Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
The Art in the Redwoods entertainment gets extended this year beyond the Festival weekend when Gualala Arts presents the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra on Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. in the Gualala Arts Center Coleman Hall. Tickets are $38 advance, $5 more the day of the concert and youth 17 and under are free with adult (see below).
An eighteen-piece orchestra, under the direction of Nick Hilscher and backed by the Moonlight Serenaders, recreates the magic for which Miller was so famous. The repertoire includes Miller classics such as “Tuxedo Junction,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000” and “Moonlight Serenade.” It also plays lesser known Miller arrangements and other songs in the Miller style.
Those who get “In the Mood” (another Miller classic) will be able to cut loose on the open dance floor set up behind the cabaret style tables.
Although Miller died tragically over the English Channel in 1944, his fame lived on in the 1954 classic movie, “The Glenn Miller Story,” starring James Stewart and June Allyson. Each performance includes a special tribute to Miller’s wartime service in the Army Air Corp and to honor all veterans with an unforgettable rendition of “The American Patrol,” a nineteenth century march whose iconic swing version Miller first recorded in 1942.
In 1956, the Miller Estate reformed the orchestra under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley complete with red blazers, vocalists and the unique reed section sound that set Miller apart in an era of legendary big bands. It has been on the road ever since, and plays over 300 venues a year across the United States and around the world.
“This event promises to be a memorable evening, and those wishing to make it even more so are encouraged to scour their closets and dress in period appropriate attire,” say concert coordinator Fred Adler. “The orchestra continues to delight audiences with the unique big band sound for which Miller is so justly famous. We have had many requests to bring them back and we were able to secure them again this year.”
Tickets
Tickets are $38 Advance, $5 more day of performance;
youth (17 & under) admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
For advance purchase, visit Brown Paper Tickets or call them at 1-800-838-3006.
To purchase in person, visit the Gualala Arts Center or Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.