Carpenter
to get hunk of 'Burnin' Love'
By
Cassady Jeremias
Summer Forty-Niner
Elvis
is coming to the Richard and Karen Carpenter
Performing Arts Center Saturday for "The
Wonder of Elvis," a tribute
celebration for the King's 26th anniversary.
Show
producer, promoter, and Elvis impersonator
Mark W. Curran, said he wanted to do something
special for the King's
anniversary, and for those who can't make
it to Memphis to visit Graceland.
"I
love Elvis, and I think that Los Angeles
had no real quality Elvis shows," he
said. Curran, 46, is a full-time Elvis impersonator.
He
said he began impersonating Elvis as a joke
at a Halloween party three years ago, and
has since gone on to perform at small fine
arts theaters in Ventura, Los Angeles, and
Orange Counties, and also does private parties
and corporate gigs.
He said he likes to keep a sense of humor,
and not have anyone get too uptight about
it.
"People
want to have a good time, and they like
to laugh, so I'll do things in my show to
get them laughing. But it's still a dead-on
impersonation, I make sure of that."
One
thing he does take seriously is the show's
production.
"I
am involved in producing Elvis and Oldies
Shows throughout Southern California. My
roles are varied, but as a concert
promoter and producer, I get to do it all.
I book the venue, rehearse the band, take
care of contracts, coordinate printing,
do interviews, you name it. It's a tremendously
risky and difficult job, because it's your
own money riding on the line, and you can't
hire others to do the job."
The
one time show is scheduled for August 16
at 6 p.m. It is not part of the regular
season, but is one of the leased performances
from the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
Emily Duvall, marketing coordinator for
the center said the regular season runs
from October through May.
The
event will include a pre-show classic car
display, and exhibits featuring original
Elvis photos and jewelry. Four oldies acts
will follow, including A Tribute to the
Everly Brothers, starring Goldrush, Comedian
/singer Donnie Brooks, who will be doing
songs and comedy, and a Tribute to the Blues
Brothers, dubbed "The Booze Brothers."
Tickets
for "The Wonder of Elvis" are
$20 and available through the Carpenter
Box office, (562) 985-7000 or on the web
at
www.carpenterarts.org.
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