Get a feel for what it would be like to see the legendary British foursome in Brookings when RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles makes a stop March 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Swiftel Center. We had the chance to chat with Paul Curatolo, portraying Sir Paul McCartney, about the 11 week tour that performs over 40 songs by The Beatles every evening.
Tell us about your role in RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles.
Paul Curatolo: I play, or I should say I pay tribute to, Sir Paul McCartney in the show. It’s a full multi-media experience of the life and career of The Beatles – all of the iconic moments that you remember, like the first time America met The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, all the way to the last time you heard and read in the news that they were breaking up.
Did you study Sir Paul McCartney in order to portray him?
PC: Absolutely, 100 percent. I think we’re blessed in this day and age with YouTube and the internet, because I was able to really dive in deep with my studies. I watched every single interview, every single live performance that I could find, really pull apart the records, and just really geek out. It wasn’t work, it wasn’t hard, it was fun. I think I would do that regardless if I was in the show or not. It’s a dream come true to be an ultimate super fan up on stage, dressed like Paul McCartney, playing some of the best music ever written.
I saw it’s the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. How does that play into the tour this time around?
PC: Our show is a bit different this year. We’re still jumping on all of the most iconic moments, but this year we’re actually going to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by playing the album in its entirety.
What do you see in the audience? Longtime Beatles fans, or do you see newer Beatles fans?
PC: It’s all of the above. It’s incredible to see three – almost four – generations of Beatles lovers every night. I make a point to call that out in the midst of the show, because it’s really great to see people who actually remember watching The Beatles as children or as teenagers and their children all the way down. There’s some parents where their teenagers dragged them to the show because they’re fans. Everybody really gets along and are just getting into the music together. It’s really great.
It looks like the audience gets taken back through history as well with the show.
PC: It’s great. We have to make costume changes throughout the show, so in between those costume changes, we take you through what was going on in The Beatles’ career at that time and what was going on in America and the world. You really get pulled back into their world as a whole. It’s a time machine.
What is one of your favorite moments from touring?
PC: There’s a part where we play “Let it Be,” and it’s a really touching moment with the audience. The whole audience bands together, and it almost becomes this whole spiritual moment. All you can see are the lights of phones moving in unison.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit swiftelcenter.com or call (605) 692-7539
