Silent film

Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, presents an evening of classic silent film and live music on Friday, July 17, at 7 pm, when pianist and composer Peter Tavalin performs an improvised score to Harold Lloyd’s 1923 comedy “Safety Last!” Doors open at 6:15 pm.

Tavalin has been accompanying silent films since 1979, creating in-the-moment soundtracks that bring classic cinema to life. Drawing on skills as a composer and improviser, Tavalin crafts a unique experience for each performance, responding in real time to the action, emotion, and humor unfolding on screen. No two presentations are ever exactly alike.

For this performance, Tavalin selected “Safety Last!” widely regarded as one of the greatest silent comedies ever made. The film follows an ambitious young man navigating big-city life in pursuit of success, culminating in one of cinema’s most iconic and suspenseful sequences.

Tickets are $10. For more information or to purchase tickets go to nextstagearts.org.