Break out the fedoras and wayfarers.
The Official Blues Brothers Revue, a traveling reincarnation of the 1980 musical comedy, will be performing its live take on the blockbuster at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday night as part of The Ohio University Performing Arts Series.
Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty are Jake and Elwood Blues, respectively. The musically inclined brothers, originally played by John Belushi (Jake) and Dan Aykroyd (Elwood) perform an interactive, live concert version of the movie backed by a live band and a cast including Ebony Taylor, daughter of legendary blues singer KoKo Taylor.
“This show really is, like the title says, a ‘revue’ of the movie,” Lafferty said, “Which is itself an encyclopedia of great American music. It’s all about paying homage and celebrating these characters and their renditions of some really great tunes.”
Lafferty and Catania began their Blues Brothers mission in 1998, when they were approached by Belushi’s wife, Judy Belushi-Pisano, who along with Aykroyd, produced Blues Brothers Revival, their first live rendition of the show. Since then, the four (along with help from original musical arranger Paul Shaffer) have fine-tuned the performance into its most core elements: live music and comedy.
“We do the best we can with the help of Judy and Dan to do the movie justice, but also the fun of the show is much more immediate,” Catania said. “We have an incredible live band, and people should come ready to dance and have fun.”
Catania said the revue is not the only Blues Brothers project in the works.
“Dan, Judy, Wayne and myself are also currently working on a TV show centered around Jake and Elwood Blues,” Catania said. “Writing more about these characters, especially with people instrumental in the creation of the original movie, really helps us get into the mindset of Jake and Elwood even on stage.”
The two said they are looking forward to Wednesday night’s show and another chance to keep their big-screen heroes alive.
“We are looking forward to kicking off the ‘13-‘14 Performing Arts Series with the Official Blues Brothers Revue,” said Andrew Holzaepfel, senior associate director at the Campus Involvement Center. “We have heard great feedback from other venues on the tour and are looking forward to an entertaining and high-energy performance.”
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If You Go:
What: The Official Blues Brothers Revue
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium
Admission: Students - $12 | Senior - $18 | General - $20
