Ladies and gentlemen ... Rain

The styles and sounds of the legendary Beatles will be presented in concert when "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" hits the stage Sunday at the Show Me Center.

Described as the next-best thing to the Fab Four, "Rain" is the touring production of the multimedia Broadway show with band members who perform as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. But the show isn't just Beatle imitators who lip-sync; each performer has mastered the vocals, gestures and nuances of their character and deliver note-for-note performances that will give concertgoers a chance to revisit the time of Beatlemania.

Joe Bithorn, who portrays George Harrison in "Rain," said in a telephone interview with the Southeast Missourian that he and his bandmates put their hearts and souls into their performances.

"Our show and its longevity speaks for itself," Bithorn said. "We sing and play every note the way it was meant to be. This is something we take very seriously."

Bithorn said the songs in "Rain" aren't just the obvious Beatles classics such as "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You."

Rain The Beatles Experience

"The Beatles last performance was in 1966," he said, "and after that came classic songs like 'Let It Be,' 'Come Together' and 'Hey Jude.' This show gives someone a chance to hear what those songs are like when performed live, and they won't be disappointed."

The band members of "Rain" also will perform in costumes that represent stages of The Beatles' musical evolution, according to Bithorn.

"We'll be in our Ed Sullivan suits, Sgt. Pepper suits and even the Indian garb," he said. "The show will have three costume changes in the first act and two changes during the second. We're not going to be wearing collarless suits the entire show."

Bithorn has long been recognized as a veteran of Beatles tribute shows. From 1980 to 1982, he performed with the popular touring production of "Beatlemania" before he joined a band called Rain in 1983.

"I got with 'Beatlemania' when I was really struggling," he said. "I was fortunate to be there, but when that started to wind down I joined Rain. I've been playing George Harrison ever since. I've lost count of the shows that we've done over the years."

Rain's tribute performances grew in popularity to the point the group was playing major theaters by the turn of the century, Bithorn said. From 2010 to 2011, the band's act was brought to Broadway with "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles."

"That was a great time," Bithorn said. "I grew up in Manhattan, and being able to come home and play the music that I love was such a gift. I'm very blessed and lucky to be working with the guys I'm with."

Bithorn said the Beatles experience that will be presented in Cape Girardeau will be very worthwhile.

"If you're a Beatles fan at all, you don't want to miss this," he said. "Even casual Beatles fans will enjoy the music and how the show is presented."

Josh Hanlon, marketing director of the Show Me Center, said ticket sales for "Rain" have been brisk.

"It's no longer an option to see the Beatles perform," Hanlon said, "but 'Rain' is the best Beatles tribute show there is. You'll feel like your watching the 'Ed Sullivan Show' all over again."

"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Show Me Center. Tickets are on sale for $50, $40 and $30 and are available by calling 651-5000 or by visiting the Show Me Center box office or showmecenter.biz. Tickets will be on sale until performance time. There is a 10 percent discount for groups of 10 or more, and the first 100 Southeast Missouri State University students will receive $10 off their box office ticket purchases with a valid Southeast ID.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.