Oct. 10, 2022 — Press release from Leisa Way
The smash hit concert Across the Pond: The British Invasion lands at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre for five performances only, from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23, celebrating 50 years of British musical invasion from the hits of the 60s to today’s favourites.
This not-to-be missed concert showcases the thrilling hits of the 60s, right up to today’s biggest stars. Across the Pond tells fascinating stories of how the Rolling Stones were banned from Ed Sullivan’s show, the day Tom Jones passed out singing the Bond Theme “Thunderball,” of Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield’s impact on the world of race relations, and how Van Morrison nearly blew up his parents’ house. The Kinks created the now-famous distortion of the electric guitar, artists like Donovan created the first psychedelic music, Freddie Mercury and Queen were the first MTV video artists and Twiggy was the poster girl for the mini-skirt.
The show’s creator, Canadian songstress Leisa Way, has enjoyed a career that has taken her all over the world. Way formed Way-To-Go Productions 15 years ago and has enjoyed phenomenal success with 12 concerts she has created, including Sweet Dreams (Patsy Cline) seen at BPAC last year, Rhinestone Cowgirl (Dolly Parton) coming up at BPAC in February of 2023. Way has also created Opry Gold, You Give Me Fever, Wichita Lineman, and Rock n’ Roll is Here to Stay, which played to sold-out audiences at nine theatres this summer. Way’s patriotic Oh, Canada, We Sing For Thee! toured across the country on an acclaimed 44-city tour during our Canada 150 year. Way’s newest concert, Early Morning Rain, celebrates legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, and is set to tour in 2023, during Lightfoot’s 85th birthday year.
The Wayward Wind Band and singers joining Way for this production are outstandingly talented multi-instrumentalists. Fred Smith has performed with the likes of Vince Gill, Chuck Berry, The Supremes, The Drifters, and The Mamas & The Papas; Bobby Prochaska is a Broadway veteran (Buddy Holly and original production of Crazy For You (Royal Alex); Nathan Smith is a superb talent who is a member of the award-winning Barrel Boys, and Vinta; musical arranger Bruce Ley was The Tommy Hunter Show pianist, is the composer of an Academy Award-nominated film and his band once opened for The Rolling Stones; and drummer Don Reid is a versatile percussionist who also plays with many orchestras and stage shows.
Across the Pond salutes such musical royalty as: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Petula Clark, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Adele, Led Zeppelin, The Dave Clark Five, Shirley Bassey, Elvis Costello, The Who, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Freddie Mercury & Queen, The Animals, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Sting & The Police, Annie Lennox, Joe Cocker, Lulu, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, Donovan, Peter & Gordon, The Kinks, and more!
The British Invasion affected the pop culture of North America from music to fashion (mini-skirts, bell bottoms) to hair-cuts (mop tops, beehives), to cars (James Bond’s Astin), to martinis, and especially television (The Avengers and Coronation Street) and Hollywood movies (Sound of Music, Dr. Zhivago, and Lawrence of Arabia). And the Burlington Performing Arts Centre is about to be invaded!
Put on your dancing shoes and join Leisa Way and The Wayward Wind Band for this fun night of greatest hits from The British Invasion. Across the Pond: The British Invasion sets down at the beautiful Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m., and also runs Fri., Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 23 at 4:00 p.m. You’ll be dancing in the aisles and singing along to every song!
Tickets can be purchased online or by telephone:
905-681-6000 | www.burlingtonpac.ca
