A NAT KING COLE CHRISTMAS
A National Stage Company of Canada World Premiere Concert
Created & Produced By: Tony James
STARRING
International Recording Artist & Actor
JAMES RICH
DIRECT FROM NEW YORK
WITH SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST
SAMANTHA MADILL
AND FEATURING
THE SIX-PIECE 'NAT KING COLE' HOLIDAY BAND
LIVE IN CONCERT
ABOUT
Under the creative direction of the National Stage Company of Canada comes an exciting west coast premiere holiday concert celebrating the iconic NAT KING COLE.
Acclaimed New York Actor & Singer JAMES RICH, brings an exciting and festive concert to Vancouver Island for the first time. Featuring over 2 hours of holiday favorites 'HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - A NAT KING COLE CHRISTMAS' will have you feeling the spirit of the season all through the evening.
With special guest vocalist, 13-year-old Vancouver Island emerging artist, SAMANTHA MADILL, and the electrifying musical talents of the 6-piece 'NAT KING COLE' holiday band led by Nanaimo's very own PIERRE KOMEN, this truly memorable evening of song and storytelling will leave audiences with a warm and nostalgic feeling this holiday season.
Featured musical selections include 'White Christmas', 'Toyland', 'My Favorite Things', 'Let It Snow', 'Sleigh Ride' and 'The Christmas Song', among countless others.
Set amongst a stunning holiday background, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - A NAT KING COLE CHRISTMAS, weaves together the musical songbook of the season in the style of this beloved superstar. With his rich and velvety voice, natural charm and dynamic stage presence, JAMES RICH captures the tone, feel, style and beauty of the season and the man, as only he can.
As the most recognizable American voice since Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole won the love of millions with his musical prowess and down-to-earth personality. A man and an artist who transcended the boundaries of race, culture, and geography for generations.
Join us this December for the premiere of this outstanding holiday concert celebrating the great NAT KING COLE.
CREATIVE TEAM
Executive Producer | Stage Director:
Tony James
Musical Director:
Pierre Komen
PROMOTIONAL TRAILER
"...Rich lofts the equivalent
of high fly balls".
The Boston Globe
"James Rich is caramel smooth"
The Pioneer Press
"James sings like a seasonal pro, like a studio singer, and his emotional range is vast".
The Beverly Hills Outlook
BRITISH COLUMBIA PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
DECEMBER 3, 2021
KNOX UNITED CHURCH
PARKSVILLE, B.C.. - 7:30 PM
VIP: $65.00
General: $55.00
DECEMBER 5, 2021
THE PORT THEATRE
NANAIMO, B.C.. - 7:30 PM
VIP: $75.50
Premium: $65.00
Balcony: $59.75
Adult: $54.50
Senior: 65+ - $49.50
Student: 13+- $32.50
DECEMBER 6, 2021
COWICHAN PERF. ARTS CENTRE
DUNCAN, B.C.. - 7:30 PM
DECEMBER 7, 2021
CHARLIE WHITE THEATRE
SIDNEY, B.C.. - 7:30 PM
VIP: $55.65
Premium: $45.15
DECEMBER 9, 2021
THE TIDEMARK THEATRE
CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.. - 7:30 PM
VIP: $70.25
Premium': $59.75
Section 'B': $54.50
DECEMBER 11, 2021
SID WILLIAMS THEATRE
COURTENAY, B.C.. - 8:00 PM
VIP: $70.00
Premium: $64.50
Section 'B': $54.50
Phone: 250.754.8550
porttheatre.com
125 Front Street
Phone: 778.587.9488
345 Pym Street
Phone: 250.746.2722
cowichanpac.ca
2687 James Street
Phone: 250.656.0275
marywinspear.ca
2243 Beacon Avenue
Phone: 250.287.7465
tidemarktheatre.com
1220 Shoppers Row
Phone: 250.338.2430
sidwilliamstheatre.com
442 Cliffe Avenue
DECEMBER 13, 2021
MCPHERSON PLAYHOUSE
VICTORIA, B.C.. - 8:00 PM
VIP: $76.75
Premium Main Floor (AD/SN): $71.50
Premium Main Floor (ST): $55.25
Balcony (AD/SN): $66.25
Balcony (ST): $50.00
Phone: 250.386.6121
rmts.bc.ca
#3 Centennial Square
VIP BENEFITS: Invitation to post-show meet & greet | Prime Seats | Photo and Autograph opportunity
GROUP RATES: Groups of 10 or more persons receive 10% off. (Discount excludes VIP tickets)
THE ARTISTS | THE BIOS
James is a New York-based singer-actor, and playwright. His performing credits include touring with Harry Belafonte (Backup Singer), the First National Tour of "Rent" (Benny), "Saturday Night Fever" on Broadway (Booth Singer), Off-Broadway, and Regional Theater. Additionally, James performed in the premiere production of "Big Band Beat" at Tokyo Disney Resort, for which he was also the vocal and line captain. He received a Mousker Award (an honor usually reserved for company executives) for exemplary team support of the Disney Family. Additionally,
James has been the lead vocalist for numerous bands/orchestras in New York and Los Angeles. His one-man show, "When I Think About Love," played to sold-out audiences at multiple cabaret and concert venues in the Tri-State area. His LP of the same title is available on iTunes and various music streaming platforms. On-screen, James appeared in national TV commercials, guest star roles on "Everybody Loves Raymond," "As the World Turns," and he played Det. Phillip Anderson in the independent feature "Rogues."
Behind the scenes, James was an Assistant Costume Designer on the Emmy Award-winning Season 2 of "Dancing with the Stars," and as the Artistic Director for Randall Designs. He was the Costume Designer for "That's Dancin'" (Crystal Cruises) as well as numerous regional theater productions. He is currently writing and developing "There Was a Boy," a musical about the life of Nat King Cole. The 2-act story pulls back the curtain on the shy musician's successes and failures as a performer, a husband, a father, and a son
JAMES RICH
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SAMANTHA MADILL
Samantha Madill has been performing in theatre for seven years and her energy and commitment shines through on stage and in rehearsals. Samantha has been part of ten stage productions. Her favourite roles have been Matilda in Matilda the Musical with Four Seasons, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins with Kaleidoscope, and Molly in Annie with Sooke Harbour Players.
She began dancing Ballet at age 3 and has also trained in Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Jazz, and has won many awards at dance festivals and competitions. She especially loved being part of Dance Performance Group and Hip Hop Crew. She was also excited to be invited to dance in a music video this year in which she contributed to the choreography. She has also been training with a singing teacher for 2 years and won third place singing a trio with her sisters in a community talent show.
Samantha is very excited to be with The National Stage Company Of Canada and grow her acting, singing, and dancing skills.
NAT KING COLE was born Nathaniel Adams Coles at Montgomery, Alabama. He received music lessons from his mother and his family moved to Chicago when he was only five, where his father Edward James Coles was a minister at the True Light Baptist Church and later Pastor of the First Baptist Church.
At 12 he was playing the church organ and at 14 he formed a 14 piece band called the Royal Dukes. Nat was a top flight sandlot baseball player at Wendell Phillips high school in Chicago. His three brothers, Ike, Eddie Cole and Frankie also played the piano and sang professionally. Nat was also an above-average football player in high school. His sister Evelyn Cole was a beautician in nearby Waukegan, Illinois.
In 1939 he formed the King Cole Trio after his publicist put a silver tin-foiled crown on his head and proclaimed him King. He later toured Europe and made a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II. He had a highly-rated TV show in the 1950s but it was canceled (by Cole himself) because no companies could be found that were willing to sponsor the show. He was a big baseball fan and had a permanent box seat at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He met his wife Maria Cole (a big-band singer) at the Zanzibar nightclub in Los Angeles through the Eddie “Rochester” Anderson show. Her parents protested her decision to marry Cole, however, they were married in 1948 and had two daughters, Natalie and Caroline.
Cole appeared in several movies, his last one being Cat Ballou (1965), starring Lee Marvin. Cole received 28 gold record awards for such hits as "Sweet Lorraine", "Ramblin' Rose" in 1962, "Too Young" in 1951, "Mona Lisa" in 1949 and Mel Torme’s "Christmas Song". His first recordings of the Christmas Song included the lyrics, "Reindeers really know how to fly" instead of "reindeer really know how to fly", a mistake later corrected by Capitol Records. He was also a composer and his song "Straighten Up and Fly Right" was sold for $50.00. Nat died of lung cancer in February 1965.
NAT KING COLE
Photo By: Derek Ford Studios
THE 6-PIECE NAT KING COLE HOLIDAY BAND
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PIERRE KOMEN
Musical Director Saxophone
NATHAN MCKAY
Horns
JAMES DARLING
Piano
AARON CURRY
Bass
TONY JENKS
Electric Guitar
PHIL WIPPER
Drums
*For complete bios of the musicians please visit the 'Guest Musicians' page.
MEDIA
OFFICIAL POSTER
ALBUMS
MORE INFO
WEB: www.james-rich.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/jamesrich
YOU TUBE: James Rich
INSTAGRAM: @bohemien117
APPLE MUSIC: Search: When I Think About Love