Theatre Cambrian brings Billboard’s best to the stage

The world’s premier music publication, Billboard, has served the entertainment business since 1894. Billboard and its popular music charts have evolved into the primary source of information on trends and innovation in the music industry.

Theatre Cambrian stages The Best of Billboard concert from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 at Sudbury Secondary School.

“The Best of….” series, a brain child of executive director Mark Mannisto, first came into play in 2006. “I thought of doing a Best of Broadway-type concert,” Mannisto said. He collaborated with K.C. Rautiainen and Angel Mannisto to pull together a catalogue of songs to feature in The Best of Broadway. In fall of 2007, Theatre Cambrian took the songs to the stage. It was followed up with The Best of Broadway II in the fall of 2008.

After a year away from the “The Best of…” series, the idea of The Best of Billboard came to Mannisto one evening after purchasing a Tina Turner CD/DVD combo.

“I had seen Tina Turner in concert in the mid 90s. Her performance was captivating. I thought ‘Everyone needs to experience this once in their lifetime.’”

With everyone having different “faves,” one really needs to be careful in selecting the music to feature in such a concert, Mannisto explained. He teamed up with Rautiainen once again to stage The Best of Billboard.

New to the performance is seasoned performer Scott Infanti, who has opened for the likes of Vince Gill, and was recently inducted into the Northern Ontario Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Great Northern Opry.

“We decided to focus on the 1950’s and moving forward,” Mannisto said.

“We wanted to feature music for our grandparents, for our parents, for us and for our children,” Infanti said.

“We wanted the show stoppers, the old familiars, toe tappers and the songs you can’t help but sing along to,” Rautiainen added.

Mannisto and his team wanted to feature music that stirred up old and new memories. “That is the point of music,” he said. “It should move you, make you laugh, make you love, and make you cry.

“We want everyone to experience each one of these emotions when they attend the concert.”

Through 75 songs, Theatre Cambrian will pay tribute to 28 artists, including Shania Twain, Bobby Darin, The Beach Boys, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Beyonce and more.

Tickets are $28 for adults, $22 for seniors and students and $17 for children 13 and under. Tickets are available at the Theatre Cambrian office located at 40 Eyre St. or by phoning 705-524-7317.