Arts Picks: Mendelssohn, Broadway Legends at Blossom; Akron Symphony in park; Sondheim revue

Mendelssohn at Blossom

Violinist Alexi Kenney will make his Cleveland Orchestra  debut performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Blossom Music Festival, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Ruth Reinhardt will conduct in her Blossom Music Festival debut. Also on the program is the Cleveland Orchestra's premiere of Bacewicz's Overture and Dvorak's Symphony No. 5.

Cost is $25 for lawn tickets, $29-$99 for pavilion. See www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

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'Broadway Legends'

The Cleveland Orchestra and vocalists will celebrate the best of Broadway through the songs of legendary composers Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with musicals including "West Side Story," "Company," "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera" at 7 p.m. Sunday at Blossom Music Center.

Cost is $25 for lawn tickets, $29-$99 for pavilion. See www.clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

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'Sondheim on Sondheim'

The world just lost the great Stephen Sondheim in November but his art lives on. Learn about the personal life and artistic process of the legendary Broadway composer — who wrote everything from "Into the Woods" to "Sweeney Todd" — in the musical revue "Sondheim on Sondheim," previewing at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The show, created by Mansfield native and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, combines exclusive interview footage with Sondheim's music.

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The ensemble cast of 12 includes Kate Klika of Akron, a recent graduate of Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a Firestone High School grad. Other cast members with Akron-area roots are David Larson, a Barberton High School graduate; Cameron Olin, a Medina High and recent Kent State University graduate; Connor Stout, a Medina High School grad; and Amanda Tidwell, a KSU grad.

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The show runs 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 14 at Alma Theater, 40 Severance Circle. Cost is $25 for the preview, $32 in advance for all other shows, $36 day of show. See www.cainpark.com.

Akron Symphony in the park

Bring a blanket and favorite lawn chair to hear the Akron Symphony Orchestra in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lodge Park, 260 Greenwood Ave., Akron. The orchestra will be performing on the same stage that Verb Ballets did for the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival Friday and Saturday.

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The program, conducted by Eric Benjamin, will feature works by Holst, Bartók, Brahms, Joplin and Mozart, including the latter's First Symphony that he wrote when he was just 8. The orchestra also will perform two pieces written by Maestro Benjamin, including his “Soap Box Derby Rag.”

The Summer Concert Series will continue with free orchestra concerts at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at Firestone Park and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Goodyear Metro Park.

Kent Blossom Music Festival

Cleveland Orchestra musicians Barrick Stees (assistant principal bassoon), Richard Weiss (first assistant cello) Joela Jones (recently retired principal keyboardist) and  guests will perform in a faculty concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for the Kent Blossom Music Festival at Ludwig Recital Hall, Kent State University. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for senior citizens, $10 for college students and free for under 18.

For more information, call 330-672-2787 or see www.kent.edu/blossom/.

More: Kent Blossom Music Festival to bring back live concerts at Kent State

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Arts Picks: 'Broadway Legends' at Blossom, Akron Symphony in park