COME DISCOVER BAYCOURT’S MIGHTY WURLITZER THEATRE ORGAN
What in the World is the Wurli? open day & concert this October
Did you know hidden beneath Baycourt’s Addison Theatre stage is one of the finest Wurlitzer organs in all of the Southern Hemisphere?
Baycourt Presents and Tauranga Theatre Organ Society is proud to bring you What in the World is the Wurli? guided tours and concert starring Scott Harrison at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre on Sunday 6 October.
Harrison will lead the free guided tours that run every half hour from 10am to 12:30pm, then star in a ticketed concert designed to display the full range of the Wurlitzer organ in the Addison Theatre at 4pm.
Baycourt manager James Wilson said the purpose of What in the World is the Wurli? is to make this remarkable instrument more accessible to the Tauranga community, “because at the end of the day it belongs to them too”.
“When it is fired up and in action, the Mighty Wurli fills the Addison Theatre with a truly unmistakeable sound. This living, breathing and constantly evolving instrument is an amazing feat of engineering.
“The Wurli is Baycourt’s pride and joy, and thanks to the support and hard work of the Tauranga Theatre Organ Society, it is kept in mint condition and ready to thrill a whole new generation of audiences.”
Each 25-minute tour has space available for up to 10 people and are free to the public. There is also no requirement to pre-book but participants will need to make sure they are in the Baycourt foyer at least five minutes before each tour starts.
The tours will begin with Harrison performing on the Wurlitzer while explaining how it works, then participants will be shown the “nuts and bolts” of the organ with tours of the Wurli’s instrument chambers, blower and relay rooms.
Wilson said Harrison took him on a guided tour of the Wurlitzer when he last performed at Baycourt in 2018 and this experience had left a lasting impression on him.
“His knowledge and passion really shone through as he explained how the Wurlitzer works and how the organ connects the player to a whole orchestra of different instruments, it is extremely fascinating.”
Later that afternoon at 4pm, Harrison will star in a concert showcasing the full range of the Wurlitzer, with a programme including items by Doris Day, Bette Middler, WC Handy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, plus screenings of silent films on Baycourt’s Big Screen. The concert is ticketed, with tickets from $15.00 plus service fees.
Wilson said it is always exciting to host Harrison who is a Wurlitzer maestro that has performed on theatre organs around the world for more than three decades.
“Since 1992 Scott has performed at Baycourt more times than I can count and he always delivers concerts that give audiences an absolutely fantastic experience.
“During this time has also worked closely with the Tauranga Theatre Organ Society and played a major role in evolving and upgrading our Wurlitzer to ensure it is in great condition, to be enjoyed by generations to come.”
Baycourt Presents and Tauranga Theatre Organ Society presents What in the World is the Wurli? open day and concert starring Scott Harrison at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre on Sunday 6 October. Tickets from $15.00, ticketing service fees apply.
For more information visit www.baycourt.co.nz or to purchase tickets visit the Ticketek website www.ticketek.co.nz or call 0800 TICKETEK.
