TCG Entertainment to bring Ella Fitzgerald to the stage again with symphony orchestra live touring event

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation has partnered with the touring live productions specialist, TCG Entertainment on a project to bring the music of the iconic jazz singer to audiences around the world with a live symphony orchestra.

In a deal brokered by the Foundation’s global licensing and brand management agency, Evolution USA, the official licensed production will allow audiences to experience the greatest hits of Ella Fitzgerald with the arrangements of an orchestra, as well as multi-media elements, including never before seen assets from the Foundation’s archive.

Shows are scheduled to launch in 2022.

The partnership with the Foundation and Evolution is part of TCG’s overall strategy to grow its portfolio of official live events and immersive experiences for music fans around the world. 

Ella Fitzgerald in Concert will include arrangements of her greatest songs performed by a live symphony orchestra. The show will also include multiple singers and a full band. A multimedia version of the show will  also be produced and include video, photography, spoken word, writings, and other never before seen items provided directly by the Foundation’s archivists.  

These concerts are scheduled to start touring during the 2022 season and will perform throughout the United States and in international markets around the world.  

Stephen Cook, president of TCG Entertainment, said: “We are humbled and excited to be working with the Foundation and Evolution on bringing this iconic artist’s music to the concert hall in an official and entirely new way. These shows will perform in symphony halls, theaters and performing arts centers around the world.”  

Stanley Lerman, chief operating officer of Evolution, added: “We were seeking a best in class production partner to bring Ella’s phenomenal body of work to new audiences in a very unique way that would create lasting memories and share her lifelong legacy. We are excited to partner with the talented TCG team to create and tour this highly immersive symphony show on behalf of the Foundation.” 

MGM to bring Rocky and Legally Blonde to live concerts with TCG Entertainment

The film, television, and entertainment production unit, MGM has partnered with TCG Entertainment, a leading producer of touring live productions, to launch a new live Films in Concert Series featuring Rocky and Legally Blonde.

Set for a summer 2021 launch, the partnership will mark the first time that audiences around the world will be able to experience the anthems of Rocky as well as fan-favourite tunes from Legally Blonde, as performed live by a full symphony orchestra and played in sync to the films.

The new partnership with TCG Entertainment is part of MGM’s overall strategy to grow its portfolio of live events and immersive experiences that let fans enjoy and engage with their favourite films and characters beyond the big screen.

The Rocky in Concert series will include six musical events for each of the six films in the original franchise, beginning with Rocky. Audiences will be able to hear the iconic music from the films performed live by a full orchestra, while watching the movies on larger than life screens.

The concert will aim to take the audiences along for the emotional ride of Rocky’s transformation from underdog to champion to his fight in Russia to the finale Rocky Balboa. Each of the events will also feature interactive experiences along with pop-up retails kiosks and exclusive merchandise.

Meanwhile, Legally Blonde in Concert will get fans amped up and inspired as they relive the adventures of Elle Woods while listening to orchestrations of their favorite songs from the soundtrack. Fans will also be able to enjoy pop-up retail kiosks and interactive experiences on site.

Both events are currently scheduled to tour through North America, Europe, and Australia, with additional markets to be added. The concerts are planned to begin in July 2021 and run through the end of June 2024.

Robert Marick, MGM’s executive vice president, global consumer products and experiences, said: “MGM is looking to create additional ways that fans can interact with and enjoy their favorite stories and characters well beyond the end credits of the film.

“The concert events for both Rocky and Legally Blonde are part of our strategy of developing meaningful experiences that fans will love. TCG are true experts in this space and we couldn’t have asked for better partners as we kick off this brand-new initiative.”

Stephen Cook, president of TCG Entertainment, added: “We are excited to be working with MGM on bringing the iconic Rocky film series and Legally Blonde to the concert hall. Both Rocky and Legally Blonde are fantastic films with great music.  These shows will perform in symphony halls, theaters and performing arts centers around the world.”

MGM’s Rocky and Creed spinoff films have generated more than $1.3 billion in worldwide box-office sales, three Academy Awards, and 10 nominations, while the box office smash, Legally Blondecontinues to resonate with new generations of audiences. It was recently announced that Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor have signed on to co-write the script for the film’s third iteration, Legally Blonde 3, which will see Reese Witherspoon reprise her role as Elle Woods.