The Queen's Cartoonists premiere International Animation Spectacular at Schaumburg Prairie Center Oct. 28
Cartoons and live music combine when instrumental sextet The Queen's Cartoonists kicks off its 21-city tour at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg on Saturday, October 28. The ensemble will debut a new program, "The International Animation Spectacular," beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Since their founding in 2015, TQC have garnered acclaim for their stage shows in which they 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 - led by Dr. Joel Pierson at the piano and including Greg Hammontree (trumpet, trombone), Mark Phillips (clarinet, soprano saxophone), Drew Pitcher (flute, tenor saxophone), Rossen Nedelchev (drums), and a rotating cast of bassists - either recreates a cartoon's soundtrack note-for-note or write their own fresh compositions to accompany the on-screen action.
For the International Animation Spectacular, TCQ coordinated projects with studios including Netflix, Aardman, and the National Film Board of Canada. The films, to be announced from the stage, come from the UK, Canada, Egypt, Ukraine, Mexico, Austria, Australia, the Navajo Nation, Iran, U.S., South Korea, and Argentina.
The eclectic music arranged for the cartoons borrows from jazz, classical, and pop music, but regardless of the style, Pierson aims to make it "palatable for even the frumpiest of jazz haters."
As for what the audience might be expected to hear, Pierson adds "we also highlight a lot of classical composers like Rossini, Wagner, Strauss (Richard and Johann), Kabalevsky, Beethoven, and Mozart. There's a lot of music in our concerts and it changes genres rapidly."
The ensemble hopes to make The International Animation Spectacular a staple alongside other live popular programs offered.
TQC has performed in a 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. The current tour will make stops in Texas, Arizona, California, Montana, and abroad in Germany, Austria, and England.
Tickets are $46 ($44 students and seniors) can be ordered online at prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600.
The Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts is located at 201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg.
The Queen's Cartoonists is sponsored by 90.9 fm WDCB Listener-Supported Public Radio. This program is part of the Prairie Center's 2023-24 season of arts and entertainment, presented by the Village of Schaumburg.