VOCALOSITY is the all-new live concert event from the creative mind of artistic producer Deke Sharon (Pitch Perfect, The Sing-Off) that takes a cappella to a whole new level.
This fast-paced production features an all-star ensemble of diverse young vocalists singing some of today’s chart-topping hits in brand-new arrangements that set a new standard for 12-part harmony.
It makes its debut visit to Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 pm. (Tickets are $49.50, $39.50, $29.50 & $10 Smart Seats, available at the Ticket Office, playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.)
The 12 powerhouse vocalists who comprise the new all-star a cappella group are Matthew Bryan Feld, James C. Jones, Hannah Juliano, Kelli Koloszar, Cheeyang Ng, Gerianne Pérez, Nattalyee Randall, Tracy L.J. Robertson, Chesney Snow, Bryant Vance, Nicole Weiss and Amy Whitcomb.
No genre of music is off limits in the world of a cappella and VOCALOSITY covers them all – from tenth century Gregorian chant and classical choral to barber shop quartet and bouncing doo-wop all the way to an exploration of the current sound of a cappella with music from The Beatles, Bruno Mars and more.
Combine that with direction and choreography from Sean Curran (Stomp original cast member) and you have an exhilarating evening of song unlike anything ever seen or heard, live on stage.
“Over the past few years, a cappella has grown from what was once considered a stuffy Ivy League activity to a pop culture phenomenon beloved by people of all ages,” Deke Sharon, who serves as artistic director, music director and co-creator of the production, said. “VOCALOSITY is my dream team, an all-star ensemble of diverse young singers each with a unique style and personality. Most vocal groups aspire to create one sound and style, homogenizing the character of their singers, but this group is the exact opposite, weaving a variety of tapestries from different combinations of voices and characters.”Hailed as “the father of contemporary a cappella” by Entertainment Weekly, Sharon is responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella, having created the dense vocal-instrumental sound in college, subsequently spreading it around the world.
Deke produces The Sing-Off worldwide (USA, Netherlands, China, South Africa), which had the highest ratings of any new, unscripted television show in the US in 2009, and was the third highest rated show on NBC in 2010.
He has been performing professionally since the age of 8, and as a child toured North America and shared the stage in operas with the likes of Pavarotti.
In addition, Deke served as arranger, on-site music director and vocal producer for Universal's "Pitch Perfect" and "Pitch Perfect 2" starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson.
As the founder, director and arranger for the House Jacks, the original "Rock Band Without Instruments," Deke has shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles and James Brown.
Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college and is responsible for founding many seminal a cappella programs, including the CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards), ICCAs (International Championship of College A Cappella), and BOCA (Best of College A Cappella Compilation).
He is also contemporary a cappella's most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide with Hal Leonard/Contemporary A Cappella Publishing.
His first book, A Cappella Arranging was published in 2012, and A Cappella will be published in 2015.
Deke is featured on the new series Pitch Slapped (Lifetime Channel) which premiered January 5.
He is one of two a capella coaches whipping his team into shape to compete.
