NSB Bank and Dean Genth & Dr. Gary Swenson proudly present the sold out performance of The Ultimate Queen Celebration starring Marc Martel at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the NIACC campus at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2019. This presentation is part of the 2019-2020 Performing Arts and Leadership Series.

Long before his YouTube videos went viral, spawning an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a performance with the surviving members of Queen on “American Idol,” Marc Martel spent 13 years recording and touring the globe with Canadian rockers Downhere. Martel was heralded as a world-class vocalist, often earning comparisons to late great Freddie Mercury. While the idea of paying tribute to one of the world’s most renowned and influential rock institutions never actually occurred to him, in hindsight, it only made sense that Martel would someday be the perfect vehicle to propel the Ultimate Queen Celebration onto the road.

Martel received an email from an industry pal with a link to a contest spearheaded by the actual members of Queen. He cut a version of “Somebody To Love” in 2011, and now 30 million cumulative YouTube and Facebook views later, Martel was declared the victor. Even legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor remarked to the Daily Record: “That voice. You listen, close your eyes and you think it’s Freddie. It’s really uncanny.”

Martel is the ideal match for the Ultimate Queen Celebration, an explosive, attention-commanding tribute where some of the most iconic rock anthems of all time collide with a theatrical performance style and eye-popping production. At its core, the riveting show focuses on the extremely diverse body of the band’s greatest hits, from the grandiose “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the adrenaline-pumping “We Will Rock You,” the euphoric “We Are The Champions,” the funky “Another One Bites The Dust,” the stadium-shaking David Bowie collaboration “Under Pressure,” the soulful “Somebody To Love” and the swinging “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (to name but a few from the stacked set list).

But even with the overwhelming demand behind Martel’s Queen-themed projects, he’s cultivated an increasingly visible solo career defined by a relentless creativity, unpredictably and practically super human abilities to simultaneously craft his own identity while flawlessly stepping into the shoes of others. He’s made additional waves performing at the direct request of Céline Dion (who avidly follows his videos) on Radio-Canada TV’s “En direct de l’Universe” in 2016, plus a jaw-dropping cover of George Michael and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” for the video game “Just Dance 2017” (with Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” coming next). Add in performances on People.com, ten nights at the Calgary Stampede, plus various San Francisco Giants, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets games, and there’s truly no limit to Martel’s unreal reach.

To learn more about The Ultimate Queen Celebration, visit www.theultimatequeencelebration.com or watch a video at www.niacc.edu/palvideos.

This performance is sold out.

The Broadway sponsor for the 2019-2020 Performing Arts and Leadership Series is Drs. Beck, Bhangoo, and Ondoma: Neurosurgery of North Iowa, P.C.

Platinum sponsors include Samuel & Patricia Congello, Mason City Clinic, Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund, Lee Foundation, Globe Gazette, MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, and Principal Financial Group.

Gold sponors include First Citizens Bank, First State Bank of Belmond, Dean Genth & Dr. Gary Swenson, The G. G. George Family, Henkel Construction Company, Historic Park Inn, MBT Bank & The Hanson Family Foundation, Northwoods State Bank, North Iowa Eye Clinic P.C., Stratford Foundation, Sukup Manufacturing Co., Holiday Inn Express, KGLO, KIMT, North Iowa Broadcasting, and Country Inn & Suites.

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