PREVIEW: "Dirty Pop: The Millennium Mixtape"

("Dirty Pop," in semi-grimy rehearsal)

Did you ever wonder what local musical theater performers sing in the shower, when they’re not crooning ditties from West Side Story or Urinetown? Well, that question will begin to be answered on Sunday, May 24 when the Cleveland Stage Alliance produces “Dirty Pop: The Millennium Mixtape” at the Bop Stop.

Co-produced by Eric Thomas Fancher and Joanna May Hunkins, this is the first of what will be an on-going series of vocal concerts celebrating various aspects of the pop culture. As Fancher says, “We want to produce these concerts quarterly, using local Equity and non-Equity performers. These events will be similar to the very popular concerts in New York City that feature stage talent, one called ‘Broadway Sings’ and another that takes place at 54 Below.”

This inaugural concert will take us all back to the days when we weren’t sure if our computers would crash as the year 2000 rolled over. The songs will pay tribute to that era, with new arrangements of songs by Christina Aguilera, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and more.

Some songs on the menu include “Bootylicious,” “Lady Marmalade,” and “I Want It That Way.” According to Hunkins, “The songs will be performed by 17 talented singers in new arrangements by musical director Jordan Copper. And since some of the arrangements will be quite different, we’ve borrowed the phrase ‘Dirty Pop’ from the NSYNC lyric and used it as the title for this show.”

Since the Bop Stop is now owned by the Music Settlement, all bar proceeds will help fund music scholarships.  So, drink up! Subsequent concerts will be staged at different venues and explore music in many genres such as disco, jazz, Disney, maybe even The Muppets.

The Cleveland Stage Alliance is an organization dedicated to providing theatergoers with up-to-date information regarding any and all locally produced theatre in the Northeast Ohio region (clevelandstagealliance.com). The Music Settlement offers music therapy, early childhood instruction and music instruction to people of all ages and levels of experience in the area (themusicsettlement.org).

“Dirty Pop: The Millennium Mixtape”

Sunday, May 24, 8-10:30 PM

The Bop Stop

2920 Detroit Avenue

Tickets: $15

Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended:

http://themusicsettlement.org/calendar/2015/05/24/cleveland-stage-alliance-dirty-pop-bop-stop