Midwest Vocal Express, the Greendale, WI Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is proud to release the DVD “MVEvolution, Changing the Barbershop Contest Stage.” Ranked 5^th in the world, the MVE is known for being the stage presentation innovator of Barbershop chorus singing.  This DVD program traces the evolution from the beginnings of the group to the highly acclaimed fish set from the 2006 International contest stage.

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Viewers are rewarded by being able to view the very unique MVE style of excitement in three of the most popular and medal-winning performances: “Fish,” “Green Army Soldiers,” and “Broadway Waiters,” plus 8 other contest sets. Some, like the “Monks” from the Buckeye, have never been released before.

In 1988, the Midwest Vocal Express was chartered by a bunch of guys who from the get-go dedicated the chorus to different way of performing.  Not content with just singing, the MVE chose to tell the story of each song. This was revolutionary thinking for a Barbershop Society whose tradition was usually associated with standing in chorus formation, men dressed in tuxedos, and singing old standards. 

Costumes were the next addition to the story-telling, and over the years, the guys have really pushed the envelope. Nothing illustrates this better than the MVE’s “Green Army Man” set from 2003, where each man was head to toe in green plastic, looking like toy soldiers come to life, and most recently, the “Fish” set from 2006, where the MVE recreated a ‘living aquarium’ on the contest stage. 

Costumes and storytelling were enhanced by the MVE’s approach to choreography, not as lockstep automatons – each doing the same motion the same way – but as individuals, following separate paths to achieve unity of message. Each man brought his whole life experience on stage, stripping away the plastic faux-emotion, regardless of performing a touching ballad or farce.  The Barbershop contest arena had never seen this before, and audiences love it. 

The logo for MVEvolution show’s the chronology of this performance growth, featuring a Badger, from their early Buckeye “Order of the Burrowing Badgers” set, a monk representing the “Monks” Buckeye package. The rest are from the Barbershop Harmony Society stage: a New Orleans jazz musician, a Farmer at the County Fair, a Broadway Waiter, the Green Plastic Soldier, a proud father from the “Baby” set, and an Aquarium dweller from the “Fish” set.

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MVEvolution DVDs are priced at $25 (plus $4 shipping and handling,) and are available by sending a check or money order made out to:

Midwest Vocal Express
P.O.Box 543
Greendale, WI 53129-0543
(be sure to include your address)

or by phone at 1-888-240-4426 (credit cards accepted by phone.)

Liner Notes

Originally directed by Frank Marzocco (1988-91), the MVE was fast out of the blocks, competing with 20-35 guys and singing some of the more challenging charts of the time. Greendale began a 15-year nearly uninterrupted string of second place finishes in the LO’L District. Believe it or not, early comments on the chorus were that it sang well, but performed stiff and mechanically on stage.  

Russ Foris, an accomplished arranger, took the helm in 1992. A seminal moment was in Fargo, ND, when the group did Foris’ arrangements of “Polka Medley” and “Tin Roof Blues.” Both resonated like no other contest set had before.   

At the Buckeye Invitationals, the chorus learned to perform songs not as lockstep automatons – each doing the same motion the same way – but as individuals, following separate paths to achieve unity of message. Each man brought his whole life experience on stage, stripping away the plastic faux-emotion, regardless of performing a touching ballad or farce.  The Barbershop contest arena had never seen this before, and audiences loved it.  Never looking back, the MVE has always chosen themed performances. 

Foris also had a firm belief that directors often were to blame for getting in the way of the message, so he would find ways within his own performance to completely disappear and be a chorus member, directing minimally at important junctures. Feel free to play ‘Where’s Russ?’ as you watch MVEvolution. Foris helmed the MVE from 1992 through 2004, when he retired to Arkansas.  All of the music in the medalist “Waiter” and “Green Army” sets are his arrangements. 

An extensive national talent search for a director ended where it began, when Dr. Chris Peterson, then a two-year member of the chapter, took over.  Peterson brought his graduate training to chorus every week, demanding that great singing also become a hallmark of the chorus.  In just his second International contest as director, Chris’ Starfish tentacles led the MVE to a medal in one of the most memorable sets ever to hit the contest stage.

Contents

Buckeye 1993 A visit to the days of the traveling minstrel show. Mr. Bones, Mr. Interlocutor – take it away!	Old Dan Tucker  Dan Emmett   Jim-A-Long Joe  Stephen Foster My Old Kentucky  Home Stephen Foster Camptown Races  Stephen Foster Old Black Joe  Stephen Foster Here Comes The Showboat  Billy Rose Love Me Tender  Vera Matson, Elvis Presley Aura Lee  W. W. Fosdick, Geo. R. Poulton There's A Meeting Here Tonight  Traditional
Buckeye 1995 The Loyal Order of the Burrowing Badger solved their dilemma for the MVE’s first Buckeye Win.	There's A Meeting Here Tonight  Traditional Charleston  Cecil Mack, Jimmy Johnson Waltz Me Around Willie W.D.Cobb, R. Shields Wonderful One  Paul Whiteman, Ferde Grofe Beer Barrel Polka  J. Vijvoda, V. Zeman Hoop De Doo  F. Loesser, Milt De Lugg
Buckeye 1997 Greendale returned to Columbus, OH where their Monks need to figure out what to do with their lives now that a 900 year vow of silence has been accidentally broken.	Yes Indeed  Sy Oliver A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet  G Kahn, H. Woods It's A Sin To Tell A Lie  Billy Mayhew This Little Light Of Mine  Traditional
SPEBSQSA 1999 Anaheim Magnolias in Bloom, Jazz in the air, beignets and chicory coffee on order…  The MVE’s first international appearance featured a New Orleans theme and perhaps the International stage’s first Big Gun kickline.  Also, the MVE’s first international standing ovation.	Tin Roof Blues  George Brunies, Paul Mares Way Down Yonder In New Orleans  H. Creamer, J. Turner Layton That's A Plenty Ray Gilbert, Lew Pollack Original Dixieland One-Step J. R. Robinson, George Crandall
SPEBSQSA Kansas City 2000 All forms of country and townfolk converge for the high point of the year’s social calendar – the County Fair!	County Fair Mel Torme, Robert Wells (I Stayed) Too Long At The Fair Billy Barnes
SPEBSQSA Nashville 2001 The best laid plans of mice and men… a delay in receiving one of the arrangements saw the guys go back to New Orleans for another exciting escapade.	Tin Roof Blues  George Brunies, Paul Mares Way Down Yonder In New Orleans  H. Creamer, J. Turner Layton That's A Plenty Ray Gilbert, Lew Pollack Original Dixieland One-Step J. R. Robinson, G. Crandall
SPEBSQSA Portland 2002 Broadway restaurant – bigwigs and hobnobbers abound.  And all of the waiters are…ACTORS (of course), waiting for their big chance.  Well worth the wait – the MVE’s “Every-man-as-performer” theory is displayed here in full bloom and earned the chorus their first International medals.	Star  Steve Delehanty I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy George M. Cohan The Impossible Dream Joseph Darion, Mitch Leigh Wilkommen Fred Ebb, John Kander Be My Host  Richard Rogers Be Our Guest  H. Ashman, A. Menken
SPEBSQSA Montreal 2003 An army of green men had the audience in the palm of their plastic hands from “All Clear!”  Being a living toy sounds like fun, but it is not always what it seems.  First to perform this year, two stuffed box trucks full of props and makeup made it over the border to more standing ovations and a second consecutive medal.	Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army Irving Berlin Dogface Soldier Bert Gold, Ken Hart Ma  Sidney Clarke, C. Conrad Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey  A. Von Tilzer, J. McCree Over There George M. Cohan This Is The Army, Mister Jones  Irving Berlin
SPEBSQSA Louisville 2004 Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers meet at a delivery room to welcome a new member of the family.  What happens a short time later?  Let the bragging begin!.  Easily the most sentimental of the Greendale performances.	Changes  Tom Gentry, Mike Lietke Always Irving Berlin I Used To Love You, But L. Brown, A. Von Tilzer There'll Be Some Changes Made Billy Higgins, W. Overstreet Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue Lewis, Young, Henderson
Barbershop Harmony Society Salt Lake City 2005 1927.  Small town.  Midwest.  Back to the fair with more pageantry and action than ever before.  A fine performance welcoming our new director, Dr. Chris Peterson.	County Fair Mel Torme, Robert Wells (I Stayed) Too Long At The Fair Billy Barnes
Barbershop Harmony Society Indianapolis 2006 What goes through the minds of fish that were born (hatched) in the warmth of the open sea, only to be netted and taken to live in an aquarium?  On second thought, is it really that bad?  Standing Ovations before, during, and after this performance highlighted yet another medalist performance.	A Son Of The Sea Lud Worsham, Ed Waesche How Deep Is The Ocean  Irving Berlin Swanee  Irving Caesar, George Gershwin School Days  Will D. Cobb, Gus Edwards After Dark