Just as they did on Feb. 7, 1964, the Beatles are about to arrive and cause a frenzied panic among their fans.

O.K., so they're arriving at Marion High School's F. Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center, not New York. And they've actually been in America for 40 years, and aren't just arriving from Liverpool.

And, technically speaking, the members of the group that's performing next week are not the original Fab Four, but are a tribute group, 1964: The Tribute.

But, for those who remember the original group or those who have recently discovered their music, the April 1 Beatlemania show is as close as you can get to a time machine, said Dave Rees, a member of the Walton Center Arts Society.

"It's amazing," he said. "You close your eyes, and you just think you're listening to the Beatles. They try to do everything as exactly as the Beatles did."

The Walton Center Arts Society is hosting the group as part of its mission to bring more touring acts into the high school auditorium. Although there are still seats available in the 1,468-seat venue, Rees said most of the main floor is taken thanks to strong ticket sales.

"Interest has been very, very high," he said. "People have heard about the group, have heard about the quality of the performance they put on, and they've just been very excited about it."

Rees said the show is bringing in Beatles fans old and young, and is also drawing a crowd of people just based on the performances the Walton Center Arts Society has sponsored in the past.

"(We) have worked hard to bring in some top-quality entertainment," he said. "Maybe if people never heard of 1964: The Tribute, the other show we brought in was great, so they think this is going to be as good. ... We're working hard to get some top-quality groups in," Rees said.

Originally published March 24, 2005