Lyric Fest presents Mahler Resurrected Saturday, September 27 - 7:30 p.m.
Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre
Lyric Fest presents the colorful, tumultuous life of Gustav Mahler in a theatrical presentation bringing the composer to life with songs, letters and biographical narration. Against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century, anti-Semitic Vienna, Gustav Mahler emerged as a premiere operatic and symphonic conductor of his day. Composing only in the summer months, he nevertheless produced emotional, spiritual, bigger-than-life music that was strangely out of sync with his own times. With guest artists Jim Bergwall, actor, Christopher Bolduc, Kendra Colton, Suzanne DuPlantis, Randi Marrazzo, Marquita Raley, singers and with Laura Ward at the piano.
Learn more about the show:
www.lyricfest.org
Kate Voegele Friday, October 3 - 8:00 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
The musical landscape is teeming with singer/songwriters, many of them quite capable, but only a handful have something truly distinctive to offer. Dubbed "the artist to watch in 2008," by Billboard, Kate Voegele belongs in the latter category. Don’t Look Away, Voegele’s first full-length album is a revelation, as the 20-year-old writer/singer, belying her tender years, delivers songs of depth and insight with a powerfully seductive voice that maintains a fierce presence amid dynamic rock grooves and infectious pop hooks. Voegele's musical and acting abilities were also featured in several episodes of last season's One Tree Hill.
Learn more about the show: www.katevoegele.com
Peter Nero and the Philly Pops
Broadway Showstoppers
Sunday, October 19 - 2:00 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Peter Nero and the Philly Pops opens its 2008-09 season with its signature show and perennial favorite, the phenomenon known as Broadway Showstoppers! Once again, Peter continues to combine Broadway’s most exceptional talent with the magic of the POPS. This season, Broadway star Anne Runolfsson (James Joyces’s The Dead, Victor/ Victoria), a sublime vocalist equally at home singing in a large concert venue or an intimate cabaret setting, joins POPS veterans Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard) and Gary Mauer (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) making this season’s Broadway Showstoppers absolutely unforgettable!
Learn more about the show: www.phillypops.org
Pushcart Players presents Little Red Riding Hood and other stories Sunday, November 2 - 2:00 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
While the award-winning Pushcart Players provide children with an engaging introduction to live theater and a delightful hour of entertainment, “Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories” also offer parents a gentle opportunity to discuss values, ethics and moral considerations that are well within the range of reasoning for very young viewers. These classic story favorites provide just the right blend of faraway fantasy and contemporary reality, and innovative settings and sing-along songs provide the perfect opportunity for audience involvement and participation.
Learn more about the show: www.pushcartplayers.com/story_redhood.htm
Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers Sunday, December 7 - 8:00 p.m.
Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre
Join The Philadelphia Singers for a special West Chester performance of its popular annual Christmas concert. Maestro David Hayes and The Singers will take you back to yesteryear for a nostalgic look at the music of American Christmases past. This beloved holiday concert begins with a beautiful candlelight procession, includes cherished favorites both old and new and concludes with the spirited singing of carols with the audience. Christmas with The Philadelphia Singers has delighted Delaware Valley audiences for nearly thirty years and is the perfect way to share the holiday season with family and friends.
Learn more about the show: www.philadelphiasingers.org/
Klingon Klez Sunday, December 21 - 3:00 p.m.
Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre
Klingon Klez takes klezmer to warp drive with a contemporary sound infusion. This seven-member ensemble, made up of some of Philadelphia's best-known jazz, funk and Dixieland musicians, keeps the 500-year-old Klezmer tradition evolving and rocking. Proving that everyone can be uplifted and have a lot of fun at the same time, Klingon Klez concerts typically produce mass dancing in the aisles and occasional departures into orbit. "Make no mistake. This is not your grandparents' klezmer. This is Klezmer with modern tones and a funky sound. Klingon Klez is in a class by itself," wrote the Intelligencer, Montgomery County.
Learn more about the show: www.klingonklezmer.com
Flamenco Vivo - Carlota Santana Saturday, February 21 - 7:30 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana is one of the nation's premier dance companies and uphold the purity and traditions of flamenco and classical Spanish dance while pushing the boundaries of the art form in new directions. The Company commissions dramatic works with original choreography and live music, and performs cutting edge dance in New York and throughout the United States. Carlota Santana was designated “The Keeper of Flamenco” by Dance Magazine recognizing her commitment to creating new works and developing young artists and choreographers. She has pledged the Company to the mission of building bridges between cultures using the universal spirit of Flamenco.
Learn more about the show: www.flamenco-vivo.org
Imago Theatre presents FROGZ Friday, February 27 - 7:30 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
FROGZ is creature-theatre at its best, populated with escaped penguins, silent sloths, finicky, devilish strings and numerous other THINGZ. Blending ingenious masks and creative costumes and astounding invention, Imago Theatre creates a living world of animation in FROGZ. This incisively original, madcap show is filled with a multitude of creatures whose comical and clever occurrences provide striking, visual entertainment. With a frog the size of a grown man and lizards the length of two, FROGZ turns the world upside down and inside out with fantastical illusions that explore the absurd nature of the world. "Fun for the whole family!" The Boston Globe.
Learn more about the show: www.imagotheatre.com/frogzontour/
Barrage Friday, March 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Barrage – A high-octane fiddle-fest that features an international, multi-talented cast performing an eclectic mix of music, song and dance. Barrage has entertained millions of people around the globe. Fans in Europe, Asia and North America have enjoyed Barrage at International Festivals, Concert Performances, Special Events and TV appearances. Barrage performances offer up a diverse fusion of cultures, musical styles and incredible performance vitality. The music of Barrage continues to evolve - combining contemporary world music influences, layered vocal arrangements and pulsating modern beats and rhythms. The young hip cast delivers the show with amazing energy and musical virtuosity that will take your breath away.
Learn more about the show: www.barrage.org
Cathie Ryan Friday, March 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Irish American Cathie Ryan, with her crystalline vocals and insightful songwriting, is an original and distinctive voice in Celtic music. Since her acclaimed seven year tenure as lead singer of Cherish the Ladies, the Detroit born Ryan has established herself as one of Celtic Music’s most popular and enduring singer-songwriters. The Boston Globe recently wrote, "Cathie Ryan is a thrilling traditional vocalist whose honey-pure soprano is equally at home on probing original ballads about a woman's place in the modern world."
Learn more about the show: www.cathieryan.com
Missoula Children's Theatre presents Hansel and Gretel Saturday, March 28 - 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Back by popular demand, The Missoula Children's Theatre, the country's preeminent professional children's theatre company returns to West Chester University and will be recruiting more than 50 local children to stage an original musical adaptation of "Hansel and Gretel." A week of concentrated rehearsals and theatre workshops culminates in two fantastic performances of this timeless children's favorite.
Calling all Chester County Students!
All students, ages K-12, including those with no experience on stage, are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation is necessary. It’s a fun, family theatre experience and amazing to see what the children accomplish in just one week!
Auditions: Monday, March 23 at 3:45 p.m. at the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building (700 South High Street) Approximately 50 roles are available for local students.
Rehearsals: Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27. Most students will rehearse up to four hours each day after school depending on the role.
Performances: Saturday, March 28– 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Fee: There is a $50 participation fee if your child is cast in the show, and this fee includes two tickets to each of the Saturday performances.
The Jason Bishop Show Friday, April 24 - 7:30
Jason and Kim are the new wave of cutting edge magic. Young and hip, they combine the best in contemporary music with fast paced illusions to create a unique show that is a treat for the senses. Jason exhibits some of the best sleight of hand in the business and Kim's costume changes have to be seen to be believed (and even then you might not believe it!) The show includes engaging audience participation and is suitable for all ages. Come ride the new wave of magic with the Jason Bishop show.
Learn more about the show: www.thejasonbishopshow.com
