Artist Series Presents IN THE MOOD, 2/23

IN THE MOOD, a retro 1940's musical revue, comes to Jacksonville's Times-Union Center's Moran Theater for one performance only on Saturday, February 23rd at 7:00PM! More than a concert, IN THE MOOD is a Big Band Theatrical Swing Revue featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and other greats of the 1940's!

Conceived and created by musical producer, Bud Forrest, IN THE MOOD features a company of 19 on stage including the In the Mood Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra. IN THE MOOD's music arrangements, costumes and choreography are as authentic as it gets! This was a time when all of America was listening and dancing to the same kind of music. Swing aficionados, especially seniors who heard the music first hand, adore this show, but this family show is for all ages! If you have never heard a big band before, this is the one to see!

Here's a video sneak peek of the show: http://bit.ly/MoodVideo

In the 1940's, the combination of up-tempo big band instrumentals and intimate, romantic ballads set the mood for a future filled with hope, promise and prosperity. This was the time when the music moved the nation's spirit! Come experience the swing, rhythm, jazzy, brassy, sentimental and romantic music of this important time!

IN THE MOOD began as a celebration of an unusual era in American music, the 1940s.....the Swing Era. On radio, in theaters and ballrooms, the Big Bands were drawing record crowds. Vocal groups and soloists sang a repertory of great songs, and for the last time in the nation's history, the entire country shared a common popular music. This body of song did much to sustain national morale during World War II, the pivotal event of the 20th Century. The National Archives in Washington, DC brought IN THE MOOD to their audiences as part of their commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of WWII, and the response was extraordinary, with crowds lining up for hours before curtain time. The engagement was twice extended to extra performances. In 1993, the Archives presented a repeat performance, out-of-doors on Constitution Avenue. Thousands attended, and many stayed to dance the night away. As a result, IN THE MOOD, in affiliation with the USO, began a series of tours which played to audiences across the United States during the 50th Commemoration of WWII. The show's association with the National Archives and the USO was altogether appropriate, for much of the underpinning research was drawn from resources of these national organizations.

Since then, IN THE MOOD has visited Europe and in 1997, the band and singers were selected to be part of the entertainment for the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ball for President and Mrs. Bill Clinton. Touring since 1994, the show's upcoming national and international performances will continue to portray the spirit of the music that moved the nation.

Tickets for IN THE MOOD start at $26.50 and are available by phone at the Artist Series Box Office: (904) 442-BWAY (2929) and online at www.artistseriesjax.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947 or groupsales@fscj.edu.