Friday, September 26, 2008 at 8 pm SA CHEN, Piano 2005 Van Cliburn Crystal Award Winner Awarded the third prize, Sa Chen became the first recipient of the Crystal Award at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Born into a musical family in Chongqing, China, Sa Chen is considered, along with Lang Lang and Yundi Li, as one of today's most important Chinese pianists. Her debut disc Chopin Impressions was released in 2003 on the JVC label. Her prize-winning performances of Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit and Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody at the 2005 Cliburn Competition are among the works included on a harmonia mundi disk. "Sa Chen...played with authority and élan. A radiant tone and fastidious attention to color and balance" ~Dallas Morning News
Ms. Chen will appear in the November 2008 issue of "Gramophone". Click here to see Ms. Chen's interview with James Jolly, "Gramophone's" editor in chief. Marsee Auditorium $24 / $18
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Friday, November 7, 2008 at 8 pm DEBBIE REYNOLDS For over six decades, our lives have been enriched by the talents of a singer, dance and actress known as Debbie Reynolds. A Hollywood legend, she has regularly appeared in movie musicals, most notably Singin' in the Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. During the 1950's, she chalked up several hit records despite an only intermittent career as a recording artist. She has starred on Broadway in Irene, for which she received a Tony Award nomination, and Woman of the Year. Still making film and television appearances she had a recurring role as Grace's ditzy mother Bobbi Adler on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace. Marsee Auditorium $28 / $24
Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 8 pm BATTLEFIELD BAND Under the banner "Forward With Scotland's Past," Battlefield Band plays Scottish music of rare passion and joy. Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength of today's Scottish Cultural scene (which they themselves have done much to create and fuel), Battlefield Band mixes the old songs with new self-penned material and performs them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments - bagpipe, fiddle, synthesizer, guitar, cittern, flute, bodhran and accordion. "What the internationally renowned Irish band, the Chieftains, has done for traditional Irish music, Battlefield Band is doing for the music of Scotland ..." ~Billboard Marsee Auditorium $22 / $18
Friday, December 5, 2008 at 8 pm AN IRISH CHRISTMAS With glorious music, Riverdance stars Darren Maguire and Maeve Croke leading the dance, storytelling, laughter and plenty of Irish soul, come join us 'round the hearth' on this joyful Irish night and celebrate with us the wonder and beauty of AN IRISH CHRISTMAS. A great night to be Irish...and be certain that you are welcome! Not to be missed! A perfect family event! The all-star line-up will also include Laura Turner, Andrea Willoughby, Patrick D'Arcy, John McKenna and many more!
Marsee Auditorium $36 / $32 (Children 12 and under - $18)
Saturday/Sunday, December 20, 21, 2008 at 2 pm THE NUTCRACKER Diane Lauridsen, director This splendid production, a magical treat for all, is a time-honored holiday story that comes to life to the brilliant score of Peter Tchaikovsky with uplifting surprises and exciting new twists. Unique to South Bay Ballet'sNutcracker is the presentation of Clara as a young girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina. In her dream Clara grows up and dances with her Nutcracker Prince in a performance at the Kingdom of the Sweets. It's this new conception - ballet about ballet and the passion to dance - that sets South Bay Ballet'sNutcracker apart from others. Marsee Auditorium $28 (Children 12 and under - $18)
Spring 2009
Friday-Sunday, January 30-February 1, 2009 PETER PAN Presented by Encore Entertainers Summer Dey Cacciagioni, director Marsee Auditorium $19 (Children 12 and under - $15)
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 8 pm NASHVILLE BLUEGRASS BAND With two Grammy awards, two Entertainer of the Year honors, from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and four wins as IBMA's Vocal Group of the Year, Nashville Bluegrass Band is no stranger to acclaim from both critics and fans alike. Although Nashville Bluegrass Band can be as traditional souding as any pioneering bluegrass band, the band's repertoire is extremely varied, laced with blues compositions and songs from African-American gospel tradition. The band's talents have been celebrated, literally, around the world, but the band's appeal is as basic as a small-town general store. Marsee Auditorium $20 / $16
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8 pm AN EVENING WITH OTTMAR LIEBERT & LUNA NEGRA Since 1990, Ottmar LIebert has released a total of 22 albums, including live releases, Christmas CDs, 11 CDs of original music, a DVD, and remixes, for which he received more than 30 gold and platinum awards. His debut album, 1990's Nouveau Flamenco, featuring the stunning "Barcelona Nights", sold double-platinum and has become the biggest-selling guitar album of all time, redefining Flamenco music and marking Liebert as one of the most talented, influencial and creative guitarists and performers to surface in years. This thoughtfully present artist stretches his musicality with each release - exploring new themes, investigating perspectives and performing with dazzling tone, space and time on his instrument. Marsee Auditorium$22 / $18
Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 7 pm ATOS TRIO The ATOS Trio has rapidly developed a strong reputation as one of the finest young chamber ensembles performing today. Formed in 2003, the Trio has since played concerts to high acclaim by both critics and audiences alike. The Kieler Nachrichten wrote: "...the Trio, soon after its inception, is in the highest ranks of chamber music", and the ensemble has been praised for their warmth of sound, their commitment to a wide-ranging repertoire and their uncomplicated approach to fine interpretations and engaging performances. Based in Berlin, Germany, the Trio is also committed to teaching and each member enjoys a wide variety pf performance activities outside the piano trio. Marsee Auditorium $24 / $18
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Friday, May 8, 2009 at 8 pm ERIC BIBB Already enjoying success in Europe, Grammy nominee Eric Bibb is becoming a familiar face - and voice - in the U.S. Nominated for nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards and winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been appropriately described as "discreetly awesome" and "a total orginal." A performance by Bibb is an enriching experience, both musically and spiritually. His music, like his personality, is intimate, assured and passionate, drawing listeners into the moment more as participants than as spectators. As one critic wrote, "Eric's singing and versatile guitar playing fuses a variety of genres to become a New World Blues." Marsee Auditorium $18 / $15
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 8 pm DIANE SCHUUR Vocalist/pianist Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. A longtime disciple of Dinah Washington and other legendary jazz singers of the 40's and 50's, Schuur has built a stellar career by embracing not only the jazz of her parent's generation, but also the pop music of her own youth during the late 1950's and 60's. In a recording career than spans neraly three decades - and includes two Grammy Awards and three Grammy nominations - Schuur's music has explored nearly every corner of the 20th century American musical landscape. Marsee Auditorium $22 / $18
Friday-Sunday, June 19-21, 2009 GUYS & DOLLS Directed by Summer Dey Cacciagioni Presented by Encore Entertainers
Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy - considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy – soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight "mission doll," out to reform the evildoers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game. Marsee Auditorium $18 Children/Students/Seniors $14
