Purdue Convocations announces its 2013-14 season

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Convocations' 2013-14 season will feature 30 events, including Broadway musicals, lectures, plays and concerts.

Season highlights include Broadway shows such as "West Side Story," "Million Dollar Quartet" and "Blue Man Group," as well as world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Madeleine Albright, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The 2013-14 season also features two performances by The Acting Company; "Potted Potter," The Unauthorized Harry Experience; singer Fatoumata Diawara; Martha Redbone Roots Project, and several notable lectures.

"This year brings the amplification of more ideas," said Convocations director Todd Wetzel. "Our performances have always been rich with ideas, but we've reached back into our history to revivify the way performance and discourse define our organization by bringing lectures by renowned leaders and thinkers back into our midst. Born of broad-scale collaborations with academic departments, faculty, and students, these are multifaceted and absorbing visits designed to deepen our connection to making a difference in the world."

Friends of Convocations will receive priority seating if their orders are received by June 19. All other orders are then processed as received. For information on becoming a Friend of Convocations, contact Convocations at 765-494-9712.

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 during the 2013-14 season. These events are open to all schools, and a complete list can be found at http://www.convocations.org

Advance tickets are on sale for all performances and may be purchased as single tickets or the flexible PICK 5 package. Discounted tickets also are available for groups of 10 or more.

Ticket order forms, complete ticket pricing information, and details on all performances are available at http://www.convocations.org, in the 2013-14 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 http://www.convocations.org/tickets

The Purdue Convocations 2013-14 season schedule includes:

* Neil deGrasse Tyson. "This Just In: Latest Discoveries in the Universe." Thursday, Sept.19, 7  p.m., Elliott Hall of Music, Tickets: Free admission. Presented by The Discovery Lecture Series, Purdue Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series, College of Engineering, Purdue Convocations, the College of Science, Indiana Space Consortium, the Black Cultural Center, the Global Policy Research Institute, and the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion.

* MOMIX "Botanica." Saturday, Sept.21, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 22, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $28, students $20.

* Lionel Loueke Trio. Thursday, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $26, students $19.

* "Blue Man Group." Wednesday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: General public $22-$52, students $22-$39.

* An Evening with Madeleine Albright. Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Admission is free. 2013-14 Sears Lecture. Presented by the Department of History.

* "The Little Engine That Could." ArtsPower. Sunday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $20, students $12.

* "Potted Potter" The Unauthorized Harry Experience. Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: general public $38, students $28.

* "LEO." Mind-Bending Physical Theater. Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 25, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $28, students $20.

* Conversations with Bishop Gene Robinson. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Elliott Hall of Music; Monday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Fowler Hall. Admission is free. Presented by the Purdue LGBTQ Center, Purdue Convocations, Purdue Student Union Board, Chapel of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

* Martha Redbone Roots Project. Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Lafayette Theater. Tickets: General public $24, students $16. Presented by Purdue Convocations and the Purdue Native American Educational and Cultural Center.

* Abhishek Raghuram, Carnatic Singer. Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. Fowler Hall. Tickets: General public $20, students $12. Presented by Purdue Convocations and the Indian Classical Music Association of Purdue.

* Yo-Yo Ma, cello. Kathryn Stott, piano. Sunday, Nov.17, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $55-125, students $35-125.

* Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm. St. Thomas Aquinas. Tickets: General public $20, students $15.

* Doktor Kaboom! "It's Just Rocket Science." Sunday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $15, students $10.

* Snarky Puppy. Friday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $26, students $19.

* Lysander Piano Trio. Thursday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: $14.

* "Million Dollar Quartet." Thursday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: General public $22-$52, students $22-$39.

* Lucky Plush. "Cinderbox 2.0." Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m.. Loeb Playhouse, Tickets: General public $28, students $20.

* Fatoumata Diawara. Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m. Lafayette Theater. Tickets: General public $24, students $16. Presented by Purdue Convocations and the Black Cultural Center.

* "Charlotte's Web." TheaterworksUSA. Sunday, Feb. 16, 3 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $15, students $10.

* St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Friday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: General public $22-$45, students $22-$32.

* Simone Dinnerstein, piano. Thursday, Feb 27, 7:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $26, students $19.

* Popovich Pet Comedy Theater. Sunday, March 2, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $20, students $12.

* Hugo Wolf Quartett. Thursday, March 6, 2014, 7:30 p.m., Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $26, students $19.

* TEDxPurdueU. Friday, March 7, time TBA, Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $25, students $10. Purdue Convocations is among sponsors.

* "Hamlet." The Acting Company. Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $30, students $22.

* "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead." The Acting Company. Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $30, students $22.

* Streb "Forces." Friday, April 4, 8 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: General public $22-$45, students $22-$32.

* Brad Mehldau Trio. Thursday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. Loeb Playhouse. Tickets: General public $26, students $19.

* "West Side Story." Thursday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: General public $22-52, students $22-39.

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

Todd Wetzel, Purdue Convocations director, (765) 494-9712, tewetzel@purdue.edu 

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