(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles performing The Best of Abbey Road on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 8:00pm. In celebration of the anniversary of Abbey Road, RAIN will bring the greatest hits of this epic recording to life, in addition to all your Beatles favorites. Tickets range from $35-$95.
This mind-blowing performance takes audiences back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is “the next best thing to seeing the Beatles” (Associated Press). The RAIN cast includes Steve Landes, Paul Curatolo, Aaron Chiazza, Alastar McNeil, and Mark Beyer.
Steve Landes (vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, piano, Original Broadway Cast) is a life-long Beatles fan, who taught himself guitar at 10, 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.
Paul Curatolo (vocals, bass, piano, guitar) The Beatles became Curatolo’s biggest influence as a child growing up with RAIN. At 10-years-old, his musical journey began when he taught himself the drums. He quickly adapted to guitar and piano which drove him to write and record his own music. When he was 14, as a member of the pop band, Wayward, he went on to record five albums.
Aaron Chiazza (drums, percussion, vocals) began playing music at the young age of five when his parents gifted him a drum set. This drum set did not last long under the strength of a kindergartner and eventually he moved into a full-size instrument by early elementary school. Early yet important musical influences stemmed from a blend of past era funk, soul, jazz, rock, and others. From there he went on to study music in an academic setting through high school and college participating in jazz, symphonic, and percussion ensembles.
Alastar McNeil (vocals, lead guitar, guitar synth) was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, in the state of Hawaii, where he grew up surrounded by musicians who played ukulele and guitar. These instruments would play a pivotal role in his life as he became an ukulele luthier—for a time supervising a local factory—and eventually changed careers to fulfill the dream of being a full-time musician. He and his wife Miwa (a kihoʻalu or Hawaiian slack key guitarist) have played with the iconic band Kupaʻāina for years even as he earned a solid reputation for his instrumentation and adaptability playing with Honolulu bands doing everything from Irish to reggae, funk to classic rock and even a local Beatles tribute.
Mark Beyer (keyboard, percussion) began piano lessons at age eight, and at 12 was accepted into a local university music school where he was privately trained in piano and music theory. At 14, he began experimenting with electronic keyboards and synthesizers from the 1970s and played professionally in a progressive rock band. As keyboard technology advanced, Beyer became known for his uncanny reproductions of elaborate sound textures, exotic instruments, and simulations of full orchestras. Beyer is the primary programmer and sound designer for the keyboards currently used in RAIN’s production.
For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey has reopened and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater including newly renovated lobbies, all new restrooms, upgraded HVAC systems, a new elevator for access to all levels, and brand-new theater seats. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of 2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed online.
Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six million people through its doors since reopening as a non-profit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
