Lost for generations, beautifully restored silent film
screened with live original score
(Covington, KY) Captain Hook, the Lost Boys, Peter Pan and Wendy first leapt from the storybook to the screen in 1924, with the actors portraying them chosen by creator J.M. Barrie himself. Misplaced for more than 70 years, that cinematic treasure and an accompanying contemporary harp score receive their first screening and performance in the Greater Cincinnati area next month.
Seattle area harpist Leslie McMichael unfurls her original film score with a screening of the 1924 silent film “Peter Pan” at the Otto M. Budig Theatre at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center (The Carnegie) on Thursday, May 17 at 7:30pm. Magnificently restored after having been lost for generations, “Peter Pan” is a cinematic gem and a spellbinding musical adventure for all boys and girls and those who never grew up.
Leslie McMichael’s Original Score
Originally commissioned in 2007 by the Northwest Film Forum, McMichael’s “Peter Pan” score and performances have received critical acclaim since her debut performance in Seattle. Following successful performances in Los Angeles, Houston and Oklahoma City, she published a recording of the composition which was recently featured on the public radio show “The Score”. The piece incorporates elements of ragtime and Celtic melodies, precisely coordinated with the film through the use of remote controls and timers.
A Cinematic Treasure, Lost Then Found
Film historians had longed to recover this mysteriously lost and cherished film, “misplaced” for over 70 years. Acclaimed film preservationist and curator for Eastman House, James Card, is one of many who saw the original, to which nothing else compared. Serendipitously, it was James who eventually found the film, while working for Kodak. He uncovered the masterpiece in a vault filled with a highly combustible mixture of fumes and decomposing nitrate films. The work was carefully rescued and restored from its precarious condition. The film boasts a brilliant cast, chosen by J.M. Barry himself.
Ticketing
Tickets for J. M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” – A Silent Film with Live Music are $19; $16 for Carnegie Members, WVXU Perks and Enjoy the Arts Members and students. Tickets can be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday through Friday noon – 5pm, in person or by phone at (859) 957-1940. Tickets are also available online at http://www.thecarnegie.com.
The 2011-2012 Carnegie in Concert Series is sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.
About Leslie McMichael
Leslie McMichael feels lucky to be doing what she loves for a living. A graduate of Wellesley College, her musical pursuits include performance, teaching, recording, and composition. Leslie’s versatility takes her from touring with silent film performances to playing for local weddings. Leslie has pursued Suzuki Method training with Mary Kay Waddington at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and now directs a thriving Suzuki harp program in the greater Seattle area. Recently asked to join the Suzuki Academy faculty at Music Center of the Northwest, Leslie has also taught harp at the Evergreen Suzuki Institute, the Edmonds Summer Music School, and the Suzuki Institute of Seattle. Leslie is on the 4Culture Touring Arts Roster, has served as president of the Suzuki Association of Washington State and of the Seattle Chapter of the American Harp Society, directs the annual Vashon Island Harp Camp, and has adjudicated at the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest and the Pacific Northwest Scottish Games harp competition. She lives on Vashon Island in a purple house with her wonderful husband, four cats and a turtle.
Carnegie In Concert Series
Entering its fifth season in 2011-12, Carnegie in Concert strives to break the mold of chamber music offerings from yesteryear. The series challenges established programming norms by blending traditional string quartets, wind ensembles, and solo piano performances with gospel, jazz, musical theatre, Dixieland, and a cadre of other musical styles. The relationship between performer and audience is also re-imagined through an open dialogue revealing the essence of the selections and their meaning to the performers. The Otto M. Budig Theatre provides an intimate environment for a unique concert experience, complete with a cash bar in the beautiful Carnegie Galleries.
Remaining 2011-12 Carnegie in Concert Performances
Viva la Divas!
Starring Nancy James, Patricia Linhart, and Kathy Wade
Thursday, June 14, 2012 | 7:30pm
Three fabulous voices, three uniquely captivating styles. Three of Greater Cincinnati’s most cherished “divas” share a stage for the first time in a thrilling evening of jazz, standards, and musical theatre favorites. Featuring peerlessly self-styled tunes from each leading lady’s repertoire, plus showstopping trios and duets.
About The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center
The Carnegie is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.
The Carnegie is home to the Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 465-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre and Concert Series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.
The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 