Fall 2014
American playwright David Ives is known for short comic plays that follow deep cerebral paths. "Witty, quirky, heady,"
and finally "surprisingly logical" all describe the way in which Ives examines and exposes American life. An Ives Evening/All in the Timing is a collection of some of Ives' best. The seven selected pieces run the gamut from pickup lines often heard in coffee shops to the notion of parallel realities where characters accidentally wind up in someone else's here-to-fore private thought process. The sparks that fly with the electrifying cross currents illuminate the social milieu in which we find most of our travelers on the very peculiar Ives path of life and learning.
The entire cast of actors will play multiple roles. Jamal
Welcome, a senior from NYC, will be directing the superb Sure Thing. Nick Labate will be designing costumes for Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread. Cassidy Teagle is set to design costumes for Foreplay, or the Arts of the Fugue and The
Philadelphia. Jason Dearing and Grace Beekman will join her to design the floor plans and props for both of those pieces.
These and many other students are joining the team of director
Becky Prophet and technical director Zach Hamm to create these minimalist productions that focus audience on actors and text, especially language—a prime interest of David Ives.
An Ives Evening/All in the Timing opens Wednesday, October 1, and plays through Saturday, October 4, starting at 8 p.m. in the C.D. Smith Theatre in the Miller Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are required for this ramp to satiric existential thinking and this romp through the heart of American social thought.
Admission is $2 for students, $10 for general admission, and $5 for senior citizens and non-AU students. Email
[email protected] or call 607-871-2828 for reservations.
F R O M T H E D I V I S I O N C H A I R
The Division of Performing Arts is excited to announce a new season of theatre, dance and music through its many
performances and residencies. As always, our season is brimming with numerous performances by our many talented and energetic students and faculty.
We are very pleased to introduce Tatyana Wilds, our Visiting Professor of Design and Technology. Having recently earned her MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Kansas, Tatyana arrived with her family from Lawrence, Kansas in July. She describes herself as “a painter who fell in love with theatre.” She loves opera and musical theater and finds her creative inspiration in music. We are looking forward to collaborating with her this year.
As Chair of Performing Arts, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to another breathtaking season of dance, drama and music. And through the generosity of Marlin and Ginger Miller, David and Elizabeth Miller, and Herrick-Gallman Fund for the Performing Arts, as well as the support of our many Premiere Club members, we are thrilled to bring an eclectic and diverse season of visiting artists and residencies to the Alfred Community.
Let the season begin!
Dr. Lisa Lantz Division Chair
From the Division of Performing Arts
In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
A N I VES E VENING
O PENS AU’ S T HEATRE S EASON
Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz is the second theatre production of the
Division’s 2014-15 season. Winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Anna in the Tropics poignantly and poetically illustrates the yearnings for meaningful lives of Cuban Americans working in a Florida cigar factory in the late 1920’s.
By blending plot and themes of the great Russian novel Anna Karenina with the lives of these workers, Cruz transports his audiences with the beauty and power of his language.
The mind-numbing work of Santiago Alcalar’s cigar factory is hard. Making matters worse is the scorching Florida sun and the stifling conditions. Santiago is succumbing to a gambling addiction and slowly losing his cigar factory to Cheché, his exploitive half-brother.
Cheché, anxious to speed production, pressures Santiago to replace the antiquated yet traditional hand-rolling system with modern equipment, threatening the workers’ jobs.
Ofelia, Santiago’s wife, wishes to stick with the tradition of hand-crafted cigars.
For her, the workers are family. To alleviate the oppressive working conditions, she wants to maintain the Cuban tradition of “lectors” who read aloud from newspapers and novels to the workers. The lectors, who held exalted positions in these factories, educated and entertained their listeners with news, commentary, and classic literature, helping them through their oppressive workday.
Ofelia sends for Juan Julian, a young lector from Cuba. The elegant and charming Juan chooses to read Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. Unwittingly, he becomes a catalyst in the lives of his avid listeners for whom Tolstoy, the tropics, and the American dream prove a volatile combination. Cruz uses Anna Karenina to mirror life and art in this hot and steamy setting where passions thrive.
Cruz, born in Cuba in 1960, immigrated with his family to the United States when
he was nine years old. His early interest in theatre led to study at Miami Dade Community College and eventually to an MFA at Brown University. His lyrical writing style mixed with his unique stage settings have led him to win two NEA/
TCG National Theatre Residency grants, a Rockefeller Foundation grant and a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays award. Anna was the first Latino play to earn the Pulitzer Price for Drama.
Directed by Professor Stephen Crosby and designed by Visiting Professor Tatyana Wilds, Anna will cast a magical spell in the C. D. Smith III Theatre on the evenings of November 12 – 15. Curtain time is 8 p.m.
Admission is $2 for students, $10 for general admission, and $5 for senior citizens and non-AU students. Email [email protected] or call 607-871- 2828 for reservations.
S ECOND T HEATRE P RODUCTION
A NNA IN THE T ROPICS
A LFRED U NIVERSITY S INGERS AT
I NNER M ONGOLIA N ORMAL U NIVERSITY IN C HINA
3 Last spring, nineteen AU music students
visited China where they engaged in cultural exchange with three different universities. As a continuation of the friendships established through this exceptional exchange, the Confucius Institute is sponsoring a visit by five music professors from Inner Mongolia Normal University (see photo on previous page).
These exceptional musicians will present a concert in the Miller Theater on Wednesday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m.
They will be joined by AU professor and soprano Luanne Crosby (below right) and guzheng master Daisey Wu (below left).
The concert will feature classical and folk music of Inner Mongolia, where the horse is central to life and to identity. The visiting faculty include two singers, a horse-head fiddle virtuoso, a pianist and a dancer.
Dr. Crosby who heard these performers while in China states, “This is a concert not-to-be missed. The music is unique and exquisitely beautiful. My students
were all moved by the performances we heard and saw in Inner Mongolia.”
The guests will perform the same concert in Rochester on Saturday, September 27 where they will be joined by the students who traveled to China last spring as well as Crosby and Wu.
The concert is free and will be followed by light refreshments in the lobby.
G ALLOPING IN THE G RASSLAND
The Alfred University Chorus and Chamber Singers go on hold this fall to bring two new and exciting ensembles to the AU music scene. The Saxon Singers, an all-male choir, will take the Miller stage with two invited men’s choirs for a Festival of Men’s Voices on Saturday, November 1. Our singers will be joined by the ApeMen of Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, NY, and the University Prep Singers from the University Prep Charter School for Young Men in Rochester, NY.
The ApeMen are directed by Kent Knappenberger, recent recipient of the first Grammy Award for Music
Education. Knappenberger was a student teacher with Luanne Crosby and was hired to replace her when she left public school teaching in 1989. The University Prep Singers are led by AU alum, Chaz
Bruce. While at AU, Chaz performed with the University Chorus, studied voice with Crosby and piano with Laurel Buckwalter, directed the AU Gospel Choir, and was very active in the theater department, having leading roles in The Imaginary Invalid and Once on this Island.
The concert which begins at 7:30 p.m.
will include selections by each of the choirs and then three combined pieces. It will feature an eclectic selection of music including folk, pop, musical theater, gospel, and contemporary classical.
Women’s Song/Women’s Voices is the new all-female choir. This ensemble will present a concert of works written by women for women on Saturday, November 22. Repertoire will include works spanning the medieval to the
modern period.
This chorus is being offered in conjunction with an academic course focusing on women in music, specifically women composers. Members of the class will be creating the program notes and presenting information about the composers as a part of the concert. This concert is an effort to raise awareness of the contributions women have made in the field of composition and to provide the pure pleasure of listening to treble voices in harmony.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church.
T WO N EW C HORAL G ROUPS
F OR T HIS F ALL ONLY
This semester the Symphonic Band at Alfred University will be under the direction of Dustin Woodard, as Dr. Chris Foster is on sabbatical for the fall. The group will perform music from Dukas, Ticheli, Whitacre, and others at the end of the semester concert on Friday, December 5th, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Woodard is his third year as an adjunct instructor at AU teaching private
percussion lessons. He is also on the faculty at the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College where he teaches all things percussion.
Dustin is a member of the Southern Tier Symphony and has performed with the New West Symphony, Gold Coast Wind Ensemble, Family Life Network, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music degree
from California State University, Northridge, and his Master of Music degree from Houghton College.
S YMPHONIC B AND TO P ERFORM
UNDER THE D IRECTION OF D USTIN W OODARD
H ALLOWEEN C ONCERT
W ITH THE AU O RCHESTRA
Attention all Ghouls, Ghosts, and Goblins: Come as you are or dress for the occasion!
A Halloween Concert with special guest Brook Harris of Alfred as our Monster of
Ceremonies is one of Alfred's favorite shows. Dr. Lisa Lantz will conduct the AU Orchestra in music appropriate for the holiday including selections from Batman Dark Adventure, The Phantom of the Opera and E.T.
Be at Holmes Auditorium as the clock strikes 8 o’clock.
The Division of Performing Arts welcomes Tatyana Wilds, a theatre designer and multimedia artist. Tatyana grew up in Kazakhstan and studied art education in Russia, earning a BA and MA from Kuban State University (Russia). After earning a BFA from Washburn University (USA), this past fall she completed her MFA in Theatre at the U of Kansas in Lawrence.
Tatyana will be collaborating and designing dance concerts, theatre productions, and various projects. In all of her work, she says, “I am telling stories using multiple computer programs as well as visual art techniques.” At the same time she brings to bear her background as an illustrator, visual artist and art
educator.
To Tatyana, this position at Alfred is
“like a dream come true!” because she
has always dreamed of combining visual arts and performance media. Her plans involve “incorporating motion graphics, animation and experimental film.” To Tatyana, theatre and performance are sacred: they are “a powerful social and spiritual tool.” Tatyana is delighted that Alfred’s Division of Performing Arts presents the opportunity to link in boundless combinations the forms and practices of the various performing arts.
The Wilds family arrived in Alfred in late July. Tatyana’s daughter Anya will enter Alfred-Almond Central School in the 10th grade; husband Richard Wilds plans to continue his career as an educator. While this summer may have been chilly and damp, they have found the reception in Alfred warm and caring. The Wilds enjoy the beauty of the Alfred area and were happy to escape the hot summer of Kansas.
The Division is pleased to have Tatyana on board as production designer!
N EW D ESIGN F ACULTY T ATYANA W ILDS
5 The Felix Ensemble will perform Sunday, September 28, at 3 p.m. in Miller Theater. The ensembles includes violinist David Colwell, violist David Rose, cellist Rintaro Wada and pianist Ritsuko Wada. The program will include Beethoven’s Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello in D Major, Op. 9, No. 2, and Brahms’
Quartet for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello, No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25.
David Colwell has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Canada, and the United States, and has been recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He earned two masters and a doctorate in music from Yale University and currently is Assistant Professor of Violin at SUNY Fredonia School of Music.
David Rose is a past member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and the
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, and has taught at the University of Waterloo. He was a member of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and performs and tours frequently with Toronto's Tafelmusik. Most recently, David served as the acting assistant principal viola of the San Francisco Symphony.
Rintaro Wada is the Artistic/Executive Director of the Chamber Music Society of Olean. He earned a Master of Music in performance and literature from Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree and post-graduate diploma in cello performance from Showa College of Music in Japan. Currently, Mr. Wada is a cellist of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, orchestra teacher of the Olean City School District, and cello faculty at Houghton College’s Greatbatch School of Music.
Ritsuko Wada holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Showa Collage of Music. She has performed in many recitals as a soloist, chamber musician and
accompanist for universities and churches. She currently teaches in her private studio and at Jamestown Community College in Olean.
The public is invited to this free event sponsored by the David and Elizabeth Miller Guest Artist Fund.
G UEST A RTIST R ECITAL
T HE F ELIX E NSEMBLE
Laurel Buckwalter Luanne Crosby
Vicki Eaklor*
Christopher Foster Ken Maracek*
Genie Meltzer*
A LFRED U NIVERSITY D
IVISIONOF P ERFORMING A RTS L
ISAL
ANTZ, D
IVISIONC
HAIRD
ANCED. Chase Angier
Colleen Culley*
Paige Cummings*
D
IVISIONS
ECRETARYNancy Freelove
M
USICLisa Lantz Peter O’Connor*
Amanda Robbins*
Rebecca Weaver*
Dustin Woodard*
Daisey Wu*
T
HEATREJ. Stephen Crosby
Zachary Hamm Debra MacCrea*
Becky Prophet Tatyana Wilds
*part-time
W E N EED Y OU ! P REMIERE C LUB 2014
As can be seen from looking at the 2014-15 calendar of events, the Division of Performing Arts is dedicated to bringing our audiences a wide range of stimulating, inspired and entertaining events. A significant number of these are made possible largely through the generosity of those who donate to the Premiere Club!
We need your financial support now more than ever. With the belt tightening occurring across the University, the Division is feeling the pinch as well. This in turn has a direct impact on events we are committed to provide to you, our audiences and our community. Although we will continue to do all we can to continue to fulfill our goal to serve as a cultural beacon for our region, it becomes more and more difficult. Your financial support makes these efforts more achievable.
In return for your donations, combined with major funding support from other major donors such as Marlin and Ginger Miller and David and Elizabeth Miller, we are able to bring to Alfred many performing artists, all of whom enhance the quality of our lives. In order to keep these traditions intact, however, we need you! Please become partners with us. Join or renew your membership in the Premiere Club 2014.
As members of Premiere Club, you will receive up to four season tickets for all Division of Performing Arts productions.
Your name will be listed in each of our playbills and programs.
You also will continue to receive CenterStage which keeps you informed of upcoming Performing Arts events and newsworthy Division happenings.
Please act now! Simply complete and return the membership form below, along with your check. If you prefer to use the convenient option of payroll deductions at AU, contact Human Resources Director Mark Guinan at [email protected] or 871- 2909.
To speak to us further about membership or to make
reservations for upcoming events, please call 871-2562 or email us at [email protected].
M EMBERSHIP F ORM
CATEGORY AMOUNTOFGIFT YOUWILLRECEIVE Benefactor $1,000 + $ Unlimited season tickets Champion $200 - $999 $ 4 season tickets
Sponsor $100 - $199 $ 3 season tickets Supporter $50 - $99 $ 2 season tickets
Friend $25 - $49 $ 1 ticket for fall or spring semester events
Please make your contribution payable to the DIVISIONOF PERFORMING ARTS/ALFRED UNIVERSITY
and mail to:
PREMIERE CLUB Division of Performing Arts
Saxon Drive Alfred, N.Y. 14802
Name:
Please print name as you want it to appear in the programs.
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Suggestions for the Division:
7
AU A LUMNI CONNECTION : A FTER J ACK
As part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences initiative “Passport to your Future: Alumni Connections,” the AU Music Department is happy to welcome back alumna Emily Tucker and her band After Jack. The band will perform on Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Miller Theater.
Emily will also present the Bergren Forum on Thursday, October 16, starting at 12:10 p.m. in Nevins Theater. She will introduce the band members and speak about her career path since leaving Alfred and the influence of her liberal arts education. Many may remember Emily as an actress in several AU productions, including Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods. As a senior, Emily produced and directed a production of the musical Quilters.
After Jack is a musical celebration of togetherness. With expressive songwriting, captivating vocals and a unique take on traditional mountain music, the trio combines a modern sensibility with a distinctly old-time energy to mix bluegrass, gospel and folk elements. Combine your most beloved musical memories with a foot-stomping string band, top it off with harmonies that
spring straight from the soul of the mountains, and you’ve got After Jack.
After Jack takes its name from the hero of beloved mountain folk-tales, whose quick thinking and good fortune always brought him out on top.
The three members met while working together in a professional theatre company. While forming the band, they realized they were blending three unique musical perspectives. Though often labeled “Americana”, their captivating sound, mixed with the incredible joy that they bring to the stage cannot be
described by one word.
Since the birth of After Jack in 2011, the band has cut its teeth on the road, playing everywhere from NYC listening rooms to major festivals like FloydFest and sharing the stage with artists like The Lonesome River Band, Mountain Heart and Morgan O'Kane. After Jack also shares the music and stories of Appalachia with younger generations as a part of Young Audiences – Arts for Learning – Virginia.
So mark your calendars for an evening of beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping rhythms!
.
Emily, Mary and Rachel AFTER JACK
The name “MostArts” celebrates the concept of the arts coming together under the banner of classical music. It embraces the iconic Mozart as a touchstone of distinction and connects the inspiration of great music with the spirit of excellence that resides here in Alfred. Once more, we will have the chamber music, the international artists, the Young Pianists Competition and the MostArts Festival Orchestra in Alfred for the 2015 MostArts Festival.
Fourteen year old grand prize winner, Mayuki Miyashita, (at right) will kick off the festival in a solo piano performance you won’t want to miss. So, mark your calendar to save the dates July 5 to 11. As Alfred personality John Gill says, “This is going to be Christmas in July!”
Plan now to bring the family to Alfred for the MostArts Festival 2015!
S AVE D ATES FOR
M OST A RTS F ESTIVAL 2015
D
IVISIONOFP
ERFORMINGA
RTS Non Profit OrganizationAlfred University U. S. Postage Paid
Miller Performing Arts Center at Alfred, NY 14802
Saxon Drive Permit No. 5
Alfred, NY 14802
