Monthly Archives: February 2022

THE GREATEST SHOWMEN
(Charlie Chaplin & P.T. Barnum)

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra continues its 30th anniversary season under the “big top” on 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Drees Homes Auditorium (St. Henry District H.S.) in Erlanger. This circus themed program features music from two films spanning nearly 90 years from Charlie Chaplin’s silent film — The Circus (1928) —and the Hugh Jackman 2017 portrayal of P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman.

Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), through his influences, remains one of the giant figures in the film industry. He wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in and composed the film scores for most of his films. Chaplin co-founded United Artists distribution corporation with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith to retain complete control of their respective films and producing activities.

The Circus won Chaplin an Academy Award at the first Academy ceremony in 1929. The film was fraught with production set backs, including a storm, fire, reshoots, and Chaplin’s own very public and messy divorce. The Circus was re-released in 1969 with a new Chaplin film score, and Charlie, at age 79, singing a newly composed song — “Swing Little Girl” — appearing at the beginning of the film. It is this version the KSO will screen and accompany live.

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) was an American showman, entrepreneur, author, politician and museum and circus owner-operator and promoter. His concepts and marketing successes were
revolutionary and set the stage for Broadway, concert touring and eventually the travelling circus dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The Hugh Jackman film musical — The Greatest Showman — loosley based on P.T. Barum and his circus was released, with music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Following the Chaplin film, the KSO will offer several production numbers from the 2017 boxoffice hit, with vocalists Michelle Wells, Christian Arias, members of St. Henry’s chamber choir and performers from Circus Mojo.

Tickets for each show remain $35 to experience great musicians, guest artists and innovative programming unique to our region. The KSO will adopt the safety protocols of each respective venue that are in place on the date of the performance. For those who need to stay home, the KSO continues live streaming each concert (with multiple cameras) for your ‘at home access’ for the price of a single ticket. Tickets are available online at kyso.org or by phone at (859) 431-6216.

James R. Cassidy, Music Director

7:30 P.M. Saturday, March 5, 2022
Drees Homes Auditorium
St. Henry District High School
Erlanger, Ky.

James Cassidy, conductor
Michelle Wells, Christian Arias, Eli Wells, vocals
Members of St. Henry H.S. Chamber Choir
Ethan Avina, director
Performers from Circus Mojo,
Paul Miller, ring leader

“THE GREATEST SHOWMEN”
The Circus               Charles Chaplin
Tristate premiere

I N T E R M I S S I O N

Selections from The Greatest Showman
Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
“The Greatest Show”
“A Million Dreams”    
“Never Enough”            
“Rewrite the Stars”           
“This is Me”

The Circus © Roy Export S.A.S.
Music for The Circus copyright © Roy Export Company Ltd. and Bourne Company
Charlie Chaplin © Bubble Inc. S.A.
All rights reserved.

The KSO is supported by the generosity
of the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation
and the R.C. Durr Foundation
The KSO is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors
to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.