American Bandstand: A Philadelphia Story | The Philly Pops
 

American Bandstand: A Philadelphia Story

Michael Krajewski, Conductor

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts

300 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
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May 3-5, 2019
See All Dates & Times
Fri, May 3, 2019
8pm
Doors open at 7:30pm
8pm
Sat, May 4, 2019
3pm
Doors open at 2:30pm
3pm
Sun, May 5, 2019
3pm
Doors open at 2:30pm
3pm
Featuring

The Doo Wop Project, vocals 

American Bandstand, produced at 4548 Market Street in West Philadelphia from 1952-1964, set the tone for the first generation of teenagers. Michael Krajewski’s original program celebrates the early years of American Bandstand before its move to LA. The program includes “At the Hop”, “The Twist”, and “Pretty Little Angel Eyes”. It will also feature a tribute to Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, and Fabian — and that moment in time when Philly was the POP center of the world. The Doo Wop Project performs these hits from the Philly years with their unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence.

Helpful Information

This program, including intermission, is approximately two hours in length. Artists and program are subject to change without notice.

Discounted parking passes are available from select garages. For more information, please call 215.893.1999 or add a parking pass during checkout when purchasing your tickets.

Photography

We hope all of our guests will have a great time and make many memories at our concerts and events. Post your photos or videos on social media and include #phillypops for a chance to win a pair of tickets to any upcoming concert in the current or following season! Please refrain from flash photography in the concert hall. 

Enjoy the show!

Guest Artist
The Doo Wop Project

The Doo Wop Project

More

Love the classic sounds of Frankie Valli, The Drifters, The Del Vikings? Ever wonder what Maroon 5 would sound like if they had lived in the Doo Wop era?

The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning, tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing tight harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. In their epic shows DWP takes audiences on a journey from foundational tunes of groups like the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to DooWopified versions of modern musicians like Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5. Featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, the Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate—and in some cases entirely reimagine—some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history!

Dominic Nolfi
Dominic most recently performed on Broadway in Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale - The Musical, directed by Robert DeNiro and Jerry Zaks. As an Original Cast member of A Bronx Tale - The Musical, Motown: The Musical (Grammy nominated), and Jersey Boys (Grammy Award for Best Cast Album), he can be heard on all three soundtracks. Dominic also performed in the World Premiere productions of A Bronx Tale and Jersey Boys at the Paper Mill Playhouse and the La Jolla Playhouse, respectively. Dom was born and raised in San Francisco where he studied youth acting at ACT and performed annually in their production of A Christmas Carol. He studied voice at the San Francisco Conservatory, and attended the Boston Conservatory on scholarship where he graduated with a BFA in Theater. Upon graduation Dominic joined the European production of Grease. It was there that he met his future wife Sonia Iannetti; they have a daughter Vivienne. Dominic is a founding member of The Doo Wop Project and is unbelievably proud of his association with the other men who helped create the group. In his off-time Dominic studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Brooklyn Martial Arts.

Charl Brown
Last year Charl spent 6 months on London's West End reprising his role of Smokey Robinson in Motown: The Musical for which he was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical on Broadway. He is also featured on the Grammy-nominated Original Broadway Cast recording. In 2014 Charl worked with legendary composer/lyricist Steven Schwartz playing the role of Adam/Noah in Children of Eden at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Other credits include Jersey Boys on Broadway and Las Vegas, Sister Act on Broadway, Hair in Europe, Ever AfterJohnny BaseballDreamgirlsSix Degrees of SeparationJesus Christ SuperstarA Chorus Line, and Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Charl has also appeared on television on Madam SecretaryBritain's Got TalentAmerica's Got TalentMacy's 85th & 87th Thanksgiving Parade63rd Annual Tony Awards, and A Capitol 4th. Charl is a proud Graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theater.

Dominic Scaglione Jr.
Dominic was most recently seen in the starring role of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway. He previously played this leading role in the Las Vegas and Chicago companies. He performed on The Oprah Winfrey show and was personally asked by Frankie Valli to sing at his New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Early on in his career, Dominic was a member of the Sony music group called Sygnature and toured with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé, Robin Thicke and Boyz 2 Men. He is proud to be one of the creators of The Doo Wop Project and marvels at how far this little idea has come. Love to his fiancé Tara “Janie” and family for their support.

Dwayne Cooper
Dwayne (The Bass) is from Florence, South Carolina and currently lives in New York City. He first began singing with a Christian a cappella group called “The Cunningham Singers”. Often referred to as a modern-day Sammy Davis, Jr. meets Barry White, he is what the industry calls a “triple threat” and has performed in the Broadway casts of Motown: The MusicalHairspray, and several national tours, including Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Showboat. As a songwriter/producer, he has charted on Billboard’s Top Ten Dance chart and as a sketch comedy writer YouTube videos have been seen by viewed millions of times. Dwayne’s film and television credits include Law And OrderUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Difficult People and RuPaul's Drag Race. Much love and thanks to family, friends and fans for the support!

Russell Fischer
Standing five-foot-six with a tenor voice and falsetto range, Fischer landed the role of Joe Pesci in the Broadway company of Jersey Boys on his 22nd birthday, marking his Broadway debut. He spent the next six years as an understudy for the role of Frankie Valli as well. Fischer starred in the second national tour of Big: The Musical as Billy Kopecki. His regional credits include Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Tommy Djilas in The Music Man at Chautauqua Opera, the American premiere of Children of Eden at Papermill Playhouse, and Tommy Swank in Baby Fat, Act 1: A Rock Opera based on Verdi’s Rigoletto at LaMama Experimental Theater Club in Manhattan. Fischer has been featured in several shorts, including Waystation in the Stars and October Pain, both of which garnered attention after playing to much acclaim at film festivals around the country. On television, Fischer has appeared on the live broadcast of the 2015 Belmont Stakes, the 2009 Tony Awards, and several spots for TV Land’s 60 Second Sitcoms. He is truly grateful for the opportunity to tour with this group, sharing this music with audiences around the world.

Sonny Paladino
Currently, Sonny is the Music Supervisor for the Broadway Musical, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, as well as Music Director for the upcoming Broadway revival of Smokey Joe’s Café. Sonny’s recent credits include: Associate Conductor, The Last Ship (written by 16-time Grammy Award winner, Sting), and the Tony-winning revival of Pippin. Other Broadway credits include, Jesus Christ SuperstarBilly ElliotGreasePriscilla - Queen of the DesertGuys and DollsMama MiaPromises, Promises, Addams Family, and Women on the Verge. Sonny was the Music Supervisor for Disney’s High School Musical Italian tour and his national tour credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Grease. His arrangements and orchestrations have been performed by the The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and he has worked with Alicia Keys, Ke$ha, and Matthew Morrison. Sonny’s work for television has been featured on The X-Factor Australia and The Next Big Thing. He earned his B.F.A. in Jazz Piano from CUNY City College, New York.

Although the POPS had a history of playing with superstar rockers like Elton John (at the 2005 Philadelphia Freedom Concert on the Parkway), Music Director Michael Krajewski got the POPS serious about rock 'n' roll at the September 18, 2013 First Annual POPS Ball. “Jersey Boys Tribute”, “Paul Simon in Concert”, and “Na Na Medley” got the crowd twisting and shouting while foreshadowing the 2013-2014 season. Today, the POPS ROCKS each season, at least once, sometimes twice.

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