Prima Theatre is hosting concerts featuring the music of Queen and Journey. Upcoming concerts will occur outdoors from a portable stage in the parking lot at Liberty Place, located behind the Lancaster Barnstormers' stadium, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster, at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19.
The songs will be led by Grace Byrnes, Donovan Hoffer, and Asia Littlejohn. Byrnes starred as Lucy Harris in Prima's 2019 production of "Jekyll and Hyde." Hoffer performed at the Fulton Theatre in "Chicago" as Mary Sunshine and in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as Clopin. Littlejohn is a vocalist who has performed around the world, including as a soloist at Lincoln Center.
On June 8, Prima hosted a media preview of the show. The band performed four songs to give the small audience a taste of what is to come.
"Having you guys here ... that's what I've been missing through this whole COVID thing," stated Hoffer. "I can look at you and connect with you, and that's what we needed at this point ... the audience."
Hoffer said he got the gig while sitting in his apartment in Chicago. He was preparing to leave for an audition for America's Got Talent (AGT) when Prima's executive artistic producer, Mitch Nugent, called him. Over a decade ago, Nugent and Hoffer did a Glee cabaret together.
"It was the first call post-COVID, so it was a magical, collaborative thing, and the way he spoke about it made me know I was all in," said Hoffer.
Safety protocols will be in place at the concerts, including distanced circles chalked on the ground per party. Patrons must bring their own lawn chairs. The location will be handicapped-accessible, and on-site lavatories will be available.
"I'm so excited for the people to be in a group again together because so much of the experience of live theater is the other people in the room," stated Megan Witkovsky, Prima's director of patron experiences. "I think they're going to be blown away. Everyone will have a blast, and it's just going to be nonstop smiles."
For more information, visit https://primatheatre.org/queen.
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