From big band to the big screen, from MJ to Bruno Mars, from Hamilton to Wicked and beyond. The Central Ohio Symphony is pulling out the hits and putting on the whimsy.
The Central Ohio Symphony performs Symphony @ Whimsy on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Whimsy Venue in Delaware’s Boardman Arts Park. The free outdoor concert continues the orchestra’s America 250 celebration, which included a concert of patriotic music on July 4.
The Aug. 8 concert will showcase American pop music hits in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
“We really wanted to have an American focus for the repertoire, and so, we’re playing popular music from a number of different genres, but through the eyes of the symphony orchestra, and celebrating America’s contribution to popular music,” said Ben Coy, executive director of the Central Ohio Symphony.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the performance, which is expected to attract an audience even larger than the 1,300 people who attended the Central Ohio Symphony’s first performance at the Whimsy Venue last year.
“It was so special to see that outpouring of community support, and we are expecting that to grow this year because we hope that the word has gotten out about what a great time everybody had last year,” Coy said.
Adding to the whimsy, some new elements this year are lined up to delight and surprise. Starting at 5:30, concertgoers can beat the crowd and have some laughs with comedians Jesse Jones and Mark Hale, who will perform an interactive comedy pre-show created specifically for families.
In addition, wrought iron fencing now surrounds the park, and a new decorative mosaic gate has been installed to make the Whimsy Venue itself feel even more fun.
The gate has a special meaning as a community creation. The Delaware community voted on social media to select designs for the gate from among several created by Delaware artists Virginia Corwin and Lynda Elias. The community also helped glue the tiles, mirrors and other media now on the steel gate structure created by artist Todd Timler.
While enjoying the music, children and families can also explore hands-on the features of the Boardman Arts Park’s Imagination Space, including a baby grand piano water feature, a bench made of recycled musical instruments and an interactive unicorn.
“It’s fun. You watch the folks sitting and listening and focusing on the symphony, but you also see kids in the background throwing footballs around and playing in the Imagination Space,” said Roxanne Amidon, executive director of the Boardman Arts Park.
In the end, the concert is about the music. And pop hits and Broadway favorites tie it all together with a touch of stardust.
“It’s just a fun environment,” Coy said. “We’ve matched the music to environment.”
