2005 Performing Arts

Bruce & Margaret are an acoustic duo performing both original songs and their own versions of well known classics, featuring great guitar work and beautiful harmonies. Both accomplished musicians on their own, they’ve combined their talents to give us a wonderful hour of music.

Shayne Holland is a Boston based pop-rock solo artist who's currently putting the finishing touches on his fourth studio album self entitled, "Let There Be Love", while playing shows throughout the Boston area. Shayne writes both the music and lyrics for all of his pieces and is supported by Gaku Murata on guitar, Adam Olenn on Bass and Aharon Verno on drums. His blend of contemporary pop-rock with heartfelt lyrics is sure to capture listeners of all ages. In fact Shayne has received airplay on FM radio stations throughout the U.S. For more information go to www.shayneholland.com

Flexible Flyers String Band performs Americana roots music on twin fiddles, banjo, dobro, guitar, mandolin and upright bass, woven with harmonized vocals. Their repertoire ranges from delicately ornamented Irish reels to driving old-time fiddle tunes, from traditional southern songs to twin fiddles western swing. The group captures the essence of these authentic acoustic styles, engaging   audiences and pleasing purists. The Flexible Flyers are Taylor Chip Smith on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocals, Maggie Holtzberg fiddle and vocals, Peter LaBau banjo, dobro and vocals, John Price of Marblehead on guitar, mandolin and vocals, along with Brian Rost on upright bass. Learn more at www.flexibleflyersband.com

In the 70s the term “Super Group” usually meant incredible artists from other bands getting together to form their own unbelievable band. Well if that was the case, then we give you a truly “Super Group” tonight with Troy, Mattacks & Brown. These three musicians, Troy on Bass, Mattacks on Drums and Brown on Guitar list resumes that are simply incredible! John Troy (www.johntroy.com) was an original member of the Pousette-Dart Band in the 1970s, recording four albums on the Capitol label. He’s performed with Jonathan Edwards, Natalie Cole, John Hall, Bonnie Raitt, and Joe Cocker (just to name a few). Dave Mattacks has helped craft music history as an original member of 60's band Fairport Convention. Dave’s incredible career includes recordings and performing with artists like Joan Armatrading, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Sandy Denny; Nick Drake, Brian Eno, Peter Green, George Harrison, Juliana Hatfield, Jethro Tull, Elton John, Paul McCartney, the McGarrigal Sisters, Ralph McTell, Alison Moyet, Jimmy Page, Steeleye Span, Cat Stevens, Richard Thompson, Susan Tedeschi, Loudon Wainright and XTC. (And that’s just some of the artists he’s has performed with!). Clearly Dave Mattacks is “Rock/Folk Royalty” and also one of the best jazz drummers around (as we saw in 2003). We love him because he came across the big pond with his wife, Karen, to become residents of Marblehead! Finally, Guitarist Savant Dave Brown has an equally impressive list of artists he’s recorded and performed with including Paul Simon (See Dave on guitar in the historic 1981 Simon & Garfunkel Concert in Central Park) as well as Billy Joel (12 years), Paul McCartney, Julian Lennon, Peter Paul & Mary. Learned enough to get excited yet? Troy, Mattacks & Brown – Super Group! Need we say more?

The MERJ brings a new dimension to classic rock and pop. The band draws on the talents of an exceptional group of local musicians. While involved in a successful acoustic quartet, Husband and wife Roze Tyler-Malone and Jim Malone formed the band in 2004 to scratch their rock 'n' roll itch. Soon they had enlisted bassist-guitarist Charlie Ortolani and his wife, singer and percussionist Melissa Fleming. Lynn-based guitarist extraordinaire Robb Scott joined soon after and drummer Jim "St. James" MacConduibh (pronounced Mac-coniff) answered the call to form the core of the band. Featuring Rozes’ virtuoso violin, St. James' strong musical drumming and 4-part harmonies, the band is a favorite of North Shore audiences and we’re sure they’ll be your favorite as well! Find out more at www.merjmusic.com

Sit back and enjoy a fantastic “Evening of Broadway,” featuring local favorites Scott Wahle, Suzanne McCarthy Lobel, Sarah Pfisterer, Scott Mikita and Paul S. Katz. We’ve looked forward to bringing this type of act to the Crocker Park Stage for many years and are thrilled to be presenting this wonderful evening of song. We’ve provided the playbill version below that highlights just a bit of their lengthy credits:

Boston wakes up with WBZ-TV's veteran weekday news anchor, who is now in his eighth year delivering the morning news. Regular CBS-4 viewers are well aware of Scott's love of music and musical theatre, which led to a guest appearance on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. He is most proud of his work with the Reagle Players of Waltham, performing leading roles in 1776 (John Adams), for which he received an Independent Reviewers of New England (I.R.N.E.) nomination for best actor, Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), and last summer, The Music Man (Harold Hill), for which he won the best actor I.R.N.E award. 2005 marks his 28th year as a television broadcast journalist. Scott lives on the south shore with his wife, Maribeth, and four children.

Sarah Pfisterer is happy to be back in the Boston area, the home of Reagle Players, where she has performed the roles of Eliza in My Fair Lady and Marian in The Music Man with Scott Wahle, and where this summer she takes on leading roles in both Carousel and The Sound of Music. Recently she completed a short run of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Sarah has played over 1000 performances in the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and across the country. In fact, she was nominated for the prestigious Joseph Jefferson award for her portrayal of the romantic heroine. She has appeared on The Today Show and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. In addition to numerous commercials and industrial films, she is featured in the music video “Beggar’s Waltz”. A native of Milwaukee, WI, Sarah has Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Northwestern University.

Scott Mikita is currently appearing on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera, where he is a swing, covering 11 different roles. He has appeared in each part literally hundreds of times. He recently returned from the national tour of Martin Guerre, playing Minneapolis (at the prestigious Guthrie Theatre), Detroit, Washington, DC, Seattle and Los Angeles. Prior to that, Scott toured the country in Hal Prince’s Show Boat, playing the villains. He has had the privilege to share the stage in Show Boat with his wife, Sarah Pfisterer. Scott and Sarah are residents of Wilton, Connecticut where they live their daughters.Paul S. Katz has become one of Boston's most prolific music directors and conductors of new musicals and Boston-area premieres. Highlights of his collaboration with Boston's award winning SpeakEasy Stage Company include: Company, Elegies A Song Cycle, The Last 5 Years, Bat Boy: The Musical, Passion, The Wild Party, Saturday Night, Floyd Collins, Songs for a New World, A New Brain, Violet, Triumph of Love, Chess, Hello Again, and much more. Additionally, he works extensively at regional theaters and with Broadway artists. Paul has also had a twenty-year relationship with Waltham's Reagle Players where he works as music director and arranger, and is instrumental in the writing and arrangements of the popular and successful yearly Christmas extravaganza. When not at the theater, Mr. Katz manages the Creative Department for Upromise.

Bring your dancing shoes and be ready to rock with the Spike Emerson Society one of the areas hottest bands. Blazing songs, Distinctive sound, Passionate lyrics – S.E.S. blasts their unique sound every time they step on the stage. Lead by Spike Emerson on Guitar with Festival Favorite, Sarah Lynch on Bass and Brian MacDougall on Drums – This band has built a large following and we know you’re going to love the Spike Emerson Society as much as we do! Click for Society info at www.spikeemerson.com.

Maeve (may–ve) is a collaboration of three individual singer-songwriters – Courtney Reid, Rachel Taylor and Rollyn Zoubek - blending together their own distinct Voices and styles to create a cohesive sound rich with harmony reminiscent of the Indigo Girls and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The local trio honed their unique sound through the time-tested underground tradition of “busking” in the train stations of Boston. The resultant original songs are a serendipitous blend of acoustic pop, jazz and folk with Americana touches. As performers in last years’ Local Artists Showcase and we loved them so much we had to get them back on the big stage at night! So pack up the family and friends early on this 4th of July, put the blanket down and get a good seat to see this truly wonderful band! For more on Maeve visit www.maevemusic.com.

For the past 15 years, fans have come from all over New England to hear the crisp three part harmonies, melodic passages and monster guitar licks, smokin’ keyboard playing, and tight rhythm section that have made Fortune one of the most popular and talented bands in the area. With the amazing Bob Vose on Lead Vocals, Pete DiStefano and Bill Plourde on Guitars and Vocals, Jeremy Heussi on Keyboards, Lou Spagnola on Bass and Dickie Paris on Drums their great regional success led to opening slots for legendary bands like Kansas, Bad Company, The Guess Who, Robin Trower, America, and Cheap Trick. Our 4th of July show will feature a mix of songs from both Fortune releases, the self titled Fortune and Storyline, with songs from classic bands such as Boston, Journey, Queensryche and Whitesnake, as well as popular current bands like Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. Throughout their existence, uncompromised quality and the dedicated effort to succeed has set Fortune apart from the rest. This year, the Fireworks are back in Marblehead in the sky and on the stage with Fortune! Visit www.fortune-music.com.