Brandon Bennett brings Elvis to the Columbia April 16
Contact: Christina Chapple
4/1/09
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HAMMOND – “Elvis” will be in the building – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts – April 16, in the incarnation of Brandon Bennett, winner of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ prestigious 2008 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.
Bennett and his 10-piece Heartbreak Orchestra will perform legendary Elvis Presley songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. A special addition to Columbia’s regular season schedule, the concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the university’s historic downtown theater.
Bennett has been wowing audiences with his Elvis tribute since his teen years, when he first dressed up like the King of Rock and Roll and sang his legendary songs at a high school talent contest. Adding his singing talent to his amazing resemblance to Elvis, he has appeared at festivals and corporate events and in commercials throughout the United States and Canada, ultimately winning the top Elvis tribute prize – the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, Tenn.
Bennett has toured with “Legends in Concert” and has performed his Elvis show at casinos such as the legendary Stardust in Las Vegas, as well as Sam’s Town, the Orleans, and Suncoast casinos.
The next step in his career will come this summer, when he stars in a Canadian tour of the staged musical production “Elvis Story,” officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Bennett also appeared in the reenactment of the "50th Anniversary of Elvis’ Return Home as a Star in 1956" at the Tupelo Festival in 2006, and was selected by the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau to represent the city at an Elvis convention in Hawaii. He has appeared on NBC Nightly News, performed at the Louisiana Hayride with the Louisiana Cavalcade and to a sold out audience with the legendary Jordanairs. He won the “King of Kings” contest on the “Ricki Lake Show” and was the winner of the "2002 International Images of the King Contest" in Memphis.
Bennett has opened for performers such as Diamond Rio, Ronnie Milsap, Neal McCoy, Chuck Berry, and Joe Stampley.
Tickets for Bennett’s Columbia performance are $31 for regular seating and $51 for VIP seating that includes a private reception with Bennett following the performance. Senior citizen discounts are available for regular seating tickets, which can be purchased online at columbiatheatre.org or through the theater box office, located in the theater lobby, 220 E. Thomas St., 985-543-4371. VIP seating is available through the box office only.
Box office hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and one hour before performance times. For information about upcoming Columbia Theatre events, visit columbiatheatre.org or call (985) 543-4366.
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