'Beatlemania Now’ National Tour Coming to Lockport Saturday

Historic Lockport Palace Theatre

The original Beatles (above). Beatlemania Now (below)

The national tour of “Beatlemania Now,” a Beatles-based live show is set to be staged at the Historic Lockport Palace Theatre on Saturday (Feb. 16) at 8 p. m.

It is sponsored by the South Lockport Fire Company.

The four performers who comprise Beatlemania Now, describe themselves as “the world's best Beatles Tribute Band.” They perform classic Beatles hits with a full stage, light, and multimedia show, impersonating the members of the original British musical act that became famous in the mid-1960’s. The Beatles went on to become the best-selling band in history. EMI Records has estimated sales of over one billion units.

Beatlemania Now is based on Beatlemania, a Broadway musical revue focused on the music of The Beatles and advertised as a "rockumentary," and again as "Not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation."

Beatlemania ran from 1977 to 1979 for a total of 920 performances on Broadway.

The cast of “Beatlemania Now” will impersonate the voices of the Beatles, play instruments similar to what the Beatles played, and will wear Beatles-style costumes, as they tell the story of the Beatles through song and story.

The show starts off with the group in suits similar to what the Beatles wore on their Feb. 9, 1964 appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, where an estimated 73 million viewers watched, helping introduce the Beatles to an American audience.

The Beatlemania Now performers will also change into costumes similar to those worn by the Beatles as seen on the cover of the Beatles album, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, released in June 1967, and do a set of songs contained on that album.

The group finishes with songs and wearing the attire as seen and heard on the Beatles album, Abbey Road, released in September, 1969.

During the show each band member will perform a solo spot and versions of “Yesterday” and “Imagine,” which the producers say are “highlights.”

The show’s proceeds will help the Lockport Fire Company purchase equipment and supplies. Tickets for the show are $16 and are available at the Palace box office and Mills Jewelers.