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IN THE MOOD has just returned from a tour of New Zealand and Australia
Please click here to read some of the quotes and review from the performances in Melbourne and Adelaide
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IN THE MOOD, the 1940’s Big Band Musical Revue, is a celebration of America’s Greatest Generation through the music of The Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, The Dorseys Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and other big band greats with costumes, arrangements and swing dance routines that are as authentic as it gets.
With a 13-piece big band orchestra, and six singers and dancers (including a high energy swing dance couple), IN THE MOOD revisits the music that moved a nation's spirit and helped win a war. This era was the last time when all of America was listening and dancing to the same kind of music.
IN THE MOOD is performing around the United States presented by performing arts centers, universities and theatrical organizations. During the 2010-11 season, Artbeat will supplement these dates with performances at additional venues listed on the right. Artbeat is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to bring the finest performing arts experiences to underserved communities – that is underserved groups like seniors and veterans and also towns located off the beaten track.
Artbeat has IN THE MOOD tickets at discounted prices for groups: senior centers, Red Hats, VFW and other patriotic organizations, Rotary and other service clubs, high school jazz bands, assisted living venues, churches and more! If you need help organizing your group or need tickets, either contact the venue you’d like to attend or e-mail:
David David .
More than a concert, IN THE MOOD takes a retro look at the life and time of America’s greatest generation. With music and dance performed to up-tempo big band rhythms and mellow intimate ballads, a mood was set to inspire a future filled with hope, promise and prosperity. This was a time like no other in our Nation’s history, a time when music moved the Nation’s spirit. Attend IN THE MOOD and experience the swing, rhythm, jazzy, brassy, sentimental and romantic music of this important time.
In The Mood has become a beacon for the Greatest Generation, Patriotic Groups, Fans of the Swing Era, Red Hats and similar groups. The show was the National Touring Event for the Spirit of ’45, a year-long celebration of the Greatest Generation marking the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII.
Bud Forrest Entertainment began touring IN THE MOOD in 1994 following an overwhelming response from a performance on the steps of the National Archives in Washington, DC. For over 10 years IN THE MOOD has continued to impact audiences with sell-out performances everywhere. Through its musical influence, it became part of the official entertainment for the World USO’s 50th commemoration of the WW II events. IN THE MOOD has performed and toured both in the U.S.A. and Europe and for the Clinton Presidential Inaugural Ball.
IN THE MOOD was conceived by Washington, DC's musical producer, Bud Forrest.
Creator and producer, Bud Forrest is a Juilliard trained pianist and conductor who served as accompanist for the Air Force chorus: The Singing Sergeants. He has performed at Arena Stage in Candide and It’s a Wonderful Life, at Ford’s Theatre in All Night Strut, at the Kennedy Center with such performers as Cyril Ritchard, Tammy Grimes, Lillian Gish, Dick Shawn, and John Raitt, at the Warner Theatre in Camelot with Richard Harris and at the National Theatre in Cats and Dancin’. For In The Mood, Mr. Forrest has compiled the greatest music from the swing era into a review that also tells the story of the WWII years in a moving tribute to those who fought the war. In The Mood repertoire is updated from time to time based on patron requests and current research.
“Arrangements for the String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra and the In the Mood Singers and Dancers choreography are true to the originals. The sounds of the big band, the vocal groups, solos and swing dance numbers ring out with the same kind of 1940’s feel that IN THE MOOD has strived for during the seventeen years we have been touring.” –Bud Forrest
Many of the musical arrangements were written by Vic Schoen, the conductor and arranger for The Andrews Sisters, and Music Director for both Universal and Paramount Pictures. The revue features a company of 24 including the In the Mood Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls big band orchestra with arrangements, costumes and choreography as authentic as it gets.
For Producer Information, please click, here...
To download images: User ID: inthemood Password: serenade
IN THE MOOD has been named the official national touring event for THE SPIRIT OF ’45, a year-long national initiative to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II by honoring the legacy of the men and women of who endured the Great Depression, defended democracy in WWII and then went on to rebuild their shattered world. The goal of the Spirit of '45 is to remind America of the courage, self sacrifice and commitment to service of our "greatest generation" so that their example can inspire young and old to come together again as a community to face the historic challenges of today. To learn more about Spirit of ’45 Project, please visit www.spiritof45.org
Adelaide Advertiser, Sunday, Sept 25, 2011
Adelaide, Australia
A night that swings
EVERYTHING old is new again and the world is in the mood for swing.
The big band era that dominated the middle of the 20th century is roaring back into town, courtesy of this clever, snappy, brassy celebration of swing dance and music.
Creator and musical maestro Bud Forrest has managed to recapture the musical milieu that made Glenn Miller immortal, along with some stellar choreography from Alex Sanchez.
Forrest’s String Of Pearls Orchestra is a tight bright unit that sizzles and swings with the tuxedo style that kept a generation on its feet.
Amiable Mark Brignone leads the stellar ensemble with a swanky Frank style attitude, while Jennifer Andres’ beautiful rich tones revive an era when lyrics meant something.
– Matt Byrne
– MUSIC
– In the Mood
– Mario Maiolo Promotions
– Her Majesty’s Theatre
– ★★★★
– The players: Mark Brignone, Elizabeth
– Baumgartner, AJ Converse, Jennifer Andres,
– Tim Quartier, Cori Cable Kidder.
– Behind the scenes: Creator/producer/music director Bud Forrest, staging Alex Sanchez
Testimonials from Melbourne, Australia performance, September 2011
"Nostalgic heaven with a feel good result. Entertainment at its finest with fantastic musicians, skilled dancers and singers and a story dialogue that traverses the era of the immortal big band sound. A wonderful journey through time."
"Show was very good. Costumes very true to each time period. Loved the swing dancing numbers and the artists were very accomplished at both the dancing and singing routines, great voices. Loved the band and the choice of numbers, most were familiar."
"I took my 80 year old mother and oldest sister. We loved every moment of the show. It was both amusing and entertaining. The singers and dancing was fabulous and the musicians were incredible. We could have watched the show again immediately afterwards. Favourite moment: Mum saying "Thank you" and that it brought back a lot of memories. She especially enjoyed the Jitterbugging."
"Loved the show. Very nostalgic, knew all the music and could not sit still throughout."
"I loved the way they incorporated Melbourne and Waltzing Matilda into their act. The show was brilliant."
"Funny, sad, mesmerizing. Great voices, amazing musicians, wonderful dancing. Time travelling to another era. Fantastic entertainment for 10 year old to 100 year olds."
"This was a wonderful step back in time, the musicians were an absolute delight to close your eyes and listen to perfect re-enactment of the great war time bands that I grew up with. The singing, dancing and acting by the wonderful troupe was a delight to be part of, all in all a wonderful trip down memory lane."
"This was a most professional performance and an excellent effort was made to engage Australian audiences. Never a dull moment. If you are interested in the big bands of the thirties and forties, don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Singers and dancers were first class."
"Took my 95 year old Mum who often danced with GI's at the Palais during the war years and we thoroughly enjoyed the show....we thought the show was energetic, entertaining and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Good value.
"Absolutely brilliant performance. The audience was spellbound all evening. A wonderful night - we are now planning an interstate trip to see them again at least once. Favourite moment: All night long!"
"My sisters and I took our father for Father's Day. We all had a great time. The show was brilliant. We were all singing on our way home in the car.
Favourite moment: The whole show.
October, 2009
We received this note from Jim Vaughn of Arkansas:
Mr. Forrest,
My wife and I, along with two dear friends, were privileged to sit in on your IN THE MOOD presentation at Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, Arkansas State University here in Jonesboro this past Sunday (October 25, 2009). My friend Tom Waldron and I are 84 years old, the proper age to fully appreciate 1940s Big Band music. We're convinced that your renditions of this Golden Age music is the cleanest, purest, and simply the best we have ever heard, and the two of us we were live witnesses to performances by big band aggregations that were headed by Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington and a number of others during our military service in WWII.
