Merced will get ‘In the Mood’ next week

The 1940s musical revue “In the Mood” comes to Merced for one night next week to celebrate the songs of America’s “greatest generation.”

Featuring performances by singers, dancers and the String of Pearls big-band orchestra, the show – set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Merced Theatre, offers up-tempo dance rhythms, mellow ballads and plenty of romantic songs.

Cast members in authentic costume will sing and dance to the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskin Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra and others, according to a press release.

More than 40 songs are part of the live stage program, including “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B),” “In The Mood, “ “Tuxedo Junction,” “Sing, Sing, Sing” and more.

According to the musical’s website, www.inthemoodlive.com, creator and producer Bud Forrest is a Juilliard -trained pianist and conductor who served as accompanist for the official U.S. Air Force chorus The Singing Sergeants. He compiled swing-era hits into a revue about the big-band era and the influence of this music before, during and after the WWII years, according to the website.

The show’s second act is a tribute to those who fought in World War II and to all veterans of all the nation’s wars.

The Merced Theatre is at 301 W. Main St. in downtown Merced.

Tickets for the show range from $29 to $49. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tickets.mercedtheatre.org or call (209) 381-0500.

This story was originally published March 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Merced will get ‘In the Mood’ next week."