By Shari Barrett
The Mark Morris Dance Group was formed in 1980 and gave its first performance that year in New York City. The company’s touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities in the United States and around the world, and in 1986, it shared its first national television program for the PBS series Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG was invited to become the national dance company of Belgium and spent three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
MMDG returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Based in Brooklyn, MMDG maintains strong ties to presenters in several cities around the world, most notably its West Coast home at Cal Performances in Berkeley and its Midwest home at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They appear regularly in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Fairfax.
And what a treat it was to attend their Pepperland show, choreographer Mark Morris’ unique tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, one of the group’s most popular with its fans around the world. It was a joyous romp through the Beatles’ beloved, groundbreaking concept album – a playful and often poignant production bursting with energy and buoyant creativity thanks to the spectacularly talented ensemble members whose pure joy of dancing was on full display from start to finish.
Originally created at the request of the City of Liverpool to kick off its Sgt. Pepper at 50 Festival in May 2017, the hour-long work features an original score by composer Ethan Iverson which intersperses arrangements of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “A Day in the Life,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Within You Without You,” and “Penny Lane” with six original Pepper-inspired pieces intended especially for Mark Morris’ profound understanding of classical forms: Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio, and the blues.
The work also playfully evokes multiple aspects of the era, with brightly colored mod-inspired costumes by Elizabeth Kurtzman, while colorful lighting design by Nick Kolin morphs from enchanting youthful joy to the depths of disappointment and despair. The talented dancers, accompanied by an impressive chamber music ensemble of voice, theremin, soprano sax, trombone, two keyboards, and percussion, offer glimpses into “Sgt. Pepper’s” non-rock and roll influences.
I especially enjoyed the bluesy aspects added to their rendition of “When I’m Sixty-Four” giving the music the feel of a dance hall burlesque show, though often the notes sounded a bit out of time and tune. However, it made perfect sense for the dancers to take on the appearance of a carousel with horses moving up and down and around each other, as did setting “Within You Without You” during a meditation session.
And as a Beatles fan since the age of 14, there were moments of great remembrance, such as the first time I saw the Sgt. Pepper’s album cover and studied each person on it with speculation as to why they were selected for such an honor. Obviously, Mark Morris must share the same fascination since he opens the show with individual dancers taking the stage as the names of a few on the cover were announced, including Shirley Temple, Marlene Dietrich, Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire, and Albert Einstein. Each dancer then donned sunglasses and created a pose reminiscent of the iconic album cover or their career.
The stories told of the local Liverpool characters in “Penny Lane” were danced across the stage, from the pretty nurse selling poppies to the barber shaving another customer and the fireman going out in the rain without a mac (raincoat) much more playfully than during “A Day in the Life,” which began flooded in deep purple and blue as the dancers fell out of bed and made their way to work or school on a double-decker bus. And while I was waiting to see how the line about the man who “blew his brains out in a car” would be expressed, Mark Morris made the decision to not share that verse, keeping it lighter in story but not emotional impact.
Performances of Pepperland took place at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills from May 16-18 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. More information and tickets for The Mark Morris Dance Group’s future performances can be found at https://markmorrisdancegroup.org
Just as Buddy Holly’s music changed rock and roll in the 1950s, the invention of the Synthesizer and Electric Drum Sets in 1977 ushered in the age of electronic music, destined to launch with music videos on MTV starting August 1, 1981. The first music video played on the site was the appropriately-named “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Bangles, followed by “You Better Run” by Pat Benatar. But not only the ladies controlled the MTV airwaves.
As the last show in its 2024-2025 Pops Series, The Long Beach Symphony celebrated The 80’s Ultimate MTV Experience with Electric Avenue, a six-member band comprised of Kevin Spencer (lead vocals, guitar), Clay Duke (keys, vocals), Shannon Pengelly (guitar, vocals), Tom Young (bass, vocals), Will Groth (drums), and Chris Pou (sound) who were more than ready to share the youthful energy and sonic celebration that was 1980s New Wave, Electronic Radio Pop. Their spot-on tributes to some the decade’s best bands were enhanced by two large screens on each side of the stage which let every audience member feel as if watching the show from the front row. And dance floors at both sides of the stage encouraged everyone to get up and groove the night away to memory-inducing songs guaranteed to set your modern troubles aside for a few hours!
The evening was hosted by former KROC and Sirius XM deejay Richard Blade with Evan Roider conducting the full Long Beach Orchestra whose strings, brass, wind, and percussion musicians raised the Long Beach Arena roof with the spirit of 80s electronic rock music from start to finish. Each of Electric Avenue’s perfectly performed tribute songs was accompanied by kaleidoscopic graphics, colorful lighting effects, or clips from movies in which they were used, presented in the following order: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins (1986), Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears (1985), “Take on Me” by A-ha (1985), “Always Something There to Remind Me” by Naked Eyes (1982), “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran (1982), “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister (1985), “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie (1983), “Africa” by Toto (1982), “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears (1985), “Faith” by George Michael (1987), “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen (1984), “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and News (1985), “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince (1984), “Against all Odds” by Phil Collins (1984), “Every Little Thing She Does” by The Police (1981), “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams (1985), “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins (1984), “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen (1984), “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds (1985), and “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1983). And how many of those songs did you just sing while reading through the list? Remember the movies in which they were used?
The Pops Series is a fun and friendly way to enjoy an entertaining night out, either at a table of up to 10 people on the Long Beach Arena floor, or from the upstairs loge level in a theater-style seat. Concerts start at 7:30pm, with the doors opening at 6pm for dining and socializing. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic dinner and favorite libations, with light concessions including sandwiches, snacks, and beverages, along with full bar service, available onsite. Or you can order catered meals in advance only at https://longbeachsymphony.org/dining/ that will be delivered to your table.
And their 2025-2026 Pops Series promises not-to-miss concerts including Faithfully: The Music of Journey on October 18; Iconic Voices of Change: Prince, Whitney, Michael and MORE! on November 15; Endless Love: A Valentine’s Concert! on February 14 2026; welcome Spring with the Sounds of Laurel Canyon: ‘60s & ‘70s Rock Legends on March 21 2026; and an Earth, Wind & Fire Dance Party on May 9 2026.
The Long Beach Arena is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, with a multitude of dining options available close by. Onsite parking is $20 per car. For more information about shows, subscriptions or individual tickets, visit https://longbeachsymphony.org/calendar/ or call the Long Beach Symphony box office at (562) 436-3203 ext. 1, Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or on the day of concert from 9 a.m.-12 noon.
