The Arcadia Blue Club house band of Bobby Bluehouse, Kung Fu demonstrations, the patriotic anthem “Proud to be an American” sung by a 12-year-old Arcadia student, performances by a student theater group, and musical song and dance numbers from America’s jazz age will be performed live in the entertainment area of the Arcadia’s Best Patriotic Festival from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, July 2.
The following is a schedule for the live performance area on First Avenue at Bonita Street — all times approximate and subject to change.
11 a.m. Welcome
11:05 a.m.
Evan Wright solo – “Proud to be an American”
Evan Wright
Foothills Middle School 7th grade graduate Evan Wright has been singing since he was 4 years-old. He has performed in three musical theater productions at Hugo Reid Elementary School, Dana and Foothills Middle Schools Talent Shows, and in his Boy Scout Troop functions. A singer at his Second Baptist Church, L.A., he has also performed at Pinocchio’s Pizza in Pasadena, at a Christmas Day performance at the Hollywood Court Theatre for the homeless last year, and the 11th Annual Showcase for the Arts at the Baha’i Center in Los Angeles. A medley of his performances is on YouTube.
11:10 a.m. Theaters of Vision Productions music theater and Remember When jazz standard singers TOVP creates original premier live stage musical non-profit productions and events for all size venues. The group will perform “The Tunnel of Love,” a musical exploration of romance at 7:30 p.m. Sundays July 3, July 10, and July 24 at The Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
TOVP has served more than 100 diverse and worthy charities, with the general goal to give back to the student performers that participate in the production, while providing a community outreach and a spectacular theater experience to the community at large. Founder Lani Ridley Pedrini is a five-time published author and national award recipient. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the San Gabriel Valley Music Theater (SGVMT). Her family established the Pedrini Music stores in 1934 with retail outlets all over Southern California.
Since 1999, jazz vocal group Remember When, including 1969 AHS grad Steve Hawkins, has specialized in performing jazz standards, movie favorites and big band vocals in close harmony four part (SATB) style either a cappella or with big band soundtracks for public and private performance events, concerts and parties.
12:10 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Bobby Bluehouse band The Bobby Blues House Band, one of the greatest house bands in America, plays most Friday and Saturday nights at the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E. Huntington Dr., owned by Bobby Bluehouse and his wife Maria. Members over the years have included musicians who have played with Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, The Pointer Sisters, and The Jeff Healey Band.
12:45 p.m Lee’s Music Studio: Lee’s (Mikrokosmos) Music, 606 S. First Ave. and at Arcadia Presbyterian Church, 121 Alice St., offers private music instruction in all major instruments like piano, violin, cello, saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, bassoon, double bass, guitars, and drums with lessons customized to meet the needs of each student – from beginning to advanced. We also offer Pre-school Music group classes for children under the age of 5 years. Recently, we started to offer small group (4 to 6 in a group) lessons in more popular instruments like piano, violin, guitar, and drums.
Yan Liang Kung Fu Center martial arts student performers: The new martial arts school at 921 S. Baldwin Ave. by China Shao Lin Temple 34th Master Shi Yan Liang provides training in traditional Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu utilizing modern martial arts developmental mode.
1:20 p.m. Arcadia Blues Band
2:00 p.m. Photo contest and car show winners announced
2:15 p.m. RTWKids (Readers Theatre Workshop): One-of-a-kind public speaking plus theater experience, with strong emphasis on building confidence, leadership, and teamwork. Building confidence on stage and developing an early interest for stage presentation.
Remember When jazz standard singers – Steve Hawkins