Is Coming to the Marcus Center’s Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall€¦ · Both Roger Daltrey and Pete...

Contact:MollySommerhalder

Phone:414-273-7121x399msommerhalder@marcuscenter.org

TheHillBenders’

Tommy:ABluegrassOpry

IsComingtotheMarcusCenter’sWilsonTheateratVogelHall

Wednesday,November9at7:30pm

TicketsOnSalethisFriday,August19

l-r:MarkCassidy,NolanLawrence,GaryRea,Chad(Gravy)Graves,JimRea.PhotoCredit:MaranieStaab

MILWLAUKEE,WI-Forty-fiveyearsafteritsinitialrelease,TheWho’srockoperaTommyhasbeentransformedbyTheHillbendersintoafull-lengthbluegrasstributewithalloftheoriginalrecord’senergy,instrumentalshowmanship,androckstarvocalsintact.SeethisperformanceliveattheWilsonTheateratVogelHallforonenightonlyonWednesday,November9at7:30pm.TicketsgoonsalethisFriday,August19at12:00pmattheMarcus

CenterBoxOfficeandare$25.Ticketscanbepurchasedinpersonat929NorthWaterStreet,byphoneat414-273-7206oronlineatMarcusCenter.orgorTicketmaster.com.Originallyrecordedwithafullrockband,thedynamicbluegrassquintetrecreatedthelegendaryalbumwithabanjo,Dobro,mandolin,bass,andguitar.The“BluegrassOpry,”asitsbeendubbed,bringsanewperspectivetoTommywhilepayinghomagetoitscreators.BothRogerDaltreyandPeteTownshend,foundingmembersoftheWho,haveseentheshowandendorsedit.TheHillBenders'studioalbumof‘Tommy:ABluegrassOpry’debutedat#3onBillboard'sBluegrassChart.ThebandhasjustreturnedfromaUKtourwheretheypresentedtheshowtoitshomeaudienceatsomeofthemostprestigiousmusicfestivalsandvenuesinEurope.SXSWco-founderandmusician/producerLouisJayMeyersconceivedtheideaofa“bluegrassopry”andfelthe’dfoundtherightbandtopulloffthishigh-wireapproachtotherecordwhenhemetTheHillbenders,abandknownforitsabilitytobridgethegapbetweenmusicalgenresandfans.Theliveperformanceisafull75-minuteshowcoveringtheoriginalalbumfromstarttofinish.

“MoreproofthatprettymuchanythinggoesatSXSW?HowaboutareimagingofTheWho’sTommyasABluegrassOpry.(TheHillBenders’)ambitiouslyandaudaciouslyrenderedversionof

Tommyinitsentiretywaswellworthstandingintheraintohear.”

– Billboard(GaryGraff,3-22-15)

“TheHillBenders...provedtobetheperfectgrouptoexecutethis"Whograss"concept”–RollingStone,“50BestThingsWeSawatSXSW”

“Itwasaphenomenalandbrilliantlyexecutedhomagetotheclassicrockopera.”

– Raleigh,NC’sNews&Observer(DavidMenconi,3-22-15)

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Establishedin1969,theMarcusCenterforthePerformingArtsisthepremierperformingartsvenueinSoutheasternWisconsin.AstheMarcusCentermovesintoits46thyear,itcontinuestosetthestandardforhigh-qualityartsentertainmentintheregionandthestate.ThetouringBroadwayseriesisrecognizedasbringingthebestofBroadwayentertainmenttoMilwaukeeforthepast19years.TheMarcusCenterisalsothehometotheMilwaukeeSymphony,MilwaukeeBallet,FlorentineOpera,FirstStageplusavarietyofotherimportantcommunityandfamilyeventsthroughouttheyear.FormoreinformationabouteventsvisittheMarcusCenterwebsiteatwww.MarcusCenter.org.TheMarcusCenterisaprivate501(c)3corporation.

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