The stage of the Community Arts Center will be again be alive with the sounds of the Uptown Music Collective as they take the stage to perform a show called “Music That Made the Movies: Soundtracks That Rock.” On Saturday, January 25. This electrifying show, presented by UPMC and chosen through the UMC’s annual People’s Choice online voting event last summer, will feature some of the greatest songs from the most iconic movies of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, all performed by the passionate and hard-working students of the school’s “Special Performance Group 1” (SPG1). This performance is sponsored, in part, through a partnership with Hudock Capital Group and Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
“I’ve always loved movies, and, obviously, I’m pretty passionate about music, so this has been a fun and exciting show to work on with our students,” Dave Brumbaugh, founder and director of the Uptown Music Collective, told Webb Weekly. “I’m looking forward to seeing them bring this wide variety of great music to the stage and perform it in a high-energy way that will bring the audience a thrilling experience that combines the power of music and the magic of movies.”
He said months of preparation have gone into this show, with UMC’s SPG1 students dedicating themselves to perfecting these classic tracks. Known for their professionalism and exceptional talent, the students are ready to deliver a dynamic live performance that will transport the audience to the golden era of movie soundtracks.
He added that music and movie lovers know how the two often go hand in hand. Sometimes, the movies make the songs famous; other times, the songs elevate the film to legendary status. This show celebrates that special connection with unforgettable hits like “Eye of the Tiger” (“Rocky III”), “Danger Zone” (“Top Gun”), “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” (“Dirty Dancing”), “Pretty in Pink” (“Pretty in Pink”), “The Heat Is On” (“Beverly Hills Cop”), and “I Will Always Love You” (“The Bodyguard”), just to name a few.
According to Brumbaugh, Collective students have diligently prepared for this event for over three months. Along with the music, there will be a professional-grade light and sound show organized by the students themselves, who work alongside the professionals at the Community Arts Center.
As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers but also the directors of the show. A group of younger students, or “Tech Monkeys,” will serve as stage technicians and spotlight operators. The cast for the show is drawn from the Uptown Music Collective’s much-heralded “Special Performance Group 1.”
This show is directed by Uptown Music Collective senior Tixo Bower (a homeschool student), as well as Mackenzie Hakes (South Williamsport Area High School) and Matthew Bellino (Danville Area High School). The show’s leadership committee consists of UMC students Nick Willoughby (Danville Area High School); Izzy Butters, Lila Butters, and Ella Hertwig (Loyalsock Township High School); Grace Godin, Abby Jamison, Owen Miller and Caiden Scarfo (Williamsport Area High School); Elle Donlin (Loyalsock Township Middle School); Rowan Alamy (Lewisburg Area High School); and Rian Gephart and Gianna Waldman (Montoursville Area High School).
“I am really excited for this show,” Hakes said. “This is the first time in Collective history that we’ve done a show like this. It was hard putting together the set list and combining all the diverse styles of music, but it’s what will make the show so great! There is a great variety of genres and decades, such as the ’70s disco from the Bee Gees, the ’90s Whitney Houston power ballads, and the ’80s rock and pop tunes from ‘Footloose.’ I am extremely excited to bring this show to the stage so the audience can see the blend of genres and get the nostalgic feeling of remembering these songs from the amazing classic films from ‘Grease’ to ‘Ghostbusters.’”
Additional partners and sponsors for this performance include Chartwell Hotels, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, The Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott, KFC of Williamsport, The Brickyard Restaurant and Ale House, The Stonehouse Wood Fired Pizza and Pasteria, The Crooked Goose, Woodlands Bank, FASTSIGNS of Williamsport, Lycoming College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, The Hartman Group, Beiter’s Furniture, Mattress and Appliance, and Roche Financial. Media sponsors include Backyard Broadcasting, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Lamar Advertising, 92.1 WSQV, NorthCentralPa.com, and The Graphic Hive.
The Uptown Music Collective has served as a musical laboratory and incubator for area music students for more than 20 years and has produced such distinguished graduates as Morgan Myles, Dylan Rockoff, and Gabe Stillman, just to name a few.
Tickets for the performance are only available through the Community Arts Center box office and website (www.caclive.com). In addition to this show, tickets for the Collective’s entire 2024-2025 Performance Season at the Community Arts Center are now on sale, including Wonderwall: The Ultimate ’90s Mix on March 15, 2025, and ‘80s Arena Rock: Power Ballads & Rock Anthems on April 25 and 26, 2025.
For more details about Music That Made the Movies, visit uptownmusic.org/soundtracks or call 570-329-0888. Check out the Collective’s official Facebook page and other Collective social media outlets for teasers, previews, behind-the-scenes info, and more from the performance.
