RANSHAW - An energetic night of piano playing by two Philadelphia performers will benefit recreation in the Coal Township area.
The Lower Anthracite Regional Recreation Committee (LARRC) will present the "Dueling Pianos" show, presented by Tony T. and Wildman Joe, Saturday at Brady Fire Company hall. The $20 ticket includes food and beverage (beer, soda or water) and the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the performance is 8 to 11:30 p.m.
Rob Slaby, LARRC member and Coal Township secretary, said the group was recommended by fellow member and local community event organizer Skip Rabuck. Also, Slaby and Coal Township Commissioner Gene Welsh have seen Dueling Pianos perform in person.
After watching clips at www.duelingpianos.com, committee members decided it would be a good fundraising opportunity for LARRC.
"It's pretty amazing," Slaby said. "It's going to be a very exciting show, and it's something the area I don't think has seen before."
Dueling Pianos has appeared at night clubs and bars throughout the Philadelphia and New Jersey area and up and down the East Coast. The group has also performed at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia before concerts by Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand and Elton John, and before Philadelphia Flyers hockey and 76ers basketball games.
"Tony T. (Anthony Decarolis) and Wildman Joe (Joe Marchetti) offer an entertaining style of interacting with the audience that has everyone singing, clapping and partying along," their website promotes.
Their song list includes "American Pie," "Build Me Up Buttercup," "Brown-Eyed Girl," "Crocodile Rock," "Copacabana," "Friends in Low Places," "Great Balls of Fire," "Hey Jude," "Jailhouse Rock," "Piano Man," "Satisfaction," "Wipe Out" and more.
Slaby said early this week that ticket sales were going pretty well, but he hoped more would be sold before the show or at the door to ensure some money for LARRC's efforts.
Tickets for "Dueling Pianos" are available at the Coal Township Municipal Building's secretary's office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, at Brewser's SportsGrille, the Brady Fire Company, Irish Isle Provisions, Tom Olcese Pharmacy, or from any member of the recreation committee, or at the door Saturday night.
In April, Coal Township was granted a $1-a-year, 99-year lease for six acres of Northumberland County land along Trevorton Road to construct two soccer fields under LARCC's direction. Also this spring, LARRC hosted "Anthracite Idol" to raise funds for the soccer fields and other recreational projetcs.