Singer and Pianist Mike Petrone will perform at Kent State University at Tuscarawas on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Performing with Petrone will be longtime collaborators Dr. Mike Vacante on bass and Gary Naherny on drums. This performance is co-sponsored by AquaBlue, Inc.
This is a cabaret performance where the audience sits on the stage with the performers. Dinner is included in the $45 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at www.kent.edu/tusc/pac or by calling 330-308-6400. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free parking is available for all shows.
Petrone, who is also a composer, arranger and bandleader, has a career spanning more than 30 years. He lives in Cleveland where he can be seen performing on a near nightly basis. Petrone is often called a “human jukebox” for his ability to sing and perform literally thousands of songs from memory - he is always ready from Bing Crosby to Bruno Mars.
Petrone has worked in the professional theatre as a musical director and has authored several musicals and scores. He has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall and at Blossom Music Center where he worked with conductor, Leonard Slatkin and soprano, Kathleen Battle. He has worked with Broadway legend, Jim Dale on the musical "The Invisible Man" and Motown's "The Funk Brothers" at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Petrone’s groups have opened for acts such as: Ray Charles, The Temptations, Willie Nelson and Gloria Estefan.
In 2001, Petrone’s original musical "Full Moon" premiered at Cleveland State University with Frank Dunlop of The British National Theatre directing. He has also composed several motion picture soundtracks, most recently his 2005 scores for the independent features "Hard Pill" and "Christmas at Maxwell's."