Free Music and Movie Series at the Holland Center Courtyard

FREE MUSIC AND MOVIE SERIES RETURNS TO HOLLAND CENTER COURTYARD ON JULY 10

Movie Lineup Features ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘The Lego Movie’ And ‘The Amazing Spiderman’

Omaha Performing Arts is pleased to announce the return of its Cox Music & Movies series. These free public events presented by Cox Communications will run Fridays, July 10-24, 2015. Each Cox Music & Movies evening will feature a performance by an area band followed by a family-friendly film presented in the courtyard of the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The courtyard will open at 7 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. and the film beginning at dusk, or around 8:45 p.m., rain or shine.

The series begins with “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971) on July 10. Michael Lyon with the Steve Thornberg Trio will perform at the start of the event. Radio personality Michael Lyon sings the swing and jazz classics made famous by the greats - Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin - and rediscovered by modern day crooners such as Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr. The Steve Thornburg Organ Trio was formed in early 2010 with members Steve Thornburg on alto sax, Mary O’Keefe on drums and Dan Cerveny on keyboard. The trio favors upbeat and familiar jazz music.

On July 17, “The Lego Movie” (2014) will be screened, with a performance by Clark & Co. starting off the night. Clark & Co. was created by triplet siblings from Omaha, with Sophie Clark on keyboard and vocals, Cooper Clark on acoustic and electric bass, and Simon Clark on drums and percussion. Company members are Cameron Thelander on tenor saxophone, Michael Palandri on alto saxophone and Sam Tarin on trumpet. The indie R&B band was a 2015 nominee in the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, R&B/Soul category, and for the last two years, they’ve had a song listed as a finalist in the Annual International Acoustic Music Awards.

The series ends on July 24 with the screening of “The Amazing Spiderman” (2012). Blue House will the start the evening off with a blues-fueled performance. Formed in 1990, Blue House consists of Joe Putjenter on drums; Stan Harper, saxophone/keyboards; David Eames, guitar; Mike Gallegos, bass; Joel Edwards, trumpet; and Scott Vicroy, saxophone. The band has released five albums, the most recent is the 2015 release, At the Pit.

Grass seating is available and blankets and chairs are welcome. Guckenheimer, the exclusive food service provider for the Holland Performing Arts Center, will provide concessions. No outside food, drink or pets are permitted.