| RELATED INFO |
| * Purdue Convocations |
May 9, 2008
Purdue Convocations announces its 2008-09 season
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Highlights of the season include Broadway musicals such as "The Drowsy Chaperone," "Chicago" and "Ain't Misbehavin'," which stars "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, as well as performances in Elliott Hall of Music of "STOMP," "Birdhouse Factory" by Cirque Mechanics, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and The Irish Tenors.
This season also features a new series titled Catalyst.
"Catalyst is a home for recently created work, for current aesthetics and questions, and for works that are harder to classify," said Purdue Convocations director Todd Wetzel. "With this series, Convocations hopes to stimulate dialogue about current social and artistic issues."
The series includes a new dance theater work by Jane Comfort and Company, the world premiere tour of a stage play of James Fenimore Cooper's "The Spy" by The Acting Company, and the contemporary musical group Bang on a Can All-Stars with special guest Glenn Kotche of the rock band Wilco.
Another highlight of the new season is a special appearance by acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell, whose performance marks the beginning of a series of special engagements leading up to the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Convocations, the organization's donor group.
The Friends of Convocations is a key part of Purdue Convocations, said Kendall Purpura, director of development for Convocations.
"The Friends of Convocations play an incredibly important role in all of the programming that we offer," Purpura said. "Ticket sales alone do not provide the revenue needed to present our season of performances and provide arts outreach to the community. Contributions from Friends make it all possible."
Friends of Convocations will receive priority seating if their orders are received by June 16. All other orders are then processed as received. For information on becoming a Friend of Convocations, call (765) 494-9712.
In addition to scheduled public performances, thousands of students from preschool to high school also will be treated to a series of matinees and artist-in-residence activities that will be brought to schools during the 2008-09 season. These events are open to all schools, and a complete list can be found at https://www.convocations.org.
Advance tickets are now on sale for all performances and may be purchased as series tickets, the flexible Pick 5 package or as single tickets. 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 online at https://www.convocations.org, in the 2008-09 Convocations brochure or by calling (765) 494-9712. Tickets also can be ordered at campus box offices or by phone at (765) 494-3933.
The Purdue Convocations 2008-09 season schedule includes:
Lively Arts
- "Birdhouse Factory" by Cirque Mechanics, 3 p.m. Sept. 28, Elliott Hall of Music.
- "The Drowsy Chaperone," 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Elliott Hall of Music.
- The Irish Tenors with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. March 6, Elliott Hall of Music.
- "Ain't Misbehavin'," The Fats Waller Broadway Musical starring Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, 7:30 p.m. April 23, Elliott Hall of Music.
World Stage
- National Living Treasures: Kevin Locke with special guest Mary Louise Defender Wilson, 8 p.m. Sept. 12, Loeb Playhouse.
- "King Henry V" by William Shakespeare, presented by The Guthrie Theater and The Acting Company, 7 p.m. Feb. 5, Loeb Playhouse.
- Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, 8 p.m. March 27, Loeb Playhouse.
- Mariza, 7:30 p.m. April 14, Loeb Playhouse.
Catalyst
- Bang on a Can All-Stars with special guest Glenn Kotche (of Wilco), 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Loeb Playhouse.
- Jane Comfort and Company, "An American Rendition," 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Loeb Playhouse.
- "The Spy" by James Fenimore Cooper, presented by The Acting Company while on tour with The Guthrie Theater, 8 p.m. Feb. 7, Loeb Playhouse.
Classics
- Brasil Guitar Duo, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16, Fowler Hall.
- ATOS Trio, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Loeb Playhouse.
- Empire Brass, "An Empire Brass Holiday," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, Long Center for the Performing Arts.
- Joshua Bell, violin, and Jeremy Denk, piano, 7 p.m. Jan. 11, Loeb Playhouse.
- Baroque Band with special guest David Hansen, countertenor, 8 p.m. Jan. 24, Purdue Memorial Union, South Ballroom.
- Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel, "A Salute to American Composers," 8 p.m. Feb. 20, Loeb Playhouse.
Jazz Set
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, 8 p.m. Oct. 3, Elliott Hall of Music.
- Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet, 8 p.m. Oct. 18, Loeb Playhouse.
- Mingus Big Band, "50th Anniversary Performances: Ah Um and Blues & Roots," 8 p.m. Jan. 16, Loeb Playhouse.
Family Adventures
- Ralph's World, 3 p.m. Oct. 12, University Plaza Hotel Ballroom.
- "Madeline and the Bad Hat," by ArtsPower, 3 p.m. Nov. 23, Loeb Playhouse.
- "CSI: Live!" by Mad Science, 7 p.m. Jan. 30, Loeb Playhouse.
- "Seussical" by Theaterworks USA, 7 p.m. Feb. 13, Loeb Playhouse.
Special Events
- "Chicago," 8 p.m. Oct. 24, Elliott Hall of Music.
- Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Loeb Playhouse.
- "STOMP," 7 p.m. March 31 and April 1, Elliott Hall of Music.
Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30-40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children's theater, world music, jazz and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to, and familiarity with, human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Kerry Schutt Nason, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, (765) 494-9071, knason@purdue.edu
Todd Wetzel, (765) 494-9712, tewetzel@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
As part of its 2008-09 season, Purdue Convocations will present Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Elliott Hall of Music on Oct. 3. (Photo courtesy of JoAnne Savio)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2008/Convos-Marsalis.jpg
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