Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Camelot in Concert Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra

Performance Dates & Tickets

About the Event

In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot for happily ever aftering than here in Camelot.

Conductor Stephen A. Eva of the Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra and founder Andrea Anelli of Opera Per Tutti will join forces to perform Camelot in Concert at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre.

Camelot, a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book, lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King. In lieu of presenting the musical version that often is performed on area stages, Eva and Anelli formulated an “in concert” adaptation. The duo and the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre worked with Camelot’s publishers to obtain a release of the original scores as well as permission to create a specially-formulated concert version that showcases the full scope of the popular music and lyrics. “Due to facility constraints, smaller theaters often find it difficult to accommodate full orchestras and, therefore, tend to lose the musical detail of the show,” notes Eva. “In our concert version based on what we believe to be the author’s original intent, the music and lyrics come to the forefront as they are performed by a full, 40-piece orchestra and professionally trained opera singers.”

The show cast includes the renowned Opera Per Tutti voices of James Love as King Arthur, Andrea Anelli as Queen Guenevere, and Scott Skiba as Sir Lancelot. “Not only are opera companies well qualified to perform classical musical theater, but our technical expertise allows us to preserve the original performance style of the scores,” observes Anelli.

Camelot in Concert is sponsored by Hamlet Retirement Village.

About the Studio Orchestra

The Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra is volunteer-driven, nonprofit musical endeavor that brings studio arrangements, as well as the classics that inspired them, to stages in the Chagrin Valley community.

The Studio Orchestra is the only known orchestra in the region with a particular focus on studio arrangements. Written as film scores and rarely played live, studio arrangements represent some of the most dynamic, high-energy music of our time, by some of the most respected composers.

The Studio Orchestra affords its musicians the privilege and honor to play these original works—and its audience members the rare opportunity to hear them played live. With guest musicians and vocalists as well as multimedia presentation, the performance experience is more than just a concert—it represents a new vision in musical entertainment.

About the Conductor

Stephen A. Eva is a native Clevelander from a musical family and graduate of Shaker Heights High. Mr. Eva, an accomplished trumpet player in his youth, attended The National Music Camp at Interlochen where he sustained injury to his lip from overplaying. His attention quickly turned to his true love, conducting, and he became the first student conductor ever at Shaker High School. Mr. Eva graduated from Grove City College with degrees in Economics and Philosophy where he organized and directed the first Jazz Ensemble.

For the past 23 years, Mr. Eva has been the conductor and driving force of the Hermit Club Symphony Orchestra (Cleveland's premier performing arts club.) Through the Hermit Club Orchestra, he has conducted numerous large-scale symphonic works, concertos, chamber music, musical theater, choral and pops concerts.

Mr. Eva is well known in Chagrin as the Musical Director of the Chagrin Light Orchestra for the past two seasons where he introduced fun, innovative programming to the Community. PMr. Eva is self-employed as an industrial equipment systems integrator. He lives with his wife Marilyn in neighboring Auburn Township and is a dedicated father of 5 children.