If you go
› What: Disney’s DCappella› Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.› When: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8› Admission: $35, $45, $59 and $79› For more information: 423-757-5580
What would you get in a musical mashup of Disney hits and the a cappella singing of "Pitch Perfect"? Disney's DCappella.
"We do the entire Disney catalog from movies, TV shows to theme-park-ride songs from Disney World and Disneyland. But we put a twist to each, such as an R&B or pop spin, to make it our own. A lot of it sounds different from the original, but that's the point of the whole show," says Morgan Keene of Atlanta, one of seven singers in DCappella.
DCappella is Disney Music Group's new a cappella ensemble that has been together for one year. Chosen from more than 1,500 singers who auditioned from across the country, the seven singers released a self-titled album in November and now are touring in support of that. Their tour stops in the Tivoli on Friday, Feb. 8, for an 8 p.m. performance.
Deke Sharon - whom Entertainment Weekly called "the father of contemporary a cappella" - is the group's music director, arranger and producer. He has also worked with the "Pitch Perfect" movie franchise and Straight No Chaser.
Keene says she grew up singing and originally pursued musical theater before making this first foray into a cappella singing.
"I was in the national tour of 'Newsies.' I've sung all my life, but I have never been into a cappella until now."
Keene says the ensemble performs in front of three, 30-foot, LED screens that show "never-before-seen scenes from movies." They sing and dance their way through Disney classics from "The Little Mermaid" to "Toy Story 2."
"It's a family-friendly show for everybody," says Keene. "I saw a lot of little 4- and 5-year-old girls in the front row the other night and right next to them were adults in their 60s and 70s.
"It's a good show for children in the Disney princess phase to people who are fans of the theme park. There is a lot of interaction and the audience will be part of every song," says the soprano.
ON A SIDE NOTE: Hot Pursuit quartet, who placed first in the 2018 Sweet Adelines Rising Star Quartet Contest for women ages 25 and under, will open for Disney's DCappella.
Quartet members are Michaela Olson of Cleveland, Tennessee; Tessa Walker and Melody Hine, who both live in Georgia; and Candra Rice of Los Angeles.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.