GET OUT w/ CHICAGO SINFONIETTA - A Highly Recommended, film screening with live, orchestral score conducted by the film’s composer, Michael Abels
You enter the historic Auditorium Theatre in Chicago’s South Loop amid the hustle & bustle of stilettos, trench coats, poofy scarves and leather tassels whooshing and clicking cacophonous rhythms. You inhale the invisible cloud of fruity florals and spicy musks interlaced with warm salty, buttery oil as you make your way through the crowd to take your classical folding seat before a seated orchestra with a projector screen suspended high above their heads.
Chicago Sinfonietta Puts on a Classically Curated Grindhouse Experience
After the vocalists (notably an all Black group of singers), and first chair violinist enter and receive their applause, Michael Abels swaggers onto the stage with the quiet grace and easy charm an ancient Greek orator, then - after a brief introduction - invites the audience to engage with the film in whatever way emotion moves them to do so. The result, all of the pomp and ceremony of a classical concert merged with the boisterous conviviality of a midnight movie.
Concert and Film Become One
Though this particular reviewer found the screen to be a bit small for the space it occupied and the lights on the orchestra a bit bright for a film screening, once the film began, these minor niggles disappeared beneath the experience. Music cues and the live audio mix were executed with such clockwork precision, one could easily have forgotten that the music was being made right there in front of them. It’s also worth noting that the moment in the film chosen to send the audience to intermission inspired gasps and belly laughs all at once. Fans of the film might be able to guess which moment that was.
Return to the Sunken Place
This experience was one night only, but if/when it should return to Chicago or play in a theatre near your city, this show is Highly Recommended for people who have already enjoyed Get Out. Those who’ve not yet seen the film are advised to see it in a more traditional setting before engaging this unique and lively event.
Highly Recommended
Conductor/Get Out Composer
Michael Abels
Chicago Sinfonietta
FIRST VIOLIN
Carol Dylan, Concertmaster
Karla Galva, Assistant Concertmaster Christine Chon*
Terrance Gray
Phyllis McKenny-Sanders
James Sanders
SECOND VIOLIN
Karen Nelson, Principal
David Belden, Assistant Principal Lucinda Ali-Landing
Domnica Lungu
Gretchen Sherrell
Edith Yokley
VIOLA
Vannia Phillips, Principal
Scott Dowd, Assistant Principal Robert Fisher
Loretta Gillespie*
Danielle Taylor*
CELLO
Ann Griffin, Principal
Edward Moore, Assistant Principal Emily Mantell
Don Mead
William Porter
BASS
Brenda Donati, Principal
Richard Edwards*, Assistant Principal Greg Sarchet*
FLUTE/ALTO FLUTE
Janice MacDonald, Principal
OBOE/ENGLISH HORN
June Matayoshi, Principal
CLARINET
Wagner Campos, Principal Dileep Gangolli, Bass Clarinet
BASSOON
Sandra Bailey, Principal
Peter Brusen, Contrabassoon
FRENCH HORN
Lee Shirer, Principal Elizabeth Mazur-Johnson John Schreckengost
TRUMPET
Matt Lee, Principal John Burson
TROMBONE
Robert Ho hines, Principal
Serdar Cizmeci*
John McAllister, Bass Trombone David Becker*, Contrabass Trombone
TIMPANI
Rich Janicki*, Principal
PERCUSSION
Je rey Handley, Principal Jon Johnson
Tina Laughlin
PIANO/SNYTH
Michael Keefe*
GUITAR
Tom Logan*
* Substitute
For information on upcoming performances visit the Chicago Sinfonietta website.
And for information on upcoming performances at this historic venue visit the Auditorium Theatre website.
Editor's Note: Click here to read more Picture this Post stories about Chicago Sinfonietta.
Photos: Universal Pictures, courtesy of The Auditorium Theatre
About the Author:
Spence Warren is a Filmmaker, a Film Worker, A Musician, A Puppet Maker and - apparently - an occasional reviewer. He hopes to offer people - particularly those who love story in all its forms - valuable insight and perspective.
