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All the World’s a Stage for Rose-Hulman’s Performing Arts Series
August 26, 2011
With Chinese acrobats, Russian dancers, South African singers
and the Vienna Boys Choir, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's
Performing Arts Series will bring the world to Terre Haute with a
menu of entertainers from around the globe performing on the
Hatfield Hall Theater stage.
This season's series features two lineups to please audiences of
all ages and interests. The Mainstage schedule will include a
Shakespearian comedy, dance-art fusion, swing revival and
bluegrass, among others acts. Meanwhile, the Family Discovery
Series will have family-friendly performances.
Multi-platinum selling swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
kicks off the season on October 7. This nine-man ensemble is
known for its high energy performances which feature a hugely
successful fusion of classic American jazz, swing, Dixieland and
big band music. The group will pay tribute to the legendary
Cab Calloway as it plays selections from the 2009 album How Big Can
You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway.
The National Acrobats from the People's Republic of China will
tumble across the stage on October 17. The company of 35
performers is known for its stunning displays of the best in
Chinese martial arts, illusion and acrobatics set to traditional
music. In the 50 years since its inception, this troupe has
been one of the most influential acrobatic ensembles in the
world.
A special show, Chunky Move-Connected, on November 12 will allow
persons to witness the marriage of dance and art. Gideon
Obarzanek will animate both the body and the machine through the
physical connection between the dancers and a kinetic sculpture
designed and built specifically for the show by artist Reuben
Margolin.
"I'm excited about Chunky Move-Connected because it's so
innovative and interesting. You'll never see anything like
that again," promises Bunny Nash, coordinator of Rose-Hulman's
Performing Arts Series.
The Vienna Boys Choir kicks off the holiday season with a show
on November 28 that offers a taste of Austria. The choir,
with its distinctive charm and world-class talent, has enchanted
audiences since its creation by Emperor Maximilian I in 1498.
It will perform holiday selections, including several classical
festive songs of the season.
Then, the holiday cheer rolls on as Canadian musician Natalie
McMaster joins Terre Haute Children's Choir in a special Christmas
concert on December 12. McMaster is internationally known for
her feverish fiddling and mesmerizing step dancing. She has
been an ambassador for traditional East Coast music and is credited
with lifting the style to its contemporary prominence.
"We're the only place in Indiana where she's playing this
season," says Nash, who anticipates a sold-out show soon after the
series is publicly announced.
Turn your pumpkin into a coach and ride to Rose-Hulman for the
Moscow Festival Ballet's performance of "Cinderella" on January
10. Founded in 1989 by legendary principal dancer of the
Bolshoi Ballet Sergei Radchenko, the Moscow Festival Ballet
combines the finest elements of Russian ballet.
Grammy-nominated bluegrass act Dailey & Vincent will perform
on January 27. Known for their tight harmonies and
instrumental prowess, this duo interweaves elements of gospel,
traditional bluegrass and country throughout musical
selections. The group earned Entertainer of the Year and
Album of the Year at the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards
Show, and earned a 2011 Grammy nomination in the category of Best
Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
For over four decades Ladysmith Black Mambazo has engaged
audiences with its marriage of intricate rhythms and harmonies. On
February 7, the group will share their talent with Terre
Haute. The group's style is rooted in a traditional music
called isicathamiya, which developed in the mines of South
Africa. The nine-member vocal group is best known for its
work on Paul Simon's "Graceland" album, but has performed for the
Queen of England and Pope John Paul II, at two Nobel Peace Prize
ceremonies and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
The Acting Company will present Shakespeare's "The Comedy of
Errors" on February 18. This award-winning repertory ensemble
will tell the story of two sets of identical twins accidentally
separated at birth, for whom a case of mistaken identities begins a
series of hilarious mishaps.
The series winds down with the high-energy music and dance of
The Tartan Terrors on March 9. Billed as "North America's
premier Celtic event" the group incorporates music, comedy and
dance into a show featuring a two-time world champion bagpiper,
driving drums, guitar and a whole lot of attitude.
Ticket information for Rose-Hulman's Performing Arts Series is
available by calling the Hatfield Hall ticket office at (812)
877-8544 or visiting the series' website at www.hatfieldhall.com.