DPO ushers in ‘Swingin’ Holiday’ at Schuster Center
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra ushers in the holidays with “A Swingin’ Holiday Celebration,” the organization’s latest SuperPops concert slated Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Schuster Center.
Under the leadership of DPO Associate Conductor Patrick Reynolds, the concert fittingly promises to fill many seasonal favorites with a touch of swing. Expect to hear jazzy renditions of “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in addition to a concert suite from the animated film “The Polar Express.” Anyone who enjoys the likes of Mel Tormé, Johnny Mercer and Vince Guaraldi will particularly find this program appealing.
“Our ‘Swinging’ Holiday Celebration’ is such a neat twist on the traditional holiday program,” Reynolds said. “It’s filled with all the familiar seasonal favorites, but most are treated to a jazzy point of view. The result is a fun-filled evening of holiday classics traditional but fresh and new.”
Joining the DPO will be two talented guest artists with numerous Broadway credits. Caroline Bowman, a powerhouse vocalist, most recently appeared as Elphaba in “Wicked” and was also a member of the original cast of “Kinky Boots.” She was particularly dynamic in the national tour of “Evita” as Eva Peron, receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her performance. Over the years she has also portrayed The Lady of the Lake in “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” Rizzo in “Grease” and Carmen in “Fame” She has also performed her own solo show at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC to raves.
Destan Owens appeared on Broadway in “Chicago,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” and “Rent.” His other credits include roles in “The Who’s Tommy,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Dreamgirls” opposite Jennifer Holliday. His TV and film appearances include “Across the Universe” and “30 Rock.” He has also performed as a soloist with orchestras across the country including Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Phoenix Symphony.
“A real treat on the program is to hear Duke Ellington’s fabulous take on Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker Suite,” Reynolds added. “It’s 100 percent pure Ellington all the while staying true to the familiar themes of Tchaikovsky’s time-honored classic.
“The audience will also get a chance to sing along with the Dayton Philharmonic to their favorite Christmas carols.”