FSCJ Artist Series to Present IN THE MOOD February 21

To the delight of fans of the American Big Bands and the Big Band era, the brassy, all-singing, all-dancing, all-American 1940s musical revue, In The Mood, in celebration of it 21st touring season, comes to Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 7:00PM for one performance only!

Hop aboard the “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and you’ll soon be “In The Mood” to hear some great musicians “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Much more than a concert, In The Mood is a fully staged tribute to the American music and lyrics of the ’30s & ’40s. Complete with authentic costumes and choreography, In The Mood pays homage to America’s greatest generation, when people listened to up-tempo big band rhythms and danced to intimate ballads. Experience the swing, the rhythm and the jazzy, sentimental and patriotic music of this pivotal time in America’s history.

In The Mood has a cast of 19 on stage with the hypnotic, sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra plus the In the Mood Singers & Dancers with sizzling choreography, sassy costumes and over 50 unforgettable hits – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Tuxedo Junction, Well Git It, Sing, Sing, Sing, On The Sunny Side of the Street and many more.

Watch a video sneak peek of the show here: http://bit.ly/InTheMoodVideo

Tickets for In The Mood are on sale now through the FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by Chase, the official presenter of the Jacksonville show. Tickets start at $27.00 at www.artistseriesjax.org, (904) 442-2929, and the FSCJ Artist Series Box Office between 10AM-5PM, Monday-Friday. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947or groupsales@fscj.edu.

In The Mood captures the feel of the big band era in part because of the involvement of the late Vic Schoen as the show’s primary arranger. Mr. Schoen created the musical arrangements for the entire career of the legendary Andrews Sisters and was Music Director for both Universal and Paramount Pictures. He was one of the seminal creators of the swing-era sound that he imbued into In The Mood. We are both pleased and proud to carry on this tradition.

The National Archives in Washington, DC brought In The Mood to their audiences as part of their commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of WWII, and the response was so extraordinary that crowds lined up for hours before curtain time. In 1993, thousands attended an out-of-doors performance on Constitution Avenue and many stayed to dance the night away. As a result, in 1994 and 1995, In The Mood, in affiliation with the USO, began a series of tours that played to audiences across the United States. In 1997, the band and singers were selected to be part of the entertainment for one of President Bill Clinton 2nd Inauguration Balls.

Now in its 21st season of touring, In The Mood is a phenomenon among touring shows. Performances have taken place all across America, Canada, New Zealand, The Netherlands and 2 sold-out tours of Australia. In The Mood is constantly being revamped and updated. While there are a number of permanent Big Band/Swing Era songs in the show, many are rotated out and replaced with selections from the huge body of music from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s.

For the fourth year, stage director and highly-in-demand choreographer, Alex Sanchez, a veteran of 10 Broadway shows, is set to bring the In The Mood Singers and Dancers alive with his staging and choreography. He is committed to bringing a fresh, dynamic, ever-changing perspective on the culture of the Swing Era. In The Mood has returned to many venues, some as many as eight times, and patrons who have seen the show before are never disappointed.

With the music and music arrangements, costumes, choreography, singers, dancers and a live big band, In The Mood is as authentic as it gets.