The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and The Human Race Theatre Company proudly present EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR  

Conducted by the Dayton Philharmonicâs Musical Director, Neal Gittleman, and directed by The Human Raceâs Artistic Director, Marsha Hanna, the fully staged version of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour is a unique theatrical production. Written by Academy Award and Tony Award winning playwright Tom Stoppard with music by Grammy Award winner AndrŽ Previn, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour requires a company of actors and an entire philharmonic orchestra to share the stage and blend symphonic concert and stage play.

Set in 1970's Soviet Union Russia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour marries music with politics as two men, coincidentally both sharing the name Alexander Ivanov, find themselves also sharing the same cell in a mental institution. One Ivanov, a genuine lunatic, believes he is the conductor of an orchestra and spends his days with a triangle rod commanding ãinvisibleä musicians. The other Alexander, a political dissident, has been arrested by the Soviet government for "anti-social" slander against the restrictive regime. The drama springs from Sacha, Alexander's likewise rebellious but confused son, who can't understand why the imposing and distant government has stripped him of his father.

Tom Stoppard, perhaps Britainâs best living playwright (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia, Travesties, The Real Thing) and master of wit and clever repartee, skillfully deals with the heavy political subject by showing his interest in individual freedom and eccentricity with his signature flare for the absurd.

AndrŽ Previn was a jack-of-all-trades, and his extensive career found him orchestrating films at MGM, performing at local jazz clubs and landing his dream, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in 1968. There, he advocated for British composers Britten and Walton, but continued his quest to expand the reach of classical music. In 1974, Previn planted the orchestra concert/play idea in Stoppardâs mind. From this idea, he created a political satire and Previn matched the spoof with the musical parody of Russian composer, Shostakovich, who was a quiet mid 20th century activist against eastern European totalitarianism.
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Pictured: Bruce Cromer and Scott Stoney star as asylum inmates Alexander and Ivanov in Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured: Michael Kenwood Lippert (Doctor) and Scott Stoney (Ivanov) in Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured: Actors and orchestra share the stage in Dan Grayâs set design for Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured: The actors and orchestra of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.
 Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured left to right: Bruce Cromer, DPO Conductor Neal Gittleman and Scott Stoney.   Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured: Michael Kenwood Lippert, Jarod Garel and Patricia Linhart.
Photo: Scott J. Kimmins

Pictured left to right: Bruce Cromer, Michael Kenwood Lippert, Jim Stump and Scott Stoney.
Photo: Scott J. Kimmins