As a child in Louisiana, Seth Eliser was moved by Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the 1999 movie “Tarzan.” Fast forward to 2026 and he’s singing the English drummer/vocalist’s music around the United States.
“The Phil Collins Story” comes to the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday, April 1. Music has always been in Eliser’s world.
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“I remember when I heard [Genesis’] ‘Misunderstanding’ for the first time. I thought, ‘Whoa, he’s playing the drums and singing,’” said Eliser, who’s also inspired by the Eagles’ Don Henley.
“Once this set list came my way, I knew 60% to 70% of it already. There are songs in our set list that I didn’t know. So, being able to watch Phil play it, sing it and experiment with it [through multimedia] was thrilling.”
Called a docu-concert, “The Phil Collins Story” chronicles the performer’s career with Genesis, his multi-Grammy-winning solo career and his Academy Award-winning work for Disney.
“I don’t claim to be Phil Collins,” he said. “I’m just narrating his life and these moments. Our show takes you through — no pun intended — the genesis of the band, how Phil Collins got involved and how their music evolved with the times.
“We also touch on those moments when Genesis was delivering hit song after hit song. Then we get into Phil’s solo career and all the awards that he’s won. The concert ends with so many of his up-tempo songs.”
Eliser is a stage veteran. After he earned his BFA in music theater from The Hartt School of Music, he moved to New York City. For the last year, he has been part of off-Broadway productions of “Beau: The Musical” and “The Jonathan Larson Project.” His touring credits include “The Lightning Thief,” “The Music Man” and “Disney on Classic.”
“Phil Collins has one of those iconic voices,” he said. “I’ve been the entertainment world for a long time now. I like to think that I have this chameleon-esque voice. I do shows that are centered around Johnny Cash or Frankie Valli. This is my first time taking a stab at Phil Collins.
“It’s been so enlightening to see the stamina that man has and his vocal prowess. He sings from the heart — and that’s what we’re delivering night after night.”
