A BLAST FROM THE PAST WITH AWARD-WINNING BEATLES MUSICAL

Quite possibly the most iconic musical group of all time, the sounds of The Beatles continue to rock the music world today. In My Life continues that global love affair for Paul, John, George and Ringo. Featuring renowned tribute band Abbey Road and the Edmonds-Woodway High School string quartet, In My Life brings you back to 1964, when the Fab Four first invaded American televisions, performing “I Want To Hold Your Hand” on The Ed Sullivan Show.

There were 220 Beatle tribute musicians that auditioned for this musical, but only the four best came out on top. The actors/musicians include Chris Paul Overall ("Paul"), Nate Bott ("John"), Jesse Wilder ("George") and Axel Clarke ("Ringo"). Brian Epstein is played by Alxander Jon.

In My Life allows you to join the boys during some of their career’s most pivotal moments, from Liverpool’s Cavern Club and Abbey Road Studios to the rooftop of Apple Corp Offices. With Brian Epstein narrating the musical, In My Life takes you along for the ride of the true story from the point of view of The Beatles themselves. These are not stories taken from historians or journalists. In My Life pulls you in so up-close and personal that it will leave you feeling like the fifth member of the group.

Edmonds-Woodway High senior Elliot Harrison, juniors Hannah Gorham and  Madeleine Jeffers and sophomore Jonathan Mah 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.

Don’t miss the show that “delivers” says the L.A. Times. It’s a one night only event on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:30 pm at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. Tickets are $35/$45/$55 and may be purchased online at www.edmondscenterforthearts.org by phone at 425.275.9595, by email to boxoffice@ec4arts.org or at the theatre box office. The Edmonds Center for the Arts is located at 410 Fourth Avenue North in Edmonds, WA 98020. The show is appropriate for all ages.

And here is some additional information about the Edmonds-Woodway High School string quartet:

When the touring show "In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles" comes to the Edmonds Center for the Arts on June 4, be on the lookout for two quartets -- not just one.

The Edmonds-Woodway High School string quartet has the privilege of joining the professional actors on stage to add an element of orchestral texture to the evening.

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"), Nathaniel Bott ("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: Edmonds-Woodway High senior Elliot Harrison, juniors Hannah Gorham and  Madeleine Jeffers and sophomore Jonathan Mah 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 Edmonds- Woodway High School Director of Orchestras Karen Helseth, 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 fan: Jeffers has been a Beatles fan since her father introduced her to "Yellow Submarine" cartoons when she was young. "I love that our string quartet gets to play Beatles songs," said Jeffers. Her favorite Beatles song is "In My Life."

The quartet's other musical endeavors: The members of the EWHS string quartet perform with the school's auditioned Chamber Orchestra. The string quartet hires out for weddings and other events and may be contacted by sending an email to hannah.gorham@gmail.com. Harrison and Gorham perform in a blue grass band called "High Class Bluegrass."

The details:

In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles plays on on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:30 pm at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. Tickets are $35/$45/$55 and may be purchased online at www.edmondscenterforthearts.org by phone at 425.275.9595, by email to boxoffice@ec4arts.org or at the theatre box office. The Edmonds Center for the Arts is located at 410 Fourth Avenue North in Edmonds, WA 98020. The show is appropriate for all ages.

And here is some more information about the EWHS string quartet members:

Elliot Harrison has been playing the violin for 12 years and also plays the mandolin. He performs with a blue grass band called "High Class Bluegrass." "I enjoy playing the violin because there are so many options. I can play classical, blue grass, jazz or rock," said Harrison. "The violin allows me to express my emotions."

Harrison runs cross country and track for EWHS, competes in triathlons and works as a ski instructor at Stevens Pass Ski Resort. The senior hopes to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder and study engineering and music performance. "I applied to four universities near mountains so I can ski during college," said Harrison.

Hannah Gorham began playing the violin in kindergarten and studies under Janet Button. She also plays the tuba and plays guitar in the "High Class Bluegrass" band. She is a member of the Tri-M Honors Society, which recognizes students for academic and musical achievements and provides leadership and service opportunities for young musicians.

"I have a deep fascination with classical music. I love playing with the school's orchestra because you really get to know people and have a bond of playing musical instruments together. I think music turns people into better people," said Gorham.

The junior aspires to attend Pacific Lutheran University and teach music after college.

Jonathan Mah has been playing the viola for four years. He studies jazz piano and also plays the violin and guitar. In addition to playing with the EWHS Chamber Orchestra, he has been a member of the Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra for five years. He has played with the Washington All-Star orchestras for the past two years. 

"I enjoy the viola for its unique tone and balance of sound. I appreciate the ability of the viola to capture both the singing ability of the cello in the higher ranges and the darker rich tone of the violin in the low ranges," said Mah. "I enjoy playing for my school's orchestra as it allows me to learn and play new repertoire with people who's company I immensely enjoy."

The sophomore hopes to attend the University of Washington after high school and study Bio-medical engineering and continue performing the viola.

Madeleine Jeffers has been playing the cello for nine years and studies with Erin Adams. She plays with her school's chamber orchestra and has been a member of the  Cascade Youth Symphony for five years.

"The cello has a deep tone that you can't get from other string instruments," she said.

Jeffers has been a Beatles fan since her father introduced her to "Yellow Submarine" cartoons when she was young. "I love that our string quartet gets to play Beatles songs," said Jeffers. Her favorite Beatles song is "In My Life."

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.

And here is some information about EWHS Director of Orchestras Karen Helseth:

Karen Helseth is the Director of Orchestras at Edmonds-Woodway High School. A National Board Certified Teacher, she holds BA and BMus degrees in cello performance from the University of Washington, and an MM in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts.   She is an active member of the Washington Music Educators Association, and currently serves as Vice President on the WMEA Executive Board.

And here is some information about the Edmonds Waywood High School Music Department:

Edmonds-Woodway supports three concert bands: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony, the last of which requires an audition. Choirs include Bel-Canto, open to all students, and Mello-Aires, a small auditioned ensemble that performs and competes. Orchestral groups include the all-students Symphonic Orchestra and the auditioned Chamber Orchestra. For select concerts, the Full Orchestra includes advanced wind and percussion players from the Wind Symphony group.

The school's Jazz Ensemble has been accepted into the Essentially Ellington jazz festival on four occasions, in 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2013. The band also participates regularly in Moscow, Idaho at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, where they won the 4A Big Band Division in 2014, and has supported winning jazz combos several times. In 2009 they were invited to take part in the Swing Central jazz festival in Savannah, Georgia.