Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra has found a winning formula for the whole family when it pairs the considerable talents of its musicians with popular movies. On Saturday, November 1, there’ll be more cinematic musical magic when OPO presents Hocus Pocus, a 1993 comedic fantasy film that has become something of a seasonal cult classic.
“We love being able to present these classic movies with the full orchestra on stage bringing the score to life,” says Karina Bharne, OPO executive director.
In the film, a teenage boy inadvertently resurrects three witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) condemned to death some three centuries before in Salem, Massachusetts. The Sanderson sisters, Winnifred, Mary and Sarah, subsequently wreak havoc and curses upon the town with villainy bordering on slapstick.
The light and entertaining story is ably supported with a score composed primarily by John Debney, one of Hollywood’s most versatile composers. Hocus Pocus was his first studio feature. Tracks in the score include “Witches Lair,” “Hallowe’en” and “Witches Flight” in a blend of musical styles that even features a rendition of Mozart’s Divertimento #17 in D, K. 334.
Debney, winner of three Primetime Emmy Awards, collaborated frequently with Walt Disney Company, writing for both TV shows and the theme parks. His prolific career has included such diverse work as It’s a Small World in the Magic Kingdom, the police show Cagney & Lacey, the animated series The New Yogi Bear Show and a classic movie for another season, Elf, with Will Ferrell.
In Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center, under the baton of Chia-Hsuan Lin, OPO will play the Hocus Pocus score in tandem with action on a 38-by-40-foot screen, giving flight both to witches and the human spirit.
Says Bharne: “This Halloween season is the perfect time to present Hocus Pocus, and we guarantee the music will put a spell on you!”
