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The PSO’s Magic of Christmas is a long-standing holiday tradition featuring extraordinary music, song and entertainment celebrating the many aspects of the Christmas season. “This is the 28th year of Magic of Christmas,” said Ari Solotoff, PSO executive director. “We are proud to continue to produce new, exciting productions each year, and that Magic of Christmas has become such a beloved holiday tradition for so many.”
This year’s production will be directed by Brian P. Allen, co-founder and executive and artistic director of the Good Theater in Portland . Allen has directed five previous Magic of Christmas productions as well as a number of other Portland Symphony Orchestra shows.
“I am really excited about this year’s show,” noted Allen. “We will honor the tradition of Magic of Christmas while creating a whole new production with new music, two young exciting soloists, some wonderful collaborations with the Portland Ballet and Musica de Filia, and some special surprises.”
Brunswick native Ellen Domingos has returned to Maine after twelve years in New York to serve as lead vocalist in this year’s production. Domingos is no stranger to longtime Magic of Christmas audiences, she was the child lead in “Magic” when she was 13. “It’s great to be back in Maine working on Magic of Christmas as an adult,” said Domingos. “There are some new features in this production which I think will make the whole show a lot of fun.”
In New York , Domingos performed in a number of theater companies and in television and film. Domingos currently teaches musical theater at the Good Theater in Portland and the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor . Domingos will share the role of lead vocalist with up-and-coming musical talent, David Burnham, winner of the 2007 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical.
Other local highlights of this year’s Magic include:
Musica de Filia Girlchoir (“Daughters of Music”), a choir based in Portland featuring performers from eighth through twelfth grade. The choir will perform in several numbers including “Christmastime is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Members of the Portland Ballet will jazz up the program with a swing dance to Duke Ellington’s rendition of the “Peanut Brittle Brigade” from The Nutcracker.
The all-volunteer Magic of Christmas Chorus will once again delight with their heartfelt performances. This is a group of over 130 singers who come from 27 communities extending from York to Brunswick and from Baldwin to Otisfield. Some have been singing in Magic for the entire 28-year-history of Magic.
The audience will also have an opportunity to participate in the annual sing along, filling Merrill Auditorium with holiday cheer. Magic of Christmas is sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, IDEXX Laboratories, KeyBank and Northeast Delta Dental. -- www.portlandsymphony.com
Posted December 5th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
