FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [September 26, 2018] Contacts: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Eric Dundon [email protected], 314-286-4134 The Muny: Dylan Stanley [email protected], 314-595-5763
ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE MUNY PRESENT A CELEBRATION OF MUNY 100: ITS OPENING ACT IN SONG AND SYMPHONY
The SLSO and Symphony Chorus pay tribute to The Muny’s centennial on October 7, 2018, at Powell Hall
(September 26, 2018, St. Louis, MO) – Beloved songs from more than a dozen stage productions will be given new life when the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and The Muny team up to present “A Celebration of Muny 100: Its Opening Act in Song and Symphony” on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 3:00pm.
The concert highlights cherished classics from Annie Get Your Gun, Girl Crazy, Show Boat, and The Pirates of Penzance, as well as tunes from lesser-known musicals Eileen, The Desert Song, Of Thee I Sing, The Student Prince, Sweet Adeline, and more from The Muny’s first 25 years.
The St. Louis Symphony Chorus and featured soloists Justin Michael Austin, Daniel Berryman, Cree Carrico, and Elizabeth Stanley will perform favorites by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Victor Herbert, and others. Conductor Ben Whiteley will lead this special event at historic Powell Hall.
Collaborations between the two organizations date back to at least 1919, when the SLSO provided entertainment for patrons of The Muny during summer performances of Robin Hood, The Bohemian Girl, The Mikado, and more. The tradition of collaboration was revisited in 1994 when the SLSO performed on The Muny stage in a celebration concert titled “Gateway to the Gold,” a salute to the U.S. Olympic Festival. Numbers on that program included Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.
Tickets are on sale now for this unique concert partnership between two of St. Louis’ most storied and celebrated arts institutions. Tickets can be purchased by visiting slso.org or by calling the SLSO Box Office at 314-534-1700.
Sunday, October 7, 2018 3:00pm Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Ben Whiteley, conductor Justin Michael Austin, vocals Daniel Berryman, vocals Cree Carrico, vocals
Elizabeth Stanley, vocals Phil Touchette, vocals Keith Boyer, vocals Debby Lennon, vocals St. Louis Symphony Chorus Amy Kaiser, director
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season. Widely considered one of the world’s finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership. The Grammy Award–winning SLSO’s impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years. Today, the SLSO builds on the institution’s current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
About The Muny The Muny’s mission is to enrich lives by producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation’s largest outdoor musical theatre, we produce seven world-class musicals each year and welcome over 370,000 theatregoers over our nine-week season. Now celebrating 100 seasons in St. Louis, The Muny remains one of the premier institutions in musical theatre. For more information about The Muny, visit muny.org.
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