The English playwright鈥檚 masterpieces have been translated into many languages, but the arrangements of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Flying Horse Big Band with vocals coordinated by the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre reinforces that music is the universal language.

鈥淪hakespeare Swings!鈥� will give the bard鈥檚 time-tested lyrics and sonnets a new sound at 8 p.m. April 11 as part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 free April 10-15 arts festival. The weeklong event of artistic presentations by university students, faculty members and partners will showcase studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography and film in one venue for the first time.

The Flying Horse Big Band, formerly the 麻豆原创 Jazz Ensemble I, is composed of students from the university鈥檚 jazz studies program under director Jeff Rupert. Rupert, whose range of talents includes saxophonist, composer, record producer and recording artist, said it was a great opportunity to bring together the mash-up with the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.聽聽

鈥淥ur collaborative production of jazz-music-meets-Shakespeare came together naturally because many composers and musicals already embody Shakespeare and/or are inspired by Shakespeare鈥檚 works,鈥� Rupert said. 聽鈥淚n our performance of 鈥楽uch Sweet Thunder鈥� for 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts, as it relates to the famed balcony scene of 鈥楻omeo and Juliet,鈥� the tenor saxophone will represent Romeo and the alto saxophone will represent Juliet.鈥�

When 麻豆原创 announced the arts festival, community partners were asked to help develop some collaborative ideas.

鈥淚 had been dreaming of doing some sort of Shakespeare cabaret production to showcase the love songs of Shakespeare,鈥� said Jim Helsinger, artistic director at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, which has been a 麻豆原创 partner for 26 years. Helsinger credits Jeff Moore, chair of the 麻豆原创 Music Department, with suggesting a Shakespeare program with the 麻豆原创 jazz studies program.聽

The world-premiere revue will hit a high note with a variety of original compositions, swing music and Broadway standards.

鈥淲ith much of Shakespeare we have the lyrics but not the music so our performance will have new interpretations, such as for 鈥楾he Two Gentlemen of Verona鈥� and 鈥楾he Wind and The Rain鈥� from 鈥楾welfth Night,鈥欌�� said Helsinger.

Rupert said developing the program was a fun project for the jazz students.

鈥淭he band even helped to come up with the title of 鈥楽hakespeare Swings!,鈥欌�澛� he said.

The singers for the show will be local performers Michael Andrew and Andrea Canny, with guest artist Sisaundra Lewis, a fan favorite on the sixth season of NBC鈥檚 鈥淭he Voice.鈥�

鈥淪hakespeare Swings!鈥� is one of several musical collaborations planned for 麻豆原创 and select partners during 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts. Some other partnerships include 麻豆原创 Choirs providing vocals for the Orlando Repertory Theatre鈥檚 production of 鈥淐ivil War Voices,鈥� which uses diaries and letters to tell the true stories of people who lived through the war, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsal for 鈥淭osca鈥� with an instructional class for voice students.

All events to 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts 2015 are free, but tickets are required for many of the programs, including the performance of 鈥淪hakespeare Swings!鈥澛� The April 10-15 festival will feature studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography and film at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando.聽 Visit 聽for more information, tickets聽and updated scheduling.

Sisaundra Lewis, who became a fan favorite with her powerhouse voice during Season 6 of NBC鈥檚 The Voice, headlined 鈥淛azz On A Green.鈥� 麻豆原创鈥檚 Flying Horse Big Band opened the show.

Participants praised the opportunity to enjoy music on a cool fall night in Orlando鈥檚 emerging Medical City. The Tavistock Green was covered with patrons, coolers of food, blankets and lawn chairs, with the stage鈥檚 backdrop the 麻豆原创 Health Sciences Campus. Food trucks lined Lake Nona Boulevard.

As she took the stage, Lewis talked about the location and the importance of giving back to the community鈥檚 young people. 鈥淚t is such a beautiful evening,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am so delighted to join you here tonight at the College of Medicine, raising funds for scholarships and for our children at the . You all should give yourselves a round of applause for coming out to support such great causes.鈥�

The outdoor concert was presented by CFE Federal Credit Union. Joseph A. Melbourne, Jr., president of CFE, said the credit union is the key sponsor of the event because 鈥渨e believe in people helping people. We believe it鈥檚 very important to support Jazz On A Green because we want to raise some funds for the community.鈥�

Lewis, one of eight children born in Haines City, grew up singing in the choir at her father鈥檚 church. She started her career with Grammy and Oscar Award winner Peabo Bryson, who invited her to tour the world with him as a backing vocalist and his new duet partner. Her acquaintance with Bryson led to a worldwide tour with Grammy and Oscar Award winner Celine Dion. Lewis spent several years working with Dion as her backing vocalist, vocal director and choreographer.

She blew away all four judges on this season鈥檚 The Voice and chose Coach Blake Shelton who told her, “You’re One In A Trillion.鈥� Since being , Lewis has been giving motivational talks and performing at promotional and philanthropic events.

At Jazz On A Green, she sang some of the songs she had performed during The Voice and rocked the house with the Whitney Houston hit, 鈥淭he Greatest Love of All.鈥� The song鈥檚 opening lyrics resonated with the crowd and the purpose of the fundraising event: 鈥淚 believe the children are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way.鈥�

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Joseph A. Melbourne, Jr., president of CFE, said the credit union is the key sponsor of the event because 鈥渨e believe in people helping people.鈥� The credit union provides $50,000 worth of scholarships a year. 鈥淲e believe it鈥檚 very important to support Jazz On A Green because we want to raise some funds for the community,鈥� he said.

Lewis, one of eight children born in Haines City, grew up singing in the choir at her father鈥檚 church. She started her career with Grammy and Oscar Award winner Peabo Bryson, who invited her to tour the world with him as a backing vocalist and his new duet partner. Her acquaintance with Bryson led to a worldwide tour with Grammy and Oscar Award winner Celine Dion. Lewis spent several years working with Dion as her backing vocalist, vocal director and choreographer.

She blew away all four judges on this season鈥檚 The Voice and chose Coach Blake Shelton who told her, “You’re One In A Trillion.鈥� Coach Usher told Lewis he was 鈥渂lown away鈥� at her voice, saying, 鈥淵ou are our teacher, even as experienced as we are.鈥� Fellow coach Shakira said 鈥淪isaundra is one of the most amazing vocalists I’ve ever heard.鈥�

So bring your picnic basket, a blanket and a friend and enjoy a night of jazz with a Central Florida superstar 鈥� all for a good cause.