COMING HOME: Princeton native Laurie Berkner brings her band back to McCarter Theatre on Sunday, March 22 for a family-oriented “Greatest Hits” concert and a special solo “relaxed” performance.
Children’s musician Laurie Berkner and The Laurie Berkner Band will return to Berkner’s hometown with a “Greatest Hits” concert for families at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, at McCarter Theatre. Berkner will also give a special solo, sensory-friendly, “relaxed performance” at 11 a.m. on March 22. Professional dancer Michelle Esch will join Laurie her at this show, enhancing the musical experience through movement.
“I can’t wait to come back to my hometown for both a sensory-friendly and a band concert,” said Berkner. “The McCarter Theatre is such a beautiful venue, and returning to Princeton every year warms my heart. I feel so lucky to be able to sing, dance, and march like dinosaurs with all of the kids and families there!”
The Laurie Berkner Band will perform songs from a career spanning more than 25 years, including such hits as “Victor Vito,” “Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz),” “Pig On Her Head,” “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Rocketship Run,” “The Goldfish (Let’s Go Swimming),” and more recent fan favorites like “Superhero,” “Waiting for the Elevator,” and “Chipmunk at the Gas Pump,” along with new singles like “Walking with the Penguins” and “Everyone’s Demanding Bananas.”
Berkner’s concerts showcase an array of tunes that encourage kids and grownups alike to get up and dance. Kids should plan to bring their dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for their heads).
The Laurie Berkner Band features: Laurie Berkner, vocals/guitar; Leslie Mendelson, keyboards; Winston Roye, bass; and Bobby Golden, drums/percussion.
For her sensory-friendly, “relaxed performance,” Berkner will perform solo in an environment that has been adapted to provide a welcoming atmosphere for individuals with autism, learning differences, or other sensory and communication needs, so that they and their families may enjoy the live show together. At a sensory-friendly performance, the concert is performed at the same high quality as always, with the light and sound levels adjusted slightly to create a more sensory-friendly environment.
These performances are “shush-free” zones where patrons are free to talk and leave their seats throughout the show, as well as bring their own snacks, fidgets, and communication devices with them to their seats. Most of all, a sensory-friendly performance is a judgment-free environment, where all are welcome to enjoy the show in whatever way makes the experience work for them.
McCarter Theatre is at 91 University Place. Visit Mccarter.org for tickets.