June 17, 2016

Purdue Convocations announces its 2016-17 season

Convos Staples Mavis Staples' "Livin' on a High Note" will be Nov. 4 at Loeb Playhouse. (Photo provided) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Convocations' 2016-17season will feature more than 30 events, including an array of Broadway musicals, lectures, theatre, music and concerts.

Highlights of the season include "Dirty Dancing," “Mamma Mia!" The Farewell Tour, "Rent" 20th Anniversary Tour, "Pippin," "Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue," the Donny McCaslin Quartet, Mavis Staples and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, with Nikolai Luganski.

"The 2016-17 season will offer an incredibly diverse array of platforms and partnerships," said Todd Wetzel, Convocations executive director. "They range from the innovator-in-residence, professor Gil Weinberg from Georgia Tech University, who brings the artificial intelligence-driven improvising robots of Shimon Robot and Friends, to a conversation about the composition and character of the American ideal as seen through the eyes of renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. The 'Moving Images' platform includes a compelling investigation of powerful images and ideas that have shaped culture and society."

Other key partnerships include:

* The Confucius Institute at Purdue, along with Purdue Convocations, will co-host the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company for a Peking Opera-style reimagination of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," titled "The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan."

* Information Technology at Purdue will cosponsor the third edition of the "Dawn or Doom" symposium. It features a keynote speech from author Dave Eggers, whose 2013 novel "The Circle" addressed the anxieties of advancing technology.

* The cast, crew, and creative team for the touring Broadway production of "Dirty Dancing," will establish a two-week technical residency at Purdue as they launch this year's North American tour of the show from the Elliott Hall of Music.

Convos Bathgate Ashley Bathgate will perform "Bach Unwound" Dec. 10 at Loeb Playhouse. (Photo provided) Download image

In addition to scheduled public performances, thousands of students from preschool through high school also will attend a series of matinees and artist-in-residence activities that will be brought to schools. These events are open to all schools, and a complete list can be found at www.convocations.org.

Complete ticket pricing information and details on all performances are available at http://www.convocations.org, in the 2016-17 Convocations brochure, or by calling 765-494-9712. Tickets can also be ordered at the campus box offices, by phone at 765-494-3933, or at www.convocations.org/tickets.

Buying Schedule

June 17-July 1:  Friends of Convocations presale. Friends of Convocations are seated before the general public with the Priority Points System. Orders must be received by July 1 for both PICK5 and single tickets. Visit https://www.purdue.edu/convocations/support/ to join or call 765-494-9712.

July 25-29: PICK5 presale. Buy five shows or more and save an average of 15 percent off single ticket prices. If you're not a Friend of Convocations, you can place your PICK5 order beginning at 10 a.m. on July 25.

August 1 at 10 a.m.: all tickets on sale. If you're not a Friend of Convocations or a PICK5 buyer, you can place your single ticket order beginning at 10 a.m. on August 1. Discounted tickets also are available for groups of 10 or more.

The Purdue Convocations 2016-17 season schedule includes:

* "Dirty Dancing" – Sept. 10, 8 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music, Tickets: $26-$57. Dirty Dancing Residency: The production will be in residence for two weeks at Purdue as it prepares to launch its North American tour from Elliott Hall of Music.

* Pat Thomas and the Kwashibu Area Band – Sept. 16, 8 p.m., Purdue Memorial Union Ballroom. Tickets: $15-$20. General admission. All ages show. The AfroRoyále Dance Troupe will give a highlife dance demonstration and give a dance lesson prior to the show at 7 p.m. in the PMU Ballroom. This performance is a Purdue Convocations contribution to the expanded 2016 Global Fest lineup.

* "The Triplets of Belleville," a film adventure with live music featuring Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville with composer Benoît Charest – Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $22-28. This performance is a Purdue Convocations contribution to the expanded 2016 Global Fest lineup.

* Ken Burns: "The American Experience" – Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Free and open to the public. No ticket required. General admission seating. This event is presented by The Purdue Series on Corporate Citizenship and Ethics, Ackerman Center, Krannert School of Management, College of Liberal Arts, Discovery Lecture Series, Hall of Music Productions and Purdue Convocations.

* "The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan (Hamlet)," Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company – Sept. 23, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $25-36. Preshow discussion at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center. A member of the artistic staff will discuss Peking Opera history and performance practices.

* Dawn or Doom 2016: "Is Technology Moving Faster Than Our Ability to Understand?," a technology conference curated by the Office of the System Chief Information Officer. Keynote speakers include: Dave Eggers, Marcus Shingles and Jorge Cham. Oct. 3-4, Stewart Center, general admission seating, free admission.

* L.A. Theatre Works' "Judgment at Nuremberg" – Oct. 18-19, 7:30 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $22-30. Preshow discussion (Oct. 18 only) at 6:30 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206. Faculty experts will discuss the social, historical and political questions surrounding the Nuremberg trials.

* Sullivan Fortner & Friends – Oct. 22, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $15-20. Preshow discussion at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206. Judd Danby, composer, jazz pianist, and music educator, and Don Seybold, host of WBAA's Inside Jazz, for a discussion about the evening's performance.

* Mavis Staples "Livin' on a High Note" – Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $25-44. Pre-show discussion at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 202. James Dekle, Purdue Black Cultural Center artist-in-residence, will discuss Mavis Staples and her influence on gospel music and civil rights.

* "Kannapolis: A Moving Portrait," music by Jenny Scheinman and film by Finn Taylor – Nov. 11, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $18-25

* "ArcAttack: Energy and Electricity" – Nov. 13, 3 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $10-15. Pre-show activity at 2 p.m. in Stewart Center West Lobby. Purdue's Women in Engineering Program will offer fun demonstrations about electricity.

* Inon Barnatan, piano – Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $22-28.

*Ashley Bathgate: "Bach Unwound" – Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $15-20.

* Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, part of Purdue Jazz Festival – Jan. 20, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $24-$34. Preshow discussion at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 310. Don Seybold, host of Inside Jazz on WBAA, and pianist Judd Danby will discuss the evening's program.

* "Safety Last!," starring Harold Lloyd and featuring Clark Wilson at the Long Center Mighty Wurlitzer organ – Jan. 27, 8 p.m., Long Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: $12-18. Preshow discussion at 6:30 p.m. Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of Harold Lloyd, will discuss the filmmaker and the film. Presented by Purdue Convocations and The Long Center Theatre Organ Society.

* ERTH's "Dinosaur Zoo Live" – Jan. 29, 3 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $12-$20. Preshow activity at 2 p.m. in Stewart Center West Lobby.

* Calmus "All the World's a Stage: Shakespeare A Cappella" – Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas. Tickets: $22-28.

* Shimon Robot and Friends "Musical Robots and Cyborgs from Room 100" – 2016-2017 innovator-in-residence. – Feb. 18, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Free and open to the public. No ticket required. General admission seating. Presented by Purdue Convocations, College of Science, Indiana Space Grant Consortium, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Purdue Polytechnic Institute. Preshow discussion at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 214. Faculty experts will discuss the human and technological issues of robotics and artificial intelligence. Postshow discussion with our visiting researchers.

* The Seldoms "Power Goes" – Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $22-30. Preshow discussion at 6:30 p.m. in PMU Lafayette Room. Northwestern University professor Michael J. Kramer will discuss the history of the Seldoms dance company and the Power Goes project. Postshow discussion in Loeb Playhouse with Kramer and the Seldoms dance company immediately following the performance.

* "Mamma Mia!" Farewell Tour – Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: $26-57.

* "Pete the Cat" TheatreworksUSA – Feb. 26, 3 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $10-$15. Preshow activity at 2 p.m. in Stewart Center West Lobby. Get your picture taken with Pete the Cat and enjoy Pete the Cat activities. The Purdue student chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners will present cat-related activities.

* St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra with Nikolai Lugansky, piano – March 2, 7:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: $20-46. Preshow discussion at 6:30 p.m. Nick Palmer, music director and conductor of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, will discuss the evening's program.

* "Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue" – March 22, 7:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: $22-38. Preshow discussion at 6:30 p.m. A member of the artistic staff will discuss the evening’s performance and the Bollywood movie and dance tradition.

* TEDxPurdueU – March 25, Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $15-$25.

* "Rent" 20th Anniversary Tour – March 29, 7:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: $26-57.

* tenThing – March 30, 7:30 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $22-28.

* Donny McCaslin Quartet – April 6, 8 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $20-26. Preshow discussion at 7 p.m. Judd Danby, composer, jazz pianist, and music educator, and Don Seybold, host of WBAA's Inside Jazz, will discuss the evening's performance.

* "Pippin," the Broadway musical – April 15, 7:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: $26-57.

* Verona String Quartet and Daniel Hsu, piano – April 23, 3 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $15-20. 

Sources: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-5045, aeeddy@purdue.edu

Todd Wetzel, Purdue Convocations executive director, 765-494-9712 

Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photographs are available by contacting Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-5045, aeeddy@purdue.edu

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