Sheena Easton coming to Millwald stage
Pop star Sheena Easton is bringing her songs to the Millwald stage.
The Millwald Theatre in Wytheville will welcome a major pop act from the 1980s and early 1990s on Saturday, March 21. Scottish-born Grammy winner Sheena Easton will take the stage at 7:30 p.m., delighting fans of all ages with her chart-topping classics such as “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” and the theme from the James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.
During a phone interview on March 11, the musical icon reflected on how two of her most famous songs came to be.
“My producer at the time had recommended “Morning Train” as his favorite of the many demos we were listening to,” she recalled. “When I heard it, I loved it too. So we recorded it immediately, and it became a smash all over the world very early in my career.”
Easton says the attention “Morning Train” received caught the eye of producers of the long-running James Bond series, opening the door for her to sing the theme for For Your Eyes Only, which would eventually be nominated for an Academy Award.
“That was a real dream come true for me,” she reminisced. “I grew up adoring the Bond divas of the day, like Shirley Bassey. To have the opportunity to sing a James Bond song was a genuine thrill.”
Among the many famous women who have recorded Bond themes, Easton holds the distinction of being the only performer whose face appeared in the film’s opening credits. This idea came from legendary Bond title designer Maurice Binder, who believed Easton’s striking presence would complement her sultry voice in creating a memorable opening.
“I went down to meet Maurice at the old Pinewood Studios,” she remembered. “He called me the next day and said he wanted to use me in the opening shots. So we went to the studio, shot it, and he integrated it into the title sequence.”
It is often said that Easton decided to become a singer after hearing Barbra Streisand perform the title song from The Way We Were during the film’s closing credits. However, she clarifies that the story has been somewhat exaggerated.
“I always knew I wanted to be a singer from when I was just a tiny little thing,” she said. “Hearing Barbra Streisand sing ‘The Way We Were’ simply solidified the fact that I had to be a singer.”
After hearing that famous performance, Easton says she realized that if her own talents could move even one person the way Streisand moved her, she could help spread a little magic in the world. From that moment on, she knew that a typical nine-to-five job would never be for her.
Having traveled the world many times and performed in its most famous venues before sold-out crowds, Easton says she enjoys the opportunity to perform in smaller, historic theaters like the Millwald.
“It is such a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to play in intimate and gorgeously historic theaters such as the Millwald,” she said. “It brings a sense of intimacy with the audience and offers me a chance to interact with my fans at a level I never had in the big venues of larger cities.”
With tickets nearing a sellout, Easton promises fans a first-rate performance.
“I’m very lucky to still be performing after 50 years,” she said. “I have the best musicians in Vegas to back me up, and we do a straight musical show.”
The pop legend promises a no-frills program focused entirely on the songs her fans have come to hear.
“We don’t have dancers or anything like that,” she said in closing. “It’s all about the music.”
A limited number of tickets for Sheena Easton’s performance are still available. They can be purchased by calling the Millwald Theatre box office at 276-284-2958 or online at:
https://ci.ovationtix.com/36798/performance/11726717?performanceId=11726717
