The Seattle Men’s Chorus’ holiday show this year will pay homage to the geeks among us.
But don’t think for a nanosecond that the chorus’ show at Everett Civic Auditorium on Saturday will be a milquetoast affair. This production is a song-and-dance extravaganza that combines comedy, choral music and elaborate costumes.
Chorus artistic director Dennis Coleman says the holiday show, dubbed “Cool Yule: The Big Band Theory,” flows like a Broadway musical.
“That’s what sets us apart from so many other holiday presentations,” Coleman said. “We really are doing a theatrical performance.”
This year, the theme “Cool Yule” pays respects to the nerds of the world by having four characters in the show represent the geeky stars of the television hit series “The Big Bang Theory” — Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Rajesh.
The four characters are introduced to the audience when they come out and learn that they have misread their invitation. The nerds thought they were being asked to explain the Big Bang Theory but really what the chorus wanted them to do was explain the “Big Band Theory.”
By the way, the chorus is backed by a dozen or so swing band era musicians with their instruments — complete with brass and saxophones — to produce a Glenn Miller-type sound, Coleman said.
The four geeks continue their comic stream of confusion as they put together four sketches based on trying to figure out the holidays — scientifically, Coleman said.
“It’s a very fast-moving and funny show,” Coleman said.
Along with comedic sketches and swing songs, the first half of “Cool Yule” presents holiday classics such as “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” some choral music and a women’s underwear fashion show.
In the second half of the program, the men’s chorus produces their signature piece, “Silent Night,” along with other musical and dance selections, ending with a Big Band number, Coleman said.
There will be about 140 chorus members singing, so it’s a huge concert, highly costumed and with a fair amount of dance. The entire chorus — ages 19 to 70 — are trained to dance, performing sophisticated movements coined as “choralography,” Coleman said.
“The show is really satisfying with a lot of spectacle as well as beautiful choral music,” Coleman said. “There’s choral beauty and lots of laughs and visual entertainment.”
Seattle Men’s Chorus “Cool Yule: The Big Band Theory” is 8 p.m. Saturday at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett.
Tickets are $22 to $42. Call 206-388-1400 or go to www.SeattleMensChorus.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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