A tribute to the Beatles will come to Mansfield, Ohio’s Renaissance Theatre on Saturday, September 29th for a night saluting the legendary music of the Fab Four. Presented as a part of the Avita Health System Concert Series, BritBeat will perform all of the greatest hits of the Beatles starting at 8 PM on the stage of the Ren.
BritBeat – ‘A Multimedia Concert Journey Through Beatles Music History’ tells the story of the Beatles from their early days at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, their dynamic debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, the attendance-busting concert at Shea Stadium, onward to the psychedelic Sgt. Pepper era and finally, the later years of Abbey Road and the White Album.
The entire concert plays to the backdrop of immersive and captivating moving multimedia that intertwines with the moods and emotions of the Beatles’ iconic music catalog.
Dedicated to offering a unique and different look into the music and history of the Beatles, BritBeat is more than a tribute band, it is a theatrical event. The show progresses through Beatles music history from its beginnings, to its ultimate end in 1969, with dynamic set changes and multiple costume changes. The constantly evolving show is designed to evoke the excitement and passion of the Beatles influence on the shapes and sounds of the 1960s.
The show is fun, thought provoking, energized and a captivating journey of the Beatles evolution and impact on pop culture in the turbulent sixties.
BritBeat was born in a high school vision by Chris Getsla as a freshman at Glenbrook South High School, after being honored on national television by President Bill Clinton at the 1997 State of the Union Address. In a private White House ceremony following the address Chris met with President Clinton and the two discussed their passions for music, the President with his saxophone and Chris with his voice and guitar. After that meeting and inspired by words from the President, Chris came back to Glenview, Illinois determined to start his own band, BritBeat, and pay tribute to his favorite group, the Beatles.
From its humble beginnings as a high school variety show band onto its first professional shows after high school, BritBeat has become, over 15 years, an international touring show with over 1000 performances worldwide. BritBeat has performed to a vast array of audiences and been privileged to perform on many stages with a virtual who’s who of sixties rock history.
BritBeat’s current cast have been together for six years and is comprised of Chris Getsla as Paul McCartney, Eli Echevarria as John Lennon, Jeff Isoe as George Harrison, Greg Austin as Ringo Starr, Matt Kooi as keyboardist and Fred Whitfield in his optional role as Ed Sullivan.
Highlights of BritBeat’s touring history include performing with Herman’s Hermits, The Buckinghams, The Rascals, Jefferson Starship, Micky Dolenz, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Beach Boys, The Guess Who, The Grass Roots and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. As well, one of the Beatles actually performed with BritBeat at U.S. Cellular Field for the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles at Comiskey Park. That Beatle would be Pete Best, the drummer for the Beatles before Ringo Starr replaced him in 1962.
In 2014 BritBeat was chosen by the State of Indiana to recreate the 1964 concert by the Beatles at the Indianapolis State Fair. In the same building, on the same stage, with the same microphone used by the Beatles, BritBeat performed a 50th Anniversary Concert at the Indianapolis State Fair Coliseum for thousands of fans in attendance, many of whom had attended the 1964 concert there 50 years earlier. It was quote a moment for a band paying tribute to their musical icons.
Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now at the Renaissance Theatre Box Office, via phone at (419) 522-2726 and online at MansfieldTickets.com. This concert is presented with additional support from the Ohio Arts Council.
Source, Photo: Renaissance Performing Arts Association
