Concert with a comic touch

Some comic relief is at hand this weekend, courtesy of the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra. Joe Piscopo, of “Saturday Night Live” fame, brings his special talents to the Orchestra’s annual Gala Benefit for United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau on Sunday.
It will be an afternoon of comedy and song on the Tilles Center stage with this very special guest.
Everyone remembers Piscopo from his “Saturday Night Live” days. What many may not know is that in addition to being one of America’s most beloved funny guys, Piscopo is also an accomplished pianist, guitarist and singer. His singing specialty is the music made popular by none other than Frank Sinatra.
Piscopo’s career has taken him from television, to the movies, to the Broadway stage, and performing stages of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. On top of this, Piscopo always finds time to help various charities, concentrating his efforts on young people
in need. On Oct. 11, UCPN becomes his

beneficiary.
“We’re always excited about our shows, but especially so this year,” said NPSO conductor Maestro Louis Panacciulli. “We’re very excited to work with a guy like Joe Piscopo. He’s a great talent.”
Piscopo will bring his musical comedy stylings to this performance, a first for the Nassau Pops.
In keeping with the television theme, the NPSO opens the evening with two medleys. The first is an ode to when television was young, featuring the themes from “Dragnet,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “The Lone Ranger,” “The Honeymooners,” and “I Love Lucy.” The second is a nostalgic look at the technological age as “The Flintstones” meets “The Jetsons” in a medley featuring the familiar melodies from those beloved
cartoons.
The concert also pays tribute to the legendary Benny Goodman in, this, his centennial year. The orchestra will be joined by clarinetist Errol Schlabach, who will be making his third appearance with The Nassau Pops at Tilles Center. Schlabach’s artistry on the clarinet will bring the audience back to the Big Band Era when the King of Swing ruled so majestically. As an added treat, Schlabach and the NPSO will be performing some of Goodman’s original arrangements from the 1940s.
To recreate the Big Band sound, the NPSO has increased its normal complement of musicians, from a 60-piece orchestra to 70-pieces. “We will have some Big Band elements,” Panacciull said. “We will have a full sax section and a brass section to accommodate the special arrangements. I like to think of us as strings that swing.”
Of course, NPSO’s yearly benefit concert is never complete without an appearance by Creation, the group of talented singers who participate in UCPN’s Adult Day Treatment Program. They’ll perform several selections, which always bring the audience to their feet. “It’s a tradition for them to perform with us,” Panaccuilli said. “Each year they get better and better. We’re always happy to have them with us. They’re a credit to the work of UCPN.”
Creation will sing Etta James’ “At Last,” Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” and the popular ballad“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.”
Panacciulli credits the generosity of its major sponsor, American Defense Systems, Inc. for its generous support of the Nassau Pops and in recognizing and contributing to the extraordinary work done by United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau. Due to this support, all box office receipts will be donated to United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau.
Over 1,800 children and adults with cerebral palsy, developmental and other disabilities attend the UCPN center in Roosevelt. Everything from rehabilitation to recreational therapy, education to employment and specialized primary medical care is available on-site at the private thirteen-acre
campus.

Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra Gala Benefit
for United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau

Sunday, Oct. 11, 3 p.m. Reserved seats are $30. All proceeds are donated to UCPN. Tickets are available through TillesCharge at (516) 299-3100 or www.tillescenter.org. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, CW. Post Campus, Rte. 25A, Brookville.