ST. CLOUD -- If you've ever been to a GREAT Theatre production, you've heard the wonderful music echoing throughout the Paramount Theatre.

The band is back together this weekend for GREAT Theatre's performance of Elf The Musical.

Kevin Stueven is the Orchestra Conduction and has been leading the group of musicians for roughly 10 years. He says with each performance they usually get the sheet music about a month out from the first dress rehearsal.

They work on it, we get together about three times to practice, then we get together with the cast, then we go into tech week.

Stueven has been playing music for GREAT Theatre since the beginning, first playing in the band and now leading it.

He says while it may seem to the audience that all he does is wave a stick, each movement is a different command.

When I move my hands down that signals a new measure. So if something goes wrong of they get lost they know when the next measure is. Then there is all kinds of things to cue somebody if they have a part they need to come in on.

Stueven says he has about 10-12 musicians for each performance and has had the same group for the last eight years.

He says as a musician the best feedback they receive is watching the cast light up the first time both groups work together.

Tickets for Elf the Musical are $40 and showtimes are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

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