Contact: Allison Griffin
Public Relations Associate
503-416-6347
November 21, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Yuletide Spectacular, now a Portland holiday tradition for the entire family, will be presented by the Oregon Symphony on Saturday, December 16 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, December 17 at 3 p.m. and Monday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, with an additional performance on Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. at the Smith Auditorium in Salem.
Drawn exclusively from local talent, this year’s Yuletide Spectacular will feature a festive theatrical line-up, including a retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” by noted actor Scott Coopwood and a 24-member cast, combined with show-stopping musical and dance numbers. The show will also feature Dance West, the Portland area’s premiere high school dance ensemble. A vocal ensemble, many of whom have performed with the Portland Opera, will perform holiday favorites such as “Hark The Herald Angel,” “O Tannenbaum” and “I Saw Mommy.” Vocalist Pam Mahon will be featured in two numbers, including “Breath of Heaven” and “Santa Baby.” Mahon has performed extensively with both Portland Center Stage and the Portland Opera. The production is directed once again by Vivienne Elborne, who also directed the Symphony’s staged musicals, “The Music Man” and “Camelot.”
The Symphony, led by guest conductor John Morris Russell, will perform several holiday arrangements including, “Silent Night” and “Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella.” Currently the music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Russell has guest conducted many distinguished ensembles, including the orchestras of the New York Philharmonic, Toronto and New York City Ballet.
Local audiences may recognize Coopwood from his work at Portland Center
Stage and Artist Repertory Theatre. He recently appeared in an Oregon Lottery
commercial and as numerous voices for "Lewis and Clark an
Unfinished Journey," produced locally by Oregon Public Broadcasting
for Public Radio International. As he presents the retelling of “A
Christmas Carol,” using different voices for each character, the
acting ensemble will mime the action in front of a scrim with period
costumes and other theatrical effects.
“This is always the biggest production each year,” said Artistic Administrator Charles Calmer. “It’s our gift to the community, with about 75 people involved in singing, dancing, acting— all to mesh nicely with the orchestra.”
Tickets are $25 to $82 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, located at 923 S.W. Washington. Ticket office hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (503) 224-4400. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the group sales hotline at (503) 416-6380.
Media support is provided by Northwest NewsChannel 8 and K103. Additional support provided by the Heathman Hotel.
Images and guest artist bios are available at www.orsymphony.org/media.