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Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Classical Kids Live:
Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Sunday
May 3, 2026
3:00 PM
Winston-Salem Symphony
Classical Kids Live Theatre Company
Sarah Cartwright Christoph
Joe Lehman Uncle
Michelle Merrill Conductor
Sunday, May 3 at 3PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Wake Forest University
Geared toward young audiences, this world-famous production focuses on the “madman” who has moved into the upstairs apartment of teenage Christoph’s home in Vienna. But through a tender correspondence, Christoph slowly comes to understand the genius of Beethoven and the beauty of his music.
It’s an award-winning tale about overcoming personal obstacles, understanding differences, and finding compassion, all interspersed with over 25 excerpts of Beethoven’s timeless music, including Für Elise, the “Moonlight” Sonata, and the Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth symphonies.
Runtime: 50 minutes
Appropriate ages: 6 and up
Preconcert activities at 2pm in the Brendle lobby and in Room 201, just off the lobby.
THE
MONTGOMERY/TUCKER
CHARITABLE FUND
The theatrical concert version of Beethoven Lives Upstairs is an adaptation of the best-selling and award-winning Classical Kids audio recording, Beethoven Lives Upstairs, produced by Susan Hammond and originally directed as a staged concert by Peter Moss with additional direction by Dennis Garnhum. Classical Kids® is a trademark licensed exclusively to Pement Enterprises and produced by Classical Kids Music Education, NFP.
Sunday
May 3
3:00 PM
Venue
Brendle Recital Hall
Scale Fine Arts Center, Wake Forest University
2629 Wake Forest Rd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Parking available in campus lots adjacent to Scales Fine Arts Center on the north and east (across the street, aside Wait Chapel) sides of the building.
Rideshare and Dining
Synopsis
The funereal second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony sets the scene as we travel back in time from March 26, 1827, the day of Beethoven’s death, into the more intimate setting of young Christoph’s house in Vienna a few years before. Christoph’s father has just died, and his mother has rented out the spare room upstairs to Ludwig van Beethoven. The aging composer proves to be a less than ideal house guest, stomping up and down the stairs at all hours of the night, tracking mud through the halls, and even pouring buckets of water over his head! Shocked by Mr. Beethoven’s bad behavior, Christoph writes letters to his uncle who is studying music in Salzburg complaining about the composer’s peculiar habits. Christoph’s uncle assures him that although Mr. Beethoven may seem outwardly gruff and strange, there are reasons behind his behavior. As Christoph spends more time with Mr. Beethoven, he learns about Ludwig’s own unhappy childhood, his fear of losing his hearing, and his supernatural musical abilities.
Cast & Crew
Paul Pement Director & Producer
Paul serves as Executive & Artistic Director of Classical Kids Music Education, a non-profit arts organization focused on introducing children (and their parents) to the lives and musical masterpieces of the great classical composers. A BFA in theatre from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and professional experience as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer and stage manager have enabled Paul to achieve success with Classical Kids LIVE! programming – the “gold-star” leader in the field for creating theatrical family concerts presented by professional symphony orchestras throughout North America and abroad. Production titles include Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage, Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Gershwin’s Magic Key, and the newest in the series, Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow.
Sarah Cartwright Christoph
Sarah has been performing with Classical Kids as Christoph in Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Karl Mozart in Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage since 2018. She grew up in Minnesota and always had a soft spot for classical music thanks to her music-therapist parents. Growing up, she even listened to the Classical Kids recordings! Sarah moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University and has worked as an actor and educator in the Windy City ever since. Favorite past productions include Pinocchio (Neverbird Project/Chicago Children’s Theatre), Grey House and The Haven Place (A Red Orchid Theatre), A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch (The House Theatre of Chicago), and James and the Giant Peach (Northwestern University).
Joe Lehman Uncle
Joe is tremendously grateful to be an artist with Classical Kids Live and performs in three shows with the company: Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage, Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery. A longtime Chicago based member of Actors’ Equity, Joe has worked with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Theatre, Creede Repertory, Fireside Theatre, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Springer Opera House, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Little Theatre on the Square, Meadowbrook Theatre Shaw Chicago, Illinois Theatre Center, Light Opera Works and First Folio, among many others. His directing work also includes shows with Williams Street Rep, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Citadel Theatre, and Maples Rep among others.