PREPARE TO ROCK IN THE PALACE THIS WEEKEND

PHOTO BY PAUL COLTAS

Imagine you have a time machine and you dial it back to October 9, 1980.  That auspicious date would have been John Lennon’s BIG 4-0.  As long as we’re dreaming, let’s go one giant step further and imagine one iconic group of lads coming together after a decade long separation and you’d have the reunion that never was: The Fab Four, the leaders of the “British Invasion,” The Lads from Liverpool.

This iconic group was the epitome of boy bands, even though they had a lot of trouble settling on what to call themselves.  In a relatively short time, they tried out The Quarrymen (named after a school two attended), Johnny and the Moon Dogs, Long john and the Silver Beetles, The Black Jacks Skiffle Group (for one week), The Nerk Twins (for two days), The Beat Brothers, The Beatals, The Silver Beats, finally settling on The Beatles, as a tribute to Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

 Those four lucky and plucky lads from Liverpool are legendary in the world of rock and roll.  From the moment John, Paul, George and Ringo took up their guitars and drums, it was magic.  Ed Sullivan introduced this famous quartet to the United States on his really big television show and the rest, as they say, is musical history.

 In tribute to The Beatles, the Palace Theater in Waterbury is bringing you an all new stage show by Annerin Productions "Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles” for three performances Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16. To date over two million people have traveled through “Strawberry Fields,” experienced “A Hard Day’s Night,” and brought you back to a glorious “Yesterday.” Don’t miss this grand opportunity to relive the music that moves mountains of music fans.

The show will trace their meteoric rise from their tentative beginnings at the Cavern Club in Liverpool to the height of Beatlemania, and their enduring success that is evident today and will be long into the future. For a merry reunion with John, Ringo, George and Paul, plan to journey to the Palace on Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Saturday, at 8 p.m. to witness the phenomenon that is The Beatles.

All the top ten hit parade of tunes should be featured, from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” “All My Lovin’,” “A Hard Day’s Night” “Roll Over, Beethoven,” “Help!,” “Yesterday,” “Penny Lane, “ “Hey, Jude”  and “Let It Be” to name a few.  You may even get to sing-a-long to “We All Live in a Yellow Submarine.”

 This personable and talented foursome play their hearts out for nearly two hours of historic Beatles fare, along with a visual and auditory journey through the 1960’s, with film clips and commercials.  Their costumes and hairstyles, including mustaches, mark their transitions through the years.

 For tickets ($50-65), call The Palace, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at 203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org.  if you come Friday, April 15, you can enjoy a four-course pre-fixe dinner by Verbena Catering in the theater’s Poli Club before the show at 6 p.m. for $62.50 per person.  This includes tax, service fees, coffee and tea.  Be sure to make a reservation.

 If you’re a Beatlemania fan, then run right over to the Palace’s wonderful tribute to those popular performers and icons of rock and roll.