Recoups Initial Investment – Special Holiday Performances Added Due To Overwhelming Demand Reopens At The Brooks Atkinson Theatre
(New York, NY – December 27) The producers of RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles On Broadway announced today that it has recouped its initial investment of $2million in seven weeks. Additionally, due to overwhelming demand RAIN has added three special holiday performances on Tuesday, December 28th at 2pm, Friday, December 31st at 2pm and Saturday, January 1st at 2pm. RAIN, which opened on October 26, 2010 at the Neil Simon Theatre will play its final performance there on January 15, 2010 before reopening at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W. 47th Street) on February 8, 2011.
The US national tour of RAIN resumes performances in Pittsburgh at the Heinz Hall on January 11, 2011. For full tour schedule and ticket information for the tour and the Broadway production please visit www.RainTribute.com.
Together longer than The Beatles themselves, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics that The Beatles never got the chance to play live, this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!
For the creators of RAIN – the original band – Joey Curatolo (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Joe Bithorn George Harrison (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synthesizer), Ralph Castelli (vocals, drums, percussion) and Steve Landes John Lennon (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica), all of whom performed in touring productions of the Broadway production of Beatlemania, the music is first and foremost. For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences. RAIN approaches The Beatles music with the same respect a classical musician treats Mozart.
Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right. In addition to members of the original RAIN band, at certain performances the concert will also feature the talents of Graham Alexander, Mark Beyer, Joe Bologna, Douglas Cox, Jim Irizarry, David Leon, Jimmy Pou, Mac Ruffing, Chris Smallwood and Tom Teeley.
The New York Times thinks The audience is enraptured. They get a chance to sing along, twist and shout, and generally make like swooning teenyboppers from the 1960s as the hits roll by and the endorphins kick in. While the New York Post says RAIN hits all the right notes! USA Today calls RAIN A trip down memory lane! and a Quick fix of nostalgic cheer! chimes Entertainment Weekly. RAIN is guaranteed to raise a smile! states the Star-Ledger, and TimeoutNY Kids agrees that As John Lennon would say, its a great way for kids and adults to come together!
Tickets for RAIN range from $25 – $120 (including a $1.50 facility fee) and can be purchased by visiting the Neil Simon box office (250 W. 52nd St), online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or calling 877-250-2929. The performance schedule is as follows: Monday at 8PM; Tuesday at 7PM; Thursday through Saturday at 8PM with a matinee Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 3PM and 7PM.
RAIN is presented on Broadway by Annerin Productions, Magic Arts & Entertainment, NewSpace and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.
www.raintribute.com
– Originally announced a limited engagement on Broadway through Jan 15th at the Neil Simon Theatre. The show was so successful (recouping its $2 million investment in only 7 weeks and continuing to be in the Top 10 list of highest grossing Broadway shows weekly) that they are moving to another theatre, the Brooks Atkinson, and resuming performances on Feb 8th for an extended Broadway engagement.
– The re-launching of the show at the Brooks happens around some key Beatles dates Feb 7, 1964 is when The Beatles arrived at JFK and Feb 9, 1964 was their historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. So in terms of the timeliness of these interviews, they come right before some of these big dates and that could be an interesting tie in.
– RAIN is a show that has been particularly receptive to families parents and grandparents bringing their children and grandchildren to share in their love for The Beatles. This could open up a whole other kind of program that could be interested in interviews (classic rock stations I am assuming being the leader in that respect). Three generations of Beatles fans are experiencing this show.
– RAIN is also one of the first EVER tribute bands. They have helped shape what it means to be a tribute band. RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences.
Steve Landes as John Lennon (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano, Harmonica)
A life-long, second-generation Beatles fan, Steve taught himself guitar at 10 listening to Beatles records and by 13 was fronting a Top 40 cover band in his native Philadelphia. At 17 he joined Beatlemania and further developed his musicianship, touring the world with the show. After passing the audition with the existing RAIN band members in 1998, his career was set. On one of his travels to England, he found himself at Liverpool’s Casbah Club, owned by pre-Ringo Beatles drummer Pete Best. Encouraged to get on stage, Steve belted out lead vocals to The Beatles rocker Slow Down, while Best sat in on drums. As a backup musician, Steve has performed alongside legendary sixties artists Peter Noone (Hermans Hermits), Joey Molland (Badfinger), Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and Tiny Tim. As an actor, he appeared in the films Wedding Bell Blues, For Which He Stands and Tim Burtons Mars Attacks! Steve writes and records his own original music. ?Visit Steve Landes’ Website, Facebook, MySpace
Joe Bithorn as George Harrison (Vocals, Lead Guitar)
Joe Bithorn grew up in Manhattan and Long Island where he was exposed to a variety of music including jazz, Latin, classical and more. By age 3, his musical father taught the children how to sing harmony. He was profoundly influenced by the experiences he had at Carnegie Hall through his Mom who worked with the Festival Casals. Thanks to The Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan, Joe took a strong interest in the guitar. Early influences include the band Cream and Joe developed the ability to learn guitar parts by ear by age 14. By age 16, Joe was so proficient that he was recruited for studio sessions. While in high school, Joe and his brother formed The Bithorn Brothers Band, performing the early music of the Allman Brothers Band. Joe heard about an audition for Beatlemania, and was hired for the touring production as George. After touring with the show in North America, Joe joined RAIN in 1983 and has been touring the world ever since.
