Paige Miles rehearses singing Natural woman

All together now! “Shirley, Shirley, Bo Birley, Banana Fanna Fo Firley, Fee Fi, Mo Mirley…Shirley!”

Beehive – the ’60s Musical! is all about the songs, assures TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni. Today, Danni released a playlist of more than 40 songs that will be featured in Equity theatre group’s final production of its sixth season. Beehive – the ’60s Musical, sponsored by Stanley Construction, opens May 5 at 8 pm and runs 10 performances until May 15, 2011.

“Beehive is” a joyous, “wanna sing along” musical revue, chronicling female singing sensations from the 1960s,” he said. “It takes you through the decade with a series of 40 songs sung either in their entirety or within a medley.“

When originally played on the radio, these songs were two-minute tunes, quick and light and then on to the next song. In the format of Beehive and under Danni’s direction, the audience will hear the songs anew, and get a true sense of these women singers as the decade progressed.

Songs about “getting the boy,” “keeping the boy,” and “worrying about losing the boy” reflect the early sixties with “My Boyfriend’s Back” by The Angels, “I’m Sorry” by Brenda Lee and “Where the Boys Are” by Connie Francis. “Freedom,” “racial equality” and “finding yourself” are examined when Carole King asks “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” and Leslie Gore states “You Don’t Own Me,” while The Supremes request to “Come See About Me,” in the mid-60s.

“After Leslie, Connie and Diana, came Petula Clark, Lulu and Dusty Springfield from the UK and then back in the states again with Sonny and Cher, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin singing songs about being “proud,” wanting “respect,” and “doing right,” near the end of the decade,” Danni said.

“Words hold great power and those songs of the ’60s were just as powerful in their own right,” he said.

Here is the Beehive – the ’60s Musical! playlist:

MY BOYFRIENDS BACK- The Angels

SWEET TALKIN’ GUY- The Chiffons

ONE FINE DAY- The Crystals

WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW- The Shirelles

REMEMBER (Walking In The Sand)- The Shangri-La’s

WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO – The Supremes

I HEAR A SYMPHONY- The Supremes

IT’S MY PARTY- Leslie Gore

I’M SORRY- Brenda Lee

YOU DON’T OWN ME- Leslie Gore

WHERE THE BOYS ARE- Connie Frances

THE BEAT GOES ON- Sonny & Cher

DOWNTOWN- Petula Clark

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME – Dusty Springfield

RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH- Tina Turner

PROUD MARY – Tina Turner

RESPECT- Aretha Franklin

NATURAL WOMAN – Aretha Franklin

Tickets are now on sale for Beehive – the 60s Musical! – starring American Idol’s Paige Miles (a Community School of Naples graduate) in the role of the singing narrator. Individual seats cost $43 and $48.

The original stage presentation of Beehive was first presented in 1985 and ran for over 18 months Off-Broadway at the Village Gate Theatre in New York City. In 1988, a Denver production ran for 69-weeks and then toured nationally for 20-weeks including 13-weeks at Harrah’s Marina Hotel in Atlantic City.

TheatreZone is a non-profit organization that relies upon community support. All performances take place in the G&L Theatre, located on The Community School campus, one block north of Pine Ridge Road at 13275 Livingston Road.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Box Office or call TheaterZone at 1-888-ZONE-FLA, 1-888-966-3352 or order online at: www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com‘>www.theatrezone-florida.com.