FILMS TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR THE MANN’S ENCHANTING 
2018 SUMMER CLASSICS SERIES 

Four films with an orchestra, three evenings celebrating great composers, and one rock opera highlight an unforgettable summer at the Mann 

The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to its summer home for six unforgettable nights under the stars

PHILADELPHIA (May 8, 2018) – Romance, excitement and drama will take center stage at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts during the 2018 Summer Classics Series. The season line-up has something for everyone: a cult classic with an Academy Award®-winning score, a homage to the Philadelphia Eagles, a free Memorial Day tribute, a celebration of Bernstein’s legacy and so much more.

The Movies @ the Mann series returns to the Mann for the fifth consecutive year this summer to elevate the movie-going experience. In 2018, Movies @ the Mann features three full-length, feature films with an orchestra performing the movie scores live while the films are viewed overhead. Patrons will be treated to JAWS in Concert (June 2) with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, as well as Star Wars: A New Hope™ in Concert (July 20) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert (July 26), both with The Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Also part of Movies @ the Mann, on July 24, Eagles fever takes over the Mann when A Championship Season with The Philadelphia Orchestra takes center stage to relive the journey to victory. Presented by the Mann, Philadelphia Eagles and NFL Films, the evening will feature The Philadelphia Orchestra performing legendary NFL Films symphonic music synced with video highlights of the Philadelphia Eagles’ championship season on three giant screens. The “Voice of the Eagles,” the great Merrill Reese, will emcee the evening and SWOOP and the Eagles Cheerleaders will join in the celebrations.

“We’ve done it yet again! From beloved blockbuster movies and cherished classical concerts, to free family events, there will be music and entertainment from world-class orchestras and the world’s most talented musicians to inspire audiences this summer at the Mann,” said Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. “Thanks to our longstanding partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra and our outstanding partnerships with The Philly POPS and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, this season presents a diverse lineup of orchestral performances that will delight every audience.”

The 2018 Summer Classics Series kicks off Memorial Day weekend with the third annual, free Philly POPS concert honoring America’s service men and women. Conductor Todd Ellison will lead the Philly POPS during Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann featuring Broadway's Nikki Renée Daniels (The Book of Mormon) and Philadelphia native Justin Hopkins as guest vocalists. 

In June and July, The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to its summer home for six performances, including three evenings that pay tribute to a trio of history’s greatest composers. The concerts include Tchaikovsky Spectacular (July 17), conducted by Kensho Watanabe and featuring soloist Zachary Mowitz, complete with a fireworks finale; Bernstein: Broadway & Beyond (July 18), also conducted by Watanabe and featuring the world premiere of South Side, Symphonic Dances by commissioned American composer Darin Atwater; and A Night of Gershwin (July 27), conducted by André Raphel with Curtis Institute of Music pianist Micah McLaurin making his Mann debut.

In further tribute to the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, the Mann will mount its fifth consecutive community festival, Brilliantly Bernstein: Beyond the Baton, to explore his legacy of musical excellence and commitment to social justice, and to understand both in a modern context. The festival will contribute to the international celebration of Bernstein’s centennial birthday with the Mann’s own unique examination of Bernstein’s life through a series of arts initiatives, signature performances and educational projects, including the feature concert Bernstein: Broadway & Beyond. The festival is presented by the Mann through the PNC Arts Alive initiative and curated in partnership with Nolan Williams, Jr., the Mann’s Festival Artistic Director, and CEO of NEWorks Productions, collaborative artistic partner.

Also not to be missed this summer as part of the Summer Classics Series are Roger Daltrey, joined by members of The Who and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia to perform the iconic rock opera TOMMY (June 19), and the KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra World Tour (August 2) celebrating the popular video game series through music and graphics. 

Below is the complete Classics Series line-up:

SATURDAY, MAY 26: The Philly POPS hosts Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann (Free Admission)
Conductor Todd Ellison will lead the Philly POPS during its third annual Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann, a free concert that honors America’s service men and women. This year’s Memorial Salute features the 65-piece POPS orchestra, the Voices of the POPS, and the Philly POPS Festival Chorus in a stirring line-up of patriotic anthems, Great American Songbook classics and legendary show tunes. Broadway's Nikki Renée Daniels (The Book of Mormon) and Philadelphia native Justin Hopkins will serve as guest vocalists for this annual tradition. In celebration of those who serve, admission to the concert is free.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2: JAWS in Concert with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
The first performance of the Movies @ the Mann series for 2018, JAWS in Concert will allow audiences to relive the thrilling suspense of JAWS as The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia plays the iconic score in sync with the film projected on three giant screens.  The original summer movie blockbuster, with an Academy Award®-winning score by composer John Williams, JAWS is an unforgettable film-with-live-orchestra experience. The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia will be conducted by Dirk Brossé.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19: Roger Daltrey Performs The Who’s ‘TOMMY’ with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
Witness the seminal rock opera like you've never heard it before!  On an unforgettable summer evening, Roger Daltrey will perform The Who's 'TOMMY' with members of The Who Band (Jon Button, Scott Devours, Loren Gold, Frank Simes and Simon Townshend) and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Considered one of the seminal albums of the rock canon, the opportunity to bring an orchestral dynamic to the raw emotion and cathartic impact of the songs that cemented Daltrey’s legacy as a vocal powerhouse adds a compelling dimension to the music’s timelessness.  

TUESDAY, JULY 17: Tchaikovsky Spectacular with The Philadelphia Orchestra
An annual tradition, this all-Tchaikovsky program, conducted by Kensho Watanabe, takes audiences through the heart of his most popular opera, Eugene Onegin, a story of love and loss first immortalized by Pushkin in his novel of the same name.  Soprano Elena Perroni returns to the Mann to beguile with the Letter Scene from the opera and cellist Zachary Mowitz, one of the latest winners of The Philadelphia Orchestra's Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition, will perform Variations on a Rococo Theme. The evening concludes with the 1812 Overture, complete with fireworks over Philadelphia.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18: Bernstein: Broadway & Beyond with The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Kensho Watanabe, will celebrate the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein in the signature event of the Mann’s fifth consecutive community festival Brilliantly Bernstein: Beyond the Baton. The show will feature excerpts from On the Town, Peter Pan, Candide, and the jazz-infused Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, a seminal composer who was a significant influence on Bernstein. This performance will also feature the world premiere of South Side, Symphonic Dances by commissioned American composer Darin Atwater.

FRIDAY, JULY 20: Star Wars: A New Hope™ in Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra
For the first time, Mann fans will experience the scope and grandeur of the top Academy Award®-winning Star Wars film, A New Hope, in a live symphonic concert experience. George Lucas wrote his original 1977 script while listening to and taking inspiration from great classical works, and when he engaged John Williams to score the film, that symphonic, grand music found a natural home inside his new universe. Nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Original Score, this beloved film will come alive at the Mann with The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Constantine Kitsopoulos, performing the score live with the film.

TUESDAY, JULY 24: A Championship Season with The Philadelphia Orchestra
Eagles fever will take over the Mann when A Championship Season with The Philadelphia Orchestra takes center stage for a celebratory evening. Presented by the Mann, Philadelphia Eagles and NFL Films, the evening will feature The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Aram Demirjian, performing legendary NFL Films symphonic music synced with video highlights of the championship season on three giant screens. A portion of the proceeds from A Championship Season will benefit Eagles Autism Challenge, which supports innovative research and programs to help unlock the mystery of autism, and the Mann’s arts education programs, which provide free opportunities for all children to be inspired by the arts through the magic and richness of live performances. In support of the Eagles Autism Challenge, the Mann has partnered with Art-Reach to make the performance a sensory-friendly event. This is an evening not to be missed for sports – and music – fans of all ages.

THURSDAY, JULY 26: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra
Audiences will experience the magic of the next chapter of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series with The Philadelphia Orchestra performing John Williams’ score from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ live as the entire movie plays on three giant screens. Steven Reineke will conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra through Williams’ spellbinding and masterful composition that earned an Oscar® nomination for the score. This film concert series has been created by CineConcerts, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

FRIDAY, JULY 27: A Night of Gershwin with The Philadelphia Orchestra
The saying "Only in America" easily describes the brilliant career of George Gershwin. Born in Brooklyn in 1898 as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Gershwin brought the thrilling worlds of jazz and Broadway into the concert hall and opera house. A Night of Gershwin with The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by André Raphel, leads concert-goers through Gershwin’s classics inspired by his love of travel, including the ambitious Piano Concerto in F, Cuban Overture, Porgy and Bess, and An American in Paris. Curtis Institute of Music pianist Micah McLaurin will make his Mann debut. 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2: KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra – World Tour – Encore!
After celebrating the 15th anniversary of the KINGDOM HEARTS video game series with the launch of the first-ever official orchestral concert tour in 2017, the KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra concert series is back on the road in 2018 with a stop at the Mann.  With a unique combination of Disney characters, Final Fantasy heroes and villains and original creations, the tour is popular for gamers of all ages. Audience members will have the chance to discover for the first time the acclaimed concert produced under the supervision of game director Tetsuya Nomura, and with music program supervised by original composer Yoko Shimomura.

For a full list of shows that have been announced to date for summer 2018, or to purchase tickets, visit manncenter.org/events. 

May 12        Yanni: 25 Acropolis Anniversary Concert Tour
May 26        Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute with The Philly POPS
May 30        Young People’s Concert Series: West Side Story
June 1        The Mann’s Party in the Park: An Evening With Patti LuPone
June 2        Jaws In Concert with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
June 6     Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats with The Head and The Heart and Brent Cowles @ Skyline Stage
June 7    XPN Welcomes The Decemberists with M. Ward
June 16        Harry Connick Jr.: A New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration
June 19        Roger Daltrey Performs The Who’s TOMMY with The Chamber Orchestra
June 26     Barenaked Ladies with Better Than Ezra and KT Tunstall
June 30        WDAS Presents Summer Block Party featuring Jill Scott, Boyz II Men, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more
July 3        XPN Welcomes Ry Cooder and Emmylou Harris
July 11        Young People’s Concert Series: Inca Son
July 17        Tchaikovsky Spectacular with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra 
July 18        Bernstein: Broadway & Beyond with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 20        Star Wars: A New Hope™ with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 24    A Championship Season with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra presented by The Mann Center, NFL Films, and the Philadelphia Eagles
July 26        Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 27        A Night of Gershwin with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
August 1    Young People’s Concert Series: Global Footwork
August 2    KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra World Tour
August 11    Good Vibes with Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen
August 12    Gladys Knight & The O’Jays
August 16    CAKE and Ben Folds with special guests Tall Heights
August 25    Smokey Robinson
August 30    Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life with Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko
September 4    Mac DeMarco @ Skyline Stage
September 8    Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour
September 9     Sugarland: Still The Same 2018 Tour with Frankie Ballard
September 19     Dispatch with special guests Nahko and Medicine for the People and Scatter their Own
September 27    The National with Cat Power and Phoebe Bridgers
September 29    Chris Young: Losing Sleep World Tour with special guests Kane Brown and Morgan Evans
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About the Mann
As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists in association with AEG Presents. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed pavilion; picnics, blankets and music under the stars on its great lawn; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant.  For more information, visit www.manncenter.org.

About The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, renowned for its distinctive sound, desired for its keen ability to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences, and admired for a legacy of innovation in music-making. The Orchestra is inspiring the future and transforming its rich tradition of achievement, sustaining the highest level of artistic quality, but also challenging—and exceeding—that level, by creating powerful musical experiences for audiences at home and around the world. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is now confirmed to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra for a decade into the future, through the 2025-26 season, an extraordinary and significant long-term commitment. His highly collaborative style, deeply-rooted musical curiosity, and boundless enthusiasm, paired with a fresh approach to orchestral programming, have been heralded by critics and audiences alike. Musician-led initiatives shine a spotlight on the Orchestra’s musicians, as they spread out from the stage into the community, and the Orchestra’s numerous education and community partnership initiatives are an important focus of the organization’s offerings. For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please visit www.philorch.org.

About The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
A founding resident company of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia is a 33-member professional ensemble led by Music Director Dirk Brossé. The Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1964 by Marc Mostovoy, has a well-established reputation for distinguished performances of repertoire from the Baroque period through the twenty-first century. In addition to presenting its own productions, The Chamber Orchestra started to develop an entrepreneurial business model by seeking other performance opportunities among the region's presenter/producer community, thereby providing supplementary employment for its members. The ensemble also championed new music, with a focus on local composers. In total, the organization has commissioned and premiered over seventy new works. The ensemble travels regularly, having toured the United States, Europe, and Israel. For more information, go to www.chamberorchestra.org. 

About NEWorks Productions
As one of the country's premier producers of inspirational arts programming, NEWorks Productions partners with leading humanitarian, educational, arts, and renowned institutions to present curatorial festivals, concert productions, special events, and other signature projects that leverage the power of music and the arts for community engagement and social good. Past and present partners include: the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington National Opera, the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Georgetown University, Oberlin College, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, the Embassy of India, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra. www.NEWorksProductions.com.  

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING`S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s18)