L-R: Michael Feinstein, Allyson Briggs and Toddy Murray. Photo courtesy Pasadena Symphomy & Pops
Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 10 with A Salute to Warner Bros.! The POPS season finale will provide a quintessential Feinstein experience with a showcase of singers and dancers recreating songs from films adapted from Broadway musicals The Music Man, Gypsy, and 42nd Street among others. The orchestra will also perform timeless instrumental favorites from the silver screen like John Williams’ theme from the original Superman, and who can forget the iconic Warner Bros. theme from Looney Tunes.
For the POPS’ annual movie night, Feinstein will uncover gems from the vault from every decade of Warner Brothers movie magic. He has prepared several pieces that will make their public premiere, including two works by Academy Award-winning composer Harry Warren, Warner Bros. go-to guy during the 30’s. In tribute to Warren’s work on 4nd Street, for which he wrote all of the music, Michael will break out a piece of background music called “The Love Theme from 42nd Street,” which has never been performed before a live audience.
“and that for me will be one of the highlights because again it’s a glorious piece of Hollywood history that’s been lost.” – Michael Feinstein
Feinstein will be pulling out all the stops for this spectacular season finale with oodles of surprises including a slew of special guests. Famed songwriter Alan Bergman, winner of three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, will make a guest appearance along with star of screen and stage – the stunning Lorna Luft. The evening’s soloists include jazz and swing songbird Allyson Briggs, pegged as “a female Frank Sinatra with the looks of Marilyn Monroe,” by the Times Square Chronicles and the irresistible vocals of crooner Todd Murray. To top it all off, West End and Broadway veteran Jon Peterson will show-off his singing and dancing chops in a show-stopping performance of “Yankee Doodle,” along with other surprise dance performances.
It’s the last chance to catch the best outdoor dinner party in town with spacious table seating with fine linens, or lawn seating for those who want to bring a blanket. Each option carries on the tradition of picnic-dining with your family and friends with Pasadena’s premier POPS orchestra! Among many venue amenities, concert goers can enjoy pre-ordered gourmet dining packages for on-site pickup just steps from their table from Julienne, Marston’s and Claud & Co. The food court hosts mouth-watering food trucks plus specialty ice creams by Choctál, and the venue now offers the convenience of two full beverage centers serving fine wines, beer, coffee and soft drinks.
Audiences get the ultimate outdoor concert experience with large LED video screens to see Michael Feinstein and the orchestra up close, superior sound and the high-quality production value that is a signature of the Pasadena POPS. Patrons may also visit the Pasadena Humane Society’s Mobile Adoption Unit, which will be on-site prior to each concert with deserving animals in need of a forever home as part of the Pups for POPS program. For those who want to make a night of it, exclusive hotel packages are available for POPS patrons at Pasadena’s landmark Hotel Constance.
All Pasadena POPS concerts are held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Grounds open for picnicking and dining at 5:30 p.m. and performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA. Subscribers may pre-purchase parking on-site at the Arboretum, and all concertgoers enjoy free parking at the adjacent Westfield Santa Anita shopping center with complimentary non-stop shuttle service to the Arboretum’s main entrance.
Single tickets start at $25 and are available by calling the box office at (626)-793-7172, online at PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org, or at the Arboretum on the day of the concert.
