Catchy tunes showcased in CTE's 'A Salute to One-Hit Wonders'

Posted June 15, 2015 11:00 pm

By Karen Karner Children's Theatre of Elgin

Josh Harder is held by, from left, Haley Dulabaum, Lauren Hefel, Channing Sparks, Larissa Catalano, Maddie Baumert and Sydney Warsaski, during a rehearsal for Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company's production of "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders." COURTESY OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF ELGIN

"Jenny, I've got your number. I need to make you mine." Do these lyrics ring a bell? How about "Word to your mother?"

You can refresh your memory, immerse yourself in catchy tunes, and maybe even walk away with an earworm when you see "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders," a musical song and dance revue by Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theater Company.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 19, 20, 26 and 27, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 21 and 28, in the Elgin Community College Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H, Elgin.

Audiences of all ages will enjoy this musical production showcasing dozens of pop and rock hits whose artists made it to the Top 40 just once. Hits span the decades and include "It's Raining Men," made popular by the Weather Girls; Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby;" "Funkytown," by Lipps Inc.; "Who Let the Dogs Out," released in 2000 by Baha Men; the "Happy Days" theme song; "I'll be There for You," the theme song from the television show "Friends;" "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus and "867-5309/Jenny," the telephone number made famous in the lone smash hit for Tommy Tutone.

This trip down musical memory lane will be performed by 85 young people ages 7 to 20, from all over the Fox Valley.

"Some groups have a lot of hits, while other artists have only one song for which they're remembered," said show director Peter Akemann, who helped found CTE in 1988. "This year, our annual musical revue salutes some of the one-hit wonders."

The fast-paced, high-energy show features "one Top 40 hit after another of songs you know and remember, though the band has faded into history," Akemann said. "With youthful energy - and accompanied by a live band - we sing and dance these songs into your hearts and minds and help you relive those special songs of yesteryear."

There were many more song possibilities than the show could accommodate, Akemann said.

"Because we obviously couldn't include all the one-hit wonders, we concentrated on trying to cover songs from over the decades," he said. "We will hit some of the highlights from back in the 1960s, such as 'California Sun/Wipeout,' to a hit from only a few years ago, 'Call Me Maybe,' and take the audience back in time."

Tickets are $10 each, plus ECC Arts Center fees of $1 each, and for online and phone orders, an additional $4 fee per order. For tickets, call (847) 622-0300 or visit elgin.edu/arts. Tickets also may be purchased at the ECC Arts Center Box Office.

What is CTE/FVTC?

Children's Theatre of Elgin was founded in 1988 to provide local performing arts opportunities and instruction in live theater for children in grades two through nine. CTE produces two large-scale shows each year at Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin using scripts based on fairy tales, literature and historical stories, including original scripts written by CTE board members and alumni.

In 1993, Fox Valley Theatre Company (FVTC) was added to CTE to serve students in grade 9 through age 20. This troupe presents a full-length Broadway musical each year at the Elgin Community College Arts Center's Blizzard Theater. The production this fall will be "Mary Poppins."

For information visit www.cteelgin.com.

Jordie Karner sings "Nobody But Me" by the Human Beinz as Aaliyah Sanchez, Victoria Bebenek and Maddie Cook dance in the background during a rehearsal for the Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company's production of "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders." The show opens Friday, June 19, and runs through Sunday, June 28, at the ECC Arts Center. COURTESY OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF ELGIN

From left, Haley Dulabaum, Collin Gorkowski, Noah Akemann, Ashley Estrada, Maddie Genz and Jack Werner rehearse "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders." COURTESY OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF ELGIN

From left, Haley Dulabaum, Josh Harder, Larissa Catalano and Sydney Warsaski rehearse for the Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company production of "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders." COURTESY OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF ELGIN

If you go

What: "A Salute to One-Hit Wonders," a musical song and dance revue by Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theater Company.

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 19, 20, 26 and 27, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 21 and 28

Where: Elgin Community College Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H, Elgin

Tickets: Tickets are $10 each, plus ECC Arts Center fees of $1 each, and for online and phone orders, an additional $4 fee per order. Call (847) 622-0300, stop by the box office or visit <a href="http://elgin.edu/arts">elgin.edu/arts</a>.

Details: <a href="http://www.cteelgin.com">www.cteelgin.com</a>.

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