For its final outdoor performance of the calendar year, the Lake County Symphony Orchestra is going Hollywood — and Broadway.
The orchestra will be performing favorite highlights from both film and stage when it returns Sept. 11 to Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove, which has become its go-to outdoor concert location.
“It’s such a great space, and it has become a very popular location for us,” said Ron Arden, the orchestra’s artistic director and conductor. “We’re playing to 650 to 700 people for each concert — we’re glad to have one more show there this year.”
Music from the movies and Broadway is a popular theme for many orchestras, and it serves as a good entry point for many who aren’t as familiar with classical music.
“I’m a big proponent that you play for your audience,” Arden said. “I know there are a lot of people all over Lake County who like classical music, but they like other kinds of music as well. I love pops. And this is a chance to play to that wider audience.
“I’ve always been a big proponent of American film music because it has come into its own,” he said. “So many great composers have written for film. There are so many spectacular film scores to choose from.”
The symphony’s performance will start with a medley of “Star Trek” themes through the years. Next comes selections from the Harry Potter movies, written by John Williams.
“That’s one of my favorites,” Arden said.
Next comes the “Feather Theme” from “Forrest Gump,” followed by music from the James Bond movies.
“The Bond movies are well known for their music, and you get some wonderful scores that are very memorable,” Arden said.
The final movie scores will be from “E.T.” and “How to Train Your Dragon.”
“You may not know ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ but it’s just a beautiful score,” Arden said. “It’s become very popular to perform.”
On the Broadway side, the orchestra will welcome three guest vocalists to help perform selections from the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
“We have three professional singers joining us,” Arden said. “Donna and Chris Engelhardt have sung all over the place. They’ve sung with the orchestra many times. They’re seasoned musical theater artists who met on the musical stage — they have serious chops.”
Joining them will be Tania Joy Gibson, one of Arden’s students.
“She’s on the up-and-up — she’s going places,” he said. “She has a spectacular voice. The audience is going to go nuts.”
Gibson will be doing a medley of Broadway standards, including “Tonight” from “West Side Story,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady” and “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.”
Then the three of the singers will be performing a medley of songs from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Evita,” “Jesus Chris Superstar,” and “Cats.”
“It’s going to be a treat to hear these performed,” Arden said.
A new fundraiser for the organization will also be announced at the performance, a “Symphony a la Carte.”
“It will be a way for members of the community to hire portions of the orchestra for their own events and performances,” Arden said. “You can have a string quartet or some Broadway cabaret singers at your party or restaurant, and the pricing is extremely reasonable. I think it’s a great way for us to make a little money and get more exposure for the orchestra — and you benefit from these amazing musicians.”
While the “Broadway and Hollywood Blockbusters” show will be the final outdoor performance of the year, the orchestra will soon announce its next indoor season.
“We have a lot of fun things planned for the upcoming season,” Arden said. “I think there’s a lot for people to get excited about.”
‘Broadway and Hollywood Blockbusters’
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 11
Where: Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove
Tickets: $20; children 12 and under are free
Information: 847-746-3472; lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
