Arts & Entertainment
Mt. Gretna Concert Series In Bucks Continues With 60s Party Anthems
"These are high-quality concerts with professional musicians ... Our patrons have been loving them," said executive director Andy Smith.
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NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The historic Newtown Theatre continues its new partnership with the Mt. Gretna Summer Concert Series in Central Pennsylvania with a 60s performance of party anthems and make-out songs in February.
This past fall, the theatre began presenting a different weekday matinee concert each month. All of the concerts previously played to standing-room-only crowds as part of the Mt. Gretna Summer Concert Series created in 2017 by Larry McKenna.
“We’ve had such a great response to these concerts over the years, but they were always one-off events that only played in Mt. Gretna,” says McKenna, who has a summer cottage in Mt. Gretna and serves as the administrative director and producer of the Summer Concert Series. “I had this idea that we should bring them to other venues and that’s when I approached the Newtown Theatre.”
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The first concert in October, “The Greatest Hits of Broadway,” sold out in less than two weeks and the second, “The Music of Barbra Streisand,” also did well. After a break in December, the concerts will resume in January.
“When Larry approached the theatre about bringing these concerts to Newtown it was a no-brainer,” says Andrew Smith, executive director of the Newtown Theatre.
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“These are high-quality concerts with professional musicians and singers. Our patrons have been loving them, and we hope to continue offering them for years to come.”
Tickets for the following upcoming Mt. Gretna shows are available at
TheNewtownTheatre.com/events :
- “Party Anthems & Make-Out Songs of the 1960s” on February 7 at 3 p.m. This show will feature five high school buddies who started a band more than 50 years ago who return for “one final reunion.” Concertgoers will hear songs from The Beach Boys, The Lettermen, The Four Seasons, the Four Tops, The Temptations, Chicago, and many more.
- “Mick’s Company: An Afternoon of Irish Music & Humor” on March 20 at 3 p.m. Yes, it’s three days after St. Patrick’s Day, but who’s counting?! Founded more than two decades ago, Mick’s Company is Philadelphia’s most fun Irish band. Concertgoers will enjoy an afternoon of all their favorite Irish songs and humor.
- “The Top 20 Female Singers of All-Time” on April 10 at 3 p.m. This concert will feature The Sassies (Kate Nice, Cait Dailey, and Peg Keller) singing classic hits from 20 of the greatest female singers of all time – from Etta James to Whitney Houston.
Mt. Gretna is a borough in Lebanon County. It was founded by the Pennsylvania Chautauqua Society, which was attracted by the area’s natural landscape and beauty. Before creating the summer concert series there, McKenna spent years producing the New Voices Cabaret at the Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Boys Choir building, and 118 North in Wayne.
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