Theater Watch: Singing, Dancing and Even Some Comedy

Singing, dancing, comedy—Count Basie has it all this week with performances by Peter Frampton, The Performing Arts Academy Spring Showcase and Bobby Collins.

Peter Frampton, legendary guitar master, celebrates the 35th anniversary of his first albumFrampton Comes Alive at the Count Basie on Wednesday, June 15th.  Frampton was associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd in his early career. He has also performed with artists such as David Bowie, and members of the band Pearl Jam.

Frampton Comes Alive, released in 1976, was his fifth solo release, and is considered to be his breakthrough album.  The album sold nearly six million copies in the United States and is regarded as the best selling live album ever. His latest album, Thank You Mr. Churchill, was released in 2010.

Frampton has also had numerous cameos in popular TV shows. He has appeared as himself on The Simpsons, Family Guy and the Colbert Report. He also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey show as one of Oprah’s favorite musicians.

On Thursday, June 16th, Count Basie presents the Performing Arts Academy Spring Showcase. The Count Basie Theatre’s Performing Arts Academy is the educational program run by Count Basie Theatre. It offers classes and workshops with professionals for aspiring actors, musicians and dancers of all ages.

The classes are held in winter, spring, summer and fall as give students the chance to improve on performance basics, auditioning techniques and communication skills. It also offers educational workshops on screenwriting, songwriting and much more. The showcase is an end of term performance that gives students an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience.

On Friday, June 17th, Count Basie welcomes Bobby Collins, the “number one comedian requested and played on XM/Sirius radio.” Collins, a native New Yorker, has been described by the New York Post as “a perfect fusion of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.”  He has done cable specials, feature film roles and comedy CDs.

Collins is an American Comedy Award Best Male Stand-Up winner, and has also been nominated for a Grammy for his second CD Out of Bounds. Collins considers him a storyteller who uses everyday observations to keep his audiences laughing out loud.

Collins has hosted a number of TV specials on comedy. He was the host of VH-1’s Stand Up Spotlight, A&E’s Evening at the Improv and Showtime’s A Pair of Jokers.  He has toured with Cher, Julio Iglesias, Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett. His latest DVD, Bobby Collins: Live From New York City, was released in 2008.

On Sunday, June 19th, celebrate Father’s Day at the Two River Theater with the Third Annual Jazzy Father’s Day Brunch and Celebration of Men, presented by Frank Talk Bistro and Books.  There are two chances to celebrate with a bunch or dinner seating.  

The celebration will feature and art exhibit with Sulaiman Onque and his son, Rahhiem Ervin. The day will also feature music by The Gambone Project and an inspiring talk by keynote speaker Mr. Darryl Walls, CEO of MINDS.  There will also be an exclusive, limited edition Miles Davis portrait by Gina Nelson valued at $400 as the door prize. It is sure to be a day that families and fathers won’t forget.

For information and tickets on any of the shows at Count Basie, check outhttp://www.countbasietheatre.org/

To celebrate with Dad, head over to http://www.franktalkartbistroandbooks.com/ orhttp://www.trtc.org/index.php to grab tickets.

• Wednesday, June 15th, 2011: Peter Frampton, 8pm at Count Basie
• Thursday, June 16th, 2011: Count Basie Performing Arts Academy Spring Showcase at 6:30pm
• Friday, June 17th, 2011: Bobby Collins, 8pm at Count Basie
• Sunday, June 19th, 2011: Third Annual Jazzy Father’s Day Brunch and Celebration of Men brunch from 11:00am-2pm or dinner from 3:30 to 6:30pm at Two River Theatre