Crossing the U.S. Side By Side with a popular repertoire.
The test of any relationship can be traveling together.
For one loose-knit Bainbridge ensemble, the test is staying together despite travel. Side By Side has, and now it’s taking a musical trip.
“The group is made up of people who travel quite a bit,†director Karen Rice said. “It’s a group that understands people have places to go – yet want to sing once in a while.â€
The mixed ensemble of about 14 singers with piano accompanist Evie Stege will perform a 29-point musical tour to “See the U.S.A.†at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22 at the Bainbridge Commons on Brien Drive.
Songs include Side By Side’s trademark mix of show tunes and popular songs, not just about place, but also atmosphere, like “Blue Skies.â€
The itinerary: Starting with “See the USA in Your Chevrolet†they head out “Side By Side†even though “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,†and swing through the northern route via “All I Owe Ioway†to Chicago to “New York, New York†and then head “Homeward Bound†via “Route 66†on the “Chattanooga Choo Choo†with “Georgia On My Mind†and back to Seattle with “Acres of Clams.â€
“Side By Side,†the Stephen Sondheim tune from which the group takes its name, is about traveling, something of which its members do a lot. But they always come back; one member moved to Portland, Ore., and still returns to sing.
Although the members hail from all over the country, “very few of us have taken the nightmare route of taking family around the U.S., so that’s what this (concert) is literally about, to have songs that would allow us to travel around,†Rice said.
Harris estimates that only three members of Side By Side weren’t there when it started as a group of friends who wanted to sing “fun songs†– as opposed to “serious†tunes like classical music, jazz renditions or madrigals.
Most of the singers were active in theater or with Bainbridge Performing Arts, and brought their dramatic training from the stage.
Rice directed many of the singers in musicals at BPA, while Harris acted and sang in productions for several years.
“I think it’s best described as a musical performing group because it’s a group that understands how to sell a song,†Rice said. “It isn’t something that you have to teach.
“Being together brings out a safe comfort zone and allows performance to happen rather than just present.â€
The singers laugh a lot at rehearsal, but still take the performance seriously Harris said, with all members being music-readers.
“If you want to look at the reason we’ve been together, we aren’t young, young,†Rice said, with most members in their 50s or older, who just want to keep singing together, because if they didn’t make time for it, “you’re not just putting aside music but also the camaraderie and you don’t want to do that.â€
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Cross-country tour
Side by Side sings “Seeing the U.S.A.†7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at the Bainbridge Commons on Brien Drive. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors/students at Dana’s Showhouse or at the door. Information: 842-7005.
