PressCalendar ForImmediateRelease: March14,2018

APRIL2018ATGEORGEMASONUNIVERSITY’SCENTERFORTHEARTS

featuring:VirginiaOpera:LuciadiLammermoorL.A.TheatreWorks:TheMountaintop

TheKing’sSingers:50thAnniversaryTourTheHotSardines

KeyboardConversations®withJeffreySiegelandmanymore!

(FAIRFAX)—GeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterfortheArtsreleasedtodayitsscheduleof

performancesandeventsforApril2018aspartoftheGreatPerformancesatMasonseries.

Thecalendarincludestragicopera,historicaltheater,masterfulacappella,innovativejazz,and

classicalmusicforpiano.Masonalum,students,andfacultyarealsofeaturedintheater

productionsandclassicalandjazzmusicconcerts.Ticketsareavailableatcfa.gmu.edu.

Themonth’sprogrammingkicksoffonApril7and8withVirginiaOpera’sfinal

productionofthe2017-2018season,LuciadiLammermoor—oneofthemostfamousbelcanto

Italianoperasfeaturingstar-crossedloversandtheirfeudingfamilies.L.A.TheatreWorks

presentsTheMountaintoponApril14,aplayinspiredbyMartinLutherKingJr.’shistorical

speechandthatportrayswhatmayhavehappenedonthelastnightofhislife.TheKing’s

Singersbringtheir50thAnniversaryTouronApril20withrepertoirerangingfrommadrigalsto

contemporaryandpopularmusic.OnApril22,TheHotSardinestransportaudiencestoNew

YorkspeakeasiesandParisiancabarets.Lastly,KeyboardConversations®withJeffreySIegel

closestheseasononApril29withaprogramthatexploresBach’sinfluenceonChopin.

AfullscheduleofperformancesforApril2018isbelow.Unlessotherwisenoted,

performanceswilltakeplaceintheCenterfortheArts’ConcertHalllocatedat4373Mason

PondDrive,Fairfax,Virginia.TicketsareavailableforpurchaseinpersonattheCenterforthe

Arts’TicketOffice(openTuesday–Saturday10a.m.to6p.m.),bycalling888-945-2468,or

throughtheCenterfortheArts’website.

GreatPerformancesatMason

VirginiaOperaLuciadiLammermoorSaturday,April7at8p.m.Sunday,April8at2p.m.TheVirginiaOperaconcludesitsseasonwiththemostfamousofallbelcantooperas,GaetanoDonizetti’stragicLuciadiLammermoor.Thisintensetaleofstar-crossedloversrevolvesaroundtwofeudingScottishfamilies,theRavenswoodsandtheLammermoors.LuciadiLammermoorlovesEdgardoRavenswood,butwhenherbrother’spoliticalactivityputhimatoddswiththeking,hedecidestoreestablishhisfamily’sstatusbyforcingLuciaintoanarrangedmarriagethatculminatesinthemostspectacularmadsceneinallofopera.MetropolitanOperasopranoRacheleGilmoremakesherVirginiaOperadebutinthetitleroleofLucia,awomanatheremotionalbreakingpoint.ComplementingherasEdgardoistenorJosephDennis,alsoinhisVirginiaOperadebut.Don’tmissthisdramaticmasterpieceofthwartedloveanddashedexpectations.SunginItalianwithEnglishsupertitles.Tickets:$110,$90,$54Pre-PerformanceDiscussionwithDr.GlennWinters"Dr.Opera.”L.A.TheatreWorksTheMountaintopSaturday,April14at8p.m.Images:L.A.TheatreWorks:TheMountaintopFiftyyearsago,onApril3,1968,afterdeliveringhisfamouslyprescientspeech,punctuatedbytheimmortalline,“I’vebeentothemountaintop,”anexhaustedMartinLutherKingJr.retirestohisroomattheLorraineMotelinMemphis.Bythefollowingevening,Dr.Kinghadbeenassassinated.Inherprovocativeplay,TheMountaintop,KatoriHallimagineswhatmayhavetranspiredbetweenthelegendarycivilrightsleaderandaseeminglyinconsequentialhotelmaidontheeveofhisassassinationwhenastormragesoutside.WinneroftheprestigiousOlivierAwardforBestNewPlay,L.A.TheatreWorksappliesitssignaturestyle,completewithsoundeffectsmadethe“old-fashioned”wayonstage,tothisacclaimedandgrippingplayrifewithhumor,politicaljabs,andanintimateglimpseatDr.King’shopes,regrets,andfears.Onthissolemnanniversary,don’tmissthisradio-styleproductionofacontemporaryplayaboutthisgreatman.TheMountaintopcontainsmaturelanguage.Tickets:$44,$37,$26

Pre-PerformanceDiscussionwithaMemberoftheCompany.TheKing’sSingers50thAnniversaryTourFriday,April20at8p.m.Images:TheKing’sSingersThisacclaimedacappellasextetoffersasublimeperformanceofdiverseandcompellingvocalworks.FromRenaissancemadrigalstocontemporary,popularmusic,TheKing’sSingersisknownforitsextensiverepertoireandstrongcommandofvariedstyles.Consummateentertainers,thesingers’renditionsaremarkedbyimmaculateintonation,vocalblend,diction,andincisivetiming.Atarecentconcert,TheWashingtonPostaffirmed,“Theirvocalproductionwaseffortless,stylisticallyvariedandbeautifullyblended,eveninthemostcomplexpolyphony.”Overthepastfiftyyears,TheKing’sSingershassecureditsplaceas“thesuperlativevocalsextet”(TheTimes,London).Tickets:$50,$43,$30Pre-PerformanceDiscussionwithaMemberoftheCompany.TheHotSardinesSunday,April22at7p.m.Images:TheHotSardines“OneofthebestjazzbandsinNewYorktoday”(Forbes)makesitsdebutattheCenterwheretheytransporttheaudiencetoNewYorkspeakeasies,Parisianjazzcabarets,andNewOrleansjazzclubs.Acclaimedfortheirbrassyarrangements,rollickingpianomelodies,andsmokyvocals,TheHotSardinesstandapartfortheinnovation,verve,andsheerjoytheybringtomusic,botholdandnew.PianistEvan“Bibs”Palazzoandsinger“MizElizabeth”Bougerol,metin2007atajazzjamsessionandbondedovertheirloveforFatsWaller.AlsoinfluencedbysuchgreatsasDinahWashington,LouisArmstrong,andBillieHoliday,theybeganplayingsmallgigs,andby2011,theywereheadliningMidsummerNightSwingatNewYork’sLincolnCenter.Recently,theyhavebeenfeaturedattheNewportJazzFestivalandMontrealJazzFestival,havesoldouttopNYCvenues,touredfromChicagotoLondon,andhavereleasedtwocriticallyacclaimedalbums.Tickets:$48,$41,$29Pre-PerformanceDiscussionwithaMemberoftheCompany.

KeyboardConversations®withJeffreySiegelBachandChopin–AMusicalKinshipSunday,April29at7p.m.Images:JeffreySiegelDidyouknowthatBachwasChopin'sfavoritecomposer?BecomeaclassicalmusicinsiderwhenvirtuosopianistandentertainingstorytellerJeffreySiegelreturnstoourstagewithaprogramexploringBach’sinfluenceonChopin.Hearvivaciousdances,dramaticPreludes,andromantic,improvisationalFantasiesbybothcomposers.Popularwithclassicalmusicaficionadosandnovicesalike,Siegel’sunique“concertswithcommentary”formattellsthestorybehindthemusic.“Afirst-classmusicianwhocansketchandcolorwithgreatness”(TheLondonTimes).AninteractiveQ&Aconcludesthisprogram.Tickets:$42,$36,$25

MasonStudentandFacultyPerformancesMusicBigBandShowdownMonday,April2at8p.m.JointheMasonJazzEnsemble(director,JimCarroll)foraneveningthatcelebratesthehotsoundsandswingingbeatsoftheBigBandera!Tickets:$12adults,$8seniors,$5youthTheaterTheNight Thoreau SpentinJailThursday,April5–Saturday,April7at8p.m.Saturday,April7–Sunday,April8at2p.m.ByJeromeLawrenceandRobertE.Lee;DirectedbyEdwardGero AMainstageProductionHarrisTheatreWithcontemporaryresonance,LawrenceandLeeimaginecircumstancessurrounding19thCenturywriter HenryDavidThoreau’s imprisonmentforhisrefusaltopayapolltaxdesignedtosupportanunpopularwar.Reflectedthroughthememoriesofhisfriendandmentor RalphWaldoEmerson,theplayexplorestherolesofgovernmentandthegoverned,civildisobedience,education,andtheinterdependenceofmanandnature.Tickets: $30GeneralAdmission,$15students,staff,seniorsandgroups

MusicJazzCombosandSteelPanEnsembleConcertWednesday,April11at8p.m.deLaskiPerformingArtsBuildingPerformancebytheMasonJazzCombos,underthedirectionofjazzpianist,WadeBeach.VisitMasonJazzonlineat:http://music.gmu.edu/jazz-studies/.LedbyVictorProvost,steelpanstudentslearntoplaythesteeldrum(steelpan,orpan)inavarietyofsettings,focusingonrepertoirefromavarietyofgenresincludingvariousmusicoftheCaribbean.DanceSpringNewDancesThursday,April12–Saturday,April14at8p.m.HarrisTheatreMeetthenextgenerationofcontemporarychoreographers.Tickets:$15full;$10students,staffandseniors;$7groupsof10ormoreTheaterCaféGeorgeFriday,April13at8p.m.TheAnnualCaféGeorgeisaneveningfordessertandBroadwaymusic.TheMasonChorale,underconductorDr.LisaA.Billingham,willperformacabaretstyleconcertonthestageoftheCenterfortheArts.ThiseventfeaturessmallgroupnumbersaswellassoloistsfromtheChorale.Asilentauctionwillbeheldasapartoftheevening’sperformance.Tickets:  $25MusicMasonGuitarEnsembleConcertwithSpecialGuestLakeBraddockGuitarEnsembleSaturday,April14at8p.m.deLaskiPerformingArtsBuildingJoinusfortheGeorgeMasonUniversityGuitarEnsemble’sconcert.Theprogramwillincludemusicfortwo,three,andfourguitars,aswellasmusicforlargeensemble.UnderthedirectionofProfessorMattTrkula,theGeorgeMasonUniversityGuitarEnsemblefeaturesSchoolofMusicguitarstudentsfromavarietyofmajorsincludingguitarperformance,musictechnology,andmusiceducation.ThegroupperformsmusicthatspanstheentirecourseofWesternmusicrangingfromRenaissancetocontemporarycomposers.

Freeandopentothepublic.MusicJazzWorkshopConcertSunday,April15at7p.m.HarrisTheatreJazzSaxophonefaculty,RickParrelldirectstheMasonJazzWorkshopbigbandintheirSpringconcert!Freeandopentothepublic.MusicMasonOpera:AlbertHerringFriday,April20–Saturday,April21at8p.m.Sunday,April22at2p.m.HarrisTheatreAcomicoperabyBenjaminBritten.Tickets:$20adults,$15seniors,$5youthMusicMasonWindSymphony&SymphonicBandConcertThursday,April26at8p.m.MasonWindSymphonyunderthedirectionofProfessorMarkCamphouseandMasonSymphonicBandunderthedirectionofProfessorJohnKilkennyandDentonStokes.Tickets:$12adults,$8seniors,$5youththroughgrade12TheaterMasonPlayersOriginals!Friday,April27at8p.m.deLaskiPerformingArtsBuildingExpectafewchangestoourapproachtostudentartisticexpression!Newscripts,artisticperformancesandcreativeofferingsinspiredbyourstudentswilldrivethisfinaltheatricalcelebrationoftheseason.Tickets:DailyPayWhatYouCan($5incrementsonly).

OtherPerformancesandEventsFairfaxSymphonyOrchestra:ConnectionsThroughTimeChristopherZimmerman,conductorSimoneDinnerstein,pianoSaturday,April21at8p.m.Bach:KeyboardConcertoinGminor,BWV1058Glass:PianoConcertoNo.3(RegionalPremiere)VaughanWilliams:FantasiaonaThemebyThomasTallisElgar:IntroductionandAllegroforStringsSimoneDinnersteinreturnstoperformtheregionalpremiereofanewconcertowrittenforherbyrenownedcomposerPhilipGlass."IhavebeenafanofGlasssincemyteens.Infact,hismusicdrama"ThePhotographer"wasthefirstliveeventIattendedwithoutanadult,andIhavealwaysassociatedhismusicwithcomingofage”saysDinnerstein.“TherearealmostnoconcertoswrittenforpianoandstringssinceBach'stime.BothGlassandIhaveastronginterestinBachandhowhismusicimpactsustoday.ThepairingoftheBachconcertowithhisowncompositionwillcreatemyriadstrandsofconnectivityenablingthelistenertocreatebridgesbetweentheoldandnew."Pre-PerformanceDiscussionwithConductorChristopherZimmermanandspecialguests.Tickets:$65,$53,$39StudentTickets:$15ProjectTrioPerformanceMonday,April23at12:30p.m.HarrisTheatreProjectTrioisapassionate,high-energychambermusicensemblecomprisedofthreevirtuosiccomposer/performersfromBrooklyn,NewYork.Followingtheperformance,ProjectTriowillholdaQ&AsessionwithSchoolofMusicstudents.Freeandopentothepublic.AboutGreatPerformancesatMasonGreatPerformancesatMasonisaprogramofGeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterfortheArts,theprofessionalpresentationandproductionarmoftheCollegeofVisualandPerformingArts(CVPA).CVPAprovidesanacademicenvironmentinwhichtheartsareexploredasindividualdisciplinesandinterdisciplinaryformsthatstrengthenoneanother.Thecollegepreparesstudentsforcareersascreators,performers,teachers,scholars,artsleadersandartsentrepreneurs.Understandingthataneducationintheartsisdeepenedbyregularcontactwith

theworkofdistinguishedvisitingartists,theCenterfortheArts,theprofessionalpresentationandproductionarmofthecollege,welcomesavarietyofprofessionalandworld-renownedartists,musiciansandactorstoitsstage.Studentshavetheopportunitytoperform,createandexhibittheirworkinawidevarietyofpublicvenuesincludinga2,000-seatConcertHall.CVPAishometotheSchoolsofMusic,Dance,ArtandTheater,aswellastheComputerGameDesign,ArtsManagement,andFilmandVideoStudiesprograms.AboutGeorgeMasonUniversityGeorgeMasonUniversityisVirginia’slargestpublicresearchuniversity.LocatednearWashington,D.C.,Masonenrolls35,000studentsfrom130countriesandall50states.Masonhasgrownrapidlyoverthepasthalf-centuryandisrecognizedforitsinnovationandentrepreneurship,remarkablediversityandcommitmenttoaccessibility.

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###PRESSCONTACTSCamilleCintrónDevlinAssistantDirectorofMarketing&Communications703-993-8794|cdevlin6@gmu.eduHylaS.HelselLondonDirectorofMarketing703-993-9808|hhelsel@gmu.edu