Lakeshore Advance, 2013-05-08, Page 27'Come FI
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
The Sinatra Seven may be a
new version of a "boy band."
When asked that, local musician
Michael Vanlievel said, "1 can
only speak for myself but in a way
I suppose we are. We're certainly
not what you would typically
think of though. We have a realty
distinct canon of music, and its a
throwback to an era that hasn't
really been paid too much due by
young stale or female groups.
Drayton Festival 'theatre opens
its doors and raises the curtain on
1:he 2013 Season with The Songs of
inatra, an unforgettable tribute
to The Chairman of the Board,
Frank Sinatra. Playing eight shows
a week, May 8th through June
1st this energetic production is a
real treat for fans of the incompa-
rable musical legend.
The Songs of Sinatra, opening
this week at 1luron Country Play-
house features the incredible tal-
ents of The Sinatra Seven, a hand-
some group of tuxedo clad young
crooners, who captivate audi-
ences with their renditions 01'
Blue lye's greatest hits. 'Blink Jer-
sey Boys meets 11 Divo as these
fantastic singers salute the artist
who set the standard for all others
to follow.
"The Sinatra Seven take the
music of an icon and make it
accessible sl that it has cross -gen-
erational appeal," says Alex Mus-
takas, Artistic Director of Drayton
Entertainment. "Older Sinatra
fans will love the music and enjoy
a trip clown memory lane. And
there's no denying that the
younger set will love the lxly hand
appeal of our seven clapper
crooners.'
As for who would want to see
this masterpiece, Van !level said
since this Is not the first time this
imiroduction has been on stage and
1 ,le demographics show it has
been most popular so far with
older crowds based on the vra of
the music. "1 lowever I believe that
this kind of music is timeless and
can resonate with younger audi-
ences and people from every walk
of life as well, and nothing makes
us happier than to see all different
with Me' sa
type of folk smiling back at us
when we sing the tunes we
love"
Since he began on stage
many people have compared
Vanlievel to Sinatra. Ile says
to get compared to Sinatra, or
even tookcd at in the same light
is incredibly flattering. "1 le has
such a gx)wer in his voiee and it
means a lot that people can
hear the same sort of things
when I sing. 1 love his music
and 1 have probably inadvert-
ently adopted a lot of his tech-
nique and phrasing when i
perform his songs. Nobody
sang it like Frank, and it can be
difficult to sing it any way but
"his way" (no pun intended)
but having said that I like to
think I'm slowly calving out my
own sound:'
Since Valli level is a Grand
Bend native the community is
important to hits. Ile says this
community has really trade his
career so far, "be it the neigh-
bours, local businesses or the
theatre companies like Dray-
ton and the Victoria Playhouse
in Petrolia...l'm so thankful for
that:'
"I've been working really
hard to nutke a name for myself
and having an entire commu-
nity backing you up and
putting their faith in you is a
great motivator. I can't even
lx'gin to tell you how amazing
it is that my parents call me and
give me messages of support
from folks in the area, telling
me that they enjoy my music
Michael Van Heves and the Sinatra Seven
Wednesday, May, 8, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 27
s Michael Vanhevel
and they wish me the best. As
much as people say the big city
is where you should be to have
a music career, corning from a
small town is one of the best
things I could've asked for:"
Van} level has been very for-
tunate so far as he is continu-
ously working. "Last year was a
big breakout year in theatre for
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me, it being the first year of
"The Songs of Sinatra" and "Big
Band legends, both of which
are being remounted this year.
I've also been really lucky in
making a lot of friends in the
industry over the past couple
years, amazing people with a
lot of wisdom to share who
have graciously provided me
with a lot of incredible
opportutildes."
After the Songs of Sinatra at
Drayton, he will start the won-
derfully received Big Band Leg-
ends at the new Dunfleld Thea-
tre in Cambridge, then to
Penetanguishene with the
same show. Ile then moves to
Petrolia in September to per-
form with an all-star cast in a
show called Hollywood Sings at
the Victoria Playhouse in
Petrolia.
When it comes to the impor-
tance of I luron Country Play-
house, Vanlievel says
he believes that art of any kind
is an invaluable part of local
culture and community. "Year
after year, audiences have
shown their appreciation for
somewhere they can come to
share in the art of performance,
somewhere that for just a
couple hours they can shut out
the world and lose themselves
in the art those performers like
myself love to create for them.
More importantly, a place that
allows dramas, musicals, com-
edies, revues and the music of
past masters like Frank Sinatra
to stay timeless and inspire
small town kids like the to fol-
low their craziest dreams,' he
said.
Vanlievel's new CD "inti-
mate" has just been released.
The Songs of Sinatra was
introduced to theatregoers last
season at the Victoria Play-
house in Petrolia. An instant bit
with audiences, tickets were
snapped up quickly with many
sold -out dates. Early Box Office
sales for Drayton Festival 'Ihea-
tre's 2013 opening production
are impressive and full houses
are expected. Theatergoers are
urged to purchase their tickets
as soon as possible to avoid
disaplx)intment.
Online at www.draytonfesti-
valtheatre.com, ill person at the
Drayton Festival Theatre Box
Office, Monday through Friday
9:0(lan)to5:00pin, orhycall -
ing 638-5555 or toll free
1-855-DRAYTON (:372-9866).
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