Fall 2011

Friday, October 7, 2011 at 8 pm
SUSAN EGAN, soprano
Georgia Stitt, piano

Tony-nominated Broadway star, Susan Egan and critically acclaimed New York composer, Georgia Stitt, join forces in an evening of musical hilarity as they share behind-the-scenes theatre stories and their struggle to balance it all with their family lives. Audiences raved about their concert “All Knocked Up” in Los Angeles and New York in 2009; “An Evening With ...” continues the stories using classic Broadway music (Gershwin, Sondheim, Alan Menken, Kander and Ebb, Stephen Schwartz), combined with brand-new, original music by today's hottest writers, including Jason Robert Brown and Georgia Stitt, herself!

Marsee Auditorium  $26

 

Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 8 pm
JAVON JOHNSON, poet

Drawing largely from his life employing slam poetry and at others more traditional lecture modes, merges race and gender theory with comedy, lyricism, and rhyme schemes to discuss the power of words, communication, and the performance arts.

Marsee Auditorium  $18

Friday, October 14, 2011 at 8 pm
DI WU, piano
2009 Van Cliburn Finalist
Los Angeles Recital Debut

Named one of the “up-and-coming talents” in the classical music world by Musical America in 2008, Chinese pianist Di Wu (pronounced Dee Ou) continues to grow her reputation as an artist to be watched. As one of the six finalists of the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Di Wu has received acclaim for her performances on both concert and recital stages. The Wall Street Journal praised her as being “deeply poetic,” combining “assured, contained strength with high drama”.

Program:
DEBUSSY                 Preludes, Book 2
RAVEL                       Miroirs
GOUNOD-LISZT     Valse de l'opéra Faust, S. 407

Marsee Auditorium  $26

Friday, October 22, 2011 at 8 pm
RHAPSODY IN TAPS

Rhapsody In Taps celebrates its 30th Anniversary in an unforgettable evening of tap dance, live jazz and world music! Artistic Director/Choreographer Linda Sohl-Ellison and Rhapsody In Taps' 15 artists honor the tap tradition and explore new directions in tap choreography. Program highlights: Salute to Otis Redding (World Premiere), “fast feet” tap soloist Bob Carroll plus historic works: Piru Bole (tap with Indian tabla), Drum Thunder, Riptide (African drumming), Laughing With Tears (klezmer music) and Stickato (stick dance). “...an absorbing mix of hard-driving tap rhythm and modern dance, flavored with show biz sparkle and humor”. ~New York Times
Purchase tickets online at www.rhapsodyintaps.com or www.centerforthearts.org

Marsee Auditorium
$40 Hoofer's Circle & Reception with RIT Artists
$32 Front Orchestra
$25 Back Orchestra

 

Friday, December 16, 2011 at 7 pm
Saturday/Sunday, December 17, 18, 2011 at 2 pm
THE NUTCRACKER
Diane Lauridsen, director

South Bay Ballet’s Nutcracker takes this local company to the grandest place as it rivals the finest American performances of this holiday spectacular. With Diane Lauridsen’s artistic direction, this massive physical production boasts stunning sets, vibrant costumes, dramatic lighting, and impressive special effects, along with the brilliant score of Peter Tchaikovsky - making it a big city affair. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the timeless story of The Nutcracker enhanced by South Bay Ballet’s unique interpretation of Clara as a young girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina and grows up to dance with her Nutcracker Prince at the Kingdom of the Sweets.

Marsee Auditorium $30  (Children 12 and under - $20)
Priority Seating $50  Please call 310-329-5345 for more details 

Spring 2012

Friday, March 2, 2012 at 8 pm
TRUNK SHOW: An Evening of Opera
Suzan Hanson, soprano
Dean Elzinga, bass-baritone
Timothy Loo, cello
Victoria Kirsch, piano
Smoke and Mirrors, or the Alchemy of Desire.
An old leather trunk...a trove of forgotten memories and unrealized dreams...a man packs away his past, but in doing so releases desires and fantasies he thought were long dormant... Soprano and actress Suzan Hanson (Long Beach Opera, ART, Master Class national tour), bass-baritone and actor Dean Elzinga (Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, Long Beach Opera), cellist Timothy Loo (Denali Quartet, Jacaranda, Long Beach Opera) and pianist Victoria Kirsch (Diva on the Verge, This and My Heart, Andy Warhol’s World in Song) trace one man’s journey of desire through words and music from the worlds of opera, song and theater. Featuring music by Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss, Franz Schubert, Giacomo Puccini, Astor Piazzolla, Kurt Weill, Stephen Sondheim, Philip Glass, Libby Larsen, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, and Andy Pape.

Marsee Auditorium $26  

Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 8 pm
ON ENSEMBLE / TAIKO 2.0
 
With Japanese drums at the foundation of its world fusion mix, On Ensemble takes the ancient instruments of taiko into new realms. Infusing the powerful rhythms of ensemble Japanese drumming with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica, On Ensemble’s unique sound has been praised as “completely original and brilliantly conceived”. Modern Drummer magazine calls On Ensemble “an exciting taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums.”

Marsee Auditorium $26  

Monday, may 14, 2012 at 8 pm
ALLISON A. ARMSTRONG, speaker

 Alison Armstrong, author, educator, and designer of the wildly acclaimed “Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women” workshop series, asks the question: “If man were primarily the hunter and women the gatherer, what would that explain about our behavior?” She explores the differences in the ways we think, act and communicate and offers strategies for men and women to improve their communication by paying attention to when they talk, how they talk, and what they listen for. A recovered “frog farmer,” an expert at turning men into frogs instead of princes, Alison now devotes her work to understanding what women do to bring out the worst in men and what women can do to bring out the best in them.

Marsee Auditorium $18