This summer, “The Australian Bee Gees Show” is visiting the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower place and bringing a unique culmination of music, energy, performance and multimedia with it. The DePaulia had the privilege of speaking with musician Matt Baldoni, who has taken on the role of Barry Gibb.

“It’s a multimedia event, really,” Baldoni said as he described the show. “It’s a combination of us portraying and representing these guys and their music, and we have an absolutely top-notch band of musicians that are totally kicka–. (There are) a ton of lights, a ton of video and special effects – it’s an onslaught, really.”

Baldoniis particularly fond of his character, Barry, who is the only living member of the renowned band.

“I play Barry Gibb. You know, the guy that is famous for the high falsetto,” Baldoni said. “I represent kind of the older brother of the three brothers. That’s the way people look at him, but I look at the Bee Gees as the Three Musketeers.”

This group-oriented mentality seems to permeate the show. Taking on real-life roles presents a special challenge, though the show’s sense of camaraderie infuses it with reverence.

“The three of us – we are not just representing a band or a musical artist,” Baldoni said. “We’re also representing a family. There has to be a certain higher level of respect that has to be maintained because we are representing a family and a set of brothers – two out of three of which are no longer with us.”

Though the show has been around for years, it is always exciting and it is ever-evolving.

“If we played everything, it would be a five-hour show so we pick and choose depending on the place that we are in,” Baldoni said. “I just got done with a tour of Australia and there were some different songs that had to be inserted and replaced just for that tour because the Bee Gees to Australia are kind of like the Beetles to the U.K.”

Though Baldoni and his cast mates have plunged headfirst into the challenge of representing one of the world’s most legendary bands, their sense of wonder never fades.

“We are fans of the Bee Gees just like you; we are no different than you,” Baldoni said. “We just have the privilege and the honor of being paid to earn a living representing this music for you. We are here to enjoy ourselves too just like you are. Let’s all have fun with one of music history’s truly great artists together.”

Though Baldoni has performed this show in innumerable places, Chicago fills him with palpable excitement.

“As a lifelong musician, since I was a little boy and as a blues guitarist by origin, I know how important Chicago is,” Baldoni said. “I have always had respect for Chicago and I was very nervy coming into Chicago to play music for a city that has some of the most discerning and high-brow music fans in the world. Chicago is so important and it is such a delightful city and we are so honored that you’ve welcomed us and that you like what we’re doing so far. We are happy to be living in your city with you and eating your food and meeting your people. We are just so happy to be here this month. We wish we could stay longer.”

Though acting plays a part in Baldoni’s life, his first love is and always has been music.  

“I am a musician first and foremost,” Baldoni said. “It is kind of what I do in addition to who I am. I knew that I wanted to perform starting when I was very, very young. All my life I’ve been working towards performing as much as I can and as often as I can. Being able to make a living out of it is basically like winning a lottery and I try not to forget that.”

Baldoni’s talent has seen many a stage, though “The Australian Bee Gees Show” fills him with a special sort of pride and admiration. It represents a fantastic mix of music, tribute and spectacle.

“The Australian Bee Gees Show, as a profession for me, has been the most challenging gig as a musician that I’ve ever done,” Baldoni said. “The demands of the performance are very, very high and I’m happy to have the challenge. But this is what I do. If I weren’t doing this, I would be performing somewhere else, for someone else – this is what I do. If I don’t get to do this, quite frankly I don’t want to live.”

Baldoni is quite obviously a talented artist that has landed in the midst of a perfect opportunity to showcase what he does best.

“It’s pretty cool, man, it’s pretty cool,” Baldoni said. “The three of us are just a small part of many spokes in the wheel, so to speak, with the music and the lighting and the staging and the sets and the costumes. We have teams of people all working together to make this happen, and each one of these people is a great artist at what they do in their own right. We are just happy to be along on this ride doing our part to entertain the people of Chicago this month.”

A network of artistry has culminated in something truly special and this summer, Chicago is lucky enough to house and enjoy it.

“The Australian Bee Gees Show”will be at the Broadway Playhouse from July 9 to Aug. 4.