Springfield Regional Arts Council

Symphony to perform at An Evening At Artsfest

Thursday, May 01, 2008

The Springfield Symphony will give its regards to Broadway with a free public performance at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May, 3, at Jordan Valley Park, 735 E. Trafficway, to celebrate the annual Artsfest weekend of activities.

The Symphony will perform popular Broadway selections from artists like Cole Porter and Rogers and Hammerstein in a production featuring singers from Springfield Little Theatre. This is the first Broadway-themed performance and the third year the Symphony has performed the free concert at Jordan Valley Park for "An Evening at Artsfest."

The sponsors for this year's program include the Springfield Regional Arts Council, the Missouri Arts Council, Ozarks Public Broadcasting, the Springfield Cardinals, and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

The public is invited to come early and bring picnics or purchase refreshments on site. Blankets and short lawn chairs are encouraged. No glass bottles or alcoholic beverages are permitted at Jordan Valley Park, which is also a non-smoking venue.

This event and the annual Firefall Concert in the Sky are the Symphony's largest free public performances for the Springfield community.

Artsfest weekend has grown over the past several years from the activities on Walnut Street to a larger celebration of visual, performing, interactive and cultural arts in downtown Springfield. The weekend kicks off with ArtsFiesta! and the First Friday Artwalk from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, May, 2.

It continues with two days of the Artsfest on Walnut Street activities on May 3-4, including the free Symphony performance at Jordan Valley Park on Saturday evening.

The rain date for the Symphony concert is 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 4, at Jordan Valley Park.

For more information on any Artsfest activities, call (417) 862-2787 or visit: www.springfieldarts.org. Discount Artsfest tickets are available through May 2 at area McDonald's.