Varese Sarabande 35th Anniversary Holiday Gala
On December 21, 2013 the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Chorale, with Maestro Steven Allen Fox, Artistic Director, will stage the “Varese Sarabande 35th Anniversary Holiday Gala," a festive evening celebrating holiday film favorites, at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro beginning at 8:00pm.
Previous Varese Sarabande Gala Concerts have seen over 20 guest composers, including Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman, share the stage with the Golden State Pops Orchestra. To date, composer John Debney and composer and orchestrator, William Ross have been announced for December, and Robert Townson, producer of over 1200 of Varese Sarabande’s soundtrack releases since 1986, will act as the evening's host and narrator.
Over a year ago, Townson mentioned to Fox, and Golden State Pops Orchestra Music Director, Victor Pesavento, the idea of presenting a world premiere concert adaptation of “A Christmas Carol”, which aired on CBS in 1954 and features a score by Bernard Herrmann ("Psycho," "Cape Fear," "Citizen Kane") with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. Says Townson, “Fans of Christmas music and film music won't want to miss this show. Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol' is a timeless holiday classic, and our 2013 collaboration with the Golden State Pops Orchestra presents a fantastic and rare opportunity to perform little-known Christmas music by one of film history's most important composers." The Stage Director for “A Christmas Carol” is Marya Basaraba.
Performers will include Eric Castro as Scrooge (CBS Movie of the Week, Columbia Pictures, American Shakespeare Company, graduate of Yale), Patrick Blackwell as the Ghost of Christmas Present (LA Opera, Utah Opera, graduate of Julliard), Tara Alexander as Belle (GSPO, California Philharmonic, Pacific Opera Projects, Voice of McDonald’s Finalist), Jackson Hatwan as Tiny Tim (currently playing title role in 'Oliver' at the LA County HS of the Arts, National Childrens Chorus), Leighton Saxby singing the Boy Soprano role (LA County HS of the Arts, Colburn School, Amahl in 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' with Suzanna Guzman at the Pasadena Playhouse) and Ashley Nyman as Martha Cratchit (Catherine in 'Pippin' at Azusa Pacific University).
The Golden State Pops Chorale, led by Maestra Marya Basaraba, will also be featured in music from "Elf" by John Debney with Mr. Debney conducting, and songs from "Home Alone" by John Williams. Also on the program will be music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” prepared for the concert by William Ross and featuring flutist Sara Andon and the song “Still Dream," featuring singer Tara Alexander, which was composed by Alexandre Desplat for the film "Rise of the Guardians" and made famous by Renee Fleming.
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Date and Time
Saturday Dec 21, 2013
8:00 PM - 10:30 PM PST
Saturday, December 21, 2013 - 8pm
Location
Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St, San Pedro, CA
Fees/Admission
Tickets range from $30 to $60.
Order online and receive 20% off by using the discount code, GSPOweb
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Contact Information
310.433.8774
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