NACO, May 10: Eugene Levy - Music and Humour: TD Canada Trust Family Adventures

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì Canada’Äôs own crazy comedian Eugene Levy joins the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Music and Humour, the final TD Canada Trust Family Adventures concerts of the season on Saturday, May 10 at 13:30 and 15:30 in the afternoon. Eugene Levy and Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott, with the help of Ottawa actor Pierre Brault, pianist Gabriel Thibaudeau, and the Bangers and Smash percussion duo, will take the NAC Orchestra on a romp through the funny side of music. Meet the many composers who had a well developed funny bone in a concert that will leave you in hysterics! The one-hour bilingual TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra are perfect for kids 5 and up, and their grown-up friends

The concert ticket includes ’ÄúTUNETOWN’Äù, pre-concert activities in the NAC Foyer organized by Friends of the NAC Orchestra 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 for the first concert and 14:45 for the second concert. Activities on May 10 include a percussion instrument petting zoo led by students from the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and the University of Ottawa; a display of humorous books from the Ottawa Public Library; a Tongue-Twister bowl; comedy improvisation with the students of Lisgar Collegiate Institute’Äôs Improv Team; a sing-along of funny songs with Music for Young Children; a display of Chuckle Bros cartoons with NACO violinist Brian Boychuk, and a craft station where kids can make their own hippo pencil toppers.

Eugene Levy was one of the founding members of Second City (SCTV) and has appeared as supporting actor in a long string of movies including the American Pie series, three Christopher Guest ’Äúmockumentaries’Äù which he co-wrote ’Äì A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show ’Äì and four movies with Steve Martin including Father of the Bride. He has been inducted twice into the Canadian Walk of Fame ’Äì both as a member of SCTV in 2002 and solo in 2006 ’Äì and one week prior to the NAC Orchestra concert he is being honoured for Lifetime Achievement at the Governor General’Äôs Performing Arts Awards at the NAC where his longtime friend Martin Short will be his presenter.

The concert includes musical selections from Haydn’Äôs Surprise Symphony; Leroy Anderson’Äôs The Waltzing Cat; Big Business both written and performed by pianist Gabriel Thibaudeau, and themes from Hockey Night in Canada and The Simpsons. John Serry’Äôs Waltz will be performed on percussion by Bangers and Smash, and Leopold Mozart’Äôs Toy Symphony will be performed with the help of some young members of the audience. Eugene Levy together with Pierre Brault will provide the hilarious baseball sportscasting for Peter Schikele’Äôs famous take on Beethoven’Äôs Fifth. The concert will also incorporate cartoons by the NAC Orchestra’Äôs own funnyman Brian Boychuk of the internationally syndicated Chuckle Bros comic strip.

All TD Canada Trust Family Adventures feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra.

Tickets for Music and Humour with Eugene Levy on Saturday, May 10 at 13:30 and 15:30, including TuneTown Pre-Concert Activities, are $12.00 for children and $20.00 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable). They are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Visit the National Arts Centre’Äôs web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.