{"id":54453,"date":"2024-08-15T09:37:41","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=54453"},"modified":"2024-08-15T09:37:43","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:37:43","slug":"on-stage-joe-samba-returns-to-area-for-w-chester-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=54453","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Joe Samba returns to area for W. Chester show"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"elementToProof\"><strong>By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, <em>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19792\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19792\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-19792\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/samba.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joe Samba<\/p><\/div>\n<p>South America has the samba. North America has Joe Samba.<\/p><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In Brazil,\u00a0samba\u00a0is a lively dance of Afro-Brazilian origin danced to\u00a0samba\u00a0music. It originally referred to any of several Latin duet dances with origins from the Congo and Angola. Today,\u00a0Samba\u00a0is the most prevalent dance form in Brazil, and reaches the height of its importance during Carnaval \u2013 especially in Rio.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In the United States, the\u00a0samba\u00a0is Joe\u00a0Samba, a rising singer, songwriter, and guitarist from New Hampshire who has quietly emerged as a phenomenon racking up more than eight million total streams.<\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba embarked on his maiden U.S. headlining tour last November and made a local stop at 118 North in Wayne.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>On August 17, Samba will return to the area to share headlining duty with Mystic Bowie at the Lion Heart Music Fest at Brandywine Outfitters (451 W Gay Street, West Chester, <a id=\"OWAe41e7b0e-8c16-0768-c391-199c96bd42e4\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.whagwaanculture.com\/summer-music-fest-pa\">www.whagwaanculture.com\/summer-music-fest-pa<\/a>).<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In 2019,\u00a0Samba\u00a0released his independent debut,\u00a0\u201cThe Wrong Impression.\u201d The album made its debut at\u00a0 #1 on the\u00a0Billboard\u00a0Reggae Albums Chart\u00a0and has since clocked over\u00a02 million streams &#8212; thanks in part to the breakout hit \u201cHow We Do.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In 2021,\u00a0Samba\u00a0signed with\u00a0LAW Records,\u00a0and, after a run of successful single releases, put out his sophomore album, \u201cFar From Forever,\u201d in June 2022.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI\u2019ve had two albums and a bunch of singles,\u201d said\u00a0Samba. \u201cI\u2019ll have a new album coming out in fall 2024.\u201d<\/div>\n<div>That album \u201cLifeline,\u201d will be released on September 27 on LAW Records. \u201cLifeline\u201d includes the lead single and summer anthem\u00a0\u201cLittle Love.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba has released four singles in 2024 \u2013 \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now,\u201d \u201cSharing the Vibes,\u201d \u201cLittle Love,\u201d and \u201cMeant to Be.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Tempering a head-nodding bounce with a salsa shake and loose guitar lick,\u00a0\u201cMeant To Be,\u201d<b> <\/b>was co-produced by\u00a0Eric Krasno (Soulive) and\u00a0Samba.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Amplifying the energy on the hip-hop leaning track, rapper\u00a0Wax\u00a0delivers a head-turning guest spot on\u00a0\u201cMeant To Be,\u201d<b>\u00a0<\/b>which first premiered with\u00a0Glide Magazine.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>According to Samba, \u201cIt\u2019s about the trials and tribulations of a musician \u2013 from family life to life on the road, and life in the studio. It touches on the temptations that surround you on tour, the good and bad that come with that lifestyle.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThis is the first of four songs off my new album to be released that were produced by Eric and I\u2019m beyond excited to have the West Coast homie Wax be a part of it, perfectly detailing his own experiences of life on the road in his verse. I hope musicians and creatives alike can listen to it and vibe with it.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cLifeline\u201d expands the scope of Samba\u2019s music.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba said, \u201cMy brand-new album, \u2018Lifeline,\u2019\u00a0is a catalog of songs that represent change and growth. It\u2019s a sonic ride of highs and lows from emotional anthems to high energy jams. I try to put together songs that mean something deeper than just notes and words.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI hope the listeners can hear that. I hope they can feel and relate to the journey I\u2019ve been on for the last two years \u2013 musically, personally and alike. There\u2019s a song for everybody on this one.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba\u2019s show in Wayne in November was his second time to play the area.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI played down there with Pepper the winter before last,\u201d said\u00a0Samba, during a phone interview from his home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>According to\u00a0Samba, \u201cEmbarking on my first-ever headlining tour is exciting to think about. Early on, I was performing at local pizza shops and bars envisioning the day I\u2019d get to headline a national tour.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cNot only is that vision becoming reality, I also get to take some of the most amazing musicians and people along for the ride. I\u2019m very excited to bring this show on the road. It will be a memorable one for all who attend.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba, who generates smoked-out Caribbean bliss and sweat-soaked punkified energy, has spent years honing his skills and building up his acclaimed energetic live show. In 2023, the Massachusetts-born and now\u00a0New Hampshire-based\u00a0artist toured extensively from coast to coast supporting\u00a0Pepper, Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime,\u00a0and\u00a0Shwayze.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba\u00a0has also performed at a variety of festivals including\u00a0Summer Camp Music Festival, Cali Roots Festival, Reggae Rise Up Florida and Maryland, Cali Vibes 2023,\u00a0and\u00a0Summer Camp Music Festival. In addition to headlining his own shows,\u00a0Samba\u00a0opened for\u00a0Sublime With Rome, Andy Frasco &amp; The U.N,\u00a0and\u00a0Ziggy Marley.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cMy music is a good mixture of reggae and other influences including punk and heavy elements,\u201d said\u00a0Samba. \u201cI\u2019m leaning more to being a singer\/songwriter with an island vibe.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Samba\u00a0was exposed to a lot of different music styles when he was young.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI\u2019m from a musical family,\u201d said\u00a0Samba. \u201cMy dad played bass in a funk band, so I heard a lot of Tower of Power, R&amp;B and soul.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cOne of my favorite bands when I was young was Hanson. I was also into Metallica and Goth.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI started playing piano when I was seven and then took drum lessons when I was 12. I taught myself guitar when I was in high school.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Prior to his mid-winter concert along the Main Line, Samba said, \u201cI just recently got back from L.A. I was working on the album with Anthony Resta. He\u2019s an old friend of mine from Massachusetts. I met him for the first time when I was 17.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI got interested in producing several years ago. I produced my first two albums myself. For the new album, I\u2019m using Anthony as producer. This is my first time to record with him since I was in high school. It\u2019s come full circle.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWe stayed in touch over the years. I\u2019m a reggae-rock artist. If he was working on something and needed a reggae flavor, he\u2019d send me the track to work on.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>This time around, they got to work together in the same room.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cHe\u2019s a \u2018real deal\u2019 producer,\u201d said\u00a0Samba. \u201cHe had a great studio in Massachusetts &#8212; Bopnique Musique \u2013 and he now has a great studio in Laurel Canyon.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI was in L.A. for two weeks and worked with two different producers. I cut three songs with Anthony and four tracks with Eric Krasno from Soulive. I was a huge fan of his so getting to work with him was a great experience.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI want to record eight more songs for the album at Revelry Studio in New Hampshire \u2013 get 15 done and then narrow it to 12.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As it turned out, \u201cLifeline\u201d will include 10 tracks \u2013 \u201cCulture War,\u201d \u201cCold Feet,\u201d \u201cLittle Love,\u201d \u201cLost Boy, \u201cCommunicate,\u201d \u201cMeant to Be with You,\u201d \u201cSurfside Live,\u201d \u201cHome,\u201d \u201cBreak Free,\u201d and \u201cLifeline.\u201d<\/div>\n<div>For\u00a0\u201cLifeline,\u201d Samba\u00a0worked with outside producers for the first time, recording four tunes with\u00a0Krasno\u00a0(a huge personal influence for Samba) and three in LA\u2019s famed Laurel Canyon with Resta\u00a0(Duran Duran, Collective Soul), who co-produced\u00a0\u201cLittle Love.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The final tracks of the\u00a010-song collection\u00a0were self-produced in Maine at the Halo Studio with engineer Kevin Billingslea.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Saturday\u2019s show will be Samba\u2019s last show in the East prior to his September \u201cEast Meets West Tour 2024\u201d in California with Kyle Smith.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The five-show tour will touch down in several interesting \u201coff the beaten path\u201d Golden State locations including Paso Robles, where legendary actor James Dean died in a car crash in 1955, and Santa Cruz, home of University of California Santa Cruz and its famous\/infamous mascot \u00a0&#8212; \u201cBanana Slugs.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Video link for Joe Samba &#8212; <a id=\"OWA1f88590e-4fb3-7e13-e3bc-980fb44d9e8d\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SkNaXyxJBC4\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/SkNaXyxJBC4<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Tickets for the festival start at $30.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19793\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19793\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-19793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/collective-soul-2-350x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Collective Soul<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Collective Soul, an Atlanta-based rock band that has been around since 1992, has played many shows at venues around the Delaware Valley.<\/p><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>It celebrated its first quarter-century in music a few years ago and brought its \u201c25th Anniversary Tour\u201d to the Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Now, the band is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a national tour and a double album, which was released in May.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Collective Soul &#8212; Ed Roland (vocals\/guitar), Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will\u00a0Turpin\u00a0(bass\/background vocals), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar\/background vocals), Johnny Rabb (drums\/background vocals) &#8212; hit the\u00a0road this summer on a massive trek with\u00a0Hootie &amp; the Blowfish along with Edwin McCain. Billed as \u201cSummer Camp with Trucks Tour,\u201d it kicked off on May 30 in Dallas and will close on September 28 in West Palm Beach.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The \u201cSummer Camp with Trucks Tour\u201d is visiting arenas, amphitheaters and select stadiums such as Boston\u2019s iconic Fenway Park (with its famous \u201cGreen Wall\u201d and green Coca-Cola machines.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Locally, the tour will touch down on August 16 at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (One Harbor Boulevard, Camden, New Jersey, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livenation.com\/\">www.livenation.com<\/a>).<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Collective Soul released a double album \u2013 \u201cHere to Eternity\u201d \u2013 in May. It was produced by E. Roland and\u00a0co-produced by Shawn Grove and recorded\u00a0at Elvis Presley\u2019s estate in Palm Springs.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>They are the only other music artist to ever record at the historical landmark where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon and celebrated their Las Vegas wedding in 1967.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cHere to Eternity\u201d made impressive debuts on various charts, including\u00a0#14 on <u>Billboard<\/u>&#8216;s Top Current Album\u00a0chart, and on the Luminate charts:\u00a0#2 Current Hard Music Albums,\u00a0#3 Current Alternative Albums,\u00a0#6 Current Rock Albums,\u00a0#7 Record Label Independent Albums and\u00a0#10 Internet Albums.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThe album dropped about two months ago,\u201d said Turpin, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in northern New Jersey.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWe mainly did most of the work in January at Elvis\u2019 place in Palm Springs. We stayed there a whole month. Ed lived there, and the rest of us stayed in Burt Lancaster\u2019s home.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cHere to Eternity\u201d was released\u00a0May 17 on their label, Fuzze-Flex Records (distributed physically by AMPED Distribution and digitally by Virgin Music Group) and includes two albums\u2019 worth of new music &#8212; 20 songs in all.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>On April 12, the band released the first song and lyric video, \u201cMother\u2019s Love\u201d (created by LyricVids Media) on their official YouTube <u>page<\/u>.\u00a0The official music video was directed by Adam Blank and features an appearance by Ed and Dean Roland\u2019s mother, Nette Roland.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Elvis\u2019 influence seeped into the album-making process. Ed Roland and album co-producer Shawn Grove slept in the home for the duration of the sessions, which overlapped with the death of Presley\u2019s daughter Lisa Marie in early 2023.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cI think it had an effect,\u201d said Turpin. \u201cIt felt like a little bit of a time capsule.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Elvis always had an effect on people, places and things he touched.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>According to Turpin, \u201cThe sticky DNA, with Elvis being there &#8212; you can just tell it was his designs. All pink tiles. It\u2019s straight out of 1977. It was super cool just to be there and in the zone.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Collective Soul even tried recording a few of Elvis\u2019 songs.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWe did try a couple Elvis covers \u2013 but they didn\u2019t kick any ass,\u201d said Turpin.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cStill, I feel any environment is going to affect what you do. Only Elvis ever worked there. We did some vocals in the same room he used.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cBy the time we got to a double record, which was something we\u2019ve wanted to do for 30 years, we had 15-16 songs that we did at Elvis\u2019 place. That was only one session.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWe used Shawn Grove, an engineer we started with in the lates 90s. He\u2019s engineered and co-produced us since 2010.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWhen we were recording there, we used ProTools. We had a bunch of hard drives and good software. And there was the red shag carpet and pink tile in the master bathroom.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Formed in the early 1990s, Collective Soul released its \u201cHints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid\u201d album on the independent label Rising Storm Records in 1993.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The band went from obscurity to popularity that year after the song \u201cShine\u201d became an underground hit based on radio play. The album was re-released in 1994 under major label Atlantic Records.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Collective Soul released a self-titled album in March 1995. Considered by founding member Ed Roland to be the band\u2019s true debut album, \u201cCollective Soul\u201d spent 76\u00a0weeks on the Billboard 200 charts, went triple platinum and became the band\u2019s highest selling album.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The singles \u201cDecember,\u201d \u201cThe World I Know,\u201d and \u201cWhere the River Flows\u201d each reached Number One on the Mainstream Rock charts.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>About two years later, Collective Soul released \u201cDisciplined Breakdown.\u201d Although not as successful in sales as its previous two albums, \u201cDisciplined Breakdown\u201d contained two Number One Mainstream Rock charts hits \u2013 \u201cPrecious Declaration\u201d and \u201cListen.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The band released a fourth studio album, \u201cDosage,\u201d in 1999. The album\u2019s first single, \u201cHeavy,\u201d spent a then record-breaking 15 weeks on the top spot of the Mainstream Rock charts.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The band followed with \u201cBlender\u201d (2000), \u201cYouth\u201d (2004), \u201cAfterwords\u201d (2007), \u201cCollective Soul\u201d (2009) and \u201cSee What You Started by Continuing\u201d (2015), \u201cBlood,\u201d and \u201cVibrating.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"elementToProof\">\u201cOn this tour, Hootie is the headliner, so we get a 60-minute set,\u201d said Turpin. \u201cWe\u2019ll be playing stuff from the new album, and we\u2019ll definitely play songs from our first record.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Video link for Collective Soul \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/k6XqBea3ORk\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/k6XqBea3ORk<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The show at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion will start at 7 p.m.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Ticket prices start at $35.30.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Another show this weekend at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion will be Dierks Bentley on August 17.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,<a id=\"OWAddacbac3-060e-09bf-e749-b54e8aa686ff\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Protected by Outlook: http:\/\/www.jameyshouseofmusic.com\/. Click or tap to follow the link.\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jameyshouseofmusic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) has a full slate of music this weekend.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The show at Jamey\u2019s on August 16 will be a twin bill featuring The Porkroll Project and Robert Morbioli.<\/div>\n<div>Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Livestream tickets are $15.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The show on August 17 at Jamey\u2019s will feature Blues People, an all-star blues band from New Jersey.<\/div>\n<div>The show at Jamey\u2019s on Saturday will start at 8 p.m.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Livestream tickets are $15.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Jamey\u2019s features either \u201cThursday Jams at Jamey\u2019s\u201d or \u201cOpen Mic\u201d on Thursdays featuring the Dave Reiter Trio and occasional guest musicians.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cJazz at Jamey\u2019s\u201d will be presented every second and fourth Thursday, and \u201cOpen Mic\u201d every first, third and fifth Thursday.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Every Sunday, Jamey\u2019s presents \u201cSUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH &amp; JAM\u201d featuring the Philly Blues Kings. On the second Sunday of each month, the featured act is the Girke-Davis Project which features club owner Jamey Reilly, Roger Girke, Glenn Bickel, Fred Berman and Colgan-Davis.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>It\u2019s tribute band time again at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, <a id=\"OWAdc5174db-4993-a967-964f-b6af2502538d\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.uptownwestchester.org\/\">www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>).<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The venue will present Back Home Again (John Denver) on August 16, Classic Stones Live on August 16, and The Frank White Experience (Notorious B.I.G.)\u00a0on August 17.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, <a id=\"OWAc39f0190-6276-4802-572d-0c5679f7d443\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org\/\">http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is hosting Angry Young Band (Billy Joel Tribute) on August 17 as part of its Rooftop Series.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313, <a id=\"OWA9cd5b6bb-a013-4005-d043-3b44f5b855ef\" class=\"OWAAutoLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org\/\">www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) will started its run of the hit musical \u201cThe Fantasticks\u201d on July 13. The show will close on August 24.<\/div>\n<div>\u201c<\/div>\n<div>The Fantasticks\u201d is a magical journey, part fairy tale, part fable and entirely enchanting. With book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, it features such memorable songs as \u201cTry to Remember\u201d and \u201cSoon It\u2019s Gonna Rain\u201d and has the distinction of being the longest-running musical in the history of theater.<\/div>\n<div>\u201cThe Fantasticks\u201d\u00a0is a 1960\u00a0musical\u00a0with music by\u00a0Harvey Schmidt\u00a0and book and lyrics by\u00a0Tom Jones. It tells an\u00a0allegorical\u00a0story, loosely based on the 1894 play\u00a0\u201cThe Romancers\u201d\u00a0(\u201cLes Romanesques\u201d) by\u00a0Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The show\u2019s original\u00a0off-Broadway\u00a0production ran a total of 42 years (until 2002) and 17,162 performances, making it the world\u2019s longest-running musical. The musical was produced by\u00a0Lore Noto. It was awarded\u00a0Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre\u00a0in 1991.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The poetic book and breezy, inventive score, including such memorable songs as \u201cTry to Remember,\u201d helped make the show durable. Many productions followed, as well as television and film versions.<\/div>\n<div>\u201cThe Fantasticks\u201d was revived Off-Broadway from 2006-2017. The musical has played in all 50 U.S. states and in at least 67 foreign countries.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The main characters in the Candlelight productions are Shawn Weaver as The Mute, Isabell Hartzell as Luisa, Nigel Grant as Matt and James Ofalt as El Gallo.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Weaver, an Upper Darby High alumnus, spent his college years in Chester County and graduated from Lincoln University in 2020 as a vocal performance major. He is an active actor, voice coach and director.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThe Fantasticks\u201d is running now through August 24 at the Candlelight Theatre with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Tickets, which include a buffet meal, beverages, dessert, and free parking, are $70.50 for adults and $35 for children.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times South America has the samba. North America has Joe Samba. In Brazil,\u00a0samba\u00a0is a lively dance of Afro-Brazilian origin danced to\u00a0samba\u00a0music. It originally referred to any of several Latin duet dances with origins from the Congo and Angola. Today,\u00a0Samba\u00a0is the most prevalent dance form in Brazil, and reaches the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[12492,7426,15749],"class_list":["post-54453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-collective-soul","tag-featured","tag-joe-samba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54453"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54454,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54453\/revisions\/54454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/54451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}