While George A. Romero might be best known for changing horror forever with Night of the Living Dead, a lost short has evaded completionists for years — until now. The George A. Romero Foundation just announced the world premiere of George A. Romero’s “A Night at the Symphony,” a new concert featuring rediscovered footage from the director’s short film Expostulations.
The concert, which takes place at the Byham Theater where Night of the Living Dead originally premiered, features music composed and arranged by Christian Kriegeskotte. During the event, audiences will hear homages to the music and films that inspired Romero, as well as newly orchestrated music from his films and an original score to accompany a screening of Expostulations — all performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh.
Expostulations was originally believed to be lost after its making in 1962, with original prints destroyed in a basement flood. New 16mm footage was recently discovered, with the Romero Foundation preserving and restoring it so audiences can experience a time capsule of Pittsburgh’s Hill District and those that lived in it. The concert will also feature an original overture composed by Kriegeskotte called “Beyond the Living Dead,” a theme and variations inspired by the first 10 notes of the Night of the Living Dead score.
“My dad was relentlessly curious, and his imagination was never confined to a single genre, medium, or moment in his career,” says Romero’s daughter Tina Romero. “A Night at the Symphony gives audiences access to parts of that creative journey that are rarely seen together. Dad loved music and had a huge collection of movie scores on vinyl. He absolutely would have loved this project. To premiere it in Pittsburgh, in the very theater where Night of the Living Dead was introduced to audiences nearly six decades ago, makes the evening especially meaningful.”
All proceeds from the event will benefit the George A. Romero Foundation, and fans can purchase VIP packages that give them even further access to the event. The VIP package includes an exclusive t-shirt, signed concert poster, and a surprise goodie bag, and attendees can also level up for a special meet and greet with the GARF creative team and certain unannounced special guests.
George A. Romero’s “A Night at the Symphony” premieres on March 26, 2027. For tickets and more information, you can check out the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s website.
