ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Have Halloween chills and thrills worn off? Popcorn and theatre lobby candy are part of an exciting and authentic performance night on Monday, November 12, at Davidson Presbyterian Church (DCPC), 100 N. Main St. in Davidson, as international composer, lyricist, and organist, Dorothy Papadakos, thrills a rapt audience in a movie theatre-like setting with her keyboard sounds that bring to life the 1920 silent classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of DCPC. They are free, with donations appreciated, to enhance the expanding Organ at Davidson series. Dorothy Papadokos and the historic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” performance is co-sponsored by the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

John Barrymore as scientist Dr. Henry Jekyll is extremely serious about his work. However, he’s inspired to attempt a different quest – how to separate man’s saintly and sinful sides – after seeing the sensual Miss Gina at a show.

While the story unfolds, showing Jekyll’s experiments succeed, the organ artist’s perfectly matched music keeps the audience spellbound. Jekyll’s evil alter ego, Mr. Hyde, emerges and turns out to be uncontrollable. Danger looms on screen as spine tingling music improvised by organist Dorothy Papadakos so expertly mimics it, modulated as only organ pipes, pedals, and stops can do.

A seven-time Grammy Award winning Paul Winter Consort member, Dorothy Papadokos initially gained international attention as the first woman Cathedral Organist at St. John the Divine in NYC, the world’s largest gothic cathedral, from 1990-2003.

Not surprisingly, her daring and imaginative improvisations and scores for theatre, film, TV, and ballet have Dorothy Papadokos celebrated worldwide. Charlie Chaplin and Lon Chaney are two other early stars for whose films she has improvised organ accompaniment in sold out silent film programs.

For more information, please contact Jane D. Cain, Director of Music, DCPC, 704-892-5641, Cell: 704-241-0023.