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Arts & Entertainment

Planning Under Way For Morgan Park Summer Music Festival

The festival's boards have begun preparations for the 2011 season.

As the days, grow shorter, darker and colder, perhaps a blast of summery news every now and again will provide some relief; And what better image to hold onto than those sparkling summer evenings at the band shell in Morgan Park—that diversity of talent that took to the stage those Sundays in July and August.

Well, planning is already under way for next year's agenda, and given the popularity of last summer's program, audiences can expect a similar range of performers. 

"We are looking for family entertainment," said Marguerite Suozzi, chairman of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival executive committee. "We try to have a military band, a couple musical shows along the lines of Willy Wonka or The Music Man. We also try to have a big band, a couple of tribute bands, such as the U2 tribute band from last year; an evening of dance, a cultural evening – Italian, Irish, Spanish, etc., and classical music, either orchestral or a very special small group."

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Some selections for 2011 have already been made: the U.S. Auxiliary Coast Guard Band, the North Shore Pops, and the Cuban Cigars. For stage shows, there are Plaza Productions' presentation of Bye Bye Birdie, and The Wizard of Oz, geared for children.

Filling the remainder of the schedule is done a number of ways. 

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"We receive referrals," Suozzi explained. "Performers will contact us because they have heard about Morgan Park Summer Music Festival and the wonderful opportunity that it provides to perform outdoors in the summer. We also have repeat performers and sometimes a board member will recommend someone whom they heard play in a different venue."

Potential performers are encouraged to send demo CDs and DVDs. A small committee working with Suozzi plays the discs and evaluates the acts based on their appropriateness for the audience in the park and in terms of how they help to achieve the variety the committee is seeking. Performers interested in being considered should contact Suozzi at margesuozzi@gmail.com

Performances will be every Sunday, starting July 10 and concluding on Aug. 29. Concerts will also be held on select Saturdays during July and August. Dates for specific performances will be made public some time next spring.  

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