Request a song, challenge pianists at Artistic Civic Theatre's benefit

If you thought Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's duet on "Shallow" at the 91st Academy Awards was memorable, just wait until you hear pianists Andrew Chauncey and Jack Hitchens put their spin on it.

The two musicians will play two hours of hits of their choice mingled with requests from the audience during Dueling Pianos on Friday and Saturday nights, March 8-9, at Artistic Civic Theatre in Dalton, Georgia. And Chauncey says that the Oscar-winning song will be in their musical arsenal.

Jack Hitchens, left, and Andrew Chauncey / Facebook.com photo

This benefit for ACT will be set up similarly to the "Tonight Show" gimmick Stump the Band. Chauncey and Hitchens will open with a couple of songs of their choice, greet their audience and then start taking requests. If the guys know a song, they'll play it.

"Throughout the night we will pepper in their songs, and the audience is encouraged to sing along," says Chauncey. "We are open to all genres - anything from Queen to Lady Gaga to Billy Joel to Elton John."

Chauncey says they have been practicing their favorites, Googled song lists to rehearse as many as they can as well as questioned friends about unexpected songs they've had requested so they can prepare for this musical ambush.

This is the first time the two have presented Dueling Pianos, but local patrons of Chattanooga Theatre Centre, ACT, East Brainerd Community Theatre and other area stages are very familiar with their talent.

Chauncey is employed with Grace Healthcare; Hitchens is an audiologist with Dalton Ear, Nose and Throat. The two met about six years ago while Chauncey was playing Will Parker in Artistic Civic Theatre's production of "Oklahoma" and Hitchens was playing drums in the ensemble. Since then, Hitchens has played percussion for several productions that Chauncey directed or accompanied.

Much like a Ferrante and Teicher show, the two pianists will face each other at their digital keyboards, but the pianos will be angled so the audience can watch their fingers fly.

Chauncey says they will play until 9:30 p.m. - but if the party is still rocking, they'll keep going. Guests are invited to bring their own bottles and there will be food, water and soda there.

Tickets are going fast - Saturday night has already sold out.

To purchase tickets: www.actdalton.org.