Our agent, Beth Jones, spent seven years at William Morris Endeavor, basically the premier agency in the country, and shes now with Parallel 49, but shes a premier agent. Chris: One of my favorite emails weve ever gotten kind of summed up exactly the mood we try to evoke. In addition, Christopher Kale Jones, a member of Under the Streetlamp since 2010,. Jones won hearts nationwide starring as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys (San Francisco, Los Angeles, First National Tour). I want the movement to enhance, but I never want it to take away from the true reason that were there, and that is to make music. Which is work in total collaboration with one another. Cunio: My very brief thing and this sort of piggy backs on What Shonn said it was JB that was the experience that allowed the four of us to meet and become friends. Why did Michael Ingersoll leave under the streetlamp? Some homeowners leave their green bulb in the porch light all year, while others change the bulb on or around Veterans Day. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What a fantastic job he did with SNC! You always have things that youre shooting for, and thats part of the reason that we have this great team because they have very specific goals that they are shooting for, for us. Jim Gardiner is top vote-getter, likely headed to runoff with Megan Mathias, Kohls swings to surprise loss; warns on profit for year, Religion roundup: Putting sessions in Mokena, Irish music in Oak Lawn, and more, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Shonn s performing roots go way back, having started dancing at the age of five. Current company members of Under The Streetlamp include Eric Gutman, David Larsen, Brandon Wardell and Shonn Wiley. Actor: Chicago Med. And he mentioned to me, there are people out there who are doing this right now, today, and one of the people he mentioned specifically was Michael Buble. Michael Ingersoll. Listen to the LIVE album recorded January 6th and 7th at Chicago's very own Mercury Theater. When I was in Los Angeles playing the Ahmanson, I had the good fortune to go to Frankie Vallis house. And we clearly found as we started forming this group that one of the very strong reasons as to why we decided to continue singing together, was because it really was the best. Or, let me give you another example. From Ike and Tina to Steve and Eydie. I remember reading about you on the Internet as the group was evolving it seemed that you had a few other members before you settled on the four of you, and that there were even times when you had more than four. And we had the great fortune and the grace to have opportunities to be performing our little show in the middle of the country and have been seen by the right kind of people who wanted us to be seen by more than just the people we were performing for. Christopher Kale Jones is known for Chicago Med (2015), The Good Time Girls (2017) and Under the Streetlamp (2011). Our manager Charlie Blum has been an industry pro starting with the Nederlanders all the way back in the 70s. Great article.as always. I look forward to following this wonderful group of guys and hopefully catching a concert. And I really think that that in a sense goes a long way in allowing all the other things to happen because we were all content with just making great music and making people happy. Is it you yourselves, or do you have someone doing that for you? Often appearing in matching suits, the quartet continues to honor the great musical period between the '50s and the '70s . Theyre just cheap to run because they use less electricity. . But no, they did not sing together despite having a perfectly good name for a quartet). (More laughter). Why are some street lights orange and some white? Excerpt: (Photo credits: Carol B. He was in the second grade. All in all, one of the most enjoyable concerts Ive ever seen, period. Well travel with our rhythm section, our quartet, and well pick up horns in each city, which will be a new experience for us. I give Ingy a lot of credit here. Stubbs: So Im going to be surprised with a new tune at the beginning of the second act at your concert? So stubbletwo thought Shonn looked really young? If you ever see a purple porch light, its there to bring awareness to incidents of domestic violence. Thats awesome. TV Shows. CHOREOGRAPHY Cunio: My personal opinion about all that is, theres room for everbody. At the same time it gave us an opportunity to continue building this show. Cunio: Its gonna be a really long traveling camp where we have to sing every night. Thats kind of my biggest goal right now. Its as if the music has freed him. Pink porch lights are generally associated with Breast Cancer. I love watching clips of the Temptations, clips of the Jackson Five, clips of the Four Tops, footage from even earlier, just anything that can kind of inspire. And in addition to that, at a lot of these gigs weve flown in to perform, weve been able to partner with some high schools, so we could go and have actual talkbacks with students who want to be performers in some way, whether it be in acting, or singing, or becoming a musician, and well get these groups of kids to come out, and well just talk to them, and tell them about our experiences. With irresistible charm and rapport, Under the Streetlamp offers audiences the opportunity to get to know four critically acclaimed stars of stage and screen, Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale . Cunio: Theres one thing that we talk about when people talk about this music, and its ability to build bridges: One of the things that we joke about is, we all grew up listening to this music because it was the music we could agree to with our parents sitting in the car, you know? The collaboration makes what we do special. Shonn: I just want to get filthy rich. Menu. Do you want to get a long-term engagement in a showroom in Vegas or Atlantic City? In 2021, a green porch light acts as a symbol of appreciation for American veterans and U.S. military service members. What Does a Purple Porch Light Mean? . We have choreography and staging and four-part harmony. THE FUTURE While his current pursuits keep him in Chicago, the group continues to tour around the US. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Superb interview! Is this the guys first Farewell Tour? christopherkalejones.com / Twitter: @ChrisKaleJones / Insta: @chriskalejones, 2023 ARTISTS LOUNGE LIVEAn Entity of Ingersoll Music Company. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Michael: Im going to just answer that question and say no, not a damned thing. With this group, I helped produce 3 TV specials, one docu-series, and 4 albums (all available for streaming and download). Chris: And that is the truest thing you will hear in this whole interview. Its incredibly important to us to thank them, and the powers that be. Shonn: the youngest of spirit, let's just put it that way. Research has revealed that our eyes perceive an orange-lit street as darker than a white-lit street even when the same levels of light are provided. Left to right, Brandon Wardell, Shonn Wiley, Eric Gutman and David Larsen make up Under the Streetlamp. He recorded and toured extensively with Streetlamp, headlining across America and abroad. Under the Streetlamp will bring the sounds of early rock and roll, doo wop and Motown classics to an entirely . So Chris was the last piece of the puzzle, so to speak. I caught UTSL on PBS and was blown away by the talent and professionalism of the production They had fun with each other and genuinely cared for each other.". Apr 13, 2017 at 11:43 pm. Jones said he began practicing his high falsetto in earnest and got the part of Frankie Valli, the leader of The Four Seasons, the 1960s rock group sensation whose story is told in "Jersey Boys.". But the thing we like about Under The Streetlamp is, we consider it the humblest of spotlights. We have been graced with an entire team of people who have felt that this project a good idea and that it made people happy. In the 1950s and 60s, the street corner was the gathering spot for would-be musicians who couldn't afford instruments, lived in cramped quarters and wanted a place to perform. Here in Chicago, Ive been fortunate to work at theaters I used to dream about collaborating with: Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, and The Goodman Theatre to name just a few. We take the music very, very seriously. I was at the opening of the second national tour of Jersey Boys and Tara Rubin was there shes the casting director of the show, and Merri Sugarman, who works with her. Learn more about the full cast of Under the Streetlamp: Rockin' Round the Clock with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide Cunio: Yes, and you can write about it all you want! So the phrase The American Radio Songbook is one that you came up with, Cunio? I guess the time finally did come for Ingersoll to start his own group. Stubbletwo took one look at you on TV (on the PBS concert) and said Boy, that guy looks young., Shonn: Im actually the oldest, but I tend to have the . You see true, unadulterated joy and enthusiasm on their faces. Can you say Elvis and Orbison? The idea of traveling from venue to venue, and playing top theaters in large markets this is the first time that weve ever had that opportunity. Created by: John M Forte//Jenna Coker-Jones//Christopher Kale Jones. He stuck with em until they hitwhich didnt take long! King's in Times Square, NYC. His At Last is a classic and he should patent his wailings in Twist and Shout and Hey Jude. Like, this is what its been like for us, this is what you can expect, these are the things everyone tells you are really important, these are the things that are actually really important, and its been great. CLICK HERE TO CATCH THE ACTION LIVE who I Am Why is this set of gigs being called your first tour? Were not talking about what those two new tunes are but. Cunio: It didnt hurt that he fit the suit from the previous guy. In addition, Christopher Kale Jones, a member of Under the Streetlamp since 2010, left the group at the end of last year. Nsync? Follow the nationally lauded singing group Under the Streetlamp as they launch a singing competition to find talented vocalists with compelling stories to share. When I started the piece about stubbletwos band, I figured youd be doing all the talking with the guys just nodding politely, but your interjections were insightful and really gave these fellows a wonderful platform. We do it for them. & stubbs) By stubbleyou, Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondent Our West Coast correspondent stubbleyou talks with the members of "Under The Streetlamp" about their . While his current pursuits keep him in Chicago, the group continues to tour around the US. Cunio: The only thing Id add to that is, this is I think some of the most fun any of us have ever had working on stage, so if we could continue to be gainfully employed, by doing something we love so much, for the rest of our lives, that would be a success. Cunio, for example, has the purest rock, roll, and soul voice in the group, showcased on some Aretha, some Kinks, some Isley Brothers, and some Beatles. Its not the lights that are actually defective. (Laughter). They stood under the streetlamps and created intricate, entertaining harmonies for friends, fans and passersby. He brought the guys together on stage for the first time. Kidding. I have to tell you how much I like the opening you start with what most would agree are the Big Three of doo-wop, but before that, Michael is onstage alone, singing a slow solo, and then the other voices come out and join in one at a time. And I remember him talking specifically about that experience, about how there was a time where it was just one FM radio station and you were really in the hands of a deejay. Under the Streetlamp Michael Cunio, Michael Ingersoll, Christopher Kale Jones and Shonn Wiley have been featured on Broadway, in film and television, and showcased on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Emmy Awards and The Oprah Winfrey Show during their Jersey Boys tenure. Former "Jersey Boys" co-stars Michael Ingersoll (left) and Christopher Kale Jones star in Artists' Lounge Live's "Lean on Me: The Brotherhood of Rock . Im sure JB fans will find that story very interesting indeed. We have an entire group of four year olds, boys and girls, who continue to inspire us with dance moves, and who continue to listen to the music. Ingersoll left Under the Streelamp in March 2017 to pursue producing opportunities, according to Wiley. Learn more about the full cast of Under the Streetlamp with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide . Movies. Michael: No one is more surprised than we are that this is now our main job. Stubbs: Fans of the music would love this show even if you just stood at four mikes and sang, but from watching the concert on PBS, watching all that movement, its like a theres whole second show going on. Ingersoll is heard gravitating toward early rock and roll as well as staking out the anything rockabilly corner, having spent a number of years in Memphis. But by throwing the word radio in there, you give it a whole different meaning that perfectly evokes the way we felt about popular music at the time. Vaudeville Man. Yeah, that Shonn Wiley..who knew? Shonn, I understand you are the groups choreographer. Ingersoll, Jones and Wiley appeared at one time or another in the Chicago or national. THE CONCERT Other theatre includes reprising his role as Frankie Valli in the St Louis premiere of Jersey Boys (St Louis Theater Circle Award), starring as Seymour in multiple productions of Little Shop of Horrors (Chicago; and opposite wife Jenna Coker-Jones in Washington DC), the world premiere music It Came From Outer Space (John Putnam), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph, Kevin Kline nomination), Olympus On My Mind (Barrymore nomination), The Sound Of Music (Captain von Trapp),Grease, The Music Man, Miracle on 34th Street, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Ragtime, The King & I, The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, and Peggy Sue Got Married. Unique light-activated membrane acts like a traffic signal for gas. Michael: One thing that I will say about that, and you were kind of alluding to this earlier, Stubbs. Im really excited about the collaboration with Dan Ponce. And aside from that, you know, theres room for everybody. Not only did I love the show one friend who saw it with me the first time said he looked over at me during the show and it was as if I was injecting heroin into my arm but I was also very impressed and surprised afterwards at what a nice guy Chris was. Thanks to all four of you for setting aside the time for this interview, and for your thoughtful, candid, and sometimes light-hearted insights into the past, present, and future of Under The Streetlamp. Chris: Id like to add one thing that I think would be of interest to the people who enjoy the blog so much. "The music is the most important, but the presentation is also important. Top Deals Under $100 This Week. . "Eric plays guitar, so he and Brandon do an Everly Brothers mashup in the show," Wiley said. Charles L. Blum. Dan Ponce wrote the vocal arrangement in conjunction with us, for one of our new tunes for the tour. Like Wiley, he joined Jersey Boys with prior acting experience in New York theater. Stubbs: So the performances until now were each a one-of-a-kind, or perhaps I should say, one-at-a-time events, rather than as part of a planned, organized itinerary. ", The fourth member of the quartet is Brandon Wardell, who has been with the group for three years. The Four Cunios. Cunio: We were all looking for what was going to be the next thing for us, and this has become that. And he has the funniest lines of all: Theres a bar in the back; I think I ripped my pants (which might have been true, given that suit!). ADDENDUM His rendition of recently-departed Etta James At Last from 1960 is a showstopper. It began with people blending their voices together trying to make some music, and then explode out from there. UTSL has a similar phrase that packs a lot of meaning into a few words, and that is how you describe your music: The American Radio Songbook. This of course is a variation of the oft-used phrase the great American songbook, which refers more to show tunes, movie songs, and jazz standards of the twentieth century. Stubbs: Well its obvious theyre doing a great job. Thanks so much for a wonderful piece Stubbs. You will see why I now call UTSL the hardest working group in show business. And as a bonus, the guys hung out afterwards for photos and to sign CDs and DVDs which were on sale, on site. (Well maybe not Queen. We were able to do a gig once where we had a couple seats free, so we invited some students to come in and see it, and their reactions actually pumped up the older crowd. Under the Streetlamp is, from left, Shonn Wiley, Christopher Kale Jones, Michael Ingersoll and Brandon Wardell. Chris: Absolutely. Michael: And you can see from the video of the concert that Joanne Doherty is playing piano on it, and shes now the musical director of the second national tour of JB. 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