Western Illinois University Offering Series of Free, Virtual Concerts ‘On The Couch’
The Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA) at Western Illinois University will offer a series of five free, virtual shows for the Spring 2021 semester as part of “On the Couch – Virtual Arts Series.”
The production company, BiCoastal Productions, is offering free shows to presenters like BCA during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to offer exposure to the arts to audiences. Each show begins at 7 p.m. on a series of Wednesdays.
The schedule includes:
• Feb. 3 – “Naturally 7” will perform its audio pyrotechnics and vocal play by transforming their voices into human instruments and produce music of any genre. The group performed on “The World’s Best” television show, which premiered on CBS immediately following Super Bowl LIII.
During the group’s 20-year career, which has included three world tours and nearly 500 shows, they have shared the stage with world-class singers, such as Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, Sarah Connor, Lionel Richie, Ludacris and “The Roots.”
“Naturally 7” recently released its 11th studio album, “20/20.”
• Feb. 10 – “The Red Hot Chilli Pipers” – Bagpipers who Rock – is the band AC/DC meets poet Robert Burns, with rock anthems sitting “comfortably alongside the great tunes from the glens and the mountains of Scotland.”
The nine-piece ensemble consists of pipers, guitarists, keyboard and drummers who have played from New York to Beijing to Melbourne. The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bag piping.
“The Red Hot Chilli Pipers,” formed in 2002, won the top prize on the United Kingdom television talent show, “When Will I Be Famous,” in 2007, were awarded a gold record for over 100,000 sales in the UK of their first album, “Bagrock to the Masses,” and triple platinum status for their third album, “Blast Live.”
• Feb. 17 – “Married to Broadway,” starring the Sharpe Family Singers – The real married stars of “Les Miserables,” Ron and Barbara Sharpe, first met on stage on Broadway playing the romantic lead roles of Marius and Cosette.
Now, with two grown children; a pair of identical twin boys, and three “adopted” family members (the boyfriend, the best friend and the lovable uncle) this group has formed The Sharpe Family Singers to bring their love of Broadway to stages across America.
In “Married to Broadway,” The Sharpe Family Singers share their love of Broadway musicals by performing the big, showstopping numbers that are audience favorites around the world. Their repertoire includes songs from new hit Broadway shows like “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” blockbuster movies like “The Greatest Showman,” hits from Disney On Broadway and Broadway’s Rock & Roll musicals as well as classic show tunes from “Phantom,” “Cats,” “Evita,” “Guys and Dolls,” “West Side Story,” “Carousel,” “Fiddler,” “Les Miserables” and more.
• Feb. 24 – The Silhouettes® – America’s Got Talent: The Champions! was founded in 2009, and was the first runner-up on “America’s Got Talent” season six in 2011, and Golden Buzzer winners on America’s Got Talent – The Champions in 2020.
The premiere shadow-dance company was created and directed by Lynne Waggoner-Patton. The company trains, films and performs its live shows, including “LOVE Happens,” “Heroes Tribute,” “For the Child,” “The Gift,” “Behind the Curtain” and “Shadowspook” at its theatre in Westminster, CO.
The Silhouettes® have been featured in television commercials and various other television shows, as well as in customized corporate events for major Fortune 500 companies. They have traveled the world from Ireland to Poland to Mexico and Canada and recently completed a four-month tour of Germany in 73 theatres, receiving standing ovations and outstanding reviews.
For more information about the schedule, visit westernpresents.com.
