World-renowned organist back in Pittsburgh for two special events
April 16 and 17
Dennis James
Two Dormont nonprofit organizations are teaming up to bring world-renowned organist Dennis James back to Pittsburgh for his first performance here in years – The Pittsburgh Area Theater Organ Society and the Friends of the Hollywood Theater.
On April 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Keystone Oaks High School in Dormont, James will present his special “Musica Curiosa” program featuring his personal rare antique musical instruments, such as a glass armonica (invented by Benjamin Franklin) a theremin and a seraphin, among others. He will also entertain the audience on the PATOS Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, accompanying a 2-reel short silent film. Doors open at 6:45.
On the following day, April 17, at 3 p.m. at the historic Hollywood Theater, also in Dormont, James will present a special program of two classic Charlie Chaplin short films: “The Pilgrim” (1923) and “A Dog’s Life” (1918), accompanying the films on the Rodgers Theatre Organ, the only theater organ at an area cinema. Doors open at 2:30.
James presents historically-informed live performances with piano, theatre organ, chamber ensemble and full symphony orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and overseas. He is now primarily active as a noted multi-instrumentalist, specializing on musical glasses and the glass armonica, prominently performing in New York at the Caramoor Festival and Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival and at Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets can be purchased for either show separately, or buy one ticket for both performances at a discounted rate.
Tickets for the PATOS Keystone Oaks performance on Saturday are $15 for all seats in advance, available for purchase at www.showclix.com/event/dennis-james, or $20 at the door.
Tickets for the Chaplin films on Sunday are $8 regular, $6 for 65+/-12 and students and military with valid ID, and $5 for members. Tickets are available at www.showclix.com/event/dennis-james-silents. Parking is free on Sundays at any meter or in any of the three nearby public lots.
The discounted combined ticket price for both performances is $18 and available at www.showclix.com/event/dennis-james-silents.
For more information on the PATOS performance, visit www.pittsburghtheatreorgan.com. For information on the Hollywood Theater performance, visit www.thehollywooddormont.org.