IF YOU GO
What: CSO presents "Oz With Orchestra."
When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.
Admission: $19-$79 adults, $17 children and students with valid ID.
Phone: 267-8583.
Website: www.chattanoogasymphony.org.
It was just about two weeks ago that the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera began promoting its latest Pops concert, "A Symphonic Night at the Movies: Oz With Orchestra." A week later, the show was nearly a sellout.
To many "Wizard of Oz" fans, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The 1939 film starring Judy Garland will be shown in its entirety on the big screen at the Tivoli Theatre, with the CSO providing live music.
"This is the first time we've actually accompanied a film while someone in it was singing," said Pops conductor Bob Bernhardt. "The timing and precision are a big part of what the orchestra has to do. We'll be playing while Judy Garland sings."
Additionally, guests will be able to meet Margaret Pellegrini, one of three surviving Munchkins. Pellegrini, 88, appeared in the film as a "sleepyhead" and Munchkin villager. Moviegoers may be photographed with Pellegrini at no charge.
They may also have their photo taken with a life-size sculpture of the Tin Man. The sculpture, created by Kentucky artist Stephen Winter, will be on display in the theater lobby. Additionally, the first 1,000 patrons will receive free Emerald City glasses.
"The Wizard of Oz" was nominated for several Academy Awards, winning two -- for Best Song ("Over the Rainbow") and Best Original Score. It lost Best Picture to "Gone With the Wind" and, despite its fanciful, Technicolor sequences, lost Best Visual Effects to "The Rains Came."
The success of this venture for the CSO could mean additional titles in the future.
"We anticipated it being very popular because of the popularity of the movie," said Katie Wilson, director of marketing and development. "We're hoping to make it more of a regular occurrence with a different movie every year."
Feature writer Karen Nazor Hill covers fashion, design, home and gardening, pets, entertainment, human interest features and more. She also is an occasional news reporter and the Town Talk columnist. She previously worked for the Catholic newspaper Tennessee Register and was a reporter at the Chattanooga Free Press from 1985 to 1999, when the newspaper merged with the Chattanooga Times. She won a Society of Professional Journalists Golden Press third-place award in feature writing for ...
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