Prima Theater Brings Queen and Journey Music to Lancaster in June | Entertainment

Queen and Journey music has been played everywhere, from the world’s largest stadium to all the dingy karaoke bars on the East Coast.

However, no matter how many times these songs are played, the magic of the songs keeps them stagnant in case the next generation stumbles.

On the second and third Fridays and Saturdays of June, Prima Theater’s “Queen / Journey” evokes these songs in a fresh way at an outdoor arena-style performance in the Liberty Place parking lot.

According to Prima Executive Artistic Producer Mitch Nugent, the idea for the “Queen / Journey” show was decided almost a year ago during the planning phase of 2021.

“Specifically, we focused on the times we lived and the songs that everyone could sing together,” says Newgent. “That is, reveal this feeling that our community, culture, country and art are united and responsible for helping people celebrate their lives, especially what we all have experienced.”

Even though each songbook has endured the challenges of time, it cannot make the song easier to sing. After all, Journey frontman Steve Perry was nicknamed “The Voice,” and Freddie Mercury is known as one of Rock’n’Roll’s greatest vocalists and showmen.

To that end, three singers trade off vocal obligations throughout the show. The show will feature Asia Little John, Grace Burns (after her role in the 2019 production of Jekyll and Hyde). (Returning to Prima), and Donovan Hoffer from Lancaster, who has moved to Chicago.

“People are fascinated by rock music,” says Hoffer. “This is something that everyone can get together and celebrate. We all sing together. That’s what makes me so excited about this” Queen / Journey “concert. I think people are hungry to go out and experience live music, especially given the pandemic that happened last year. “

Surgical side

“Queen / Journey” follows the combination show “Sammy & Sinatra” with similar intentions in March. The show took the form of a vintage 1939 Buick Special driving through the city of Lancaster, but “Queen / Journey” aims to recreate the exaggerated dramas and dramas of each band’s heyday. I am. themselves.

“What (producers and directors) always say is’sing as written’, sing as Freddie Mercury,” Hoffer says. “Don’t do voice exercises, because that’s not what people want to hear. I personally speak for me — you want to be true to the original, but that’s what it says. But it’s cool that these singers are portrayed as opera singers because I also have that side in the soprano voice. I’m trying to find a balance. I have myself Coming, my flavor is in performance and passion, but I’m trying to keep the truth aloud.

This isn’t the first time Hoffer, who graduated from Penmanor High School in 2009, combined a classic-trained soprano voice with a hard-edged rock style on stage. A few years ago, Hoffer joined the choir of Broadway’s “Rock Topia,” a show that combines classic rock and classical music. Ironically, the show’s website describes “rock topia” as “Queen and Journey meet Beethoven’s odeode song.”

Hoffer was called to attend the show on his way to a cross-country flight to Los Angeles to record a tryout for NBC’s America’s Got Talent.

Hoffer is not contractually a mother about the details of his position at the show, but he sang a song from “The Phantom of the Opera” because the producer of the show wanted him to bring out the opera side. T.

When the season begins in June, viewers will know his fate.

“I felt,’Wow, the universe is looking at me,’” Hoffer says. “If nothing happens in’America’s Got Talent’, I’m looking forward to this concert after this experience.”

Newgent states that it is important to bring a certain level of talent not only to interpret the music of these masters, but also to Prima itself.

“Someone (when I saw the show) nailed it and thought,’It was as beautiful as another world at that time.’ I was tired of experiencing the mundane crap.” Says Newgent. “Or, if you eat a piece of pizza in a good place and think’it’s still delicious and okay’and then go for a gourmet pizza, you can’t go back to another one. In all transparency, The struggle was real in that it promised to drop that level of chin. “

The effect of the arena concert

In addition to three singers and one four-piece band, Prima consulted with music production experts throughout the county, from lighting fixtures to scrims on stage, such as Tait, Stray, and Shumaker. The stage itself is built on a 35-foot-long track. Does not include another stage extension.

“Our flavor is a fresh experience, but how is this a unique and fresh experience compared to a tribute concert?” Says Newgent. “We’re in this county with Rock Rititz, and we have a lot of skill and talent, so we thought we could probably do this at a level that other tertiary cities wouldn’t be able to do. Literally, we. Is testing all the effects of an arena concert. All the crazy ideas that came up at 1am in the morning are: “In Bicycle Race, performers should jump off the stage on their bikes.” Let’s do it! ” Someone said, “Oh, that would be fun,” so I said, “No, I’m doing it.”

There is no guarantee that any music will survive beyond the expected storage period. Even more so, dozens of songs from two completely different bands (Nugent calls the band’s catalog “Golden Stockpile”).

While the show looks a bit different from a regular rock concert, Prima offers a stage that adds a new spin to the familiar rock concert.

“For Grace as a performer and Asia, this is a comeback,” says Hoffer. “The difference is that it’s not just the show, it’s the first time for us three to have a live concert in front of the audience over a year ago. It’s a great pleasure for us and the band. And will be very contagious. “