Composer Robert Elhai loves to use the accordion. “Twisted Apples: Stories From Winesburg, Ohio” is a new music-theater piece based on Sherwood Anderson’s classic American novel Winesburg, Ohio.
Created by writer Jim Payne and composer Robert Elhai tells the story of selected individuals who struggle to overcome the loneliness and isolation that seems to permeate a small town in the in the late 1800s, the show takes its title from the malformed fruit that pickers leave on trees.
With librettist Jim Payne’s deft lyrics floating on gossamer compositions by Robert Elhai, it conveys the secret aches and agitated longings of characters aiming to bust out of their strictures. (Rohan Preston, Star Tribune, March 24, 2017)
With a cast of five singers and four instrumentalists (accordion, violin, bass, piano), Twisted Apples is a production that is thought provoking, beautiful and emotional. Nautilus Music-Theater is touring the show through April 8, 2017.. Locations include-out state Minnesota (Mora, Northfield, Albert Lea) as well as Nautilus’ home in St. Paul.
Composer Robert Elhai is the recipient of Tony and Drama Desk nominee for his work on the Broadway production of The Lion King and has also contributed orchestrations to over 150 film scores including the Oscar-winning score for Frida, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Iron Man 3, Thor 2, four Fast and Furious movies, three Alien movies, two Batman movies, and the first Pirates of the Caribbean. Other arranging work includes the arrangement for Metallica’s Grammy Award-winning “The Call of Ktulu”.
Accordionist Dee Langley specializes in both solo and ensemble works for the accordion having appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ethnic Dance Theatre, Flying Foot Forum as well as Nautilus Music-Theater.
Ms. Langley is winner of the 2012 American Composers Forum’s Minnesota Emerging Composer Award (World Music, Orkestar Bez Ime), the 2011-2012 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians administered by MacPhail Canter for. Dee is currently teaching accordion at Minneapolis Community and Technical College as well as at her home in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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