A decade after finding success on ‘The Voice,’ Wichita-native Mann returns to Orpheum

The last time Chris Mann headlined a concert at the Orpheum Theatre, it was a decade ago.

The Wichita native had just placed fourth on NBC’s “The Voice,” and it was a way to connect with his hometown.

“I remember that show really well, literally right after I finished, and it was a lot of fun,” he recalled. “I did a lot of what I had done on the show, but I didn’t really have a show.”

Now 40, Mann has gone from singing-show aspirant to a multi-hyphenated entertainer with a resume that includes two years on tour in the title role of “Phantom of the Opera,” showing his acting chops in the TV miniseries “Pam & Tommy,” and dozens of viral videos on YouTube that parody both pop music and his life as a dad.

“I’m a different guy, different person, different performer since then,” Mann said in a phone interview while stuck in Los Angeles traffic.

Chris Mann – not to be confused with the Kansas attorney general candidate of the same name – will bring his “From Gershwin to Gaga” concert to the Orpheum for a Friday-night concert. At first glance a Tony Bennett tribute, the show features R&B-jazz arrangements of the classic songs made famous by Bennett.

“I love the Great American Songbook, and I’ve been singing those songs anyway, and I’ve been rearranging them and putting my own spin on them,” he said.

Mann said he “thinks the world” of the 96-year-old Bennett, particularly how he bridged formats from big band to current artists such as Lady Gaga and Sting.

“I have a really diverse musical history myself, so it’s easy to have a set of music that really represents everything that I love, too, and it happens to fit nicely together,” he said. “It’s tipping a hat to Tony, but ultimately it’s me singing all my favorite songs.”

One example is an arrangement, backed by his own trio, of “I Got Rhythm.”

“It’s an old timey song, but we do a funky version of it, for lack of a better word,” he said.

Also a part of the performance will be the Southeast High madrigal singers, with whom Mann sang before graduating in 2000.

Besides the concert, Mann will sing the national anthem prior to the St. Louis Blues-Arizona Coyotes NHL game Saturday night at Intrust Bank Arena.

Mann said that when he began doing the Bennett concerts, he decided to forego the musical parodies – born during the boredom of the pandemic — that have become one of his trademarks. But after initial shows, he decided to add them.

“There’s so many people that only know me from that,” he said. “I was nervous, thinking, ‘Will this go over well?’ People were singing every word to these parodies; They were literally cackling. It’s literally now one of my favorite parts of the show.”

Mann said it wasn’t a big shift in tone from the ballads to the parodies.

“You would think so, but it’s seamless,” he said. “Somehow, through my stage banter and my connection with the audience and talking about why I’m singing these songs, it totally works.”

Mann will perform the songs and act out some of them, accompanied by the videos on screen on the Orpheum stage.

“They’re kind of my greatest hits,” he said with a laugh, “which is a little embarrassing.”

His latest YouTube videos include his first original song, “Perfect Parents,” played out with his wife, Laura, and their sons, Hugo and Rocky. There’s also a video series called “Daddy Court,” where Mann plays judge to his 5-year-old Hugo for offenses including cursing in preschool.

Mann is also five songs into recording his third studio album, produced by Autumn Rowe and Kizzo, who were among the producers for “We Are,” Jean Batiste’s best album Grammy winner from this year.

“It’s been extremely exciting,” Mann said of the upcoming album, which he describes as “modern big band with a hip-hop beat.” Mann also performed with Batiste this summer at Lincoln Center. “I’m happy to be in his realm and his circle.”

Mann played Motley Crue rocker Mick Mars in “Pam & Tommy,” which was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards.

He said he has a couple of TV series in development.

“There’s a lot of different hats I’m putting on,” he said, “per usual.”

CHRIS MANN: FROM GERSHWIN TO GAGA

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23

Where: Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

Tickets: $29.95 to $64.95, from selectaseat.com or 316-755-7328