Nine Musicians, Two Bands, One Night at Village Players

When the musicians of Some Assembly Required finish their set of blues and rock and roll at Village Players of Hatboro Thursday night, they will leave the stage and make room for the next act, Celtic Pride, a band that plays traditional Irish music and drinking songs.

Though the sound will be quite different, both bands are made up of the same lineup of musicians, fronted by Ivyland resident Bill Monaghan.

"We play two entirely different styles," said Monaghan, on the phone while vacationing in Ocean City with his family. "Leaving the stage and coming back lets us shift into our Irish verses. It's going to be a good night of telling stories and playing music."

The name of the show is titled "Christmas in July," and Monaghan plans to throw in a few holiday-themed songs. The bulk of the two 50 minute sets, however, will be devoted to original, singer-songwriter music, love ballads and Irish folk.

The one night only show also celebrates Monaghan's selection as the Best Musician of Bucks 2013 by Bucks Happening Magazine. He earned the most reader votes out of 17 local bands nominated for the contest.

A 1988 graduate of Archbishop Wood, Monaghan has built up an impressive library of original albums, musicals and children's ballet. Earlier this year, Dance Elite of Horsham staged Monaghan's "The Wizard of Oz," an original ballet inspired by the classic tale, at the Gwynedd Mercy Academy Performing Arts Center. It was the first time the ballet had been produced since its debut in 2001 at the Keswick Theater.

"I worked closely with them to make sure the music was right," said Monaghan. "The Monkey March had to be slowed down, so I recomposed it to the tempo they needed. It was a great pleasure to see the dancing in costume. That's a pretty big theater, and they had the first two tiers filled."

"Christmas in July" featuring Bill Monaghan, Some Assembly Required and Celtic Pride, plus special guest Gina Salamone-Lutz, will be presented at the Village Players of Hatboro, 401 Jefferson Ave., Hatboro, on July 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Call (215) 675-6774 for more information.