Making Moments to Remember
The Silvertones seem perfectly at home in the knotty pine great room of the Wheaton Park District Leisure Center. An upright piano stands beside the fieldstone fireplace. The drums and horns are in front near the window. Chairs for the singers fill the room, with a clear spot for the dancers.
Cue Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, “Let's put on a show! It'll be great!”
This May, the Silvertones' show will feature classic “Moments to Remember,” with songs and dance numbers from the 1940's and 50's. The Silvertones began as a sing-along group back in the 1970's. These days, they share their talents with audiences at two performances a year. Over forty volunteer vocalists from all over DuPage County, most of them well over forty, began singing together last fall under the direction of Martha McMillen.
Martha is a wiry, energetic woman in gold rimmed glasses. She sang with the chorus for years before directing. Her style alternates tough love and charm as she instructs the group.
“You see those great big whole notes and you want to stay there a week! We said we were doing that cut time. Again.”
The program of songs was chosen by the chorus.
“These are songs that mattered to us, songs from our teenage years,” Martha explained. Her introductions echo old-school radio announcers. “I'm sure you know this one. As Betty Boop once said, ‘You Belong to Me.'”
The group rehearses twice a week or more, clearly dedicated to putting on a great show. In addition to soloist singers and the talents of a six-piece band, several dance acts take the stage. George Zima is a featured tap-dancer. Over 80 years old, George danced on Broadway and for television. His loose limbed charisma had the ladies in the back row sighing.
“Time doesn't show on him,” one of them said with a smile.
Like Judy and Mickey's shows, all this singing and dancing has a charitable purpose. The Silvertones' performances, May 2 at 2pm and May 3rd at 7pm at the Wheaton Community Center, will benefit the Leisure Center's Performing Arts Programs.
But the biggest benefit seems to be the fun everyone is having.
“Might need oxygen,” one gentleman joked, as he found his way back to his seat after a rousing round of jitterbug. The ladies sitting nearby giggled.
“One more time,” Martha said. A jazzy drum beat covered the piano, heads bobbing and toes tapping in time.
The Silvertones are putting on a show. And it'll be great!
The Silvertones perform “Moments to Remember,” May 2 at 2p and May 3 at 7p at the Wheaton Park District Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Road, Wheaton, IL 60189. Tickets are $7 until May 1, $8 at the door. Purchase tickets at the Community Center, at the Wheaton Park District Leisure Center, 208 W. Union Street, or call 630.655.1415. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.wheatonparkdistrict.com.