A few tickets remain for Friday's concert in Springfield.
Dan Kane
Dan Kane is back and he’s bringing his show once again to the elegant theater he once dreamed of performing in.
And, he’s bringing 152 of his friends along with him – 102 adults and 50 children – when the Dan Kane Singers hold their annual Christmas Spectacular at Springfield’s Symphony Hall on Friday night.
After staging their Christmas Spectacular at Symphony Hall for a number of years, the Dan Kane Singers hit the road taking their popular show to the MassMutual Center and to Cathedral High School.
“We’ve done that now for about six or seven years, and we’re happy and excited to be back at this beautiful fancy hall and even more excited that those who have stuck by us for so many years can once again see us at Symphony Hall,” said Kane.
In addition to Kane’s singers, the show will feature a performance by the Women of Faith Gospel Choir led by Vanessa Ford.
“We always enjoy sharing the stage and highlighting other local talent at our shows,” said Kane.
Kane noted the singers – decked out in tuxedos and gowns – will be performing everything from the most popular Christmas carols “people know and love” to what Andy Williams once affectionately referred to as “newer chestnuts.”
“It’s Christmas from beginning to end,” he said.
Among the newer songs on their set list Friday night will be “All Is Well,” originally performed by American Idol Clay Aiken, to be sung by Fred Marion of Holyoke along with the gospel singers, as well as Faith Hill’s “A Baby Changes Everything,” which will be performed by Traci Mnich of Suffield, Conn.
Kane said their Christmas Spectacular, accompanied by the sounds of a six-piece musical combo, will also include a new song called “Where’s the Line to See Jesus,” an internet sensation which he said has received millions of hits on YouTube.
“It’s a really great tune with a wonderful message and it makes the comparison of going to the mall and seeing all these lines to shop while asking the question, ‘How come people aren’t in line to accept the real message of Christmas, the birth of Christ,” said Kane about the song to be sung by Keila Roman of Holyoke.
Other Christmas songs will include “Silent Night,” “Mary, Did You Know?” ”Grown-Up Christmas List,” “O, Holy Night,” alongside many more classics and newer songs.
In addition to all their holiday sounds, the music maestro said they “go all out to make the stage and hall look as Christmassy as possible to enhance the concert experience for our audience.”
“This year we’re indebted to the talented folks at McClelland’s Florist in Chicopee who have transformed Symphony Hall into a different space filled with wreaths, garlands and lights,” said Kane.
“And there will be three absolutely gorgeous backdrops ordered in from New York, one with a beautiful Dickens theme and the other a church,” he added.
Longtime fans of the Christmas Spectacular got an early taste of the show last Monday when WGBY broadcast “Dan Kane & Friends Present The Magic of Christmas,” an hour-long special featuring individual performers singing Christmas carols.
“We couldn’t fit all 152 singers into the studio, so we focused on solos,” laughed Kane, who noted taping the show was a “win-win” situation.
“It was a fundraiser for WGBY on Monday night, and for us it served as a great way to get some additional publicity for our group,” he added.
Kane noted officials at the local PBS affiliate were “so happy with the results” that they plan on airing the show several more times leading up to Christmas, including Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 23 at 11:30 a.m., and Dec. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Most of Kane’s Christmas Spectaculars have been sellouts, whether filling a smaller 150 seat venue in the early days or at one of their mega-concerts at the MassMutual Center for thousands of fans.
“We still have a couple hundred tickets available, but they won’t last long,” said Kane about the remaining tickets which can be purchased at the Symphony Hall box office or at Big Y