OC's Pacific Symphony presents HALLOWEEN GOES HOLLYWOOD, 10/16

FROM PRESS RELEASE:

Lights! Camera! Action! Take a walk down the red carpet for an early Halloween celebration when Pacific Symphony shines the spotlight on frightfully delightful movie music. Packed with thrills and chills, kids of all ages are invited to come dressed in costume for HALLOWEEN GOES HOLLYWOOD, the first concert of the Symphony's 2010-2011 Family Musical Mornings series, presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank.

For this ghoulish adventure, Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy leads the orchestra and five talented actors in a hilarious tale of Dracula and Igor as they open the Hollywood Horror Hotel, a vacation home for Hollywood monsters, told with some of the most well-known musical pieces in film today—including themes from Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more!

Taking place Saturday, Oct. 16, at 10 and 11:30 a.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, this concert includes Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra members playing side-by-side with their professional colleagues. Written and directed by Dylan F. Thomas, HALLOWEEN GOES HOLLYWOOD features actors: Lauren Merry Bell, Andreas Kraemer, David Stoneman, Zoran Duke Rausavljevich and Vil Towers.

More treat than trick, the spooky spectacular includes Badelt's Suite from Pirates of the Caribbean, Williams' iconic "Imperial March" from Star Wars, and the eerie "Hedwig's Theme," heard at the beginning of every Harry Potter film. The chilling concert wouldn't be complete without Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain," plus "Ride of the Valkyries" by Wagner and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" by Dukas.

"We have chosen music from our favorite scary Hollywood movies, balanced with some of the classics, for a fun and fright-filled concert," said Maestro Eshkenazy. "I love the Darth Vader theme! When we play it with the full orchestra and the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra sitting alongside, we have so much fun. The music by Williams is spectacular.

"Listening to an orchestra perform music from Hollywood movies is a great beginning point for children to discover classical music," he continues. "The music is much more accessible because they have grown up hearing these same themes and melodies."

Children and families dressed in their Halloween best should anticipate being met on the red carpet by paparazzi armed with cameras during the Musical Carnival—beginning at 9 a.m. (for those attending the 10 a.m. performance) and at 12:15 p.m. (for those attending the 11:30 a.m. concert).  The carnival is chock full of entertaining activities for kids, including a meet-and-greet with the Halloween "celebrities" from the show, Meet-the-Musicians, Halloween craft activities, and musical entertainment for everyone.

Family Musical Mornings, which offer charming 45-minute concerts designed for children 5-11, continue on Dec. 11, when sugar-plum fairies dance across the stage in Nutcracker for Kids, an abridged version of the seasonal favorite ballet by Tchaikovsky. On Feb. 5, 2011, join the Symphony and the much in demand Magic Circle Mime Company for Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev's classic musical tale that introduces children to the story through music. Beethoven's Blockbusters hit the stage in a fast-paced concert just for children on March 12, 2011. The season concludes with the classic story of Sleeping Beauty on May 7, 2011, featuring dancers and music from Tchaikovsky's ballet.

"This year we are excited to present a solid season with musical standards such as music by Beethoven, Peter and the Wolf, and Sleeping Beauty," says Mollie Gilmore, manager of educational concerts and family programs. "By exposing young children and families to the orchestra through a fun and familiar repertoire, they will gain more interest in symphonic music for years to come."

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For tickets ($19-$36) or information, call (714) 755-5799 or visit: www.pacificsymphony.org.

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