Broadway Tap Duo Join the Jersey Shore Pops

COURT HOUSE – Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops has just signed a contract with Two on Tap, to perform with the orchestra in their Summer Concert Series in 2014. Two on Tap brings audiences back in time to the era when couples like Fred & Ginger and Mickey & Judy filled the silver screen with tight vocal harmony and precision tap choreography.
Classic songs, fantastic vocals, gorgeous costumes and exciting tap dancing mix for Two on Tap! Celebrated performers Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano pay tribute to the Great American Songbook and classic Broadway song-and-dance in this fun, lively, and fast-paced show that gets crowds singing and dancing along from their seats. Featuring sensational new arrangements of standards like “I Got Rhythm” and “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby,” as well as rousing favorites like “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “L-O-V-E,” Two on Tap uses fresh, original choreography to show how classic song-and-dance still endures and entertains.
Based in New York City, Two on Tap is Melissa Giattino, a true triple-threat who made her Broadway debut in 42nd Street and was featured as a member of the Radio City Rockettes, and Ron DeStefano, an award-winning tenor who showcased his skills at Lincoln Center and on the Broadway National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof. Together, they have an unmatched chemistry that crosses the footlights to create one unforgettable show.
Two on Tap is a truly unique experience – soaring vocals, spirited dance numbers, and a vibrant, modern trip down memory lane for audiences of all ages.
Conductor and music director for the orchestra Linda Gentille first saw the duo on a Princess Cruise and was completely impressed. Gentille continues, “I knew the minute I saw their first number that our audiences would love this tap dancing, singing duo. They are one of the most talented duo I have ever seen and I wanted to bring a dance show to our audiences this year to expand our variety shows. I think they will be a huge sensation this summer with the pops.”
Melissa Giattino began her professional performing career at the age of 17 in the National Tour of A Chorus Line and hasn’t looked back since. While appearing in the all-Gershwin musical Crazy for You at the famous Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, Giattino auditioned for the Hal Prince/Susan Stroman production of Show Boat and soon found herself singing and dancing alongside an all-star cast on London’s West End. Her talents as a true “triple-threat” performer eventually led her back to her home state of New York, where she made her Broadway Debut as an original revival cast member of the tap-dancing spectacular, 42nd Street.
Her incredible talents have been featured as a member of the most well-known kick-line in history, the Radio City Rockettes, and she has assisted and dance-captained for some of the most famous tap choreographers in the business, including Tony Award winner Danny Daniels and Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner. Gifted with a beautiful voice as well, Giattino has starred in musicals on stages around the world, including the title role in the International Tour of Peter Pan, Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Esther Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis, and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun.
Ron DeStefano has garnered rave reviews and awards for his performances around the world, from the hottest cabaret venues of New York City to the lavish opera houses of Europe. Originally from South Florida, DeStefano spent his college years balancing classical vocal performance studies at Florida State University with professional musical theatre roles at Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach. Following graduation, he made his way to Manhattan, began auditioning for the Broadway stage, and only months later found himself making his international debut with the Tony-Award winning musical Evita.
Since then, he has crisscrossed North America, singing and dancing at some of the most historic and well-reputed venues in the United States, including New York City’s Lincoln Center (Babes in Toyland), Connecticut’s Goodspeed Opera House (No, No, Nanette) and New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella). DeStefano starred opposite Academy Award nominee Theodore Bikel in the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, and he has lent his lyric tenor to song-and-dance roles in many shows including 42nd Street, Anything Goes, and Sugar Babies. No stranger to the New York City nightclub circuit, he received the coveted Back Stage Bistro Award for his cabaret work and has multiple studio recordings to his credit.
Two on Tap will join the Jersey Shore Pops in a show called Broadway on Tap, which will contain mostly Broadway standards and classics. The date and location of the concert are currently being planned. To be on the waiting list for tickets for this concert, please email: Linda@JerseyShorePops.org, or call 609-628-4544. The Jersey Shore Pops website will be announcing the 2014 Summer Concert Season very soon. You can email them at www.JerseyShorePops.org.
Although the Middle Township Summer Concert Season is not currently completed, the orchestra does have several concerts in Ocean City confirmed for 2014. The concerts which are confirmed for 2014 for the Ocean City Music Pier are as follows:
May 24 at 7:00 p.m.: “America” starring Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore pops. This big band concert will tribute America Heroes with mainly music Glenn Miller & George Gershwin.
July 26 at 2:00 p.m.: “Country Divas” starring Jacklyn Buckingham & the Jersey Shore Pops. This concert wills tribute the great ladies of country music including Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton and many others. Jacklyn Buckingham has become a regular popular guest entertainer with the orchestra and will break from her traditional Broadway style of singing for this country themed show.
To purchase tickets for the 2014 Ocean City Season Pass, call 1- 609-628-4544 or 1-800-838-3006 or go online at www.JerseyShorePops.org. You can view the seating chart online and all seats are reserved seating on a first come first serve basis.