THE fifth collaboration between the Armidale Symphony Orchestra and The Armidale Drama and Musical Society will be a musical performance spectacular on 17 and 18 August featuring a number of notable local singers and members of the community.
This year, the groups team up to present two nights of wonderful entertainment combining the musical geniuses Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein under the baton of Bruce Menzies.
Kern and Hammerstein produced some of the greatest hits of the 1920s and ’30s American musical theatre scene, many of which are still widely performed today.
Jerome Kern, a prolific composer, broke away from the traditional musical theatre scene by incorporating syncopation and jazz progressions into his scores.
Using his unique and powerful composition skills and teaming up with theatre director and producer Oscar Hammerstein, they produced The Show Boat, a 1927 masterpiece that has been revived numerous times since its debut.
Unheard of in the escapist world of musical comedy, The Show Boat delved into topics of racism, marital troubles, love and alcoholism. The score includes well-known songs Ol’ Man River, and Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man and is sure to trigger a number of emotions for the audience.
The first half of the concert will consist of works by Jerome Kern, many of which were part of some of his lesser known and underperformed musicals, but have now become beacons in their own right.
Many will be familiar with the hit Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, one of many to be transformed in to a jazz classic.
The second half of the show will be a concert adaption of Kern and Hammerstein’s The Show Boat narrated by Chris Ross-Smith.
Both halves will feature vocal soloists backed by the full Armidale Symphony Orchestra.
A choir involving The Armidale Choral Society, Fiori Musicali and members of the Armidale Community will also lift the ceiling of Lazenby Hall for these magnificent nights of entertainment.
Breakout:
ASO and ADAMS Presents
The Show Boat
Saturday 17 August, 7.30pm
Sunday 18 August, 3pm
Lazenby Hall
Tickets: Adults $25, Children $15
Book at: www.adms.org.au or NewsXpress Carr’s Newsagency.
