By Merle Exit
Summer will soon be on its way out, but fall will bring a new season of entertainment to Queensborough Performing Arts Center with a kick off date of Oct. 1.
A three-man tribute to crooner Michael Buble called “Shades of Buble” will line the stage with music that echoes Billboard chart toppers, including classic hits from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, as well as Big Band jazz.
Don’t expect a break in the action, as the following week gives patrons two superstars of Broadway in Tommy Tune and Chita Rivera.
Yes, it’s the real thing as this “Two for the Road” concert will feature songs from their musical careers. Rivera starred in such classics as “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” Tune, who is also known for his tapping footsteps, has “My One and Only” and “Grand Hotel” as credits from his illustrious career. The concert is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 3 p.m.
Taylor Dayne gives us an evening of great vocals. There’s “I Will Always Love You” originally done by Whitney Houston, and “I’ll Always Love You” by Dayne, who is set to appear on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. She will be singing her hits such as “Tell It To My Heart,” “Love Will Bring You Back,” “With Every Beat of My Heart,” and “Beautiful.”
It’s a night of nostalgia as rock ‘n’ roll legend Darlene Love comes to Queens. Back in the ’60s, she was most known for singing “He’s a Rebel” as part of a group called The Crystals. Backup singing was her thing at that time that included the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” “Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home” had her soloing. Love then made the movie scene with the Lethal Weapon series. It will be the second time that she will be appearing at QPAC.
Love says that the best thing she did was to move to New York. “We didn’t realize that ‘He’s a Rebel’ would be such a hit and now my career has totally blossomed today. I was really one of the best and greatest background singers and now I have my own singers, bands and managers with all of the responsibilities. I love what I do. I will be performing until this becomes a ‘job’.”
Darlene recently performed for 10,000 Elvis fans at the 16th annual European Elvis Festival in Germany and featured songs that she recorded with Elvis in the 1960s. Featured was a gospel medley, which she will be singing at her upcoming performance.
The Fabulous Coasters will be joining the evening. You know, “Yakety, Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Poison Ivy,” and “Down in Mexico.” Get your tickets for Oct. 15 for this double-star, 3 p.m. performance.
A New York City debut takes place on Oct. 22 as Kol Esperanza ensemble fills the air at 3 p.m. with their operatic pop. It will be a performance billed as “an intimate evening from Israel.” Kol Esperanza (voice of hope) are world-class singers performing the best of Opera, Broadway, Pop, and Jewish and Israeli favorites, blending classical tradition with what is expected to be a vibrant new sound.
Sneak peek to November’s calendar as “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone will be performing with the Diva Jazz Orchestra on the Nov. 19
QPAC is located on the campus of Queensborough Community College (222-05 56 Ave., Bayside). For further information, go to visit qpac.org or call (718) 631-6311.
