Next season, Milwaukee Symphony will play live while showing favorite American movies
Milwaukee Symphony's next Pops season will include hits of the '70s and '80s, and a salute to the United States' 250th birthday.
Also, you'll be able to follow the yellow brick road to film screenings with the orchestra performing the score of Dorothy and Toto's excellent adventure.
All performances will be at the Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Here's a summary of the Pops and movies with orchestra lineup for 2025-'26.
Milwaukee Symphony Pops concerts
"Disco Divas,"Sept. 26-28. Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling leads a program drawing from the hits of Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross, plus other popular songs of the disco era. With vocalists Shayna Steele, Kelly LeVesque and Crystal Monee Hall.
"'Wizard of Oz' in Concert,"Nov. 7-9. The MSO will perform Milwaukee native Herbert Stothart's Oscar-winning score live while screening the classic 1939 film.
"Holiday Pops,"Dec. 13-21. Assistant conductor Ryan Tani will lead seven performances of the MSO's annual holiday production, featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble.
"Simply Swingin' Valentine,"Feb. 13-15, 2026. Vocalist Steve Lippia joins the orchestra to sing music associated with Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and others from the Hollywood songbook.
"Decades: Back to the '80s,"March 27-29, 2026. Stripling leads a program of hits from the 1980s, such as "Time After Time," "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Footloose." Vocalists Brie Cassil, Paul Loren and Colin Smith do the singing.
"America the Beautiful,"May 22-24, 2026. Joined by regular collaborator organist Bobby Floyd, Stripling plans a program celebrating the history of America music as this nation approaches its semiquincentennial , or 250th anniversary, in July.
MSO films with orchestra
"Hocus Pocus,"Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The MSO will play John Debney's score live as it screens this Halloween favorite.
"The Godfather,"Jan. 2-3, 2026. The MSO will perform Nino Rota's score live while screening this Oscar-winning classic.
For subscriptions and other info, visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605. Single tickets sales for shows begin Aug. 8.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Symphony's 2025-'26 Pops season includes 'Hocus Pocus'
