Matthew Pennington Photo

From: Photo Flash: London Musical Theatre Orchestra Presents STATE FAIR

Rodgers and Hammerstein's ever popular State Fair received its symphonic premiere on Sunday night at London's beautiful Cadogan Hall. The London Musical Theatre Orchestra, a 32-piece orchestra under the baton of founder and conductor Freddie Tapner, brought the rich music of the 1996 Broadway production about the Frake family and their trip to the Iowa State Fair, to life. In a double first for the LMTO, this was also the first full scale public performance by the company which debuted its inaugural gala, in June of this year, to a packed house at Bishopsgate Institute where they are orchestra in residence.  The concert was directed by award winning director and Evening Standard Awards nominee Thom Southerland featuring a cast of West End stars Wendi Peters, Clive Carter, Richard Fleeshman, Emma Hatton, Oliver Savile and Celine Schoenmaker. The score features favourites including It Might as Well Be Spring, You Never Had It So Good and The Man I Used to Be.