What do three guys, 30 instruments, and the Great Allentown Fair have in common? Those three guys, known as New Odyssey, will be playing those 30 instruments in their stage show at the Agri-Plex Square at the fair, which opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. Performing together for nearly four decades, New Odyssey travels the country playing top tunes of generations past and present with a repertoire ranging from Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" to Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk."
"Call us crazy, but you'll be amazed at how we play all those multiple instruments," said Gary Todd, in a phone interview between shows in Kansas City. Instruments include a pocket trumpet, accordion, sousaphone, melodica, banjo, and bass trumpet.
Todd is the drummer and comic for New Odyssey, whose members include Michael Jay on guitar and bass, and Gary Polkow on piano and accordion. All three men reside in the Chicago area and met during what Todd refers to as "the circuit of bands back in the show band era," when they were playing in different bands and performing at lounges. They came together to form the cover band, New Odyssey, mainly playing for corporate events until disco came on the music scene.
"And then we branched out," Todd said, with engagements across the country at fairs, festivals, and even the Poconos and Hershey in Pennsylvania. This will be New Odyssey's first time performing at the Great Allentown Fair.
"Our success has been good fortune, luck and health," Todd said. "We get along. We're not the party band but a really good show with versatility and comedy."
Todd said he was first attracted to music and drumming around the age of 11, when the Beatles came on the American scene. But his roots in show business go back to age 2, when he started performing as an acrobat with his family act, "The Tumbling Todd's." Todd, himself, sings and performs on more than 15 musical instruments. There are even some costumes when it comes to performing the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper.
Michael Jay began singing and playing guitar at age 12 and by 21 was playing bass, composing music for his own bands and performing alongside national recording artists. He's done television and radio, was a musical director, and is involved in music ministry at his church. He's sung the national anthem for the Chicago Cubs. He plays 10 instruments and is the vocal strong point of New Odyssey.
Polkow began his piano training at age 7 and shortly after was rewriting and performing traditional classical children’s pieces. In his professional life, he’s worked in film, synthesizer and sound design, and as music and choir director. He is musical director and "tech guy" of New Odyssey.
"We have a lot of novelty to our act," Todd said. "You gotta have fun with the crowd, and we do and they do. If you like variety, we're the act."
During the run of the Allentown Fair, New Odyssey will be sharing the stage with "Scott's Future of Magic Show," featuring Dale Scott and his stage illusion and comedy magic. Scott also will be roaming the fairgrounds doing sleight-of-hand and mind-bending tricks with the crowds. He has performed worldwide and produces spectaculars for casinos, cruise lines, corporate and special events.
The Allentown Fair runs Tuesday from 4 to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Sept. 4 from noon to 11 p.m., and Labor Day, Sept. 5, from noon to 10 p.m. It is held on the fairgrounds, located between 17th and 21st streets and Liberty and Chew streets in Allentown.
For further info: allentownfairpa.org
ARTS ROUNDUP
Award-winning Broadway singer/actress Lynnie Godfrey performs hits from her sold-out Jazz Upstairs cabaret performances and from her Grammy recognized debut album, "Lynnie Godfrey Doing It Her Way," on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.
Conductor Ronald Demkee leads the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in this pops series concert themed "Lynnie Godfrey Embraces the Standards," with featured favorites including the music of Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin, Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, and Stephen Sondheim.
Godfrey is the author of "Sharing Lessons Learned While Seeking the Spotlight," highlighting the influences and mentors throughout her professional career and personal life.
For further info: millersymphonyhall.org
***
Justin Guarini, Michele Ragusa and Euan Morton are featured in "Cake Off," a new musical by Sheri Wilner, Julie Jordan, and Adam Gwon, at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, through Sept. 10.
Broadway, television and film star Justin Guarini ("American Idol," "Wicked," "Green Day's American Idiot") returns to the Playhouse to join Tony-nominee Euan Morton ("Taboo," "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Sondheim on Sondheim"), and Barrymore winner Michele Ragusa ("Young Frankenstein," "Urinetown," "Ragtime"), plus newcomer Aidan J. Lawrence ("To Kill A Mockingbird"). Director is Gaye Taylor Upchurch.
Based on the original play, "Bake Off," by Sheri Wilner, "Cake Off" follows the action at the 50th annual Millberry Cake Off, where the stakes are higher than usual, as the prize for the best sugary delight has been raised to $1 million. For the first time, men are allowed to enter. Paul (Morton), a starry-eyed, single dad has risen to the top and meets his match in Bake Off veteran, Rita (Ragusa), as they are thrust into the heat of competition.
Guarini plays multiple roles. Lawrence plays Paul's young son, Wyatt.
For further info: bcptheater.org
*'*
Just in time for this fall's presidential election, the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley is looking for election-themed artworks for possible inclusion in an exhibition, "Hues of Red and Blue: The 2016 Presidential Election," co-produced by the museum and RE:find Gallery on the Walk.
According to museum officials, the expressive potential of art lends itself to timely commentary on current political events. Throughout history, both self-taught and professionally trained artists alike have expressed political opinions in various formats and mediums. In doing so, they've contributed to national discussion.
Selected work will be displayed in the museum's Priscilla Payne Hurd Gallery and at RE:find Gallery on the Walk (on the Arts Walk between Sixth and Seventh streets in Allentown), Oct. 19-Nov. 13.
For further info: allentownartmuseum.org
***
Reading Civic Theatre presents Disney's "Camp Rock the Musical" at the Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College, North Second and Penn streets, Reading, Sept. 16-17 at 7:30 p.m., and Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.
The musical, based on the hit Disney Channel movies, is the story of two summer music camps that battle it out for a rockin' summer that no one will forget.
For further info: readingcivic.org
***
"William & David Gothard: Father & Son, Humor and Pathos" is an exhibition at the Ronald K. De Long Gallery at Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, Lehigh County, through Oct. 10.
William Gothard (1932-2015) was born in Brooklyn and later resided in Pennsylvania. Though he is best known as a painter, he was a consummate draftsman whose drawings recorded his humorous observations of man's folly, his outrage over injustice, and his tenderness for his family.
His son, David, inherited this passion for drawing and chose a career in illustration. A graduate of Pratt Institute, he teaches drawing in its fine arts department. His illustrations can be found on opinion pages of major publications, where he imbues his drawings with humor and pathos. He also has created art for advertising campaigns and children’s books. The exhibition reveals the artistic continuity between father and son.
A reception will be held Sept. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.
For further info: lv.psu.edu/gallery
***
Multi-media performance artist Jefferson Pinder examines 21st century social conflicts through break dance with "Dark Matter," a street performance featuring international b-boy crew Lionz of Zion. The performance will be held Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the Ahart Family Arts Plaza (part of the Williams Arts Campus at 223 N. Third St.) at Lafayette College in Easton.
The artistry of Lionz of Zion, considered one of the early pioneers of breaking, has influenced b-boys across the world and pairs well with Pinder's intense choreography.
Inspired by current events, "Dark Matter" speaks to the power dynamics that create dialogue or exchange between two opposing groups.
Pinder, a professor in the department of contemporary practices at the School of the Art Institute Chicago, has studied photographs and images from the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri, uprising to better understand the visual dynamics of contemporary revolt.
There will be opportunities for discussion of the content of "Dark Matter" at a lunchtime panel at noon in the Marlo Room of the Farinon Student Center on the day of the show, and a question-and-answer at Ahart Plaza immediately following the evening performance.
The daytime panel will include Curlee Raven Holton, Lafayette professor of art and director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute. Moderator will be Lafayette Intercultural Development Coordinator Liam O'Donnell. The panel discussion is free and open to the public.
For further info: lafayette.edu
***
"Transitory Collective," a show of woodcut and linoleum prints by 11 local artists known for their work in other disciplines, will be held at Studio B in Boyertown, beginning Sept. 1, with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The show runs through Sept. 11.
Participating artists include Susan Biebuyck, Miles DeCoster, Liz Edwards, Suzanne Fellows, who spearheaded and organized the exhibit, Amy Forsyth, Sarah Gersbach, Sharon McGinley, Suzanne Molyneux, Abby Ryder, Lauralynn White, and Kristen T. Woodward.
The artists are from both the GoggleWorks in Reading and the extended art community.
Printed collaboratively, the only criteria for the exhibit is the orientation of the matching frames. Each handmade print in the exhibit is from an edition of 25, with each artist choosing his or her own theme. The prints and plates will be exhibited in pairs.
For further info: studiobbb.org
#