The Colorado Symphony presents "Casey At The Bat"

April 25, 2011 - PRLog -- The Colorado Symphony's Family Series continues on Sunday, May 1 with "Casey at the Bat," a charming exploration of the connections between sports and music - and the iconic songs we all love. Sports-loving concertgoers of all ages won't be able to resist the familiar themes of works by John Williams, Frank Proto and William Conti as resident conductor Scott O'Neil shares insights into the intrinsic relationship between music and the pastimes America loves. Actor Frank Oden joins the Colorado Symphony as narrator to bring the words of the famous poem, "Casey at the Bat," to life in this high-spirited concert that also features highlights from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

From the familiarity of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" to the joy of the "Olympic Fanfare," the shared associations of music and sport will surprise children and adults alike. Together with the orchestra, families will explore the unique appeal of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" - the unofficial anthem of baseball traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a game.

This Colorado Symphony Family Series concert is also a rare chance for families to enjoy music from William Conti's score for the film "Rocky," which has established itself firmly in the collective memory of the nation. Through music, we'll run up the famous "Rocky Steps" of the Philadelphia Museum of Art together. Without a doubt, everyone will leave whistling their favorite sports tune!

About Frank Oden
Frank Oden writes and performs lyrical concert programs merging original poetry, humor, education and theatrical production values with live symphonic performance. He began creating this unique form in response to commissions from the Colorado Symphony for a series of Halloween concerts, which resulted in "The Haunted Symphony," "The House of Halloween" and "Eerie Lake."

Based on the popularity of these works, Oden created a full-length program of original western poetry, "Cowboy Jamboree," which has been an audience favorite with orchestras across the country. His latest work, "Song of the Earth," was commissioned by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and received its world premiere in 2008. Oden also appears regularly with symphony orchestras to perform traditional narrations, as well as his own lyrical version of "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

For the Colorado Symphony, Oden was invited to create a comical look at Mozart's life and works that resulted in "Happy Birthday, Wolfgang." For Marin Alsop's tribute to Leonard Bernstein, Oden wrote and performed a critically acclaimed beat poetry version of "Romeo and Juliet" for Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story."

A long-term Denver resident, Oden is also one of the most recognizable character actors in the mile-high city, having worked in many theaters and appeared in television commercials and film productions. As a theatrical playwright and producer, he has written book, music and lyrics for several musical comedies including "Blackbeard," "Gumshoe," "Punch," "The Pecos Pest," "The Fatal Glass," "Easy Money" and "The Winter Rose."

Oden has directed more than thirty productions of original musicals, including a world premiere theatrical version of "Heidi" for Walden Media. He also served for several years as artistic director of the historic Goldenrod Showboat in St. Louis and the Heritage Square Opera House in Golden, Colorado.

Artists:
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Scott O'Neil, resident conductor
Frank Oden, narrator

Program:
Celebrate the connections between sports and music at this family concert featuring narrator Frank Oden and the works of John Williams, Frank Proto and William Conti, as well as Beethoven

Performances:
Sunday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets:
Remaining children's tickets currently start from $13.
Tickets are on sale now at www.coloradosymphony.org, the Colorado Symphony Box Office: (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979 or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.


Media Contact
Margaret A. Williams
Office: 303.308.2472
mwilliams@coloradosymphony.org

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Originally established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range, presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, as well as Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, and the exciting new Inside the Score series that has attracted a historic level of first-time concertgoers. By presenting music that is both timeless and inspiring, while taking risks with new musical collaborations and interactive concerts, the Colorado Symphony is attracting more diverse and younger audiences than ever before. To date, 30 percent of the 2010/11 season concertgoers are new patrons. The increasing popularity of Colorado Symphony concerts as well as a strong fund-raising base not only re-affirms the artistic excellence of the orchestra, but also reflects the deep-rooted enthusiasm for symphonic music felt by so many individuals across the region. For more information, visit www.coloradosymphony.org.