Backstage brought music and laughter to an appreciative audience at BACKSTAGE ONSTAGE, the ensemble's first full-length performance on March 8th. The show spanned time and the globe - from Broadway highlights to ballads, from singing nuns to the Andrews Sisters, from political commentary to the latest news from Arcadia. With the latest installment from Dr. Bruth and Doug and Shawn in Lavender News, no stone was left unturned to prove the group's claim - 
An Evening of Outrageous Entertainment. 
The antics of Backstage brought the audience to their feet in a standing ovation.

 Backstage wishes to thank the people who helped promote the performance: 
Jim Jablonski of A League of Our Own, 
Rick Hughes of Anything Arts, 
Jim Ferri of Ferri Things To Do, 
Prime Timers, 
and Bart Coyle.

If you missed this performance of BACKSTAGE ONSTAGE, catch a repeat performance in Fall 2008. Or join them as they perform at the GALA Festival in Miami, a weeklong event featuring 5,000 singers from around the world. Backstage performs at the Ziff Opera House at 5:00 on Sunday, July 13, 2008.

To arrange for Backstage to perform at your event, call 941-727-0308.

Backstage exists to perform in the Gulf Coast community for people in all walks of life. Performances have included events at Church of the Trinity, interfaith services, World AIDS Day, Charlotte HIV/AIDS Network, and benefits for ALSO, P-FLAG, and Right to Learn, an event to raise funds for a school bus for poor children in Nicaragua. An important part of the ensemble's mission is outreach to other community organizations.

Who's Who in Backstage

Doug Berger has a background in human resources management and banking.
As a very talented bass, he gives Backstage a firm foundation.
As Treasurer, he manages the ensemble's vast financial resources.
He is also the ballroom dancer!

Oliver Dill is a wonderful ballad and gospel singer. A well-known DJ for over 20 years, Oliver has also been featured in local theater productions. He displayed his talent as Horse in the Golden Apple’s production of The Full Monty and as Sister Hubert in Nunsense. 
Talk about versatile!

George Drummond is a teacher whose joy is seeing
 talented friends blossom before your eyes. 
With a Master's Degree in Music, George has sung with
 opera companies, on cruise ships and performed in theater. 
And he obviously loves cabaret!

Howie Kaplan is the dad we all wish we had. 
He and his lovely wife, Edie, bring us love and acceptance.
Both as a bass and as a human being, 
Howie provides a firm foundation for Backstage.
He taught for 27 years in inner city Brooklyn. Lucky Brooklyn!

Frank Maggese was a board member of the Sarasota Opera and sang with the company for nine seasons. He currently sings with Opera Tampa. Frank performed with the GCMC and served as President. He has also dazzled audiences with four Best Costume Awards at the annual Drag Bingo Contest in Provincetown. What can we say?!

Bill O'Shea is the tenor whose talent and steadfast spirit 
make him a vital part of Backstage.
He's amazing - from wiring a sound system
 to building a house and decorating it flawlessly - 
the man can do anything. And he has a dog named Diva!

John Sorbo is very talented and loves to sing.
With a Bachelor's Degree in Music, John has been a tenor soloist, 
a choir director, and the organist at Church of the Trinity.
He is an important part of Backstage
 and very important to the director, too.
He once sang Black Sabbath but now sings opera.

Enjoy Backstage's distorted sense of humor!