Pat Boone to entertain Sun City seniors Wednesday

Residents of Huntley's Sun City senior living community are gearing up for a visit next week from '50s-era pop musical icon Pat Boone.

The legendary crooner will perform his “Music and Memories” show, which includes songs, television and movie clips and personal reminiscences, Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the Drendl Ballroom and Theatre, 12711 Brookside Court at Sun City.

It's a big deal for the senior living community to draw an artist of Boone's caliber to perform there, said Ray Thomas, a staff member of the Sun City Community Association.

“We've had some nice names out here, but nothing like Pat ... especially in popularity with a long history of excellent performance,” said Thomas, who has never watched Boone perform live but has seen a lot of his movies and owned his records.

Boone, 78, has sold nearly 50 million albums during his recording career, including 11 platinum singles and two platinum albums, and holds the record for being on the Billboard charts for 220 consecutive weeks. He also starred in 15 films and hosted his own television variety show, “The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom.”

Adrian Brigham, marketing manager with Schaumburg-based The Continental Entertainment Group, who booked Boone, said his appearance at Sun City could pave the way for other notable stars to visit.

“They tend to bring in just local talent that isn't very expensive. They do a lot of tribute artists. That's what they are used to,” Brigham said. “Sun City now wants me to bring more famous names. We are agents for a dozen national/international acts. Pat is one of them. We work with a number of theaters around the country, and we work with some of these retirement communities.”

Brigham said the agency may bring in Boone's daughter, Debbie Boone, a singer and actress, and even try for '50s-era singer/actress/dancer Debbie Reynolds.

Thomas said he saw Reynolds perform in the Quad Cities a year ago at a much larger venue. It included audio and video clips of her past performances. He expects Boone's show will be similar.

“There's wonderful enthusiasm out here to see Mr. Boone (and) the fact that he's going to be doing a lot of reminiscing with the people about his past, intermingled with some of his hit songs,” he said.

Thomas said he's excited to be working Boone's matinee performance Wednesday.

Boone will perform at 1 and 7 p.m. Tickets for the evening show and an exclusive meet-and-greet with Boone are already sold out, and only 50 tickets remain for the matinee performance.

Only 25 people will get to interact with Boone up close during the meet-and-greet.

Yet, the entire show should be fairly intimate as the Drendl Ballroom and Theatre seats only 380 people. Boone will perform on a raised temporary stage at audience level, Thomas said.

Tickets are $43 at the door. For more information, call (847) 515-7773 or (847) 515-7650, or visit sccah.com.