By Noela Hueso

A TFT professor and four alums are instrumental in showcasing the evening in which the music of Frank Zappa’s surrealistic “200 Motels” (1971) gets its world premiere with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Conductor laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the 10th anniversary of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Sheila Vand, B.A. ’06, will perform and James Darrah, M.F.A. ’10, will direct. Cameron Mock, M.F.A ’11 handles the projection and lighting design; Emily MacDonald, M.F.A. ’13, is the scenic designer. TFT Professor of Costume Design Chrisi Karvonides has envisioned the evening’s wardrobe, which she describes as “an eclectic mix of ’70s and contemporary couture with a rock and roll twist.”

This is not the first time Zappa’s “Motel” music has been played by the LA Phil. In May 1970, Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra along with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention playing a version of Zappa’s “Concerto for Mothers and Orchestra,” portions of which were later incorporated into Zappa’s film, which premiered a year later.

Included in the evening are scenes from “200 Motels,” which the late Roger Ebert said, “assaults the mind with everything on hand.”

Posted: October 3, 2013