Admiral brings Beatlemania to Bremerton | Kitsap Week

The Admiral Theatre hosts “In My Life — A Musical Theater Tribute to the Beatles” on June 3, 7:30-10 p.m. More than a concert, the show features scenes from the Beatles’ lives as seen through the eyes of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. It is interspersed with some of the four’s greatest hits and accompanied by the Bremerton High School string quartet.

By KATIE SHAW

North Kitsap Herald

Oh, darling, believe me when I tell you, the Fab Four will come together for one night only at the Admiral Theatre and they’ll be getting a little help from some local friends.

The Admiral Theatre hosts “In My Life — A Musical Theater Tribute to the Beatles” on June 3, 7:30-10 p.m. More than a concert, the show features scenes from the Beatles’ lives as seen through the eyes of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. It is interspersed with some of the four’s greatest hits and accompanied by the Bremerton High School string quartet.

The award-winning show, written by Andy Nagle and Tom Maher, received Southern California’s Roar of the Crowd award twice in its first five weeks of touring in 2008, meaning that it was the highest-rated show in those two weeks.

“Even if you’re not a Beatles fan, it’s a good show,” Nagle said.

The show hires a local string quartet for each location they play. Nagle tries to find out which musical program in the area is the strongest. If they are concerned about musicality or capability of the group, they add rehearsal time with the band or change the set list.

The quartet plays with the band for five songs, including “Eleanor Rigby,” which uses only voices and strings.

Bremerton High School senior Que’Neshia Cox, junior Lydia Buck and sophomores Erika Niemoller and Everett Kinyon comprise the string quartet that will accompany the band at the Admiral.

“I can tell these kids are strong players,” Nagle said.

Nagle emailed Max Karler, director of instrumental music at Bremerton High School, who thought that it seemed like a really great opportunity.

“I selected the students based on which ones could perform the music without needing to spend hours practicing,” Karler said.

Karler sat down and read through the music with them, but then the students worked independently on the music and mastered it in little time, Karler said. The quartet will rehearse with the band at 4 p.m. the day of the performance, and will have dinner with the cast and crew before the show.

The orchestra also receives a stipend, usually between $100 and $500,

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