Silent Film "Battleship Potemkin" to be Screened with George Sarah's New Live Score

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse – reflecting its own historic path from silent movie house to one of the Southland’s leading performing arts centers – bridges silent-film history and live music vitality with a program pairing the groundbreaking 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin with the world premiere of a music score for string quartet and vocal quintet composed and conducted live by George Sarah. Back-to-back performances are set for Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic 99-seat venue.

Sergei Eisenstein’s cinematic landmark, which still resonates today, charts the 1905 uprising aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin with gripping montage, rhythm and emotional energy. 

Sarah, known for melding electronic, classical and chamber music traditions, reimages the film, bringing his unique sonic voice to this filmic masterpiece — integrating string quartet textures, a five-voice vocal ensemble, and subtle electronic elements to transform the screening into a multisensory experience. With Sarah’s score, the visuals are echoed and amplified: the strings underscore dramatic tension and camaraderie; the voices give human edge to mass uprising; and the electronics add depth and contemporary resonance.

The performers include George Sarah, composer/arranger, synths/electronics; soprano Jenna Hansen; mezzo soprano Anna Caplan; tenors George Sterne and Sean McDermott; Kaija Hansen, violin/viola; Katie Kim, violin; and cellists Carolyn Regula and Paul Hyun.

This blended cinematic revival and live concert is an example of the type of bold and innovative programming Sierra Madre Playhouse, led by Artistic and Executive Director Matt Cook, has become known for in recent years.

For tickets ($30) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
Film Music
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
$30
Email:
info@sierramadreplayhouse.org
Phone:
(626) 355-4318
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Performers

George Sarah composer/arranger, synths and electronics
Jenna Hansen soprano
Anna Caplan mezzo soprano
George Sterne tenor
Sean McDermott tenor
Kaija Hansen violin/viola
Katie Kim violin
Carolyn Regula cello
Paul Hyun cello

Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

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Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.