CFA NEWS

Symphonic Wind Ensemble annual fall concert

2008-11-17T07:05:00.000-06:00

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Symphonic Wind Ensemble will be performing its annual fall concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. Admission is free to the public.

This semester's concert will celebrate the music of the late Clifton Williams, a contemporary orchestra and concert band composer who was highly lauded by the music community.

UWP associate director of bands Matthew Gregg will be conducting "Variations on a Korean Folksong" by John Barnes Chance, an accomplished composer who studied under Williams in the '50s. UWP director of bands Barry Ellis, who researched Williams during his recent sabbatical, will conduct the remaining pieces: "Kaddish" by W. Francis McBeth, another Williams-student, and each of the five "Symphonic Dances" by Williams himself.

This event marks the world premier of all five "Symphonic Dances" being played, with the fourth dance also being a world premier. On his recent sabbatical, Ellis researched the life and music of Williams. This concert will serve as a showcase of the pieces and the players.

Contact: Barry Ellis, director of bands, (608) 342-1017, ellisb@uwplatt.edu
Written by: Ryan Werner, UWP Public Relations, wernerr@uwplatt.edu

Platteville Chorale and Children's Choir concert

2008-11-16T08:07:00.001-06:00

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will welcome the Platteville Chorale and Children's Choir to campus on Nov. 23. The concert will feature both groups in a joint performance. Three children's choirs will be performing, with each group set to sing three to four numbers. The children's choirs have been rehearsing since early September in preparation for this event.

The Chorale will sing seven pieces including "Mi Vidi, MiCancion" by Althouse, "Santus" by Bach, "O Lux Beatissima" by Helvey, "The Road Not Taken" by Randall Thompson, "Madabout Mozart" by Mozart and arranged by Rentz, "A Basque Lullaby" by Forrest and "Homeland" by Spring-Rice, Stroope and Holst.

Following the chorale performance, the three children's choirs will join the chorale in performing, "Why We Sing" by Greg Gilpin.

Greg Dennis is the director of the chorale with Kristi Hart accompanying. Luanne Rogers directs the Apprentice Choir (second, third and fourth graders) and is assisted by Lori Hillary, assistant director, Kathy Wagner, accompanist, and Jarod Boerst, student intern. Marcia Russell directs the Choristers (fourth, fifth and sixth graders) and is assisted by Bev Mattingly, accompanist, and Kathryn Karsten, student intern. Heidi Johnson directs the Cantabile (sixth, seventh and eighth graders) and is assisted by Terri Ellis, accompanist, and Jody Addison, student intern.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. Reserved seating is $6 for adults and $3 for students. For more information, contact Dwight Klaassen, chorale president and administrator, at (608) 342-2150 or klaassen@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Dwight Klaassen, chorale president and administrator, (608) 342-2150, klaassen@uwplatt.edu
Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu

Holiday Gala Dec.6-7

2008-11-13T14:03:00.000-06:00

PLATTEVILLE – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s annual Holiday Gala concert offers an evening of festive holiday entertainment for the entire family on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7.

Those attending the 12th annual production also have the option to enjoy a holiday buffet dinner after the concert.

“People are going to see a new twist this year that will be even more entertaining,” said Daniel Fairchild, chair of the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at UWP. “We have some wonderful surprises up our sleeve.”

The concert will begin at 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in UWP’s Center for the Arts. The dinner will follow at 6:15 p.m. in Velzy Commons, located in the Ullsvik Hall on the UWP campus. Seasonal music also will be performed during the dinner.

“We’re starting a little earlier and finishing a little earlier this year,” Fairchild said. “This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a wonderful evening of holiday music.”

Tickets for the dinner and concert are: $22 for adults, $19 for UWP students and $14 for children under 13. For just the concert, tickets are $11 for adults and $7 for UWP students as well as children under 13.

Tickets are available through the University Box Office located on the ground floor of Ullsvik Hall. The University Box Office hours are Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m; and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.. Tickets are available by phone at (608) 342-1298. Tickets are also available at the Center for the Arts starting one hour before the event. However, dinner tickets must be purchased by December 2.

For more information on the Holiday Gala concert, contact Fairchild at (608) 342-1123 or fairchig@uwplatt.edu.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swings into Platteville

2008-11-12T16:02:00.003-06:00

PLATTEVILLE-The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, December 4th at 7:30pm.

As committed to their music as the swing era lifestyle, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are not only renown for their impeccable performances, but for their classic suit and fedora styling and gentlemanly demeanor. Their fans span generations, filling concert halls around the country for shows that transport them back to a more wholesome, optimistic period. In fact, young adult fans regularly show up dressed in ‘40s-era outfits and dance sophisticated swing routines.

After first gaining mainstream popularity with their breakthrough performance in Swingers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have gone on to become one of the most popular touring bands on the road today. BBVD now carries on the tradition of the legendary big bands and orchestras by touring non-stop, performing over 100 concerts each year around the world. Like the Glen Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, and the Count Basie Big Band, BBVD sell out shows to audiences of all ages in cities as far flung as Honolulu, HI, St. Petersburg, FL, even making an appearance at last summer’s Pori Festival in Finland. And as a twist, the band has recently begun collaborating with symphonies in select cities, including the Air Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC, the Hartford Symphony in Hartford, CT, Columbus Symphony in Ohio, and the Dayton Philharmonic in Dayton, OH.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s swinging holiday party will feature songs from their first full-length Holiday album. They rework yuletide classics like “Blue Christmas,” “Jingle Bells” and “We Three Kings” into rollicking Big Band extravanganzas, and throw in a few new songs of their own. “Zat You Santa Claus” and “Rock-A-Billy Christmas” are cool enough to keep a snowman from melting, while “Mr. Heatmiser” (from the ‘70s-era Claymation television special The Year Without Santa Claus) sizzles with heat.

Tickets for this event are $26 for General Admission $24 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $18 for Kids Under 18 and $10 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Rountree perform rarely heard masterpiece

2008-11-11T10:51:00.003-06:00

PLATTEVILLE - Rountree Ensemble, University of Wisconsin-Platteville's chamber music ensemble-in-residence, will perform the second concert of its 2008-09 season on Wednesday Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The performance will take place at the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall at UWP's Center for the Arts, located on West Main Street on the university campus.

Featured in this concert will be a rarely heard masterwork for piano and winds by the late Romantic composer Ludwig Thuille. John Marco, Rountree Ensemble's artistic director and clarinetist, offered the following comments on this work: "It is a true masterpiece, the kind of work that makes me wonder why it isn't played more often. There is a depth and beauty of sound to this piece that is very appealing." Eugene Alcalay, Rountree's pianist, said that "this is beautifully written for the piano. There are lovely hints of Brahms and Schubert."

Also to be performed is the "Wind Quintet" of Gustav Holst, one of his earlier works, filled with a skillful blending of the five sonorities. And the ensemble will offer the "Three Pieces" for wind quintet by the French composer Jacques Ibert. Margaret Cornils, Rountree's flutist, described this work as "nicely representative of French woodwind writing during its peak period in the early 20th century. It is jovial, light and brilliant, a joy to hear and perform."

The Rountree Ensemble will also perform at UWP's Brodbeck Concert Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, March 29. The ensemble has been invited by Wisconsin Public Radio to return to its airwaves with another broadcast live from the Chazen Museum in Madison on Sunday, April 5.

Tickets are available through the University Box Office located on the ground floor of Ullsvik Hall. Tickets are available by phone at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission and $4 for senior citizens and UWP students with a current ID.

For more information on the Rountree Ensemble, contact Marco at (608) 342-1012 or marcoj@uwplatt.edu

Contact: John Marco, UWP Performing and Visual Arts, (608) 342-1012, marcoj@uwplatt.edu Formatted by: Ryan Werner, UWP Public Relations (608) 342-1194, wernerr@uwplatt.edu

Pickin' & grinnin

2008-11-06T10:27:00.002-06:00

Skaggs honors fathers of bluegrass
By SANDYE VOIGHT TH staff writer
Copyright Telegraph Herald

Ricky Skagg's mission is to teach the iPod generation about Bill Monroe and bluegrass music.

"They're picking up on it," he said in a phone interview. Skaggs' recording, "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947" on Skaggs Family Records, debuted at the top of Billboard's Bluegrass albums in July. It was the fourth debut at the top for the singer whose career started with bluegrass in childhood and has veered back to his roots after a long trek through country.

Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, will perform Saturday, Nov. 15, at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts.

A 13-time Grammy winner, he collected more awards, including Musician of the Year recently, at the 14th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards.

"There's a real link to Celtic music from the 17th century," he said. "They were clearing out Scotland and Ireland because they could make more money raising sheep than people. And there was the potato famine (in Ireland). The early immigrants brought their music to the hills and hollows of Appalachia. That's where that high lonesome sound comes from."

The music of the eastern mountains, he said, is evident in the sounds of the Stanley Brothers, Roscoe Holcomb, Clarence Ashley and Jean Ritchie.

"Jean Ritchie was singing 200-year-old songs from Scotland and Ireland. She got popular on the Smithsonian circuit and (took the songs) to music schools in the U.S. and Europe -- back to where it came from. We tell those stories," he said.

In 1980, when he was working with country singer Emmylou Harris, they were invited to a Celtic music party while touring in Ireland.

"I thought I'd died and gone to eastern Kentucky," he said. "I couldn't believe how much a part it played in bluegrass music."

Skaggs, who grew up in Cordell, Ky., learned to play the mandolin at 5, performed with Monroe at age 6 and with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs at 7.

"I knew they were big; they'd been on TV," he recalled. "I was so shy. When the (taped Flatt and Scruggs) show came on, we all sat in the living room, and I watched it until I heard my name. Then I headed for my bedroom and hid my eyes."

It wasn't until he was in his 40s that someone handed him an old Flat and Scruggs videotape.

"There I was with my Vacation Bible School haircut."

He said he wanted to make "Honoring the Fathers" to pay tribute to Monroe and others "who paid such a price" to establish bluegrass as a musical identity.

When rock 'n' roll took the wind out of old-time music, musicians like the Stanley Brothers would perform for just enough money to eat a meal and put gas in the tank, he said.

But bluegrass festivals in the '60s started to bring new popularity. The college market took to it and the Smithsonian Institution then Europeans fell in love with it, he said.

"When I came back (to bluegrass) in '96, that was big news, that a successful country artist would leave for a small, insignificant music."

The music itself brought him back, he said.

"It's like they say about the economy, 'It's the music, stupid.' It's the best thing I could have done. Country music has gone through a hard time in the last 10 years. Every time country music loses its way, the bluegrass music chart goes up. People will always look for pure music."

Broadway star defies gravity

2008-11-04T10:39:00.002-06:00

Idina Menzel dazzles Platteville crowd
By Megan Gloss TH staff writer
Copyright Telegraph Herald

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- It was a performance that truly defied gravity.

Area cult fans of the Broadway and Tony Award-winning star Idina Menzel packed the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts Monday night as the acclaimed singer and actress took the stage, performing songs from her latest solo effort, "I Stand," reworked selections from her two Broadway blockbusters, "Wicked" and "Rent," and a few pop, rock and jazz surprises that dazzled the crowd and showcased Menzel's powerhouse vocal chops.

Backed by a six-piece band, Menzel eased the crowd through the evening, sharing a sense of humor and personal and intimate stories, tinged with soaring melodies and rock-out moments.

But, as evidenced by the reaction of the crowd, the real show-stoppers were her selections from "Rent" and "Wicked."

True "Rent" heads, "Wicked" lovers and die-hard Menzel fans purchased tickets weeks in advance for a chance to see and hear their idol up close.

One fan and costuming enthusiast, Josh McDowell, 18, of Dubuque, dressed appropriately for the occasion, wearing a replica costume he designed and constructed himself of Menzel's prized role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in "Wicked," complete with green makeup.

"I thought I would wear it just in case she saw me," McDowell said.

McDowell was noticed by Menzel, who was so taken and impressed with his apparel that he was brought up on stage with her twice, including at the very end to sing an encore -- Menzel's show tune staple from "Wicked" -- "Defying Gravity."

"It was honestly a dream come true," McDowell said. "I just sang 'Defying Gravity' with Idina Menzel. She also brought me back stage afterward and complimented my costume, signed an autograph for me and told me to keep in touch with her. She was so cool."

Another avid Menzel follower, Abby Schultz, 23, of Dubuque, was one of the first to snatch front-row seats to the event. Having studied music and theater for most of her life, Schultz said she found an idol in Menzel when she first heard "Rent."

"It's always inspiring to me when female actors and singers go out and do what they intend to do with their life," Schultz said. "That is one major reason why she became my idol. She inspires me to go forth and pursue my career in theater. Plus, her voice is outstanding, so I can't help but love her."

UW-P performing arts administrator John Hassig also spoke with excitement about the event.

"It's always exciting to have a show in town, but our anticipation level goes way up when it's a high-profile artist like Idina," Hassig said. "I feel very strongly that this will be one of those 'top five' concerts for me. I've seen a lot of shows, but very few stick out for me as truly memorable. Idina is the real deal when it comes to singers.

"She originated a role in what was probably the most important show of the 1990s in 'Rent.' It truly revolutionized musical theater in many ways. Its ripples are still being felt throughout the musical theater world. (Idina) also won the Tony Award for her role in 'Wicked,' which is shaping up to be the biggest show of this decade."

Menzel, whose claim to fame came through her original Broadway roles of Maureen Johnson, in "Rent," and Elphaba in "Wicked," as well as the popular Walt Disney film "Enchanted," came to Platteville on the heels of a performance stop in Madison on Sunday and previous tour dates overseas earlier this fall. This is her third touring stint in the U.S. for her CD "I Stand."

UWP departments collaborate for concert

2008-10-29T08:57:00.001-05:00

PLATTEVILLE - Sopranos Rebekah Demaree and Susan Savage Day with pianist Sharon Jensen, faculty members from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Performing and Visual Arts Department, will be performing a Kassia: Women in Song concert on Nov. 5. The concert will be in collaboration with the UWP Humanities Department.

The Kassia performance is entitled "An Evening with Emily Dickinson" and will focus on the works of the poet in song from from a variety of composers including Lori Laitman, Richard Pearson Thomas, Jake Heggie, William Hawley, Ned Rolem, John Duke, Ernst Bacon, William Volcom and William Roy.

The UWP Humanities Department will be collaborating with the UWP Performing and Visual Arts Department by providing the expertise of faculty members Martha Drummond and Debora Lewis. They will be presenting material on Dickinson throughout the concert.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. It is free and everyone is welcome to attend. This performance has been made possible through the support of the Mary and Isabel Cunningham Fund and the Margaret Keizer Fund. For more information on this or other Kassia events, contact Demaree at (608) 342-1041 or demareer@uwplatt.edu.

Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu

'Dancing at Lughnasa' glides its way into UW-Platteville's CFA Theater

2008-10-28T11:36:00.001-05:00

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts and the Pioneer Players continue their fall theater season with Brian Friel's lyrical ode to the past, "Dancing at Lughnasa." The production opens with a matinee on Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. and continues through the week with evening performances. From Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, all performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts theater on the UWP campus.

"Dancing at Lughnasa" is a memory play, a drama with events that are presented as the recollections of an on-stage narrator, Michael Mundy, who looks back from the early 1960s to the summer of 1936. The setting is, on one level, in the mind of the narrator. What Mundy remembers and what we see on stage is "the home of the Mundy family, located two miles outside the village of Ballybeg, County Donegal, Ireland." Friel's "interplay of reality, memory and dream suggests the spiritual flux of a people whose sense of tradition and place is frequently at war with contemporary realities."

The play weaves the story of five unmarried sisters eking out their lives in this small, fictional village of Ballybeg. They are introduced at the time of the Festival of Lughnasa, which celebrates the pagan god of the harvest with drunken revelry and dancing. Their spare existence is interrupted by brief, colorful bursts of music from the radio, their only link to the romance and hope of the world at large.

In 1936, when Mundy is only 7 years old, his elderly uncle - a priest - returns after serving for 25 years as a missionary in a Ugandan leper colony. For the young boy, two other life-changing events occur that summer. The sisters acquire their first radio, with music that transforms them from correct Catholic women to shrieking, stomping banshees in their own kitchen. Mundy also meets his father for the first time, a charming Welsh drifter who strolls up the lane and sweeps his mother away in an elegant dance across the fields. Cracks develop from these events that ultimately destroy the foundation of the family. Widely regarded as Friel's masterpiece, this haunting play is his tribute to the spirit and valor of the past.

The eight-member cast includes Jared Baker, Kady Beekman, Jarod Boerst, Lizzie Hansen, Tiffany Hess, Molly Ilten, Sam Murn and Amanda Valiquette. All of them are veterans of previous plays and musicals at UWP. Scenic and lighting designs are by Brad Carlson, the theater program's technical director and designer, and Connie SaLoutos Furlan choreographed the dance interludes. David Schuler directs the production.

Winner of both Britain's Olivier Award and New York's Tony Award for Best Play, "Dancing at Lughnasa" was also chosen by Time magazine as one of the 10 best plays of 1991, saying it is "the most elegant and rueful memory play since "The Glass Menagerie" . . . this play does exactly what theater was born to do, carrying both its characters and audience aloft on those waves of distant music and ecstatic release that, in defiance of all language and logic, let us dance and dream just before night must fall." The New York Post said, "This is a play not to be missed - simply a wondrous experience. Experience it." "Dancing at Lughnasa" explores the theme of Irish identity under siege in a changing world. The play combines "reality, memory and dream" in a way that has become a hallmark of Friel's work as a playwright.

Tickets are available through the University Box Office located on the ground floor of Ullsvik Hall. Tickets are available by phone at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. Ticket prices are $7 general admission, $6 for UWP faculty and staff and $5 for senior citizens, individuals under the age of 18 and UWP students with a current ID. For more information regarding the performance, contact Schuler at (608) 342-1198 or schulerd@uwplatt.edu.

Contact and written by: David Schuler, Performing and Visual Arts, (608) 342- 1198, schulerd@uwplatt.edu Formatted by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu.

Sinatra music lives on

2008-10-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia, November 9th at 7:30pm.

Steve Lippia has become one of the most prominent, in-demand vocalists and has quickly established his place among the finest interpreters of “standards” and traditional pop music in the nation. Steve’s youthful, energetic talent and powerful show creates a perfect blend of “classic” with “today”. His show introduces a new generation to this timeless music, while appealing to long-time listeners.

Steve has headlined in highly successful, extended engagements at the Rio Suites hotel and casino in Las Vegas and Resorts hotel and casino in Atlantic City, where SRO audiences lined up more than two hours before show time to vie for seating.

Steve has recently performed to sold-out audiences with major symphonies across North America including, Alabama, Greensboro, Hilton Head, North Carolina, Mansfield, Tacoma, Duluth-Superior and the Louisiana Philharmonic. He currently has signed contracts for 2005-2007 with, the Naples Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Winnipeg, Tucson, Allentown, Lake Charles, Altoona, Lexington, Colorado, Edmonton, Forth Worth and Vancouver and is in late-stage negotiations with others for 2006-2008.

Tickets for this event are $20 for General Admission $18 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $12 for Kids Under 18 and $10 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Soulful Singing from the Canadian Heartland.

2008-10-17T15:03:00.002-05:00

The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Chic Gamine, November 13th at 7:30pm.

Chic Gamine, the stylish and endearingly playful Winnipeg/Montreal-based vocal quintet, has been serenading its audiences since the summer of 2007. The group is composed of the five "A's": singers Ariane Jean, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks and Annick Bremault, and drummer and percussionist Alexandre Sacha Daoud.

With a solo percussionist as their main musical support, Chic Gamine use their voices as instruments, effortlessly launching into intricate string arrangements, bass-heavy rhythm sections and lush harmonies. These multifariously talented songwriters create a sound that resonates with soul, passion, and an unabashedly random and sometimes downright peculiar brand of humor that reels audiences in and leaves them begging for more. Gospel, Soul, R'n'B, '50's Doo-Wop, Brazilian forro and French chanson are infused into the voices and rhythms of these five effervescent songmakers, combining for a sound that is uniquely Chic Gamine.

With just one year under their fashionably coordinated belts as Chic Gamine, they have built a reputation for a dynamic and passionate live show. With their first record, the self-titled Chic Gamine the group has performed all over North America. Highlights include The Winnipeg Folk Festival, The Strawberry Festival, California World Fest, and opening for the legendary Smokey Robinson at the Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho.

Samples of their distinctive sound are posted at the UWP website www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Tickets for this event are $18 for General Admission $16 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $12 for Kids Under 18 and $6 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

UWP Gender Choirs to perform

2008-10-17T14:37:00.006-05:00

Enjoy an afternoon of musical entertainment with Coro D'Angeli and the Singing Pioneers on Nov. 2. The two University of Wisconsin-Platteville gender choirs will be performing a joint concert, covering an array of musical pieces.

Coro D'Angeli will be performing a set of pieces that look at different elements of love, including Eric Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs." These works will be accompanied by piano and violin. Another selection Coro D'Angeli will be performing is a work entitled "Remember" by aspiring composer Brad Burrill, a choral music teacher at Wisconsin Dells High School. The women will also be singing pieces about love in Spanish and French.

The Singing Pioneers are performing a set of pieces in preparation for a major performance in January. They submitted a CD to the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association and were selected to sing at their convention in January of 2009 in Eau Claire. The pieces they will be performing include "Silent Noon" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "The Pasture" by Randall Thompson and "The Lord is my Shepherd" by Thomas Matthews. The men will also be singing works by Poulenc and Dvorak.

The concert is set to begin at 3 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. Everyone is invited to attend this free UWP event. For more information, contact Bob Demaree, director of the Singing Pioneers and Coro D'Angeli, at (608) 342-1446 or demaree@uwplatt.edu.

Frigg from Scandinavia to come to CFA

2008-10-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hot fiddle group from Scandinavia visit to Platteville:

PLATTEVILLE-The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Nordic folk group Frigg, October 15th at 7:30pm.

Acoustic Nordic folk music is advanced by the next generation through Frigg, a new group rich with folk heritage from Finland and Norway. Combining elements of their respective folk traditions with touches of American Appalachian and country & western music, they create an entirely new sound which feels simultaneously innovative and familiar.

The seven-piece band contains three young Järveläs, two sons and a daughter of the most famous fiddle family in Finland, whose fathers and uncles founded JPP, and two Larsen brothers, members of a comparable Norwegian Hardanger fiddle clan. The traditional sounds are then supercharged with innovative arrangements, and combined with mandola, cittern, double bass, guitar and dobro.

This young band has been dazzling festival audiences in Scandinavia the US, creating a phenomenal buzz among listeners and fellow musicians in the process.

Frigg has been catching ears on both sides of the Atlantic with their self-titled CD released in 2002, Oasis in 2005, and most recently their newest CD Economy released October 21st of this year. During an appearance on Garrison Keillor's famous public radio show “A Prairie Home Companion” Frigg had the studio audience baying for an encore. That's the way it's turning out wherever they play.

Tickets for this event are $14 for General Admission $12 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $10 for Kids Under 18 and $5 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Heartland Lighting Designers Win National Award

2008-10-01T16:06:00.005-05:00

A big congratulations to Heartland Festival lighting designers Lisa Weinshrott and Michael Kimmel! The team, who have designed lights for all Festival productions for the past five seasons, have been selected for the annual Apollo Standing O Award!! They are being featured in a national ad campaign as well. Very, very cool!

Visit this WEBSITE for all the details.

Spanish Brass @ UWP

2008-09-30T14:45:00.006-05:00

The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Spanish Brass October 8th at 7:30pm.

Since its founding in 1989, brass quintet Spanish Brass, has strived to give special emphasis to originality and innovation. Its schedule of many worldwide concert tours is complemented by chamber music courses for brass ensembles, concerts for brass quintet and orchestra and by CD recording sessions and radio broadcasts.

Members are constantly on the lookout for original new works written by dedicated contemporary composers and by highly talented young composers. They also have to their credit the regular commissioning of new works, which they premiere around the world. Their programs reflect their high artistic standards and their eclecticism, always taking advantage of their Latin temperament and elegance.

Famous throughout Spain, the five virtuosos were invited in 1995 to play for the awards ceremony of the prestigious annual Prize of Asturia, which was held at the Campoamor Grand Theater in Oviedo, Spain.

Since then, Spanish Brass has experienced a dazzling and spectacular international career. Each of their concerts, from Hong Kong to New York, Krakow to Verona, Gothenburg to Bonn, or Kiev to Lisbon confirms their special ability to delight their legion of fans and admirers, whose numbers are continually increasing.

Fred Mills, an ex-Canadian Brass member who lives in Athens, Ga., says, "Not only are the Spanish Brass virtuosi, I would say the musical result is sheer poetry. They have achieved a unique standing in today's music world developing their own individualistic quality. ... They have the ability, fantastic dynamic range and maintain a rhythmic intensity whether performing flamenco music or J.S. Bach."

Tickets for this event are $18 for General Admission $16 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $12 for Kids Under 18 and $6 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Cutting Edge

2008-09-26T10:10:00.007-05:00

Touring company's razor, 'meat pies' and barbershop drop in at UW-P
By The Telegraph herald

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street -- bloody razor, suspicious "meat pies" and all -- will make a national touring company stop on the stage of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts, as part of the Performing Arts Series.

Tickets are on sale for a one-night performance of "Sweeney Todd," Sunday, Oct. 5.

The Stephen Sondheim musical -- made into a 2007 movie starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter -- is based on a 19th century legend about a London barber. After an evil judge takes his wife and child away from him, the barber plans his revenge with a businesswoman named Mrs. Lovett.

She has a meat pie establishment conveniently located near Todd's barbershop.

The national touring company includes a cast of 10 actor/musicians. It is produced by NETworks Presentations, whose production of "Rent" was part of UW-Platteville's 2005-06 art series.

The Wall Street Journal called it, "The greatest musical of the past half-century."

Director and designer John Doyle's Broadway production opened in 2005, winning Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for best revival of a music. The production also won a special citation by the New York Drama Critics Circle.

News You Can Use
What: "Sweeney Todd," a musical thriller
Who: The national touring company
When: 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5
Where: Center for the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Cost: $32, general admission; $28 for children younger than 18; call the box office at 608-342-1298 or purchase tickets online at http://ticket.uwplatt.edu

Annual High School Choral Festival features UWP and area choirs

2008-09-25T15:50:00.001-05:00

Approximately 200 area high school singers will have the opportunity to practice and perform with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's choirs on Oct. 7 at the 2008 High School Choral Festival.

Groups of students representing area high schools have been invited to work with the UWP men's and women's choirs all day on Oct. 7 in preparation for a joint performance that evening. The UWP and area high school men's choir will be performing "Silent Noon" by Ralph Von Williams, "The Pasture" by Randall Thompson and two other pieces. The UWP and area high school women's choir will be performing a spiritual entitled "Jordan's Angles," and a Spanish piece called "No Puedo Apartarme," in addition to two other pieces.

Bob Demaree, UWP associate professor of music and director of choral activities, commented on the importance of this experience to participants. "This is a unique event because the students who come are spilt up according to gender," Demaree said. "The high school students get the opportunity to sing with more mature voices all day and this is often an inspiring experience for them."

The High School Choral Festival performance will be held at 7 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. Everyone is welcome to attend. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, UWP faculty and senior citizens and $3 for individuals under the age of 18 and UWP students with a valid ID. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at tickets.uwplatt.edu. For more information, contact Demaree at (608) 342-1446 or demaree@uwplatt.edu.

Rountree Ensemble perform recital benefitting music scholarships

2008-09-21T11:46:00.001-05:00

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Rountree Ensemble, UWP's chamber music ensemble-in-residence, will perform its first concert of the season on Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Featured in this concert will be pianist Eugene Alcalay, flutist Margaret Cornils, clarinetist John Marco and bassoonist Barry Ellis - all members of the ensemble and faculty members at UWP. The concert will include a varied program of music by Bach, Piazzolla, Stravinsky, Schumann and others.

Ticket sales for this concert will benefit the UWP music scholarship fund. Marco, clarinetist and artistic director of the Rountree Ensemble, said, "It's a pleasure to be able to help bring in more talented students to the excellent music program UWP has to offer."

The concert will be held in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall at the UWP Center for the Arts, located on the UWP campus. Tickets are available through the University Box Office located on the ground floor of Ullsvik Hall. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. Tickets are also available from the CFA location beginning one hour before ticketed performances. General admission for the concert is $10. Admission for senior citizens and UWP students with a valid ID is $4.

In addition to the concert on Sept. 24, Rountree Ensemble concerts will also take place on Nov. 19, Feb. 18, 2009 and March 29, 2009. For more information, contact Marco at (608) 342-1123 or marcoj@uwplatt.edu.

Eugene Alcalay to perform at faculty piano recital

2008-09-10T08:22:00.003-05:00

PLATTEVILLE- Eugene Alcalay, University of Wisconsin-Platteville associate professor of piano, will be performing a selection of classical piano pieces at a faculty recital on Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The program includes a Bach Prelude and Fugue, the Brahms Waltzes, a Beethoven Sonata and a Chopin Sonata. Alcalay recently performed these pieces at a recital in St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, England. "I have a very special connection with the Bach piece and have played it for many years. It contains an amazing five-voice Fugue," Alcalay said.

The sonata that will be performed is one of Beethoven's two fantasy-sonatas. It is a four-movement piece, played without any pauses. According to Alcalay, the 30-minute, four-movement Chopin Sonata is one of the most important piano works of the Romantic era. The faculty recital performance is free of charge. It will take place in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. For more information, contact Alcalay at (608) 342-1292 or alcalaye@uwplatt.edu.

On Sept. 14, Alcalay will be performing the Brahms, Beethoven and Chopin live on Wisconsin Public Radio. The concert can be heard at 12:30 p.m. on WPR, 88.7 FM or on the website at wpr.org.

Contact: Eugene Alcalay, associate professor of piano, department of performing and visual arts, (608) 342-1292, alcalaye@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu

Project @ Noon

2008-09-09T09:29:00.003-05:00

Sneak peek at the amazing group Project this noon (9/9/08) at the sculptures between the Student Center and Boebel Hall. Stop down for a little preview of the concert they will give tonight at 7:30pm. Info on PROJECT!

Sweeney Todd tour makes Platteville stop

2008-09-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

PLATTEVILLE-The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents the national tour of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, October 5th at 7pm.

Sweeney Todd is based on the 19th century legend of a London barber driven to a life of crime after a malevolent judge takes his wife and child from him. Sweeney’s plan for revenge includes a cutthroat partnership with Mrs. Lovett, an enterprising businesswoman, who is soon producing the tastiest meat pies in London.

This exciting and innovative new production features a multi-talented ensemble of ten talented actor/musicians. The Wall Street Journal says, “The greatest musical of the past half-century has returned in a staging of the utmost force and originality!” and Time Out New York calls Doyle’s revival “the most addictively delicious dish on Broadway in years!”

Original direction and design by Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards winner John Doyle; recreated by Adam Hunter; Sweeney Todd features the music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond, with music supervision by David Loud. The creative team also includes Paul Miller for lighting design, based on original design by Richard Jones, and Shannon Slaton for sound design.

Doyle’s production of Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 2005 to universal critical acclaim where it won the Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Revival of a Musical, and was awarded a Special Citation by the New York Drama Critics Circle. The Sweeney Todd tour is produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC whose sell-out production of “Rent” was featured in the 2005-2006 Art Series season.

For more information on Sweeney Todd, please visit the tour website, www.sweeneyontour.com.

Tickets for this event are $32 for General Admission $30 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $28 for Kids Under 18 and $18 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Special Announcement - 'Wicked' / 'Rent' Star to visit Platteville

2008-09-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series University of Wisconsin-Platteville has announced a special performance by Idina Menzel November 3rd at 7:30pm.

Idina Menzel who reached superstardom on Broadway in two career-defining roles, her Tony Award winning performance in the musical blockbuster "Wicked" and her tony nominated performance in "Rent", comes to Platteville for one unforgettable night.

Idina is touring in support of her self-written album “I Stand”. The performance will feature songs from this album as well as numbers from “Wicked” and “Rent.

Idina Menzel's Warner Bros. Records debut album, "I Stand" is a powerful collection of exquisite new songs written by the Tony Award winning actress/singer/songwriter. With Idina’s one-of-a-kind soaring voice and the talent of legendary Grammy winning producer Glen Ballard, the final outcome is an album filled with pop tunes and heartfelt ballads, intimate yet universal stories of life, its challenges, relationships and of course - the subject of love.

Inspired by artists like Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand - triple threats who have conquered stage, film and success as recording artists, Idina Menzel stands poised to embark on her ultimate challenge, a solo artist singing her very own songs.

Tickets for this event become available on September 16th, and are $25 for General Admission and $15 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Special Announcement Coming Tomorrow!!

2008-09-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

Watch for an announcement about a special ADDED SHOW at the CFA. Mark your calendars and clear your schedule for November 3rd right now. You will want to be at the CFA that night. Trust me...do it now.

The announcement will be made tomorrow - look for it!

Project @ the CFA

2008-08-26T10:40:00.001-05:00

Special Project at the CFA features flute prodigy

The Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series University of Wisconsin-Platteville presents Project September 9th at 7:30pm.

PROJECT is a dynamic young group that is exciting audiences with their energy and innovative style. Their sound can only be described as a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music, balanced out by a sincere allegiance to their classical roots. By combining the classical repertoire with original compositions, PROJECT reaches out to new audiences. Through performance and outreach/education concerts, they provide access for the next generation of music lovers.

Dallas native Peter Seymour has performed with a multitude of highly acclaimed artists and ensembles. As a member of the Cleveland Orchestra he performed under the baton of Franz Welser-Möst and in the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He was the recipient of the Downbeat Magazine Award for Best Jazz Soloist in 1996. Peter is active composing and performing with PROJECT, the ensemble he co-founded with cellist Eric Stephenson.

An exceptionally versatile cellist, Eric Stephenson’s style ranges from classical to jazz to rock and folk. He is currently a member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra in Memphis, Tennessee and the Colorado Music Festival. Eric served as Principal Cellist of the Canton Symphony Orchestra from 2002-2006.

Greg Pattillo (Flute) is recognized throughout the world for his redefinition of flute sound. Greg was lauded by The New York Times as "the best person in the world at what he does." His groundbreaking performance videos on Youtube, showcasing "beatbox flute," have been viewed more than 20 million times.

PROJECT is an ensemble of genre bending performers emerging from classical music roots.

Tickets for this event are $10 for General Admission $8 for Faculty and Senior Citizens $6 for Kids Under 18 and $2 for UWP Students (with current ID).

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Center for the Arts announces season

2008-08-25T17:16:00.001-05:00

PLATTEVILLE-The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Performing Art Series proudly announces its 2008-2009 Season. The Series strives to bring a wide variety of productions to Platteville and the Tri-States area.

The first half of the season includes:

Project a dynamic young group that is exciting audiences with their energy and innovative style. Their sound can only be described as a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music - balanced out by a sincere allegiance to their classical roots. September 9th 7:30pm

Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim is the hit musical based on the 19th century legend of a London barber driven to a life of crime after a malevolent judge takes his wife and child from him. Sweeney’s plan for revenge includes a cutthroat partnership with Mrs. Lovett—an enterprising businesswoman—who is soon producing the tastiest meat pies in London. October 5th 7:00pm

Spanish Brass was formed in 1989 by five Spanish musicians who created an eclectic and innovative project that they developed over the years in different fields including: music, performance, education, and creation. Today they tour all over the world with courses intended for chamber music and recordings. October 8th 7:30pm

Frigg combines elements of their respective folk traditions with touches of American Appalachian and Country music, they create an entirely new sound which feels simultaneously innovative and familiar. October 15th 7:30pm

Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia brings a performer who has become one of the most prominent, in-demand vocalists and has quickly established his place among the finest interpreters of “standards” and traditional pop music in the nation. Steve’s youthful, energetic talent and powerful show creates a perfect blend of “classic” with “today”. His show introduces a new generation to the timeless music of Frank Sinatra, while appealing to long-time listeners. November 9th 7:30pm

Chic Gamine a vocal super group from Winnipeg’s French Quarter, has been singing together in various formations since 1997. Most recently, three of them were members of the acclaimed World Vocal ensemble Madrigaia, and look to embellish that legacy with new, original material. November 13th 7:30pm

Ricky Skaggs has often said that he is "just trying to make a living" playing the music he loves. But it's clear that his passion for bluegrass puts him in the position to bring this lively, distinctively American form of music out of isolation and into the ears and hearts of audiences across the country and around the world. November 15th 7:30pm

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has become one of the most popular touring bands on the road today. Having put the swing craze that briefly dominated Alternative radio in 1998 behind them, BBVD now carries on the tradition of the legendary Big Bands and orchestras by touring non-stop, performing over 100 concerts each year around the world. December 4th 7:30pm

The second half of the season which begins in February of 2009 includes: The Jeff Coffin Mu’Tet on February 6; the 70 piece Czech Symphony Orchestra on February 13; the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley February 15; Footloose The Musical will be April 17; and Gilligan’s Island the Musical starring Barry Williams will be May 3.

Series subscriptions for all events are on sale now. Single tickets for Fall PAS events are also on sale with tickets for the second half of the series going on sale 12/1/08 with an Internet presale beginning 11/29/08. Visit the CFA website for ticket information at http://www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the Center for the Arts the University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and can be reached by calling (608)-342-1298. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at http://uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.