New and returning favorite tribute acts, youth and adult musicals, hometown entertainers, acrobats, family games and other attractions will be spread over six weeks.
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The puzzle of putting together a free festival is a year-round venture for the Arts Council, which also balances its Broadway and Beyond season, Youth Arts Ambassadors program and several special events.
“We try to offer something for everybody,” said Arts Council executive director Tim Rowe. “Rock tributes are always popular, but we also try to stay true to our roots with Broadway in the Park, Youth Ambassadors shows, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and things for families like KidsFest and Mutts Gone Nuts.”
The season will kick off with an old friend of the festival and a native son - singer and songwriter Griffin House on June 13. He’ll have new music such as his current single “Natural Man.”
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Weeks two and three will also spotlight local talent starting with “Legally Blonde - The Musical” as the Broadway in the Park selection. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which has performed at every single Arts Festival, will be back, and the Youth Arts Ambassadors will present “Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, Jr.”
Tribute acts are a festival staple and fresh ones will populate the schedule. Rowe anticipates Queen Nation - A Tribute to the Music of Queen, as a big draw given the success of the Oscar-nominated film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Other new tributes include ABBAmania, which will feature a guest tribute to Cher; Overnight - The Boy Band Tribute; Homeward Bound - The Music of Simon and Garfunkle; Madrigal - The Ultimate Carlos Santana Experience; and rounding out the festival, Satisfaction - The International Rolling Stones Tribute.
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The Boy Band Tribute was put together by an original member of boy band 98 Degrees. The woman performing as Cher in AbbaMania also looks uncannily like the real thing and will replicate what Cher does in the “Mama Mia” sequel.
Homeward Bound features brothers Alex and Nic Chamberlain, who have performed here in tributes to classic rock acts and will be their first time in the park.
Returning tributes include The Motown Sounds of Touch; Parrots of the Caribbean; Snake Oil - A Theatrical Tribute to Rock’s Biggest Stars; and Stayin’ Alive - The World’s #1 Tribute to the Bee Gees.
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Two new tributes will play music past audiences have responded to: Absolute Journey Tribute and The Purple Madness - America’s #1 Prince Tribute.
According to Rowe, Absolute should please audiences. He reviewed the act and found they looked and sounded great.
“Each season, potential acts for the festival are reviewed by a committee of Arts Council board members based on what the committee feels the audience will enjoy,” he said. “Selections are often subject to the artists’ availability, travel routing and fees. It’s a several-month process to make all the pieces fit.”
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Family fun will include the return of Mutts Gone Nuts Canine Cabaret that charmed audiences in 2018. New event FamBlitz Live! is an interactive game show similar to those popular on Nickelodeon years ago. It’s sponsored by Springfield’s Nehemiah Foundation.
Add in special events including the returning Sip of Summer wine and beer tasting, Parrothead Party in the Park and Burgers and Brews weekend, a new twist on a former event, and it gives area residents some warm thoughts to get through the last few weeks of winter.
2019 Summer Arts Festival Schedule
(All performances at 8 p.m. unless otherwise indicated)
Week 1
Thursday, June 13 – Griffin House
Friday, June 14 – The Motown Sounds of Touch
Saturday, June 15 – Phil Dirt and the Dozers
Week 2
Thursday, June 20 through Saturday, June 22 – “Legally Blonde – The Musical”
Sunday, June 23 – Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Week 3
Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27 – “Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, Jr.”
Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. – Sip of Summer Beer and Wine Tasting
Friday, June 28 – Absolute Journey Tribute
Saturday, June 29 – ABBAmania with special guest tribute to Cher
Sunday, June 30 – FamBlitz Live!
Week 4
Tuesday, July 2 – The Stars of the Peking Acrobats
Wednesday, July 3 – Queen Nation – A Tribute to the Music of Queen
Friday, July 5 at 5 p.m. – Parrothead Party in the Park
Friday, July 5 – Parrots of the Caribbean
Saturday, July 6 – Overnight – The Boy Band Tribute
Sunday, July 7 – Dayton’s Brass Tracks Band
Week 5
Wednesday, July 10 – Homeward Bound – The Music of Simon and Garfunkel
Thursday, July 11 – Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Friday, July 12 – Snake Oil – A Theatrical Tribute to Rock’s Biggest Stars
Saturday, July 13 – The Purple Madness – America’s #1 Prince Tribute
Sunday, July 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Springfield Museum of Art – KidsFest
Sunday, July 14 – Movie Magic – Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra
Week 6
Wednesday, July 17 – Mutts Gone Nuts Canine Cabaret
Thursday, July 18-Saturday, July 20, 5 p.m. – Burgers and Brews Weekend
Thursday, July 18 – Madrigal – The Ultimate Carlos Santana Experience
Friday, July 19 – Stayin’ Alive – The World’s #1 Tribute to the Bee Gees
Saturday, July 20 – Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Tribute
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