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Press Releases
The Queen’s Cartoonists Announce 2022-23 Season and North American Tour
The Queen’s Cartoonists Announce 2022-23 Season and North American Tour
The jazz meets classical sextet synchronizes their show with classic cartoons and animated films, bringing virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem and comedy to 34 cities throughout the United States and Canada, including stops in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, Colorado, California, Virginia, New Jersey, Utah, Arizona, Alberta and Ontario.
The Wilmington Symphony joins The Queen’s Cartoonists on Saturday, October 22 for the premiere of the ensemble’s first fully orchestrated stage show, with orchestral arrangements by the Cartoonists’ bandleader and pianist Dr. Joel Pierson.
(New York, NY September 8, 2022) The Queen’s Cartoonists (TQC) perform live in front of a screen, where cartoons from the golden age of animation, cult cartoon classics, and modern animated films are projected. The band either recreates a cartoon’s soundtrack note-for-note – performing works from jazz composers like Carl Stalling, Raymond Scott, and Duke Ellington alongside classical giants like Mozart, Rossini and R. Strauss – or write their own fresh compositions to accompany the on-screen action. Tying everything together is TQC’s unique brand of comedy – anecdotes about the cartoons and their composers, humor, and elements of a musical circus. This season, The Cartoonists bring their “perfect synchrony of sound and pictures” (Mashable) to thirty-four cities spanning the whole of the United States – beginning September 8 in Marianna, Florida and concluding March 23 in Escondido, California – as well as visiting destinations in Ontario and Alberta, Canada.
Since their founding in 2015, The Queen’s Cartoonists have sought to answer the question: is it possible to create jazz and classical music in the 21st century that appeals to everyone? The band – led by Dr. Joel Pierson (piano), and including Greg Hammontree (trumpet, trombone), Mark Phillips (clarinet, soprano saxophone), Drew Pitcher (flute, tenor saxophone), Rossen Nedelchev (drums), and Malik McLaurine (bass) – seems to have unlocked the answer, breathing new life into two uniquely American forms of art: jazz and animation. The Queen’s Cartoonists are fresh off a thirty-day residency at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, about which Fringe Review wrote, “The whole show is a treat for the eyes and ears. It is a thoroughly entertaining hour that leaves the audience, from kids to seniors, wanting more.”
The Queen’s Cartoonists open the 2022-23 season with their show “Ages 2-102” on September 8, 2022 at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. “This is a theatrical concert,” says bandleader Dr. Joel Pierson. “It is mainly focused on presenting characters from classical American animation. But there are also contemporary elements, plus the ‘musical circus’ that people didn’t know they wanted to see!” Audiences can expect to hear both recognizable classical and jazz tunes in addition to new works. “There are a lot of classical themes,” continues Pierson, “but a lot of the material is played in an old jazz style à la Raymond Scott and John Kirby, our two biggest influences.” “Ages 2-102” plays at additional stops in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, Colorado, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Utah, Arizona, and Oregon, and in Ontario and Alberta, Canada. The Queen’s Cartoonists also perform their Holiday show – featuring “a vocalist and plenty of silliness” – in four destinations this season: Long Beach, CA, Fairfax, VA, Saratoga Springs, NY, and New Brunswick, NJ. The Wilmington Symphony joins The Queen’s Cartoonists for a special, fully orchestrated performance of “Ages 2-102” on Saturday, October 22 at the Wilson Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, with new arrangements done by Pierson.
“The show should keep people guessing from start to finish,” says Pierson. “I want people to think they’ve never seen anything like it before! For younger audiences, I hope this is an introduction to concert halls and also a reminder that music can be both serious and fun.”
The Queen’s Cartoonists 2022-23 North American Tour
Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 7 PM
Chipola Artist Series - Marianna, FL
Tickets: $20 adults, $18 ages 18 & under
visit www.chipola.edu/boxoffice or call 850-718-2420
Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Flagler College, Lewis Auditorium
14 Granada St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Tickets $45-$50, visit Emmaconcerts.com or call 904-797-2800
Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 7 PM
The Vail Series at Denison University, Swasey Chapel
200 Chapel Dr, Granville, OH 43023
Tickets $15-$60, visit Denison.edu/events or call 740-587-6787
Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 7:30 PM?
Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas
330 University Dr NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Tickets $53/$46/$38, visit tuscpactickets.universitytickets.com or call 330-308-6400
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium at Ohio University
47 E Union St, Athens, OH 45701
Tickets $5-$10, visit www.ohio.edu/event-tickets or call 740-593-1780
Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 7:30 PM
7 Town Square, Lima, OH 45801
Tickets, visit limaciviccenter.com or call 419-224-1552
Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 7:30 PM
517 Main St, Jasper, IN 47546
Tickets $15-$25, visit jasperarts.org or call 812-482-3070
Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 5 PM
1 Carter Green, Carmel, IN 46032
Tickets start at $35, visit thecenterpresents.org or call 317-843-3800
Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 7:30 PM?
The Queen’s Cartoonists featuring the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
703 North Third St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Tickets start at $25, visit wilsoncentertickets.com or call 910-362-7999
Friday, October 28, 2022 at 8 PM
Tilles Center – Krasnoff Theater
720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548
Tickets $40, visit tillescenter.org or call 516-299-3100
Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 8 PM
Loreto Theater at the Sheen Center
18 Bleecker St, New York City, NY 10012
Tickets, visit sheencenter.org or call 212-219-3132
Friday, November 18, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Union Colony Civic Center – Monfort Concert Hall
701 10th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631
Tickets $27-$33, visit ucstars.com or call 970-356-5000
Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 2 PM
The Queen’s Cartoonists – Holiday Show
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA 90815
Tickets $40, visit carpenterarts.org or call 562-985-7000
Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 3 PM
The Queen’s Cartoonists – Holiday Show
George Mason University Center for the Arts
4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030
Tickets $15, visit cfa.gmu.edu or call 703-993-2787
Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 7:30 PM
The Queen’s Cartoonists – Holiday Show
25 Washington St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Tickets $30.50-$50.50, visit proctors.org or call 518-346-6204
Friday, December 23, 2022 at 8 PM
The Queen’s Cartoonists – Holiday Show
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Tickets $24-$44, visit stnj.org or call 732-246-7469
Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons
225 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K9, Canada
Tickets $39-$59, visit artscommons.ca or call 403-294-9494
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 8 PM
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
130 Navy St, Oakville, ON L6J 2Z4, Canada
Tickets $44-$55, visit oakvillecentre.ca or call 905-815-2021
Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Kingston Grand Theatre, Rosen Auditorium
218 Princess St. Kingston ON K7L1B2 Canada
Tickets start at $19.50, visit kingstongrand.ca or call 613-530-2050
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 7:30 PM
35 Woolwich St, Guelph ON N1H 3V1 Canada
Tickets $35-$55, visit riverrun.ca or call 519-763-3000
Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 7 PM
238 King St. W., Chatham, Ontario, N7M 1E7 Canada
Tickets $25-$45, visit chathamcapitoltheatre.com or call 519-354-8338
Friday, February 10, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Halbritter Center for the Arts, Juniata College
1900 Moore St, Huntingdon, PA 16652
Tickets, visit juniatapresents.com or call 814-641-5849
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 7 PM
The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College
735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577
Tickets $25/$35/$45, visit artscenter.org or call 914-251-6200
Friday, February 17, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Edman Memorial Chapel at Wheaton College
501 College Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187
Wheaton, IL
Tickets visit tickets.wheaton.edu or call 630-752-5000
Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 3 PM
205 E Madison Ave, Iola, KS 66749
Tickets, visit bowluscenter.org or call 620-365-4765
Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at Illinois
500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
Tickets visit krannertcenter.com or call 217-333-6280
Friday, February 24, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Ball State University, Emens Auditorium
1800 W Riverside Ave, Muncie, IN 47306
Tickets $12-$29, visit bsu.edu/web/emens or call 765-285-1539
Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 7:30 PM
State Theatre of Bay City Michigan
913 Washington Ave, Bay City, Michigan 48708
Tickets, visit statetheatrebaycity.com or call 989-892-2660
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 7:30 PM
2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401
Tickets $10-$43, visit onstageogden.org or call 801-399-9214
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Mesa Arts Center, Piper Repertory Theater
One East Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201
Tickets $45, visit mesaartscenter.com or call 480-644-6500
Friday, March 10, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Ross Ragland Theater and Cultural Center
200 North 7th St, Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Tickets visit ragland.org or call 541-884-5483
Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 8 PM
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
715 Central Avenue, Tracy, CA 95376
Tickets $25-$55, visit atthegrand.org or call 209-831-6858
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Stanford Live, Bing Concert Hall
327 Lasuen St, Stanford, CA 94305
Tickets $13-$45, visit live.stanford.edu or call 650-724-2464
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 7:00 PM
BoA Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks
2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Tickets $50-$60, visit bapacthousandoaks.com or call 805-449-2787
Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7:30 PM
California Center for the Arts
340 North Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025
Tickets, visit artcenter.org or call 800-988-4253
About the Artists
The Queen’s Cartoonists perform music from cartoons! Pulling from over 100 years of animation from around the world, The Queen’s Cartoonists bring animated films to life, perfectly synchronizing their performances with the films projected on stage. The band matches the energy of the cartoons, leading the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem, and comedy.
Projections of animated films dazzle the audience, while the band re-creates original soundtracks note-for-note, or writes their own fresh compositions to modern pieces, all the while breathing new life into two uniquely American forms of art: jazz and animation. Tying everything together is the TQC brand of comedy - anecdotes about the cartoons and their composers, stream-of-consciousness humor, and elements of a musical circus.
Watch your favorite classic cartoon characters interact with the musicians on stage, and expect the unexpected from the Golden Age of Animation, cult cartoon classics, and modern animated films. Inspired by the cross-roads of jazz, classical music, and cartoons, TQC features Jazz Age composers like Carl Stalling, Raymond Scott, and John Kirby, alongside classical giants Mozart, Rossini, and Strauss (to name just a few).
The six members of The Queen’s Cartoonists, all now residing in Queens, New York, originally hail from four continents. TQC has performed in wide variety of venues, including opening for the New York Philharmonic, selling out the Blue Note Jazz Club, a residency at Konzerthaus Berlin, and an extended run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They have been featured in over fifty publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The L.A. Times, The San Diego Tribune, The Houston Chronicle, NPR, and Mashable.
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