , Messin' With The Kid, Rubber Biscuit, Soul Man, I Can't Turn You Loose and a host of other tunes from the five popular albums recorded by Belushi and Aykroyd.

A band of blues musicians and singers from the U.S. and Canada perform the music while Catania and Lafferty take center stage as Jake and Elwood.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue is produced for national tour by Springer Theatricals and is directed by Paul R. Pierce. The show is currently on a 60-city, coast-to-coast national itinerary.

Judith Belushi has been a hands-on member of the show's creative team, providing approval of scenic and costume designs and participating to the selection of key production personnel. An accomplished writer, graphic designer and artist, she met John Belushi at Wheaton Central High (IL) and began dating him during her sophomore year. They moved to New York in 1973 where Judy went to work for the National Lampoon and became associate producer for The National Lampoon Radio Hour. Judy and John Married in 1976 and remained together until John's untimely death on March 5, 1982.

Wayne Catania, who plays the eccentric Jake Blues, began his entertainment career in the mid 1970's as a drummer and vocalist touring rock and R&B bands and gradually established the compelling stage persona that is now his trademark. Writing and recording for movie soundtracks established him as a popular writer, drummer and vocalist. He is also an actor and can be seen in Relic Hunter, Doc and 15 Minute Death.

Kieron Lafferty plays the harmonica virtuoso Elwood Blues. As a kid, this Toronto musician/singer/songwriter sneaked into his father's nightclub and witnessed great groups like Sam & Dave, CCR and the Doors and spent his youth playing the blues, R&B and jazz circuits. He has released several CDs, including 'Sensible Religion' and 'Seven Sisters' and performed in several independent art films including the Sci-Fi musical Synchronicity and in A&E's Lost in Las Vegas.

Recently, Kieron and Wayne joined creative forces with Judy Belushi and Anne Beatts (Saturday Night Live) to write the pilot for a television show based on the continuing adventures of Jake and Elwood.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue will be at the Marcus Center's Vogel Hall through March 4. Tickets are $45. Tickets are available at the Marcus Center box office by calling 414-273-7206 or by going to www.MarcusCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com. Groups 10 or more save by calling 414-273-7121 ext. 210.

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