New group set for WWII boogie-woogie
The Victory Dolls are just about ready to march.
The nine women who make up the newly formed patriotic vocal ensemble — all familiar performers on the South Florida theater circuit — have spent nearly a year perfecting their vintage, Andrews Sisters-inspired harmonies with a modern twist. They are already booked for two performances in September and hope to schedule more as their melodies, talents, and stories about the 1940s era and the Greatest Generation gain popularity.
The group — the first of its kind in South Florida — is planning annual tours of the Sunshine State and beyond, and will call several regional theaters home each season, including the Delray Beach Playhouse, Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in Boca Raton, and the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.
A meeting between a longtime theater manager and an award-winning singer who had created a World War II-style production led to the creation of a troupe that will sing tunes from the decade of war bonds, FDR’s “fireside chats,” ration stamps, victory gardens and a radio in every home.
Kevin Barrett, manager of the Delray Beach Playhouse and former director of the Coral Springs Performing Arts Center earlier this year traveled to New Orleans for the opening of the National World War II Museum.
Formerly the National D-Day Museum, the New Orleans venue recreated the legendary Stage Door Canteen, which features a production of World War II-era songs by the resident musical group, the Victory Belles.
“I thought, this would kill in Florida,” Barrett said.
“I remembered that Shelley Keelor did a World War II show here [at the Delray Playhouse] two years ago, so I pitched her the idea of creating one similar to the museum production. She loved it.”
Keelor, a stage and musical theater veteran who created the popular one-woman show Sentimental Journey: Songs of WWII, gathered a group of talented singer/actresses together and dubbed them the Victory Dolls. They’ve been rehearsing a program of 1940’s-era tunes since then.
The Victory Dolls roster of performers includes Keelor, of Jupiter, as leader of the pack, along with Sabrina Lynn Gore, Amy Miller Brennan, Leah Marie Sessa, Julie Kleiner, Jeanine Levy, Aaron Bower, Katie Angell Thomas, Jinon Deeb, and Ann Marie Olsen.
Phil Hinton creates original arrangements for the troop-praising troupe, and Carbonell Award-winning keyboardist Caryl Fantel is musical director.
Shows will feature classic hits from the war years: “When the Lights Go on Again,” “We’ll Meet Again,” “Hot time in the Town of Berlin,” “White Plains of Dover” and many of the Andrews Sisters’ hits such as “Rum and Coca Cola,” “Shoo Shoo Baby,” “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Performances will benefit organizations including Honor Flight of South Florida, Gary Sinise Foundation, and Wounded Warriors Families Support.
The Victory Dolls’ signature show, I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen, will debut Fri., Sept. 20 in Delray Beach (DelrayBeachPlayhouse.com). The group will perform in Boca Raton (MiznerParkCulturalCenter.com) on Sat., Sept. 21. Tickets are $35 and $45. Future shows will have different themes, such as Rockin’ with the Dolls (1950s/’60s top hits), Home for the Holidays and All Dolled Up (Great American Songbook selections).