Rivers Edge Theatre's First Show Friday

Yorkville's new downtown theatre's debut show will feature three singer-songwriters Friday in the former location of .

Here is a news release provided by Rivers Edge Theatre:

Musicians/Singers/Songwriters Jon Conover, Leslie Beukelman and Miles Nielsen will kick off the start of the singer/songwriter series at the new Rivers Edge Theatre. This series will bring the region’s best songwriters out to tell the stories behind their music every Friday in August and September.

Conover, whose first album was recorded in Chicago in 2006, and most recent album last year in Los Angeles, has recently taken over booking for the Rivers Edge Theatre. This seemed like a good fit for Conover who has a large fan base and many talented friends to help give the new theatre a good start.

“I went to school with so many talented people, and when you perform music full time for a living, you meet and become friends with and a lot of great performers.

“I’m privileged to have friends like Leslie Beukleman who has become one of the most well-known and versatile vocalist in Chicago, and Miles Nielsen who is becoming a nationally known songwriter and performer.”

Since graduating with a jazz performance/jazz voice degree from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts in downtown Chicago, Leslie has forged a central role in Chicago's vibrant music scene. Over the last year, Leslie had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for First Lady, Michelle Obama, as well as performing a solo a cappella rendition of "God Bless America" at the 2012 Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony in Daley Plaza.

Miles is the son of Cheap Trick’s founding member and guitar player, Rick Nielsen. Miles scored the music for the Academy award-winning documentary film, “Undefeated” and he and his band are touring with the top selling rock group, the BoDeans, this summer. Miles has been featured in countless media
publications and has had regular airtime on the Mid-West and Europe’s biggest stations.

Rivers Edge Theatre will not only feature musical talent but also a large variety of improv/comedy shows, theatrical performances, dinner theatre and will be available as a great space for business seminars and luncheons.

On Saturday, August 18th, the new series, Masters of Improv, will be putting on two shows featuring two Improv groups consisting of talented performers from Second City in Chicago, IL and our own local Indian Valley Theatre Group. Adam Wolf and Rhythm Method and The IVT Improv Group’s early show will start at 7:00pm and the late show at 9:30pm.

On September 8th, 2012, Rivers Edge Theatre will bring in the nationally recognized folk signer, Jonathan Edwards. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age. Edwards best-selling hits include songs like “Sunshine” and “Shanty”, that have been American standards since the 70’s. “Sunshine” got its start on a Boston radio station and quickly made its way to the top five on the national charts,
earning him a gold record.

“With only sixty-five seats the theatre may be smaller than most, but it definitely has its advantages as well. There’s not a bad seat in the house. It will soon be connected to the Cobblestone Bakery and Bistro located right next door and the space really invites people to be more than spectators and more of a part of the show."

You can follow Rivers Edge Theatre on Facebook here.

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