Los Gatos High School String Quartet Joins Touring Beatles Musical November 3 at the Montgomery Theatre

When the touring show "In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles" comes to the Montgomery Theater in San Jose on November 3, be on the lookout for two quartets -- not just one.

The Los Gatos High School string quartet has the privilege of joining the professional actors on stage to add an element of orchestral texture to the afternoon. The Los Gatos High quartet will perform during the 7 pm show and The Milpitas High quartet will perform during the 2:30 pm show.

Here's the rundown:

The show: "In My Life" is the musical retelling of the Beatles story through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein and featuring the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road. The band features Chris Paul Overall ("Paul"), Gregory Wilmot ("John"), Jesse Wilder ("George") and Axel Clarke ("Ringo"). Brian Epstein is played by Alxander Jon (spelling is correct). The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Orange County Register at one point declaring, "If you see one tribute show, see this one --smart and loads of fun." The show is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades.

The string quartet: Los Gatos junior Shadia Mustafa, sophomore Hyuntae Byun and freshmen Gillian Yost and Sabrina Chan will join the band for the songs "Eleanor Rigby," "Yesterday," "A Day in the Life," "Hello Goodbye," and "Hey Jude." In a special touch, "Yesterday" is played as a scene in which the Paul McCartney character plays the song for the first time for Beatles producer George Martin, with the songwriter explaining that he envisioned a string-quartet accompaniment.

How the "Beatles" connection was started: The producers of "In My Life" approached Los Gatos Orchestra Director Maricel Riley, looking for a talented ensemble that could hold its own with a rock band in front of an audience. The show commonly uses a local quartet to augment the production while on tour.

The quartet's Beatles fans: Mustafa, Yost and Byun are the quartet's serious Beatles fans. 

"I became a Beatles fan when my first grade teacher played "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" for the class," said Mustafa."My favorite song is "Blackbird."

"I remember taking a road trip with my Dad when I was young and listening to Beatles music," said Byun. " I love the Beatles."
Byun's favorite Beatles song? "Let It Be." Yost's preferred Beatles song is "Penny Lane," and Chan's song is "Yellow Submarine."

The details: In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles plays on Sunday, November 3 at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose. The Milpitas High and Los Gatos High String Quartets will accompany the musicians on stage during the 2:30 pm and 7 pm shows, respectively.  Tickets are $40 - $60 and may be purchased by phoning (408) 792-4111, visiting www.sanjosetheaters.org or dropping by the Box Office located at 135 W. San Carlos in San Jose. The Box Office is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 5 pm. The Montgomery Theater is located at 271 S Market St in San Jose 95113. The show is appropriate for all ages.

And here is some more information about the Los Gatos High string quartet:
Shadia Mustafa has been playing the violin for eight years and studies under Lori Franke. She also  has been playing piano for four years. Mustafa is passionate about community service and is a member of Key Club. She volunteers with a program teaching young children how to play the violin.  She is involved in theatre at Los Gatos High.

Mustafa plans to attend college and major in foreign affairs.  She hopes to continue performing the violin in college as well.

She became a Beatles fan when her first grade teacher played "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" for her class. Her favorite Beatles song is "Blackbird."

Gillian Yost has been playing the viola for three years. Her primary instrument is the piano and she studies under Nancy Lindskog. The freshman runs cross country and swims for Los Gatos High. She has been creating pottery for the last five years. Yost aspires to study biological engineering in college. Her favorite Beatles song? "Penny Lane."

Sophomore Hyuntae Byun has been playing the violin for 6 1/2 years. "I love playing the violin because there is a great supporting community for the violin and such of body of work to play," said Byun. He is on his school's speech and debate team and school newspaper.He is also a member of Interact, a community service club.

His favorite Beatles song? "Let It Be."

Sabrina Chan has been playing cello for five years. "I started with the violin and didn't like the squawky sound," said the freshman. "Cello sounds rich and the tone is really solid and pretty."

Chan is a member of the Santa Clara Diving Club. She also belongs to a school club who knit hats for cancer patients.

"I remember my Dad playing Beatles music when I was young," said Chan. "I like their music and my favorite song is "Yellow Submarine."


And here is some additional information about "In My Life":
"In My Life: A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles" is the award winning, smash hit musical biography of the Beatles as seen through the eyes of their manager Brian Epstein and featuring the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road. This family friendly musical tale is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades.

“The show delivers!” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. “The most original of all the shows on the Beatles,” San Diego Theatre Review.   More than just a Beatles tribute concert, "In My Life" gives the audience a chance to “be there” at pivotal moments in the extraordinary career of the Beatles - from Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, to the Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium’s 50,000 + screaming fans and their final live performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corp offices. With manager Brian Epstein serving as Narrator, "In My Life" allows the audience to get a glimpse inside the world of the Beatles from their point of view, as well as hear some of the greatest songs ever written.  
                                                       
  "In My Life" takes the audience back to February 1964, when Americans saw the Beatles for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, playing I Want  to Hold Your Hand. Progressing through their various musical stages, the audience re-experiences the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the creation of the haunting Yesterday and the raucous rock and roll of Revolution.