December Shows Announced At The Moonlight Amphitheatre

Moonlight Presents offers two holiday events in December at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. Sponsored by Dr. Bronner's, the shows include the Doo Wop Project Christmas, featuring stars of Broadway's "Jersey Boys" and "Motown: the Musical," on Sat., Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Amongst the singers is San Diego native Charl Brown who began his musical theatre journey as a student at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. He would go on to appearing in a number of shows locally, including The Moonlight's "Ragtime" in 2002, before going on to Broadway. Tickets are priced $15 - $40. On Sat., Dec. 8, experience the holiday favorite "Home Alone" on a big screen with pre-movie activities including a snow play area for the kids. Tickets are $5 or $10. Both shows are on sale now through VisTix at moonlightstage.com and by phone at (760) 724-2110.

Three parts "Jersey Boys," two parts "Motown: The Musical," and "not your grandma's doo wop," these five charismatic, handsome, triple-threat Broadway stars-with their hot five-piece band-tear it up with musicality, dancing, and showmanship not found with any other group in the world. They "re-doo" classic Doo Wop songs from the '50s and '60s and make them sound fresh and new. They perform doo wop versions of contemporary pop hits by stars like Jason Mraz, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Maroon 5, and in between they sprinkle in some "doowopified" Christmas classics.

The Doo Wop Project Christmas consists of:

Dominic Nolfi

Dominic recently performed on Broadway in Chazz Palminteri's "A Bronx Tale - The Musical," directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks. As an original cast member of "A Bronx Tale," "Motown: The Musical" (Grammy nominated) and "Jersey Boys" (Grammy Award for Best Cast Album), he can be heard on all three soundtracks. Dominic also performed in the World Premiere productions of "A Bronx Tale" and "Jersey Boys" at the Paper Mill Playhouse and the La Jolla Playhouse, respectively.
Dwayne Cooper

Dwayne (The Bass) is from Florence, SC and currently lives in New York City. He first began singing with a Christian a cappella group called "The Cunningham Singers." Often referred to as a modern day Sammy Davis, Jr. meets Barry White, he is what the industry calls a "triple threat" and has performed in the Broadway casts of "Motown: The Musical," "Hairspray," and several national tours, including "Smokey Joe's Café" and "Showboat."

Charl Brown

A native of San Diego, Charl originated the role of Smokey Robinson in "Motown: The Musical," garnering a nomination for a 2013 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical on Broadway. He is also featured on the Grammy nominated Original Broadway Cast recording, and recently returned from six months in London's West End reprising his Smokey Robinson role. In 2014, Charl worked with legendary composer Steven Schwartz playing the role of Adam/Noah in "Children of Eden" at the Kennedy Center. His San Diego credits include productions at The Moonlight (the 2002 production of "Ragtime"), San Diego Musical Theatre, and Starlight. He started his musical theatre journey as a student at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts in grades eight through 12.

Sonny Paladino

Sonny served as Music Supervisor for the Broadway musical "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812," as well as Music Director for the Broadway revival of "Smokey Joe's Café." Sonny's recent credits include: Associate Conductor, "The Last Ship" (written by 16 time Grammy Award winner, Sting), and the Tony-winning revival of "Pippin." Other Broadway credits include "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Billy Elliot," "Grease," "Priscilla - Queen of the Desert," "Guys and Dolls," "Mamma Mia," "Promises, Promises," "The Addams Family," and "Women on the Verge."

Russell Fischer

Standing five-foot-six with a tenor voice and falsetto range, Fischer landed the role of Joe Pesci in the Broadway company of "Jersey Boys" on his 22nd birthday, marking his Broadway debut. He spent the next six years as an understudy for the role of Frankie Valli as well. Fischer starred in the second national tour of "Big: The Musical" as Billy Kopecki. His regional credits include Jimmy Smith in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Tommy Djilas in "The Music Man" at Chautauqua Opera, the American premiere of "Children of Eden" at Papermill Playhouse, and Tommy Swank in "Baby Fat, Act 1: A Rock Opera" based on Verdi's "Rigoletto" at LaMama Experimental Theater Club in Manhattan.

Dominic Scaglione Jr.

Dominic was most recently seen in the starring role of Frankie Valli in "Jersey Boys" on Broadway - on an eight-year run. He has also played Frankie in the Las Vegas and Chicago companies. He performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show and was personally asked by Frankie Valli to sing at his New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Early on in his career, Dominic was a member of the Sony music group called Sygnature and toured with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, Robin Thicke and Boyz 2 Men.

"Home Alone" is the 1990 holiday hit that has become a December favorite. When bratty eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O'Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home. The film was written by John Hughes, directed by Christopher Columbus, and it features a beloved soundtrack by John Williams including the now popular holiday song "Somewhere in My Memory."

"Home Alone" will be shown on a big screen and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for pre-movie activities, including a snow play area inside the theatre for kids. Bundle-up for this outdoor movie; lots of hot chocolate will be for sale at the theatre's Luna Café.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Dr. Bronner's, more than 250 children and their families from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Vista and Oceanside will be able to enjoy this special event at The Moonlight.

For more information on these December shows, visit moonlightstage.com, or call (760) 724-2110.

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