Gershwin's Magic Key

Gershwin’s Magic Key is the first-ever educationally-entertaining theatrical symphony concert exposing children and their parents to the extraordinary life and musical masterpieces of one of the greatest American composers of all time!

Classical Kids LIVE! presents this fully directed and produced theatrical production with full symphony orchestra and includes a featured pianist, 2 professional actors and an onsite director. The production also includes full score and all musician parts, period costumes, props, lighting & sound coordination.

The music is magically woven into the drama as two actors share their anecdotes and observations based on true incidents from the composer’s life. Presenting history, drama, music and fun, this engaging concert is an ideal addition to any children’s education program or family concert series. The performance is approximately 50 minutes in length and is recommended for audiences age six and up.

Endorsed by the Gershwin Family Interests and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Gershwin’s Magic Key triumphantly premiered with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2015, and has been delighting audiences around the world ever since.

Synopsis

Extra, extra! Read all about it! Step into the streets of 1920s New York City, where a newspaper boy has a chance encounter with the famous composer George Gershwin, and together they explore the many sights and sounds of the city. Gershwin shares anecdotes about his life and musical passion and a bonding friendship develops as the two explore the vast melting pot of American music. As the orchestra magically weaves Gershwin’s greatest hits into the drama, the master composer shares some of his musical inspiration and quickly learns that his new friend has musical talent too… but can the boy find the magic key to unlock his own musical potential?

Family and student audiences will be captivated by more than twenty of Gershwin’s most popular compositions from classics like Porgy & BessAmerican in ParisCuban Overture, and Rhapsody in Blue to popular hits from the American Songbook including I Got Rhythm, Stairway to ParadiseSomeone to Watch Over Me, and Fascinating Rhythm.

Music excerpts

An American in Paris 
Concerto in F: III
Cuban Overture
“Fascinating Rhythm” (Gershwin-Warner)
Fugue subject from Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite in Five Parts: I
Humoresque op. 101 no. 7 (Dvorak – Trinkaus)
“I Got Plenty O’Nuttin” from Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite in Five Parts: II
“I Got Rhythm” (Gershwin – Bennett)
“I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise”
Medley from “Oh, Kay!” (Gershwin-Warner)
“Nice Work If You Can Get It” (Gershwin – Bennett)
“Oh Lord, I’m On My Way” from Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite in Five Parts: V
Overture from Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite in Five Parts: I
Period Medley: “Oh, You Beautiful Doll” (Ayer) & “Baby Face” (Akst)
“Promenade” (Gershwin – Berkowitz)
Rhapsody in Blue
“Rialto Ripples” (Gershwin – Tyzik)
“Second Prelude” (Blue Lullaby)
Second Rhapsody (New York Rhapsody)
“Strike Up The Band” (Gershwin – MacPherson)
“Summertime” & “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” from Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite in Five Parts: I & II
Swanee (Gershwin – Wodehouse)
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (Norworth and Tilzer)

Instrumentation

Number of Players:

String Count: 8.6.5.4.3 (stands = 4.3.3.2.2)
[may increase/decrease proportionately]
2[2/pic], 2[2/eh], 3[3/bcl], 2[2/cbn], 2asax[2/brsax], 1tsax/3331/timp+2/str
pf – provided by Classical Kids

Player breakdown in detail:

Solo Piano (featured Gershwin pianist provided by Classical Kids)
[NOTE: Pianist plays on 18 of the 23 excerpts above.]

26 strings: 8 first violins, 6 second violins, 5 violas, 4 cellos, 3 double basses.
(may increase/decrease proportionately)

12 woodwinds: 2 flutes (2.pic), 2 oboes (2.eh), 3 clarinets (3.bcl), 2 bassoons (2.cbn),
2 alto saxophones (2.brsax), tenor saxophone

10 brass: 3 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba

Timpani & 2 percussion: Crash cymbals, Drum Set (S.D., B.D., Toms, Cymbals),
Gong, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Chimes, Sus. Cymbals, Crash Cymbals,
Woodblock, Temple Blocks, Triangle, Taxi Horns, Maracas, Bongos, Claves,
Snare drum, Bass drum

The instrumentation represents a maximum orchestra of 52 musicians in order to realize the full musical integrity of the excerpts listed above. Though we supply a set number of parts, we defer to each individual orchestra to reduce or increase proportionately according to organizational requirements. 
If increasing, we’re happy to supply PDFs for you to print extra copies.

A Conductor’s Book, complete with full-score and dialogue cues, along with a reference script is sent at least three weeks in advance of the concert along with all stand parts (bound books) satisfying the following instrumentation.

PHOTOS

WATCH & LISTEN

BOOKING HISTORY

ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Ann Arbor, MICHIGAN • BRAVO! VAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL Vail, COLORADO • BRECKENRIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL Breckenridge, COLORADO • CALGARY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Calgary, ALBERTA • CARMEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Carmel, INDIANA • CHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Chicago, ILLINOIS • EDMONTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Edmonton, ALBERTA • HELENA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Helena, MONTANA • KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY Kansas City, MISSOURI • KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Kalamazoo, MICHIGAN • MALAYSIAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA • MUNCIE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Muncie, INDIANA • NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Washington, DC • NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Raleigh, NORTH CAROLINA • PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Peoria, ILLINOIS • QUAD CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Davenport, IOWA • RENO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Reno, NEVADA • SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Santa Rosa, CALIFORNIA • TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Toronto, ONTARIO • UTAH SYMPHONY Salt Lake City, UTAH • VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Vancouver, BRITISH COLUMBIA • WEST VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Charleston, WEST VIRGINIA • WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Wichita, KANSAS • YORK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA York, PENNSYLVANIA

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