Timothy Verville is the conductor for Movie Palace Radio Hour: The Adventures of the Lone Ranger and The Shadow, playing at The Strand May 3-5.
Timothy Verville
You have a history of transforming the traditional orchestra performance into unique and collaborative events by partnering with other artistic disciplines. What makes these events rewarding, both for you artistically and for the patrons who experience them?
I’ve always found that there are wonderful results to be found when you combine two or more organizations to create an event. That’s because you build on the best of what each partner can offer. Even though I personally enjoy the challenge of creating and working on collaborations that are little outside of the norm, the real benefactor is the audiences, as they get to experience something unique and very well presented.
Besides this one, what upcoming Georgia Symphony Orchestra performance are you most excited about?
ALL OF THEM! We end up doing so many different types of performances under our umbrella and the variety is really appealing. The GSO has a concert featuring Beethoven’s 6th Symphony (Pastoral) with imagery provided by the Georgia Conservancy on May 11th. GSO Jazz is at The Strand on May 18th with a latin-styled show (and it’s always a fun time.) And our youth orchestras/ensembles conclude their season with performances on May 12 and the 19th.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
I really feel this show has a wide range of appeal. Obviously those who grew up listening to radio serials can find an abundance of nostalgia. But it’s also appealing to those who enjoy dramas and live theater. And if you like music, well, then you’re in for a fun time as well. If you want to experience something rare that may not happen again in your lifetime, this is the show for you.
What’s challenging about bringing this score to life?
As a conductor who has done many stage shows (music theater and opera) I’m fortunate that I have many years of experience in leading similar productions. But that doesn’t always make it easy, and the challenges are the same. You have to “read” the actors, listening to their lines and trying to make orchestral entrances make sense in the context of the moment. And if an actor varies a line a little bit, you have to be flexible and adjust instantly. Aside from that, there’s also the “directing traffic” aspect of it, managing musical cues onstage, and then of course, adding the emotion to the music to support the scene.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
From the very beginning I found the idea of recreating a radio drama very appealing. And I think this is because of my background in partnerships with other organizations. But also I knew it would be a challenge to put together, and throughout my conducting career I’ve discovered that I really like tackling challenging productions.
How is this production bringing something new to this story?
I think it shows that “old” ideas are new again when they haven’t been in the public eye for a while. And more importantly, these ideas, this method of storytelling all have value in terms of enrichment and entertainment.
What’s going to surprise people about this show?
If I say it, then it won’t be a surprise! But in all honestly audiences will walk away marveling at the cumulative creative effort and product created by two of the city’s oldest arts presenting organizations.
Which is the best night to come?
Any night! Or Sunday too! I’ll be at each show!
Call someone out by name: who must come see this production?
Marietta City Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson better be there!