The Toronto Symphony Orchestra have lined up a zany, animany and totally insane musical adventure with Animaniacs in Concert. Fun for the whole family, the event will see conductor Marc Mann and the orchestra bring songs from the cherished television series to life with the original voice actors Rob Paulsen (Yakko, Pinky) and Maurice LaMarche (The Brain), along with the Emmy-winning songwriter and composer himself, Randy Rogel.
The Toronto performance of Animaniacs in Concert is something of a homecoming for voice actor and comedian LaMarche, who tells Exclaim!, "Not only is it my place of birth, but it's where I first caught the performing bug, first in school shows at my alma mater, Georges Vanier Secondary School, then as an original performer at Yuk Yuk's on its opening night, honing my craft alongside my pals Howie Mandel and Jim Carrey."
The day is doubly special for LaMarche, as the March 30 performance falls on his birthday. "What a wonderful way to usher in the second half of my sixth decade!" he expresses. "My love of classical music began on my 10th birthday, and I'll get to perform in front of my hometown's world-class symphony orchestra on my 66th! There's a lovely symmetry to that, I feel — truly brings a smile to my face every time I think of it."
LaMarche shares with Exclaim! that for his 10th birthday, he was gifted a vinyl LP of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, fostering his love of classical music. "It was a dream of mine to be able to see the TSO live," he reflects. "Back then, it was conducted by the late Seiji Ozawa, so his recent passing brought me a particular sadness. However, we didn't have a lot of money, so it was never in my family's budget. After I moved to Los Angeles, I began to attend the Los Angeles Philharmonic regularly."
"Our matinee performance at Roy Thomson Hall on March 30 will be my first time hearing the TSO live and in person, ever. I can hardly wait!"
As for what audiences can expect from Animaniacs in Concert, LaMarche divulges, "They can expect not to leave with their free will intact, as I, the Brain, will be using a mind-control hypno-wheel to sap it, so that they leave the theatre under my control, as part of my latest plan… TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!! Also, they can expect lots of laughs, and a sweet trip down memory lane to a happier, simpler, zanier, Animani-er time."
Animaniacs in Concert takes place at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. All ticketing and event information can be found via the TSO's official website, where you can save on fees by using promo code "EXCLAIM" upon purchase.