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Details Announced for 2010 Magic of Christmas Holiday Extravaganza  

PORTLAND, Maine – Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces details of the 2010 production of Magic of Christmas, starring Music Director Robert Moody and the world-class musicians of the PSO, along with celebrity guests, singers and dancers in the gloriously-transformed Merrill Auditorium. Magic of Christmas has been a holiday tradition for generations, delighting audiences of all ages for over 30 years. This production is framed around the traditions, the story, and the spirit of Christmas, and builds on the exuberance and excitement of last year’s tremendously successful show.

Magic of Christmas 2010 will feature:

• Maestro Robert Moody leading the Portland Symphony Orchestra in a festive and inspirational program of classical and popular holiday hits.

• Joe Cassidy reprising his astounding feat portraying Scrooge and all the voices in A Christmas Carol, and also performing the Irving Berlin classic White Christmas and other seasonal favorites. Cassidy has been seen on NBC’s Law & Order as well as on Broadway as Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and in 1776, Les Misérables and A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. As a concert soloist he has performed with many symphony orchestras around the country.

• Soprano Suzanne Nance as featured vocalist, joining Joe Cassidy and Robert Moody for a newly-discovered trio from Nutcracker, The Oratorio, which audiences may remember was the sleeper comedy hit of last year’s show. Nance has performed recitals across Maine in Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Blue Hill and Bangor and in concert with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra as well as the PSO. Recently, she performed in Prague, London, Philadelphia, Chicago and New York. Nance also produces and hosts MPBN’s Morning Classical music program.

• The addition of the Fezziwigs, along with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Be, to the cast of larger-than-life puppets from Figures of Speech Theatre in the unforgettable condensed adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

• Angelic voices of the Saco Bay Children’s Choir singing “Somewhere in My Memory” from the hit movie Home Alone, and joining the all-volunteer Magic of Christmas Chorus for inspirational carols and holiday tunes.

• Traditional favorites like “Sleigh Ride” when the PSO players try to outdo each other with their festive and comical attire, and the inspirational audience sing-along when patrons can lift their own voices in celebration of the season.

• Magic of Christmas Dancers portraying multiple roles in A Christmas Carol and also forming a Rockettes-style kickline of dancing Santas.

• Pre-concert performances by students from the Maine Suzuki Association (Dec. 12 and 19 at 1:00 PM) and Ray Cornils at the Kotzschmar Organ Prelude Concert (all other performances).

• Festival of Trees, a display of beautifully decorated Christmas trees that will transform the Merrill Auditorium lobby into an enchanting winter wonderland during the run of Magic of Christmas. Twelve local businesses have donated their creative talents to decorate their own uniquely festive tree.

Magic of Christmas is sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, IDEXX Laboratories, JetBlue and Northeast Delta Dental.

Eleven performances of Magic of Christmas will run from December 10 to December 19 at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland. Tickets are available at www.porttix.com, by phone at 207-842-0800, or at the PortTix box office, 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday from noon to 6:00 PM. Phone and internet orders are subject to $6 per-ticket PortTix handling fee, and all ticket prices include a $2 Merrill Restoration fee.

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