FREEPORT — What’s “Ball in the House?” It’s a high-energy five-guy a cappella combo and they’re coming to the new Freeport Theater of Awesome Saturday, June 1.

Based in Boston, this group performs “vocal acrobatics.” That’s the description Jason Tardy, one of the new theater’s founders, gives their performance, and he is no stranger to putting new twists on all kinds of entertainment.

With just their voices, the five members of “Ball in the House” simulate the drums, bass, lead, rhythm and vocals of a band. Tardy said, “It’s not like going to see a band. It’s really a showcase of their amazing talents and vocal acrobatics.”

In a phone interview a few days ago, Ryan Chappelle, vocal bass guitar in the group, said “Ball in the House” has a touring schedule of about 250 shows a year.

The program is aimed at ages 8 to 80, Chappelle said. It includes hit songs from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today. Chappelle said the group’s founder, Jon Ryan, gives the audience a demonstration of their vocal gymnastics, including his “beatboxing.”

Beatboxing began in the 1990s and is used by many a cappella groups. “It’s a full drum kit in a human body,” Chappelle said. The group’s full-time performing history covers nearly 15 years, but founder Jon Ryan and boyhood friend Dave Guisti, tenor, go back to their grade school days when they were in the Boston Boys Choir. Both of them have solid musical education backgrounds.

The three other current members of “Ball in the House” are Chappelle with about seven years with the group, Nels Urtel, who joined about 18 months ago, and newest member, Suranjan Sen, who brings the high notes nearing soprano to some of the group’s rhythm-and-blues numbers.

Chappelle said song arrangements are developed on many of the long bus rides, and he credits modern technology with facilitating that essential task.

“We start putting the basic notes on pa               per, and then we work with our computers to put in the bass and power chords,” he said. “They are just like a traveling recording studio.”

“Ball in the House” has appeared on The TODAY Show, America’s Got Talent, The Daily Buzz, and for six years they were the voices behind the Kraft Cool Whip commercials. They have opened for and performed with such artists as The Beach Boys, Fantasia, The Jonas Brothers, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Blondie, The Temptations, Smoky Robinson, KC and The Sunshine Band, and numerous others.

Maine natives Matthew and Jason Tardy took over the Freeport Factory Stage and re-opened it in March as The Freeport Theater of Awesome. The Tardy brothers have been touring professionally for 19 years and their AudioBody show has been described as “a modern-day Smothers Brothers meets Blue Man Group.” The AudioBody show, a synthesis of music, comedy and technology, will be a Friday and Saturday night presentation at Freeport Theater of Awesome through June, July and August. “Ball in the House” performs one night only, at 7:30 p.m., June 1.  The Freeport Theater of Awesome is located at 5 Depot St. in the heart of downtown Freeport. Tickets are $19 in advance and $21 at the door, and are available online at www.AwesomeTheater.com.

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