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Kahilu Summer Swing Featuring The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

Waimea, HI – On Sunday, August 17th at 7pm Kahilu Theatre presents The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott’s Naupaka Ballroom. The performance will include live swing dancing, The Swing Sisters (female trio) and vocalist Bryan Anthony – 25 musicians, singers and dancers celebrating the golden era of the 40’s.

“We’re headed to the coast to make room for two dance floors and more seating. Kahilu hosted the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1984. This is the first visit to the Island from a Swing Big Band since then – world-class talent with a strong flavor of nostalgia!” – Tim Bostock, Kahilu Theatre Artistic and Managing Director

In Big Band history, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is recognized as one of the best all-around dance bands. It could swing with the best of them, and no other band could come close to Tommy’s when it came to playing ballads. Tommy Dorsey, “The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing”, was a master at creating warm, sentimental, and always musical moods – at superb dancing and listening tempos.

The concert will be a musical journey down memory lane, you will hear the original arrangements of Tommy Dorsey Hits…I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, Opus No.1, Bugle Call Rag, Song of India and many of the vintage Sinatra classics – This Love of Mine, I’ll Never Smile Again and Blue Skies. The Swing Sisters compliment the show performing the greatest hits of The Andrews Sisters. An added attraction is pre-show swing dance demonstrations by the sensational local dance group The Hilo Hep Cats.

Tommy Dorsey became one of the greatest Big Band leaders of that era and was honored with Grammy Awards for I’ll Never Smile Again and his famous theme song I’m Getting Sentimental Over You. The orchestra will also pay tribute to the Kings of Swing – Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James and Woody Herman featuring such classics as Sing, Sing, Sing, Memories of You, Begin the Beguine, Ciriciribin and Woodchopper’s Ball.

VIP tickets include the best seats in the house, early admission and reception on the lawn and lanai, including drinks, pupus, and pre-show entertainment. Grammy-nominated and three time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Nominee, Kahulanui will perform for VIP guests. Influenced by the Royal Hawaiian Band and Hawaiian swing orchestras, Kahulanui performs classic Hawaiian songs in a syncopated style making Hawaiian Swing vibrant and alive in Hawai‘i today.

Doors open at 6pm with pupus and drinks available for purchase before and during the show. Swing dance attire is encouraged.

Tickets are available at kahilutheatre.org, at the Kahilu Box Office, or by calling 885-6868. Tickets are $121 for VIP, $77 for A-Section, both centrally seated at tables, with $42 and $32 tickets in theatrical seating. VIP and A-section tables of 12 are also available for purchase.

This concert was made possible in part by the support of Alan Gartenhaus & Rhody Lee, the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, Hawaiian Tourism Authority, and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

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