Cinema and Symphony Concert at Waterbury’s Palace Theater

The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra presented their annual Cinema and Symphony Concert at Waterbury’s Palace Theater on April 1 to a packed house. The third of the family-friendly concerts featured the classic family film, Steven Spielberg's “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” playing on the big screen as the orchestra performed the glorious score by John Williams.

The Cinema and Symphony Concert makes the experience even more special, hearing the award winning soundtrack as the movie plays above the heads of the musicians seated on the stage. The placement of the screen allowed almost everyone a clear view of the film, no matter where they were sitting. The film was shown with captions at the bottom of the screen, making it easy to follow the dialogue above the louder parts of the score.

As was the case for the showing of “The Wizard of Oz,” this was a full on audio and visual immersion. There is not simply a projector and screen at The Palace. The backstage team assembled a blockbuster projection system and a massive screen, creating a stunning visual experience to accompany the thrilling live orchestra performance of the academy award winning score performed exactly as it was in the original film.

The excitement was palpable in the magnificent Palace Theater before the film began and continued through the final strains of the orchestra. Many of the families brought their youngest members, allowing the children to experience the interior of the restored theater as well as the exquisite music performed live by a full orchestra.

The heart and soul behind the symphony’s music is their musicians and it is always a joy to watch them perform under the careful direction of their conductor, Leif Bjaland. The symphony is grateful to partner with the Palace in order to offer this popular series.

Alyce Cognetta Bertz, as first chair violin, is the concertmaster of the orchestra. The wonderfully talented Joe Jacovino sat at the corner of the stage behind a grand piano.

“E.T.” remains one of the most beloved films of all time, but I had not seen it all the way through in a very long time. At this viewing, I noticed the meticulous work of the prop master for the film. Since I listened to the orchestra as the final credits rolled, I noticed that the vast majority of the doctors that cared for Elliot and E.T. in the final scenes were portrayed by medical doctors. As I became wrapped up in the adventure of the story, I sometimes forgot that the score was being performed live. Then the score would hit a new high and I would catch myself watching the graceful movements of the conductor, or the movement of the bows over the strings of the violins, violas and upright basses.

At the top of the second half of the concert, the students from the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s Bravo Waterbury! Program, led by choir teacher Terri Small, assembled in front of the mainstage to perform “Heartlight,” written by Neil Diamond. Dressed in brightly colored t-shirts, the students sang for the audience of up to 2300 attendees. The students attended the show with Program Director Cathy Ciresi and Lead Program Assistant Chanay Reed.

Organizers offered a family discount deal that was designed for families of all shapes and sizes, offering discounted ticket prices for “little aliens.” There were bags of popcorn for sale in the lobby to enhance the movie theater experience. Unfortunately, spilled popcorn littered the carpeting as I made my way to the lobby at the conclusion of the standing ovation.

Palace CEO Frank Tavera and Doug Donato, Waterbury Symphony Executive Director, announced that the next collaboration will be in December with the holiday classic “Home Alone.”

The event's partner organizations and sponsors included The Palace Theater, Post University, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UConn Waterbury, Naugatuck Valley Community College, A.M. Communications Solutions, Inc..Thomaston Savings Bank, WATR Radio, 1320 am and the Republican American. WATR General Manager Tom Chute and his wife Marybeth sat behind me.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.