Bedfordtimesregister.com - Orchestra brings Disney magic to Blossom stage

The Blossom Festival Orchestra brings movie music favorites to Blossom Music Center with "Disney in Concert: Magical Music from the Movies" on Aug. 21, at 8:30 p.m.

MGM conductor and movie expert Richard Kaufman, who has previously conducted The Cleveland Orchestra in sold-out "Music from the Movies" and "Salute to John Williams" concerts, will lead the orchestra in a variety of Disney classics. Selections include music from "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King," with excerpts from these classic movies projected on large screens, plus an audience sing-along to songs from "Mary Poppins."

Vocal soloists, all making their Blossom Festival debuts, will be Candice Nicole, Whitney Claire Kaufman, Aaron Phillips, and Andrew Johnson. Repertoire for the concert is listed below. The concert will be followed by fireworks, weather permitting.

Family Day activities

The Blossom Festival will host a variety of pre-concert Family Day activities throughout the Blossom grounds from 6 to 8:25 p.m., including a Tigger Inflatable Bouncer, a 22-foot Super Inflatable Slide, a Pop-a-Shot "beat the clock" basketball game, a clown and balloon twister, and face painters/temporary tattoo artists. Other activities include Menlo Park Academy giving away free tree seedlings for families to take home and plant in their yards, and Comic Foregrounds where children and their family members can pose as a beautiful princess or scary pirate for photo ops and post their photos to The Cleveland Orchestra's Facebook page. The Radio Disney Road Crew will be on hand with music, games, and prizes. Patrons will be encouraged to participate in the activities and to request their favorite Disney songs.

All-American Cookout

Before the concert, the Blossom Festival will offer patrons an All-American Cookout on the Blossom grounds. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The All-American Cookout (located at the Lawn Terrace at the top of the Lawn seating area), prepared by Blossom chefs, will feature hot dogs and hamburgers, grilled chicken and sausages, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, fruit salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob.

In addition, the Blossom Grille will be open for pre-concert dining. Dinner reservations may be made by calling 330-916-6063 Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or after 4 p.m. on Festival concert nights.

Ticket information

The Severance Hall ticket office is at 11001 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Blossom box office (in-person only). Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 1 p.m. through intermission on Blossom Festival concert dates.

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Call the Cleveland Orchestra Group Sales Office at Severance Hall at 216-231-7463 for more information.

Blossom Music Center is at 1145 Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls.