BRATTLEBORO — The New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat St., presents a sing-along tribute concert to Pete Seeger, “How Can We Keep From Singing,” on Friday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m.
An additional show for children and families is set for Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. All proceeds will benefit NEYT's scholarship fund, “Angels in the Wings.”
NEYT founder and evening host Stephen Stearns, and co-host Peter Amidon, will present a galaxy of well-known singers and songwriters, many of whom have sung with Pete Seeger and written songs with him over the past 50 years.
Included are Gould & Stearns, Peter Amidon, Ruth Pelham, Sarah Pirtle, Scott Ainslie, Andy Davis, Peter Siegel, Becky Graber and the Brattleboro Women's Chorus, John Ungerleider, Bill Conley, Mike Miller, Val Mindel, Nick Apollonio, Keith Murphy, Becky Tracy, Jim Anderson, Riley Goodemote, Mollie Gawler, Ian Stearns, Al Stockwell, and Jerry Stockman.
“I find it totally amazing and inspiring how world-inclusive Pete's thinking was,” writes Stephen Stearns. “I was always wide-eyed when I witnessed how he left no stone on Earth unturned. Every influence under the Sun entered into his heart, soul, bloodstream, and philosophy. He was sort of an Emerson, Shakespeare, Goethe, Paul Bunyan, and Johnny Appleseed, all rolled into one.
“And, while being a mountain of a man, he was also, and always, the common man. We may never see his like again. Thank goodness that we have all the memories, though, and that is what this concert is going to be about - lots of laughter sprinkled with a few salty tears.”
The show will follow Seeger's life and the songs, in many genres, that he sang throughout his life.
Stearns says the concert will have a video clip or two of Seeger in concert during his younger years, and something for everyone to relish and sing along with, from “If I Had a Hammer” to “Sweet Potatoes” to “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” to “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine.”