DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Some schoolgirls in the early 1960s were known to do their calisthenics while chanting, "John, Paul, George, Ringo. John, Paul, George, Ringo."

You won't hear their counterparts in the early 21st century reciting "Steve, Joey, Joe, Ralph" to their jumping jacks.

Those are the first names of the cast members of "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles," which opens the Chase Broadway Series on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Victoria Theatre.

Steve Landes is John Lennon, Joey Curatolo is Paul McCartney, Joe Bithorn is George Harrison and Ralph Castelli is Ringo Starr. There's also a supporting keyboards and percussion player, Mark Lewis

If you've never heard of them, it doesn't matter. They've proven themselves far more than the average hobbyist/opportunistic Beatles impersonators.

Although not at the same time, they were all cast members of the Broadway musical "Beatlemania" (1977-79) and their band, Rain, has been in existence ever since. Based in northern California, it actually preceded "Beatlemania." Founded in 1975, it was originally known as Reign and had nothing to do with Beatles music, other than being influenced by it like most other bands of the time.

Their evolution to "Rain," also the name of a lesser known Beatles song they play as the audience is walking out of the theater, was natural. All four members share a love for the band and a certain resemblance to its members.

Landes, who gives his age as "in my 30s," is the new kid. He joined nine years ago. "We didn't start out playing theaters. We've worked our way up. It was bars, then nightclubs, cruise ships, casinos and, about five years ago, larger theaters. We've raised the level of the show every time," he said.

A songwriter, as are the other three, he has also acted on stage and in film. He's the self-described "Beatles geek, fanatic, collector and scholar."

Born near Philadelphia to parents who were major fans of the band, he said they and his older sisters "taught me the Beatles' names as some of the first words I ever learned."

He taught himself the guitar at 10 and by 13 had his own band. He joined the cast of Beatlemania at 17 and later performed off Broadway in "The Fab Four."

"Rain" has film and television footage, but no scripted dialogue. It's five sets of music spanning the Beatles' career, split into two acts.

"The way that music sounds on the records is so ingrained in most of us. Our goal is to re-create that live," Landes said.

Tribute bands are everywhere these day. "The term has a certain stigma and a lot of that is founded. Some people think that if you put on the suits and use the proper guitars, that's it. We are all musicians in our own right. Everything else serves the music, the songs.

The song selection changes from tour to tour, but usually not night to night. As Lennon, Landes will be featured on "Girl," "Norwegian Wood," "Strawberry Fields" and "Imagine."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

What: "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles"

When: Dec. 20-21: 8 p.m. weekdays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. In two changes from the usual Victoria scheduling: Opening night is on a Wednesday, instead of the usual Tuesday, and there will be a Monday night show.

Where: Victoria Theatre, First and Main streets.

Tickets: $37-$81.

Call: (937) 228-3630, toll free (888) 228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Extras: University of Dayton professors John McCombe and Arthur J. Jipson will discuss "The Beatles as Contemporary Icon" before the Dec. 13 matinee at 1 p.m. in the reception room of the Victoria There. There will be an opening-night cast party (after the performance), free and open to ticket holders, at the Dayton Racquet Club on the top floor of the Kettering Tower. There will be free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.