Take a Music Break with Five By Design’s Club Swing!

Are you a fan of the Big Band Era? 

Whether you danced to the songs in their heyday or you just love the Big Band sound, you’ll love Five by Design’s Club Swing at the Fox CitiesPerforming Arts Center October 4.

The doors are about to close on Hotel Crosby, a venue inspired by legendary landmarks like The Stork Club, The Copa and The Cocoanut Grove. But even as the lights go down, you’ll enjoy music from the rise and fall of an era. Hear for yourself why music like "In the Mood," “Cocktails for Two,” “Mona Lisa” and the unforgettable “Sing, Sing, Sing” will live on forever!

Great seats are still available! Call the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office at (920) 730-3760 or purchase your seats at foxcitiespac.com!

Show & Tell: In The Mood

In 1940, the song at the top of the American charts was Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”, and today, Bud Forrest’s concert extravaganza by the same name is successfully crossing the country in its eighteenth international tour. In the Mood presents audiences with a full program by the String of Pearls Orchestra in collaboration with the In The Mood Singers & Dancers.

In just the first act, the performers showcased a variety of classic tunes, both upbeat and sentimental, which portrayed the time period beautifully and captured the whim of the audience. Despite minor technical issues, the instrumentalists and dancers performed with great energy and the interspersed narration assured a smooth flow between numbers. The singers and dancers were very engaging and even involved audience in “Hey! Ba Ba Re Bop”. Unexpectedly the String of Pearls Orchestra also participated in some of the visual performance aspects of the show, as they “danced” along with their instruments and marched through the audience.

The second act focused on the war taking place in the early ‘40s, and had a bit of a story woven through to keep the songs cohesive. An air of entertainment was certainly kept up, as humorous songs like “What Do You Do In the Infantry” and the crowd-pleaser “Say That We’re Sweethearts Again” were interjected between more serious numbers. One portion of the show was dedicated to honoring current and former members of the United Sates military, as the orchestra and singers performed the anthems of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while recognizing the respective members of the audience.

Overall, the singers, dancers, and musicians celebrated America with patriotic entertainment and without a doubt got the audience in the mood!

Show & Tell: In the Mood

Well, hi-dee-ho! I had the privilege of heading to a real humdinger of a show last night.

In the Mood transported its audience to another time and place. From the moment I walked in the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and viewed the simple and traditional bandstand set to its last soulful notes, it was as if I had stepped back in time to the 1940s. The performance was filled with historical references, '40s vernacular, as well as a wide variety of gorgeous, relevant costumes. Throughout the show, I could almost see a family in 1940, circled comfortably around their radio, enraptured by the smooth sounds of swing and jazz and interspersed with the mellow voice of the announcer. In addition to being an era when our country was united by the passions and fears of war, it was the last decade that the United States was also united by their love of the same music style.

The thirteen piece band brought a lot of fun to the performance and were astoundingly talented, even occasionally switching instruments from song to song. And really, who can't fall in love with a band that includes a stand-up bass? Each musician was given their chance to shine, but the audience seemed especially smitten with the drummer, who wowed the group with his stellar drum solos and jazzy riffs.

The singers and dancers were wonderful as well. Their harmonies were "heavenly", just as the MC promised us from the beginning. Each one was also more than capable of standing on their own to solo. Their performance included more than one laugh-out-loud moment, and at times they left the audience in stitches. But they weren't just pleasing to the ears, their swing dancing was fun to watch and performed with incredible skill. The cast could Charleston and jitterbug with the best. A few minor technical difficulties with their mics didn't phase them at all, and their professionalism shined through.

In the Mood covered a wide variety of the decades songs and styles, including Latin rhythms, country, polka, and patriotic numbers. Some of my personal favorites were "At Last", made most famous by Etta James, performed as a tender duet; "Hey! Ba Ba Re Bop", which the audience was invited to heartily participate in; "Say That We're Sweethearts Again", which had the entire audience rolling; and, my favorite swing song, "Sing, Sing, Sing", always a hit. But the most touching musical moment of the night was definitely when the cast honored service men and women in the audience by having them stand and singing the anthem of each branch of the United States military.

As an enthusiastic member of the audience, I have to include the fact that I appreciate In the Mood filling in unexpectedly after an unexpected schedule change. I don't think anyone in the audience was sorry for the switch!

In the Mood was a fun and refreshing look back in time. If it makes its way through the Fox Cities P.A.C. again, make your plans to attend. It will really flip your lid- and how!

In The Mood for Soup?

The weather forecast for Saturday, October 15 looks like it will be perfect for Appleton Downtown, Inc.’ annual Soup Walk. Are you in the mood from some tasty samples?

From noon until 4:00 p.m., spend your day on College Avenue trying all of the latest creations. Then, vote for your favorite soup October 15-19 for a chance to win two tickets to In The Mood, a heartwarming 1940s musical revue at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 21.

For more information on In The Mood, visit foxcitiespac.com!