Kevin Pollack takes us on a personal ride at Raue Center
Whether we're musically inclined or not, most of us can probably point to songs that have had some sort of impact on us throughout our lives.
Kevin Pollack is about to show us his life's musical journey.
The Glenview actor and singer-songwriter will be the featured headliner at the Raue Center's cabaret performance of “An Evening with Kevin Pollack: With A Little Help from My Friends” this weekend.
Pollack, backed by a quartet of musical performers, presents an autobiographical look at the music that shaped him as he pursued a career in music.
With new arrangements written by musical director Howard Pfeifer, who has decades of experience composing and performing music for film and theatrical stages, the cabaret will feature 17 songs in a 90-minute showcase of pop, Broadway, rock, Motown, ballads and more.
“This is going to be a look at the songs I grew up on, the songs that influenced me as a songwriter,” Pollack said.
“I've been thinking about doing a cabaret like this for years and just never really went ahead with it,” he said.
When he was asked, he knew exactly where to turn. “I asked Howard. I said, ‘You know, you're the only person I can think of that can help me put this together and make something cool out of it. And he did.'”
Pfeifer will also play piano for the performance, joined by Rick Demski on bass, Danya Thompson on drums and saxophonist Andy Blanco.
Pollack is well known around musical and theatrical circuits for his portrayal of Jake in the long-running The Blooze Brothers tribute act as well as numerous stage roles.
He's also regularly released original tunes in his NuTown style, a modern spin on the Motown genre. He will be returning to that project when he heads back into the studio with a new single due out sometime this summer. Pollack has a rock musical in the works, along with his regular “Zooming the Movies” script readings on Facebook. And he's returning to Rosemont's Impact Field to sing the national anthem before Chicago Dogs baseball games on a regular basis this summer.
But for now, all his energy is dedicated to this cabaret, during which he'll treat audiences to songs by Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Procol Harum, the Alan Parsons Project, selections from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and a few other fun surprises. And of course, Joe Cocker.
The cabaret will be presented in-person at the Crystal Lake venue with a limit of 125 guests in the 700-seat main stage theater. However, guests who can't attend can log on to watch a livestream presentation.
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“An Evening with Kevin Pollack: With a Little Help from My Friends”
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 15
Where: Raue Center mainstage, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake
Info: 125-person limited seating cap for social distancing; a virtual streaming option is also available.
Tickets: $20 per ticket at (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.