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Artists-on-Tour to visit Mid-Ohio Valley schools

Image Provided Luke Frazier

PARKERSBURG — The American Pops Orchestra will present “A Very Silly Vaudeville” for Artsbridge Artists-on-Tour in local elementary schools from Nov. 5-8.

The performance is suggested for third- and fourth-grade students.

Luke Frazier, founder and music director of the American Pops Orchestra, is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School and alumnus of West Virginia University.

Frazier doesn’t spend all his time conducting The American Pops. He has earned his stripes conducting across the country and abroad. He has conducted at internationally acclaimed venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The White House, The Kennedy Center and many more.

He is an avid proponent of the preservation and celebration of the American Songbook, as evidenced by his orchestral programming, his iTunes playlist, and his involvement on the Board of the Great American Songbook Foundation.

“A Very Silly Vaudeville” was written by Claybourne Elder, who is returning to the American Pops after his APO playwriting debut “Around the World in 80 Days” and costarring in “I’ll Be Seeing You: A World War II Love Story.” It is directed by Ricky Drummond, who is excited to be part of the show.

Famed Broadway tapping duo, Mary Michael Patterson and Cary Tedder, will guide the students on a journey through APO’s modern take on classic American vaudeville acts of yesteryear. Hilary Morrow and Sam Hamashima, vocalists, are also part of the show featuring magic, dancing, singing, and lots of audience engagement.

Frazier, the cast, and the American Pops Orchestra will also perform a concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. The public is invited to attend the concert and free tickets are available through Artsbridge at 304-428-3988.

Funding for Artsbridge arts education programs is provided in part by The West Virginia Commission on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, The Ross Foundation, Fenton Foundation Inc., The Bernard McDonough Foundation, Highmark, Peoples Bank and by contributors to the Artsbridge Fund.

The schedule of performances includes:

* Monday: Pleasants County Schools, Belmont, at 9 a.m.; Jackson County Schools, Ripley, at 1:15 p.m.

* Tuesday: Belpre Elementary, Belpre, at 9 a.m.; Warren Elementary, Vincent, at 12:30 p.m.

* Nov. 7: Doddridge County Schools, West Union, at 9 a.m.; Ritchie County Schools, Ellenboro, at 1 p.m.

* Nov. 8: Wood County Schools, Blennerhassett Auditorium, at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

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