William Paterson University Presents "The Lost Elephant: A Comedy Concerto"

William Paterson’s High Mountain Symphony, under the direction of Paul Hostetter, will provide accompaniment to Dan Kamin’s "The Lost Elephant: A Comedy Concerto," which will be staged at William Paterson University on November 23 in the Shea Center for Performing Arts at 3 p.m.

Dan Kamin created "The Lost Elephant" as a way of introducing children to the beauty and power of classical music. He plays a zookeeper who is frantically searching for his missing elephant, Elmer. Kamin stumbles upon an animal music concert and creatures are magically summoned before him through his amazing movement skills and classical songs including, "Flight of the Bumblebee," "William Tell Overture" and "The Swan." Hostetter and narrator, Susan Chapek will lure Elmer back with music and cake baking ingredients.

Prior to the concert, young visitors will be introduced to various instruments in the Shea Lobby at 2 p.m.
Kamin is a popular guest artist with symphonies around the world. His other shows include "The Haunted Orchestra," "The Musical Mime" and a pops program, "The Horrible History of Music." He wrote "Charlie Chaplin’s One-Man Show," which reveals the secrets of Chaplin’s comic art and includes a preface by Marcel Marceau. Kamin also created Johnny Depp’s physical comedy routines in "Benny and Joon" and trained Robert Downey Jr. for his Oscar-nominated performance in "Chaplin."

High Mountain Symphony, established in 1986 as the Wayne Chamber Orchestra, is the only professional orchestra in New Jersey in permanent residence at a university. The new name for the ensemble refers to a local and well-known nature preserve in Wayne that borders the University’s campus. The Orchestra
is underwritten, in part, by William Paterson University. High Mountain Symphony is also funded, in part, by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council at Passaic County Community College through the State/County Block Grant Program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets are $25 standard, $20 for senior citizens and William Paterson community, $8 for William Paterson students (limit two per ID) and youth 17 and under. For directions or to purchase tickets, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973.720.2371.

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For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966

11/3/03