Calendar of Events
Heritage Winds is the wind component of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band. They are performing at The Rebecca J. Graves Regional Center for the Performing Arts on October 8 at 7:30pm
As professional Airmen, the musicians of Heritage Winds are dedicated to using the power of music to honor veterans, inspire patriotism, communicate the Air Force story, and recruit those who are interested in serving our nation.
Heritage Winds offers innovative programming that covers a wide array of musical styles. The group embraces the full range of the woodwind ensemble repertoire, to include classics by composers such as Paul Taffanel and Carl Nielsen, and to extend to more contemporary works by 21st century composers. The unique style of the Heritage Winds provides audiences with an engaging and unforgettable concert experience.
October 15: Brent Gordon and Peter Fontanese in concert.
Brent Gordon is from Luray. He is a proud member of LHS Class of 1986. Shepherd College provided his college experience and a Music Education degree. Brent moved to Colorado in the fall of 1991 where he has had a career in musical performance.
Peter Fontanese has lived in Vail for 37 years. He is a well-respected musician performing in excess of 200 shows annually. His duo with Brent is entertaining. The music is appealing to any demographic and covers a wide range of genres that includes pop, country, jazz, classic rock and even a bit of bluegrass and musical theater.
Enjoy the music from these great, well-know artists.
7:30pm-9:15pm Tickets: $20pp
Potomac Fever is the small, close-knit harmony a cappella group from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. Formed over thirty years ago, PF performs outreach on behalf of GMCW, singing a fun mix of contemporary pop, standards and Broadway (of course!) songs, and all without a single musical instrument.
They have performed all over the US (and even in Europe a few times), but primarily sing in the greater DC, Maryland and Virginia area. They have performed for the President, Vice-President and other politicos, as well AND with many celebrities who’ve passed through the area.
This is The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s fifth appearance on the PAL stage. On one of their visits, they performed short snippets of their music in the Luray Caverns. The group is an area favorite and a do not miss show!
Tickets: $20pp 5pm
Denny More
COMEDY-MAGIC & MENTALISM
This isn’t just a show. It’s a party!! Audience members don’t just sit and watch this show,
they become a part of it. This show is loaded with COMEDY, ADULT-MAGIC, MENTALISM, E.S.P. and AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
Audience members will be crying with laughter, and then, all of a sudden, their jaws will drop in amazement.
Denny More has been performing stage hypnosis for almost four decades. He learned, years ago, that although hypnosis is obviously an important part of the show, it is more important to be a performer. Over the years, his versatility as a stage hypnosis entertainer has made him welcomed in a countless variety of venues and events. From family-type venues like high schools and theme parks to the wild side of comedy clubs and casinos. Denny has done them all to perfection.
Zydeco Jed
IONA
IONA has been at the forefront of the Celtic Music revival since the band’s inception in 1986. Founded by Barbara Tresidder Ryan and Bernard Argent, IONA has evolved over the past 20 years into what is probably the most comprehensive pan Celtic band in the world. IONA’s mission: to present the rich musical elements of all the Celtic cultures — Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Manx, Cornish, Breton, Asturian and Galician, blending them into a tapestry that resolves in the New World, as evidenced in Appalachian, Cape Breton and Cajun cultures.
“This is the real stuff as far as Celtic goes, and these are authentic, versed musicians…The members of IONA look to be story tellers, song collectors (and) explorers. A trip to IONA is a fascinating journey.” Music Monthly Regional Review of Branching Out by Kyf Brewer
Stand-up comedian Shaun Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket, master storyteller Shaun Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. Job interviews? Serving on a NYC criminal jury? How about the Ten Commandments? For just about anything he’s experienced he has a hilarious story at the ready. Shaun has been profiled in The New York Times.
With a sense of humor that’s both cheerful and universal Shaun has headlined shows on five continents. His jokes have been quoted everywhere from the New York Post to Forbes to Readers Digest to Healthcare Finance News. In both Reform Judaism magazine and the Christian Science Monitor, where he was the subject of the cover story. He’s been featured on CareerBuilder.com and CNN, in local papers like the Scarsdale Inquirer and the Asbury Park Press and in the college papers the Yale Daily News and the Daily Pennsylvanian. Even in The Journal of Irreproducible Results, a scientific humor magazine. Yes, there is one. And his group The Ivy League of Comedysm was the subject of a front-page story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
More than just smart, funny and clever, Shaun is determined to express his opinion passionately, not surprising for someone who wrote his first satirical essay at age ten. When profiled in Fortune magazine “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno quoted one of Shaun’s jokes, citing it as an example of the type of “smart comedy” he’s happy to include in his opening monologue. Jay and other late-night hosts have used Shaun’s topical material in their monologues for more than a decade.
Drawing on his vast wealth of clean, clever material Shaun quickly became one of New York’s brightest, funniest, most in-demand stand-up comedians. When he takes the stage other comedians stop and watch.
Outside the world of comedy Shaun was a world-class athlete in two obscure sports (rowing and dragon-boat racing), worked as a lifeguard instructor and is an instrument-rated pilot. He is also an award-winning economic forecaster who once sold his car to a hitchhiker.
Shaun is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. You can watch his videos and read some of his writings, including satirical political essays and hundreds of jokes he’s written for late-night television, on his web site BrainChampagne.com where his slogan “Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for Smart Mindssm ” rings true.
Glen Shelton
National Country Music Artist
Glen’s voice is versatile, but he loves to sing good Country music. Glen says, “some songs are just fun, some songs tell a story, and some songs change people’s lives! I am so thankful for the gift I have been given to make a difference in people’s lives through music. Whether it’s just entertaining the crowd with great music, honoring the Veterans/active service and first responders, or sharing uplifting songs for the family, the glory is to God for His grace!”
Glen has performed at hundreds of venues/events on the East Coast. He has performed for as many as 25,000 people, but he also likes to sing at small venues in up close and personal settings. Glen says, “I appreciate the people so much who have supported my music through the years! Lord willing, there will be many more to come.”
Performing Arts Luray 2023 Annual Fundraising Gala
Join us for an evening of cocktails, dinner, acting, music and song!
Tickets: $100pp for theater seating.
Comp passes are not valid for the Gala.
Sponsor table reservations—Lou Podrasky—540.518.0900 or lpodrasky@performingartsluray.org
Attire: Amplified Glamour
Santi Debriano
International Jazz bassist
Straight from NYC, PAL is excited to present Internationally renown Jazz bassist Santi Debriano, featuring Mamiko Watanabe on piano, Latin percussionist Robby Ameen on drums and Tenor saxophonist Tommy Morimoto.
Santi Debriano is one of the busiest jazz bassists in the New York area. In addition to leading his own bands, including the multi-ethnic jazz ensemble Circlechant, Debriano has been a member of the Don Pullen Trio, the Pharoah Sanders Group, the Sonny Fortune Group, the Billy Hart Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, the Larry Coryell Group, and the Archie Shepp Quartet. As a sideman, Debriano has performed with Chucho Valdés, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, Randy Weston, and Freddie Hubbard.
Grammy Award-winning drummer Robby Ameen has lived in New York City since the early ’80s and has established a recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon, while maintaining a more than 20-year relationship with Latin icon Ruben Blades as a member of Los Seis del Solar. Although he is of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he has developed. Other long-term musical relationships include Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, and Conrad Herwig’s multi-Grammy nominated Latin Side All-stars. He has recorded on over 200 records and played on numerous major film scores and television shows including the hit series Sex and the City.
Mamiko Watanabe was a semi-finalist at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition both in 2002 and 2003. She has toured Germany, Italy and Japan and has performed with jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Kevin Mahogany and Bobby McFerrin while in college. After moving to New York, she performed at notable venues including Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club at the Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Jazz at the Kitano and more. She has also appeared and featured at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Super Jazz Ashdod Festival in Israel and Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia.
Tommy Morimoto has performed at Ronnie Scott’s in London and the Coda Jazz Lounge in Bahrain and often in New York’s top jazz clubs ( Birdland, NYC Blue Note, The Iridium, Harlem Mist, Ginny’s, The Cotton Club, Lenox Sapphire, Minton’s.) Tommy’s proficiency at his instrument is no accident. Tommy has studied with such greats as George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Barry Harris, Art Lande, and Bob Mover. His professional experience is also vast and varied. He has performed at both the Monterey and Playboy jazz festivals, and has appeared in concert with Dave Brubeck, Joe Wilder, Junior Mance, Lee Konitz, Bob Cranshaw, Les Paul, Alex Layne, John Handy, Hank Jones, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, and the Charli Persip SuperSound Big Band. Tommy is also featured as a sideman on several recordings, including one with the legendary jazz vocalist Anita O’Day.