(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Rock n’ Roll Doo Wop Spectacular on Saturday, November 16, 2024 featuring Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Doo Wop Project, Bob Miranda & The Happenings, and E'Stefano DiSanto. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Headlining Rock n' Roll is Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. From the age of 15, Noone gained international fame as “Herman,” lead singer of Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits have sold more than 60 million records and include #1 singles “I’m Into Something Good,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” and “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.” Other hit singles are “Listen People,” “Silhouettes,” “Can’t You Hear my Heartbeat,” “A Must to Avoid,” “There’s a Kind of Hush,” and “No Milk Today.” In all, 14 singles and seven albums went gold, and the Hermits were twice named Cashbox’s “Entertainer of the Year.”
In the 1970s, Noone composed songs and produced records for David Bowie and Debby Boone; played the leading roles in full-scale theatrical productions of “Aladdin,” “Sinbad the Sailor” and, in the 1980s, stared on Broadway as the dashing hero Frederic in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Pirates of Penzance and then reprised the role at the world-famous Drury Lane Theatre in London. For four years, Noone was the host of VH1’s My Generation and the PBS Special, The British Invasion Returns. He was a guest star on many prime-time TV shows such as Married with Children, Quantum Leap, Too Close for Comfort, and starred in the recurring role of Paddington on the forever popular CBS Soap opera As the World Turns. In 2007, he sang “There’s a Kind of Hush” on American Idol and mentored the male contestants.
The Doo Wop Project will co-headline the show. PPS has televised the Doo Wop Project’s TV concert all over the country, raising audience awareness of their unique talent. Like their live show, the concert special gave a taste of the unparalleled authentic sound and vocal excellence in the group’s recreation of the greatest American hits in pop and rock history. The Doo Wop Project consists of five Broadway stars from smash hit shows like Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical. This supergroup of Broadway stars transforms hits from the classic and modern American pop songbook into unforgettable renditions of your favorite songs. This musical journey includes the hit-sounds of Motown (including The Temptations and Smokey Robinson) and classic East-Coast Pop royalty like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Dion. Concert goers will experience “DooWopified” versions of hit songs by more recent stars such as Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Garth Brooks, Maroon 5, and more.
Members of the Doo Wop Project include Dominic Nolfi, original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys, Motown The Musical, and A Bronx Tale; Charl Brown, Tony® Award nominee for his portrayal of Smokey Robinson in Motown: The Musical; Jersey Boys, Sister Act, and Hair; Dwayne Cooper, Motown: The Musical, Hairspray, and Smokey Joe’s Café; Russell Fischer, Jersey Boys, Big: The Musical; John Michael Dias, Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical; and Sonny Paladino, Musical Director for Pippin, The Great Comet, The Last Ship, Billy Eliot, A Beautiful Noise, and The Wanderer.
Also appearing are The Happenings. Featuring incredible original lead singer Bob Miranda, they continue to WOW audiences. Their 1966 and 1967 chart-topping hits “See You in September” (international #1 and still ranked in the top 100 “summer songs” in pop history) and “l Got Rhythm” were both gold records, as was “Go Away Little Girl” and “My Mammy.” They appeared on TV many times, including Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, the Smothers Brothers, and Merv Griffin. The audience will love Bob Miranda's stage showmanship and vocal prowess especially during his version of “Proud to be an American,” a tribute to veterans.
Opening the show is Estefano DiSanto. A Vegas headliner and frequently on "Best of" Las Vegas entertainer lists, he will sing songs from his Lost 45s album. His music has been dubbed “NEWWOP” by Cool Bobby V (Sirius Radio host), and the crowd will be singing and dancing along to songs like “Calendar Girl” and “Who Put the Bomp.”
Tickets range from $39-$89 and are available for purchase online or by calling State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469). 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 celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater. 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 nonprofit 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, Tom Jones, 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. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
