Andrew Earle Simpson conducts Buster Keaton’s The General at the River Oaks Theatre, April 2025 (Rolando Ramon)
HOUSTON, TX – ROCO’s Connections Series returns to the recently renovated River Oaks Theatre this fall for FROM SILENCE TO SOUND, featuring another night of live music at the cinema. On Friday, November 14, 2025, at 8:00 p.m., acclaimed silent film composer and conductor Andrew Earle Simpson returns with an ensemble of ROCO musicians to bring the works of silent-era legend Charlie Chaplin and comedic duo Laurel and Hardy to life with live film score performances.
With the revitalized River Oaks Theatre having once again opened its doors as a premier destination for Houston’s movie-goers, it has become home to one of ROCO’s most cherished collaborations and immersive experiences. In this performance, ROCO fuses the excitement of live film scores with slapstick comedy and sweeping romantic adventure across three cinematic classics: Charlie Chaplin’s The Immigrant, Laurel and Hardy’s Liberty, and Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony: “Music Land.” The one-night event transports audiences back to the early days of American cinema, where ensembles frequently performed live music at showings of silent films before recorded soundtracks became common.
Andrew Earle Simpson, who previously led the ensemble in their debut at the theatre last season, brings decades of experience composing and performing original scores for silent cinema. Using comedic timing and vibrant storytelling in his film scores and musical direction, he will lead the ensemble in creating a night filled with thrills, laughter, and nostalgic fun.
“There’s something about seeing a silent film with live music that makes the experience very different…it draws you into the film in a different way [and] it becomes very immersive,” says Simpson.
“There’s this living, breathing quality to it…the audience is with the musicians, reacting in real time. You’re sharing that journey with the musicians—you don’t get that from a recorded score.”
The performance begins at 8:00 p.m., but attendees can enter the venue as early as 7:00 p.m. for a preshow dinner, which will be available for purchase separately from admission tickets.
Tickets with reserved seating for this performance will be available soon at the River Oaks Theatre’s box office site. Visitors can sign up via e-form to receive an email update once tickets become available for purchase.
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