Spartan Daily

'Bandstand Beat' brings audience back to the '60s

Wesley Dugle, Spartan Daily

Sarah Vogel (left) and Hayley Thirwall (right) dance during Friday night’s opening performance of the production “Bandstand Beat” at San Jose’s Tabard Theatre. Photo by Edmond Kwong / Tabard Theatre Company

Tucked within San Pedro Square, a quick jaunt up two flights of weathered and wooden stairs, is the Tabard Theater.

With brick walls, a smattering of comfortable black chairs and an impressive 35-foot bar, the non-proscenium theater prides itself on producing either new works or works that are not commonly done.

To open their 11th season, in which they celebrate “the rhythm of life,” the Tabard takes audience members back to the toe-tapping music of the ’50 and ‘60s in “Bandstand Beat” which runs until Oct. 9.

And back we went, back to the days of jukeboxes and budding rock 'n' roll.

Hosted by the charming Sonny Sparks, on the eve of Sunday June 19, 1965, “Bandstand Beat,” as the audience sees it, is a special live broadcast in living color, a celebration of the show’s 15 years on television and a greatest hits performance of the rock and pop songs from 1950 until 1965.

The stage was adorned in true ‘50s grandeur. Lilac walls were complemented by large, suspended oval shapes in the greens and blues of the time, completed by a large, glittering sign with the title of the production.

Affixed to the upper corners of the stage were two applause signs — a cute touch — and nestled in the back of the space were the instruments played by the band, the band which served as the lifeblood, the stream of music that moved the production along.

If the band was the lifeblood, the various groups of performers were the oxygen within the blood, providing nourishment.

There were three groups of performers, rounding out the cast over 25, including singers, dancers and the kids who are a part of the “Sonny Sparks Fan Club."

SJSU student Kevin McCullough, music director and arranger, was responsible for almost all aspects of the music in “Bandstand Beat” including writing all of the parts for vocals and instruments, playing piano in the production and leading the band.

“We plowed through lists and lists of songs,” he said.

The music selection was a crash course in the hits of the time. From “Rock Around The Clock” to slower ballads like “At Last,” there is something for everyone.

I enjoyed the variety of music, although after the third or fourth ballad my tolerance for layered harmonies and lyrics singing about lost love ran a little thin.

The quick tempo pieces, those with a full band and especially those with dance numbers, left me smiling.

Hands clapped rhythmically, lips turned upward in a smile, as the cast jived and swung, twisted and strolled. My mind drifted to thoughts of poodle skirts and soda fountains and my feet tapped right along.

Cathy Spielberger Cassetta, executive director of the Tabard Theatre, said they try to get the audience dancing.

“We’re here to provide an experience for the audience because we think theater is more than a show," she said.

Although on opening night the patrons couldn’t quite bring themselves to boogie, it wasn’t a result of a lack of encouragement from the performers.

My favorite audience participation moment came when the male singers pulled a “Donna,” “Rhonda,” “Mary-Lou” and “Gigit” from the crowd. Singing excerpts from the songs that shared the same names as their newfound audience members, the four male singers crooned the respective hits.

It was priceless to see the reactions, an elderly woman engulfed in the embrace of singer Will Perez, peering intently into his eyes while a young girl’s mouth hung open in surprise.

Anaseini Katoa, a theater arts major at SJSU, gave a great perfo

rmance as one of the four female singers. Standing outside of the theatre after the show, greeting fans, she said opening night went well.

“It’s really interesting being part of a show that was built from scratch," she said.

Overall, if you are looking for a toe-tapping good time, a quick trip back in time to the simpler music of the '50s and '60s or a lighthearted date night, grab your dancing shoes and experience "Bandstand Beat."