Percussion band, singers will perform ‘Disney’s Moana Live-to-Film Concert’ Oct. 14

Ticketholders invited to free, family pre-show origami boat activity

UNIVERSITY PARK -- "Disney's Moana Live-to-Film Concert" is an immersive audio and visual experience for fans of the independent, island non-princess. The live event will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Tickets are $39 for an adult, $14 for a University Park student, and $22 for a person 18 and younger and are available for purchase online. Avoid the $4 fee by purchasing over the phone at 814-863-0255 or in person, weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Visit "Moana Live-to-Concert Film" online for more information and to purchase tickets.

Experience a vast, 'grand-sounding

adventure'

Disney Concerts and AMP Worldwide presentation is a celebration of the music and songs from the 2016 award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios' classic.

Inspired by Polynesian mythology, "Moana" tells the story of the strong-willed daughter of a village chief tasked with returning a mystical relic to a legendary goddess. When a blight strikes her island, Moana sets sail in search of demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in the hope of returning the relic to Te Fiti and saving her community.

The event features a full-length screening of the beloved movie, accompanied by live performances of a unique on-stage musical ensemble of top Hollywood studio musicians, Polynesian rhythm masters and vocalists.

The film score features a mix of live performances and recordings of songs, including "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome" by Lin Manuel Miranda ("Hamilton"); as well as "Shiny" sung by Jemaine Clement ("What We Do in the Shadows"); among others.

A nine-piece band will perform an expansive score fit for an epic film adventure.

"Percussion is a major part of this score," said Brandon Fells, director of concert program development and operations for Disney Concerts. He cited the variety of traditional instruments used in the score--from bamboo flutes to conch shells.

Fells said the band's live performance is augmented with tracks in the movie, "so that way, people can still experience this vast, grand-sounding adventure that it is, and not something that is less than that."

Grant Muagututi'a, a cultural consultant on the project and a linguistic professor at Cal State University-San Marcos, said being able to assemble a group of Polynesian artists has been an "awesome opportunity" for representation.

He said the musicians have perfected their craft and are proud to share their varied musical traditions and expertise.

"'Moana' is representative of the Pacific, specifically Polynesia, which is the eastern part of that region," he said. "And while we do have a common ancestry, it is quite a diverse region as well. That, I feel, is really well reflected in the band that we have performing. So them coming together and sort of organically kind of representing their respective cultures and traditions is going to be a beautiful thing on stage."

PRE-SHOW ACTIVITY

Ticketholders are invited to an Arts Engagement Family Program pre-show activity from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Eisenhower Auditorium Conference Room. The activity event is free to all "Moana" ticketholders and will include origami boat-making, a wayfinding map, decorating paddles and coloring pages. Penn State softball athlete Michela Barbanente will read books provided by Schlow Centre Region Library.