Thursday, October 17, 2024 (Ann Arbor, MI) — From stage to set and back again, Damon Gupton is charting a trailblazing path in the classical music industry, and Ann Arbor is set to be the next stop in the dynamic actor and conductor’s artistic tour. On October 19th and 20th, Gupton will join the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) for two consecutive concerts of music by one of cinema’s most iconic and influential composers—John Williams.
October’s concerts open the A2SO’s 24-25 Pops season, and early demand compelled the orchestra to add an additional matinee performance. Gupton will make his Ann Arbor debut conducting scores from some of John William’s most recognizable and moving scores, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and more.
In a year that placed the composer’s career in a shining spotlight by virtue of the Paris Olympics (Williams having composed the famous Olympic Fanfare and Theme, first used in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles), the A2SO’s focus on Williams makes silver-screen sense. Add to this a historic movie theater and concert venue in the heart of Ann Arbor, and the orchestra is ready to launch their new Pops season in style.
Actor and conductor Damon Gupton is no stranger to the film set. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Gupton currently stars in The Big Door Prize for Apple TV, with regular roles including The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey starring Samuel L. Jackson (also for Apple TV), Black Lightning (CW), Criminal Minds (CBS), The Player (NBC), The Divide (AMC/WeTV), Prime Suspect (NBC), Dick Wolf’s Deadline (NBC), Strange Brew (FOX), and Finkleman (NBC). A graduate of the Juilliard School’s Drama Division, Gupton has appeared in a number of critically acclaimed Broadway productions, receiving an AUDELCO nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Clybourne Park among numerous other highlights. An accomplished conductor and committed educator, he was appointed the first-ever Principal Guest Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops and delivered the commencement address to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in 2015.
Concertgoers will have access to a number of pre-concert activities, including an on-stage costume contest with prizes judged by special guest Wolverines Trooper, a red-carpet selfie display, and chances to win tickets to upcoming A2SO shows (including their annual Holiday Pops concert in December).
Box office services and activities open one hour prior to each concert, and the program will last approx. 120 minutes with a 20 minute intermission. Discounts are available for kids, students, and groups, and tickets can be booked by visiting https://a2so.org/24-25-october-pops or calling (734) 994-4801.
Concert 1: The Music of John Williams
Saturday, October 19, 2024 // 8 PM
Doors open at 7 PM
The Michigan Theater
603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Damon Gupton, guest conductor
More info at https://a2so.org/24-25-october-pops
(734) 994-4801
Concert 2: The Music of John Williams
Sunday, October 20, 2024 // 3 PM
Doors open at 2 PM
The Michigan Theater
603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Damon Gupton, guest conductor
More info at https://a2so.org/24-25-october-pops
(734) 994-4801