Silent Film 'Battleship Potemkin' to be Screened with George Sarah's New Live Score

Sierra Madre Playhouse – reflecting its own historic path from silent movie house to one of the Southland’s leading performing arts centers – bridges silent-film history and live music vitality with a program pairing the groundbreaking 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin with the world premiere of a music score for string quartet and vocal quintet composed and conducted live by George Sarah. Back-to-back performances are set for Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic 99-seat venue.

Sergei Eisenstein’s cinematic landmark, which still resonates today, charts the 1905 uprising aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin with gripping montage, rhythm and emotional energy.

Sarah, known for melding electronic, classical and chamber music traditions, reimages the film, bringing his unique sonic voice to this filmic masterpiece — integrating string quartet textures, a five-voice vocal ensemble, and subtle electronic elements to transform the screening into a multisensory experience. With Sarah’s score, the visuals are echoed and amplified: the strings underscore dramatic tension and camaraderie; the voices give human edge to mass uprising; and the electronics add depth and contemporary resonance.

The performers include George Sarah, composer/arranger, synths/electronics; soprano Jenna Hansen; mezzo soprano Anna Caplan; tenors George Sterne and Sean McDermott; Kaija Hansen, violin/viola; Katie Kim, violin; and cellists Carolyn Regula and Paul Hyun.

This blended cinematic revival and live concert is an example of the type of bold and innovative programming Sierra Madre Playhouse, led by Artistic and Executive Director Matt Cook, has become known for in recent years.

For tickets ($30) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.