New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!


By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery

originally published: 02/16/2016

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!

On February 14, 2016, The Cast of Beatlemania rocked the Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ, with its "All You Need is Love" Valentine's Day Beatles tribute. The Cast - "John" (Carlo Cantamessa), "Paul" (Lenie Colacino), "George" (James Filgate), and "Ringo" (John Delgado), along with musical director, Mark Templeton, and producer, James D' Amico-transported the audience back to the 1960s to recreate the frenzy that was Beatlemania.

As the first chords of "I Saw Her Standing There" filled the theater, one could only imagine the journey we would take together - a journey many of us could remember from our own personal vantage point, now watching from seats we wish we could have filled 50 years ago when this magical journey was a reality.

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!

Although all of the actors in The Cast don't necessarily look or sound precisely like John, Paul, George and Ringo, their music is infectious. Their clothes, accents, voices, instruments, mannerisms, and details - from the vintage Rickenbacker guitars to the left-handed Hofner bass playing of Paul - all work to create the illusion of the 1960s and the Beatles.

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!

As this incarnation of the Fab Four plays hit after hit - "All My Loving," "A Hard Day's Night," "Help," "I Feel Fine," "Drive My Car," "Day Tripper," and many more - we forget these are actors engaging the audience, encouraging us to sing, even if it is, as "Paul" in his Liverpudlian accent explains, "to the dismay of our neighbor."

Heads bopping in moptop wigs and black and white suits, they recreate our first memories of the Beatles... with only the color of the instruments and lights ultimately transporting the music and images back into the 21st century. Moreover, as the music changes, so do the costumes and hairdos of the group.

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!



 


Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage




Through the kaleidoscoping sounds of "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields," and "I Am the Walrus" - where the audience "whoooos" and goo-goo-g'joob's perfectly on cue - The Cast of Beatlemania reminds us that "nothing is real" and "nothing lasts forever."

But the music is so ingrained in the audience members' collective psyche that the crowd sings along on every song in communal celebration while the cast members trade quips as well as vocal harmonies, switch instruments, and play and sing their convincing renditions of timeless Beatle songs.

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!

Jovial banter about the frigid Valentine's Day temperatures outside brings the illusion of seeing the Beatles right here in Lakewood even more of a reality to the audience. "John," "Paul," "George," and "Ringo" seem like old friends to us because we know "them" and "their" music so well, bringing the graying members of the audience back to the days of their youth with such classics as "In My Life," "A Little Help From My Friends," "Come Together," "Something," "Hey Jude," and "Here Comes the Sun," where the strumming of the last chord lifts the audience to its feet, demanding an encore with whistles and cheers.

"All You Need is LOVE" --  The Cast of Beatlemania LIVE!

And "in the end," The Cast of Beatlemania reminds us that "the love you take is equal to the love you make," a fitting ending to a tribute to The Beatles - John, Paul, George and Ringo-and a wonderful "All You Need is Love" Valentine for the rest of us.

For more information on The Cast of Beatlemania, go to moptops.com. For info on future events at The Strand Theater  - including The Artimus Pyle Band's Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd on Mar. 5 and The Glimmer Twins' Rolling Stones Tribute on Apr. 2 - go to strand.org.

Photos by Love Imagery



 
Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



Spotlight Central. Your source for Jersey entertainment news and reviews

Love Imagery Fine Art Photography. all you need. peace/love/flower/power


FEATURED EVENTS

COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

Narrow results by date, categories, or region of New Jersey.

Trombone

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Thursday, November 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music

View event page for full information


Randall

Randall Goosby Returns: Renaissance Quartet

Thursday, November 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music

View event page for full information


Marshall

Marshall Crenshaw - Up Close & Personal

Thursday, November 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

View event page for full information


More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages







 

EVENT PREVIEWS

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Prepare to be captivated by the Renaissance Quartet, featuring violinists Randall Goosby and Jeremiah Blacklow, violist Jameel Martin, and cellist Daniel Hass. Graduates of the Juilliard School and mentored by the legendary Itzhak Perlman, the Quartet brings a unique blend of classical mastery and innovative flair to McCarter Theatre on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 7:30pm. Known for reimagining chamber music traditions, this New York based ensemble combines technical excellence with a bold, forward-thinking approach that appeals to a diverse audience.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

(NEWARK, NJ) -- This Fall, AG Touring and Mammoth, Inc. proudly present the Rod Wave - Last Lap Tour. This large-scale multi-city outing will feature Rod Wave headlining 36 of North America's top arenas coast-to-coast. The tour will kick off on October 19 at Desert Diamond Arena in Phoenix, AZ visiting major markets across the country, including Newark’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 with special guests Moneybagg Yo, Toosii, Lil Poppa, Dess Dior and Eelmatic.


Outpost

Outpost in the Burbs presents Robyn Hitchcock

2024-10-26 to 2025-10-26


Katchats

Katchats 11/20/24 - an interview with Rod Picott

2024-11-20 to 2024-12-01


More event previews