Christopher Howatt has always loved Weehawken since he moved to the town nearly a decade ago.
The associate director of Marketing and Public Relations for the highly acclaimed George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, Howatt had also been part of a musical group called “Eastern Standard Time,” which performed a variety of classic tunes from the 1930s and 40s.
However, about a year ago, Howatt received an e-mail from someone who told him that he couldn’t use the “Eastern Standard Time” moniker any longer.
“Apparently, there was this band in the Washington, D.C. area that had the same name,” Howatt said. “They apparently had been using the name for a while and recorded under the name, so we just decided that we had to drop the name. It was better to switch the name than fight it.”
Howatt was at a loss for ideas for a new name, but fellow member Dana Merritt, who has been with Howatt and the group since its inception in 1997, came up with a great name after thinking of Howatt’s residence.
“She said that ‘Boulevard East’ would be a great name,” Howatt said. “She said she saw it on the side of a van and it clicked. She envisioned making a video in Port Authority and hearing someone call out, ‘Boulevard East, Boulevard East.’ Plus, you get such an incredible view of the city from Boulevard East, so the name sort of fit.”
The group now goes by that name and has also undergone a host of other changes, including adding a new member to the trio who also hails from Weehawken.
Resident Beth Covell has joined the group as a soprano – although she’s not related to Tony and the gang from the popular HBO series.
“Beth actually auditioned for us before and unfortunately, things didn’t work out,” Howatt said. “But I always kept Beth in the back of my mind. When the opportunity came up, we jumped at the chance to take Beth and she’s worked out great.”
The group has also altered the content of their shows. Instead of strictly performing standards from the ’30s and ’40s, the group has branched out to include more contemporary songs from the Broadway stage and from the 1970s – “A good era for music,” Howatt says – giving the group more diversity and flexibility.
“Beth has a background in regional theater,” Howatt said. “Dana still loves the ’30s and ’40s, so we decided that we should mix things up and try other songs that would interest everyone.”
According to Howatt, Boulevard East “harkens back to a time when melodies were hummed and lyrics were memorable.” He cites compositions by George and Ira Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, and Richard Rodgers as prime examples.
Howatt serves as musical director, pianist, and singer in the group. Merritt and Covell complete the trio that performs the classics in “perfect three-part harmony.”
Boulevard East is also performing as part of a new cabaret series at the Hackensack Cultural Arts Center. The series also has local origins, as Greg Liosi, the director of the center, is also a Weehawken resident.
“I was riding the bus home from New York one day and struck up a conversation with Greg,” Howatt said. “When I found out that he was the artistic director in Hackensack, it was kind of like fate. Everything worked out wonderful.”
As part of the series, Boulevard East performed as part of a show called “Gashole: The Wit and Wisdom of the 70s,” starring Jersey City actress Karen Mack. The group will also perform in the series finale on Friday, Nov. 15, with the talented comedienne Georgia Osborne. Boulevard East will perform its show that debuted at the famed New York talent nightclub “Don’t Tell Mama” last month.
“The show is working out well,” Howatt said. “We’re very happy with it.”
The trio is also recording their first CD, entitled “Timeless,” which will be ready for distribution in time for the holidays.
“Things are really going well for us,” Howatt said. “We have a new name, a new soprano, a new venue and a new CD. Everything has been a good fit.”
Boulevard East will perform at the Hackensack Cultural Arts Center, located at 39 Broadway in Hackensack, on Friday, Nov. 15, beginning at 8 p.m. There is a $12 cover charge. For more information, call (201) 487-5518 or (201) 646-8042 during business hours.
For more information about Boulevard East, check out their website at www.boulevardeastproductions.com.