Purdue News
Purdue News
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March 29, 2002
Purdue's 'Andrews Sisters' beguile at Swingtime CanteenWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Nostalgia for the big band era colors American Music Review's Swingtime Canteen concert on Saturday, April 13.The concert, at 8 p.m. in the Long Center in downtown Lafayette, features a parade of hits from the 1930s and '40s. The hits will be highlighted by a "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" appearance by Purdue University's version of the famous singing trio The Andrews Sisters. Two real-life Lafayette sisters, Sara Suppinger and Carla Suppinger Scott, team up with West Lafayette native Hannah Niebrugge to mimic the vocal harmonies and energized delivery style that made The Andrews Sisters famous. Besides "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," the trio also will sing "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." Scott is a teacher at St. Boniface Elementary School in Lafayette. Suppinger is a sophomore liberal arts major and Niebrugge is a senior pharmacy major. The Canteen marks the first time the two sisters have performed together on the concert stage, although each has extensive individual performing credentials. Scott is familiar to theater audiences for singing leads in many Civic Theatre musicals from "Annie Get Your Gun" to "Kiss Me Kate." Suppinger says she is delighted that she will be performing with her sister. "Because of the seven year age gap between Carla and I, we were never in school with each other, so performing together was rare," Suppinger says. "It caught us both off guard when we realized that this performance will be the first time we'll be behind microphones together." Although the "Swingtime Canteen" is flavored by music of the 1930s and '40s, American Music Review director Bill Kisinger intends to moderately modernize the concept to pull in timeless hits from eras following the war years. Decolby Hill, a freshman biology major from Indianapolis, will be the featured vocalist with the band on the 1950s tune "That's All." He also will sing "Old Devil Moon" from the Broadway musical "Finnian's Rainbow." "Tuxedo Junction," "All or Nothing at All" and "Stella by Starlight" are among other nostalgic tunes on the program. Suppinger sings "Stella by Starlight," a tune made famous by Ella Fitzgerald. "I can't hear that song without imagining Ella behind a mic in a smoky cocktail lounge, bending the notes just enough to make the melody remain in your head for the rest of the evening," Suppinger says. "Making a performance memorable – that's what she did, and that's what I strive to do. I want to have fun, but most of all, I want the crowd to walk away with smiles on their faces and maybe even a lighter step to their walk." Just like canteens of the past, there will be more than singing in the show. Tap dancers will perform to the band's rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown," and other specialty numbers will feature Purdue twirlers and the dance squad. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Media interested in interviews should contact Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands Public Relations (765) 496-6785. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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