HOW TO GO
What: Middletown Symphony Orchestra and Middletown Lyric Theatre present “The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony,” based on the popular children’s novel by E.B. White.
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 3
Where: Dave Finkelman Auditorium, Miami University Middletown, 4200 N. University Blvd.
Cost: $30 adults, $20 students
More info: www.MiddletownSymphony.com and www.middletownlyric.org. Guests may call for tickets by contacting MSO at (513) 423-6779 or MLT at (513) 425-7140.
MIDDLETOWN — A rare collaboration between will close out Middletown Symphony Orchestra’s season.
MSO and Middletown Lyric Theatre (MLT) will present “The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony,” based on the popular children’s novel by E.B. White, on Sunday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. in Dave Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University Middletown.
According to Carmon DeLeone, the symphony’s musical director, the performance will share a special combination of music and spoken word, as actors take the stage to a symphonic accompaniment that will tell a powerful story.
Director Charley Shafor, Middletown Lyric Theatre, initially introduced him to the work, and encouraged a collaboration. Together, they will bring it to the stage in Middletown, DeLeone said.
“This is a different kind of an experience. It is a story that has been set to music. The actors will be on stage with the orchestra, reading their scripts, and telling the story of ‘The Trumpet of the Swan,’” he said.
Tony Award winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown has set the popular novel to music.
“The Trumpet of the Swan,” published in 1970, tells the story of Louis (named after Louis Armstrong), a trumpeter swan, who is born without a voice. Unlike his brothers and sisters, who trumpet beautifully, he can’t even make a sound. He tries to overcome it by learning to play a trumpet, and becomes a skilled trumpet player. Eventually, he makes a living at it, playing at a fancy hotel, or in a concert setting. The tale also includes a love story. In the story, Louis is also trying to impress his love interest, a swan named Serena. It was adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman.
“It is going to be a lot of fun. It is a wonderful story. Some may think of it as a children’s story, but it actually has a great appeal to adults as well. The music really enhances the story. It’s a very musical story to begin with. It’s going to be delightful,” DeLeone said.
Conducted by DeLeone, music from the 50-member orchestra will be timed to the story. MSO trumpeter Dan Zehringer will be featured during the performance. Also in the orchestra, there’s a jazz rhythm section with an electric bass, piano and drums. Under the direction of Shafor, there will be about seven actors from MLT on stage joining the orchestra. The performance will run about 70 minutes with no intermission.
“Collaborations are a great way to allow guests to see all the offerings that Middletown has, and if MLT can play a part in that, I think that’s a good thing,” Shafor said.
“This is a family piece, and it is a wonderful way to expose audiences, young and old alike, to a great story and a beautiful piece of music,” he said.
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