Jurassic Park: Live In Concert, featuring the Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra, is coming to the Sony Centre just in time for the holiday season. One of the most popular and well-regarded films of the 1990s will be screened accompanied by a full orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score. Presented by the Sony Centre and Attila Glatz Concert Productions, the show will run for two nights, December 28 and 29.

The Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Evan Mitchell, will play the score live to picture so audiences experience a full and simultaneous movie and concert. Mitchell led the live orchestra last year for a showing of E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial and is looking forward to conducting through another Spielberg film.

Although not the most traditional symphony performance, Mitchell understands the appeal of this unique, but increasingly common, format. “The reason why these shows are so popular, is because in my opinion, this is the greatest way to be able to experience these films… I think it’s magic.”

On the difficulty with sticking to precise timing of the score alongside the film, Mitchell, and the orchestra, aren’t phased. “It’s an additional element of challenge but it’s a challenge I enjoy very much.” These shows, he adds, “are a blast. They’re so much fun”

Andrea Warren, Vice-President, Marketing & Project Development of Attila Glatz Concert Productions, has seen crowds around the world drawn to this performance format. “It’s a great way to introduce people to the orchestra and to introduce people to these classic films”, Warren explains. “It’s a really neat model.”

Warren also believes that combining the concert-going experience and the movie-going experience is a natural fit for audiences. As she notes, “Both are much better in the company of others.”

Based on the success of past shows, audiences, it seems, would agree.

If you attend the December 28 show, there is a pre-performance conversation with Toronto Film Critic and TV Host Richard Crouse and Conductor Evan Mitchell, which will give some behind-the-scenes detail on how the whole production comes together. The pre-show talk is open to all ticket-holders attending the Thursday performance.