Photo by Eric Ayres The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and its sponsors are getting ready for the launch of the 2025-26 season with the first show of its Pops series, celebrating the jazzy 1920s era with Prohibition. A Speakeasy in the Alley fundraiser will take place prior to the concert. From left are Carl Carenbauer of Carenbauer Distributing, WSO Director of Development Laura Rauch, Jennifer Crouch of Felton CPA, Phillip Carl of WVU Medicine and Jeremy West of WesBanco.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its 2025-26 concert series by stepping back in time to the 1920s with a Jazz Age celebration titled Prohibition.

The Pops Series concert will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling. Show time is 7:30 p.m.

“It’s the start of our 2025-2026 Capitol Series,” said Sadie Varlas, marketing and development coordinator for the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. “It’s also the start of our Pops Series — the first of our three Pops concerts.”

While the Roaring Twenties were historically remembered as a time of economic prosperity and innovation, the prohibition era through the 1920s also saw the rise of organized crime, bootlegging, illegal gambling and a host of cultural shifts.

This unique period will be celebrated during the concert.

“The theme is 1920s Prohibition – everything Jazz Age,” Varlas said. “We’re expecting people to come in costume, I hope – flapper dresses, fedoras … that kind of thing. The song selection is all of the famous hits from the 1920s – “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “La Vie En Rose,” “Mack the Knife” – it’s going to be a really jazzy, fun, carefree kind of vibe.”

Guest artists John Riesen, Alyson Cambridge and Sarah Uriarte Berry will join the symphony for the performance.

Prior to the concert, a Speakeasy in the Alley fundraiser will take place in the alley north of the Capitol Theatre’s main entrance. The alley leads to a scenic open area overlooking the Ohio River and the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. The Speakeasy in the Alley will start at 5 p.m. Limited tickets to this special pre-concert fundraiser are available for $125 and will feature unique back-alley fare.

“We’re going to have live entertainment. There will be moonshine available for tasting and food, as well,” Varlas said.

The symphony’s Capitol Series is sponsored by WesBanco. The Pops Series for the season is sponsored by WVU Medicine, and next weekend’s performance of Prohibition is sponsored by Felton CPA, with additional support provided by Kevin and Niki Stingle and Carenbauer Distributing.

“The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra itself is a crucial part of the city of Wheeling,” said Carenbauer, noting that his company was happy to sponsor the show … and to help celebrate the end of prohibition. “From the Prohibition aspect – being in the beer business, it’s kind of a natural fit.”

Phillip Carl, marketing and communications director for WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, said they are looking forward to the WSO season kickoff and what promises to be an exciting first concert of the Pops Series.

“I think any kind of large community event is important for us to be a part of,” Carl said. “Our responsibilities don’t just lie within the walls of our hospital, but being good stewards of the community and events that promote camaraderie, the arts, history and culture – the symphony has been such a longstanding pillar of the community, and it’s important for us to be a part of that.”

For tickets and additional information about the Prohibition concert or the Speakeasy in the Alley fundraiser before the show, or to find out more about the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and the 2025-26 Capitol Season, visit wheelingsymphony.com.