Purdue Arts and Entertainment News

April 3, 1998 Purdue Theatre presents 'School for Scandal' April 22-25 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue Theatre's Second Season will conclude with Richard Brinsley Sheridan's comedy of errors, "The School for Scandal." Sheridan's wit and charm earned him a place in American history for his fervent pro-Colonial speeches during the American Revolution. This play, first performed in 1777, was known to be a favorite of fellow patriot George Washington. It will be presented in Creative Arts Building 3 at 8 p.m. April 22-25. A matinee will be offered at 2:30 p.m. April 25. The show is directed by Master of Fine Arts candidate Eric Sydnor. Graduate and undergraduate actors make up the cast. Tickets are $5 at the Loeb Box Office, (765) 494-3933. Seating is limited. CONTACT: Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre publicist, (765) 494-3084; e-mail, thtrasst@purdue.edu; Web, http://www.sla.purdue.edu/theatre Singing telegram awaits patrons of 'The Birthday Party' WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A unique birthday gift awaits patrons at Purdue Theatre's upcoming production of Harold Printer's "The Birthday Party." Each night of the production, a singing telegram featuring an original song will be delivered to an audience member celebrating a birthday. Only one singing telegram will be delivered each night. Arrangements will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details, contact Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre publicist, (765) 494-3084; e-mail, thtrasst@purdue.edu. Sparger said that during auditions for the play, one actress delivered a singing telegram that she had written. As the director began organizing the show, he decided it would be a great idea to include such telegrams in the productions and deliver them to audience members. The show will be presented on The Experimental Theatre stage in Stewart Center at 8 p.m. April 16-25. A matinee also will be offered at 2:30 p.m. April 25, and the final performance will be at 6 p.m. April 26. Sneak previews will be offered at 7:30 p.m. April 14 and 15. Tickets are $7 for students and senior citizens, $11 for others, and $4.50 for the sneak previews. They are available at the Loeb Box Office, (765) 494-3933. For discounted group ticket sales, call (765) 494-3084. CONTACT: Sparger, (765) 494-3084; e-mail, thtrasst@purdue.edu; Web, http://www.sla.purdue.edu/theatre Purdue Bands present 8 concerts this month WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- From classical to jazz, concert bands to drum lines, Purdue University Bands will feature all its spring ensembles in eight concerts April 15-26. All are free and open to the public. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, a variety of percussion ensembles will present a concert at the Morton Community Center, 222 N. Chauncey, West Lafayette. Featuring the Latin Band, the Percussion Ensemble, the Marimba Rag Band and the Winter Drum Line, the concert will incorporate music of a wide variety of styles, including salsa and Latin jazz, classical percussion, marching band style warm-ups and ragtime music. All of the groups are directed by Jeff Crowell, a visiting instructor. At 8 p.m. Friday, April 17, the American Music Review and Variety Band return to the stage at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette. The performance will feature show tunes, American pop music, and music from television and the movies. The Spring Auxiliary Units -- including the Goldusters, Flag Corps, Twirling Line and Solo Twirlers -- will perform with the Variety Band during selected numbers. The American Music Review is directed by Associate Professor William Kisinger. The Variety Band is directed by Purdue's Marching Band director, David Leppla, with assistance by Heather Lasher. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19, the Symphonic Band will present its final concert of the semester, performing at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. Under the direction of Assistant Professor Jay S. Gephart, the Symphonic Band is one of the top ensembles in the department, presenting a challenging repertoire of classical works. Michael Plake, applied music instructor at Purdue, will be a guest soloist at the concert, performing the first movement of Gregson's "Tuba Concerto." Leppla will serve as guest conductor, leading the ensemble in the performance of "Tam O'Shanter," a descriptive musical work based upon the tales of Irish folklore. From Tuesday, April 21, to Friday, April 24, Purdue University Bands will present the annual Twilight Concert Series outdoors at Purdue's Slayter Center of Performing Arts. Each of the concerts begins at 7 p.m., except Friday's "Jazz on the Hill," which begins at 6 p.m. The Tuesday and Wednesday concerts will feature the Varsity and Collegiate bands under the direction of Kisinger. On Thursday, April 23, the University Concert Band, directed by Leppla, will present its annual "1812" Concert -- a crowd-pleaser ending with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and a fireworks display. The series concludes at 6 p.m. Friday, April 24, with the "Jazz on the Hill" Concert, featuring all three of Purdue's jazz bands. This year's concert will be an early celebration of "Cinco de Mayo," which marks Mexican Independence Day. Los Blancos, a Lafayette-area group specializing in Latin jazz styles, will perform as guest artists. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26, the Purdue Symphony Orchestra will present its annual "Concerto Competition" Concert at Loeb Playhouse. The competition is designed to offer talented Purdue instrumentalists the opportunity to perform with the Purdue Symphony Orchestra in a formal concert setting. Winners of the 1998 Concerto Competition are Raj Kalapatapu, a junior from Logansport, Ind., and Kyle Fyr, a junior majoring in accounting from Mishawaka, Ind . Classical pianist Kalapatapu will perform "Concerto No. 1 in E-flat" by Liszt, and Fyr, principal cellist in the Purdue Symphony Orchestra, will perform "Kol Nedrei" by Bruch. CONTACT: Jennifer Tucker, director of public relations for Purdue Bands, (765) 496-2697; e-mail: tuckerj@omni.cc.purdue.edu Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page