Places October 2010

A preview of Performing Arts at Johnson County Community College www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

The Seasons Project, Robert McDuffie, violinist, and Venice Baroque Orchestra

Michael Bolton

Capitol Steps

Quixotic Fusion, Lux Esalare

Visual and theatre arts summer program

2010 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival Michael Bolton

Robert McDuffie performs old and new ‘Seasons’

Robert McDuffie, violin soloist and leader, and the Venice Baroque Or­chestra will appear as part of a worldwide premiere tour of The Seasons Project at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in Yardley Hall. The Seasons Project consists of a new Philip Glass composition titled Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra, The American Four Seasons, performed in the first half of the program, followed by Vivaldi’s classic, The Four Seasons, in the second half.Artists Insights begin at 7 p.m.

The American Four Seasons was commissioned by McDuffie, JCCC, the Toronto Symphony, London Philharmonic,Aspen Music Festival and the Krannert Center.

“I’ve always believed that Philip Glass is America’s Vivaldi. I was so honored when Philip agreed to write his second violin concerto, The American Four Seasons, for me,” McDuffie said.

The four seasons had its first performance December 2009 with the Toronto Symphony, and a worldwide tour began with a 30­city tour of the United States in the fall of 2010, a tour of Europe in the fall of 2011, and a tour of Asia in the fall of 2012.

This project pairs McDuffie, one of the finest violinists of our age, with Glass, one of the world’s most influential composers. Together in The American Four Seasons, the two display their very best work. The piece is scored for a baroque­sized string orchestra with an electronic keyboard as the sound of a harpsichord. The American Four Seasons opens with

Robert McDuffie

a violin solo followed by four movements, each preceded by an extended violin “song,” allowing McDuffie to display his virtuosity.

• McDuffie plays a 1735 Guarneri del Gesu violin, known as the “Ladenburg.” The Grammy­nominated violinist has appeared as soloist with most of the major orchestras of the world and has been profiled many times in the media — NBC’s Today, CBS Sunday Morning, PBS’s Charlie Rose,A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts,The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. McDuffie holds the Genelle and Mansfield Jennings Distinguished University Professor Chair at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon, Ga., and the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is now in its fourth academic year at the university.

• Born in 1937 in Baltimore, Glass has composed music for opera, dance, theater, chamber ensemble, orchestra, film and his own group, the Philip Glass Ensemble. Collaborations with artists range from Twyla Tharp to Allen Ginsberg,Woody Allen to David Bowie.

• Founded in 1997 by baroque scholar and harpsichordist Andrea Marcon, the Venice Baroque Orchestra is recognized as one of Europe’s premier ensembles devoted to period instrument performance.With McDuffie, the Orchestra’s touring season is focused on the worldwide performance of The Seasons Project.

Tickets $35 and $45

Bolton has star staying power Michael Bolton has been part of contemporary music for the last 36 years. With a chameleon­like quality, he has managed to reinvent himself multiple times, never letting his music or persona grow old. Bolton performs at 7:30 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 20, in Yardley Hall.

Bolton will sing many of his well­known hits — both songs he recorded for himself and songs he wrote for other artists. Now on tour promoting his newest album, One World One Love, Bolton is sure to sing a sampling of those 12 titles, which include nine Bolton originals and three favorites borrowed from other composers — Crazy Love, Invisible Tattoo and Sign Your Name.

The release of One World One Love follows the recent PBS broadcast of Bolton’s sold­out concert at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall that resulted in the album Live at the Royal Albert Hall in February.

Bolton started his career playing hard rock with a band, Blackjack, emerging as a solo success in the 1980s with an adult contemporary style. His first hit as a songwriter was How Am I Supposed to Live Without You for Laura Branigan. He then reinterpreted old soul classics by Ray Charles, Percy Sledge and Otis Redding, whose widow Zelma praised his rendition of Dock of the Bay as her favorite.

Moving on, he played guitar with the blues legend BB King, and in 1991 wrote a song with Bob Dylan entitled Steel Bars. In 1991, Bolton also released his seventh album Time, Love & Tenderness, which featured his Grammy­award winning single of Sledge’s When a Man Loves a Woman.

Another virtuosic career move in 1998 led Bolton to impress classical audiences with an album of arias, singing tenor with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carerras and Renée Fleming.All the while he was writing pop hits for himself, as well as supplying material to other performers like Barbra Streisand, KISS, Kenny G and Cher.

In 2006, Bolton redefined his work again, releasing an album of Sinatra’s swing classics.About this time, he was approached by hip­hop musician Kanye West who used Bolton’s vocals on Maybe It’s the Power of Love and Never Let Me Down for a track with Jay­Z. In his latest album he collaborates writing one song each with Lady Gaga and Ne­Yo.

“One big idea I grew up with was this: remain open to all genres and means of musical expression,” Bolton said.

Bolton is a tireless writer and performer, earning two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, a star on Hollywood’s Wall of Fame and sold­out concerts. He has sold more than 53 million records.

Bolton’s tenor vocals won us over in the beginning, and we continue to celebrate his success.

Tickets $50, $60 ($130 tickets are sold out)

Michael Bolton

Capitol Stepsare capital fun

With the Capitol Steps, the truth doesn’t hurt; it makes you laugh.

A biennial audience favorite, the Capitol Steps perform at 8 p.m. Friday­Saturday, Oct. 22­23, in Yardley Hall.

For almost 30 years, the Capitol Steps have been a Washington, D.C., institution that keep audiences laughing and public figures dashing for cover.

When the headlines are bleak with reports of the BP oil spill, Tipper and Al’s breakup, and Rod Blogojevich’s indictment, the comedy troupe turns disasters on their heads and turn frowns into smiles.

Recent tunes include We Arrrrrr the World (in reference to the Somali pirates), Al Is Alive (to the tune of I Will Survive about the newly single Al Gore), Under BP (to the tune of Under the Sea) and You Fill Out Your Census (think, John Denver’s You Fill Up My Senses).

Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded more than 30 albums, including their latest, Liberal Shop of Horrors and Barackin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

The Capitol Steps’ witty show is at the expense of politicians and favorite current events – the Supreme Court, Goldman Sachs, swine fever, Twitter, Sarah Palin and cash for clunkers. No subject is immune from the Steps’ satire.

The Steps were born in December 1981, when staffers for Sen. Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole of Congress they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin. So they decided to dig into the headlines of the day and create songs and skits that conveyed a special brand of satirical humor. Ronald Reagan was president when the Steps began, so co­founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers. The group now has 22 cast members, five of whom are on stage for any one show with piano accompaniment.

Cast members are firmly bipartisan, finding entertainment at the expense of both Republicans and Democrats. The current cast of the Capitol Steps has, at one time or another, infested the offices of a total of 18 Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.

Tickets $35, $45 and $100 in the orchestra pit

Quixotic Fusionimmerses audiences in many arts

Don Quixote has served as inspiration for artists from Pablo Picasso to Richard Strauss. Now a local performing arts ensemble has borrowed from the lofty idealist and applied the adjective derived from his name to their group Quixotic Fusion.

Quixotic Fusion will be on stage with its full length performance, Lux Esalare, at 8 p.m. Friday Saturday, Oct. 29 30, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center. Lux Esalare debuted in 2009 but is re staged for its Yardley Hall performance.

Quixotic is an ensemble of musicians, dancers, aerialists, composers, choreographers, and fashion and lighting designers collaborating to produce new forms of artistic expression. This inventive group of artists goes beyond the limits of any specific art form to create a total sensory experience for its audience. Quixotic makes performance art interactive and eliminates the barrier between performer and audience.

Don’t try to limit Quixotic’s creative experiences to a single definition.Audiences are immersed in light, dance, ephemeral ribbons wrapped around aerialists, a solo violinist, live rock band and high fashion costumes.

Lux Esalare tells a mesmerizing story of choices and possibility, with incredible dance, live music, video projections and aerial artistry. Sonya Tayeh, choreographer and a judge on Fox Network’s So You Think You Can Dance, crafted the piece based on an ancient Greek fable. TrendHunter Magazine says that costume design by Sarah Nelsen suggests an ethereal look using “stretch Lycra bodysuits incorporating light reflective strips on the wing portion of the costumes.”

Quixotic was founded in 2004 by award winning sound designer and visual artist Anthony Magliano, a JCCC alumnus who is now the interactive team leader at Bernstein Rein Advertising, and by award winning dancer/choreographer Keelan Whitmore, a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy who danced five seasons with the Kansas City Ballet before joining LINES Ballet of San Francisco. The ensemble has evolved from artists going into old buildings and creating site specific experiences to a more sophisticated operation with a full time staff.

“We have come a long way,” Magliano said.

Magliano continues as co artistic director, now joined by Mica Thomas, co artistic director, who received his BFA in theater from Southern Oregon University and attended the master’s program in lighting design at Penn State University. His artistic ventures include a variety of types of projects such as lighting, dance, installation art, painting, masonry and photography.

“I am able to practice a lot of technical theatrical innovation. I am able to use my music background, visual arts background and love of technology to really paint a stage with lighting, projections, music, fashion and performers,” Magliano said.

The 20 30 members of the ensemble have a background in everything from ballet to sculpture. Quixotic has people who have worked with Cirque Éloize and Cirque du Soleil, and “cirque” is the only single word definition Magliano allows for the ensemble otherwise the description is “multidimensional.”

Quixotic has performed shows at the Spencer Theatre at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Crossroads Arts District and Uptown and Midland theaters, and created an outdoor experience at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. The Yardley Hall performance is one of the rare times the Performing Arts Series has booked a local ensemble.

“We are flattered to be invited to perform at JCCC.The Performing Arts Series doesn’t usually bring in local acts.We are an exception,” Magliano said. “It is exciting for me, as an alumnus, to return to the college. I take pride in all the skills I’ve learned and turned into a project of this size.”

Quixotic Fusion will be working with the PAS arts education program Oct. 26 29 to provide creative opportunities to JCCC departments across campus.

Tickets $25 and $35

Arts education sparks imagination

Shivaen Ramshetty sings It s a Hard Knock Life with encouragement from Kristin Taylor. (right)

Students, fourth­seventh grades, summoned up all their confidence to sing solo renditions of It’s the Hard­Knock Life in front of teachers and peers in Yardley Hall.At the same time, kindergartners­first graders were outside visiting Barry Flanagan’s Hare and Bell, part of JCCC’s permanent Oppenheimer Collection, as part of their “Animals in Art” lesson.

Thirty­seven students, ages 5­12, took advantage of summer vacation by enrolling in JCCC’s first visual and theatre arts class, June 28­July 1.

Angel Mercier, program director of arts education, Performing Arts Series, and Karen Gerety Folk, curator of art education, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, partnered on the class. Students spent one­third of their time creating paintings and sculptures and taking interactive art tours at the Nerman and two­thirds of the time singing and acting in Yardley Hall or Polsky Theatre, taught by instructors from the Starlight Theatre Academy. Students were divided into three age categories and rotated between the visual and performing arts’ spaces each day.

The Visual and Theatre Arts was one of four offerings in the Summer Institute for the Arts 2010, presented by the Performing Arts Series arts education program and community arts organizations. The other three were Introduction to Chamber Music, one teacher professional development workshop for chamber music and the Heartland Chamber Music Festival with 90 student participants, professional teachers and graduate students.

During the summer, the Nerman Museum also offered Contemporary Creations and Early Explorations classes for ages 5 to11, where students explored JCCC’s nationally acclaimed permanent collection and exhibitions in the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and then created original works of art in the museum’s studio classroom.

Nerman Museum docent Julie Mills leads an interactive tour, including Ken Ferguson’s ceramic Rabbit Basket, while Catherine Drone (pink), Anabel Brigmann (blue dress) and Olivia Dick (front) listen attentively.

Performing Arts EventsJ o h n s o n C o u n t y C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e

October 2010 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

For best seats, order early. Call 913­469­4445 or buy tickets online www.jccc.edu/TheSeries for tickets and information. Service fee applicable.

Purchase live online

Japan Festival 10 a.m.­8 p.m. Carlsen Center

$10 adults, $5 students children under 5, free

21 *A Devil Inside, JCCC academic theatre, 7:30 p.m., Bodker Black Box Theatre

Japan Festival

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3 4 *Ruel Joyce *A Devil Inside Recital Series JCCC academic theatre

2 p.m. Christina Webster, flute Bodker Black Box Robert Pherigo, piano

Theatre Recital Hall

10 *A Devil Inside 11 JCCC academic theatre

2 p.m. *Ruel Joyce Bodker Black Box Theatre Recital Series Kansas City Symphony Brookside Brass Quintet Stravinsky’s Firebird,

noon Recital Hall plus Sibelius 2 p.m.Yardley Hall

tickets, 816­471­0400

*Mufaro’s 17 18 Beautiful Daughters

2 p.m. *Ruel Joyce

Recital Series *Women’s Follies

Ji Hye Jung, percussion Brown & Gold 1­2 p.m. pre­show Polsky Theatre

reception 2 p.m. Polsky Theatre

*Jazz Series Matt Otto Quartet noon Recital Hall

5 6

*JCCC Jazz Nights

7 8 *A Devil Inside, JCCC academic theatre,

7:30 p.m., Bodker Black Box Theatre

9

7:30 p.m. The Little Match Girl

*JCCC Concert Band Polsky Theatre Störling Dance Theater

7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. Yardley Hall

Polsky Theatre $20, $30, $50

12 *Jazz Series 13 14 15 16 *Mufaro’s Steve Rigazzi Trio Beautiful Daughters noon Recital Hall *Chamber Choir

*Mufaro’s 2 and 7:30 p.m.

*Ex­quarterback Donald McPherson

Men’s Violence Against Women

MOCSA and Student Activities 6:30 p.m. Yardley Hall

MadRegalia

7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre

Beautiful Daughters 7:30 p.m.

Bodker Black Box Theatre

Robert McDuffie, The Seasons Project

Venice Baroque Orchestra 8 p.m. Yardley Hall

$35, $45

19 20 21 Capitol Steps 22 23

*Jazz Series Michael Bolton The Capitol Steps Ervin Brown Quartet 7:30 p.m.Yardley Hall 8 p.m.Yardley Hall ▲

noon Recital Hall $50, $60, $130 $35, $45, $100

24 Raymond Santos

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▲ 27

Michael Bolton

29 30 25 26 *Ruel Joyce

Recital Series

28

Quixotic Fusion

Quixotic Fusion, Lux Esalare *Jazz Series Raymond Santos,

clarinet 8 p.m.Yardley Hall Gerald Spaits Quartet

Dan Velicer, piano

noon Recital Hall

$25, $35 noon Polsky Theatre

Box Office: 10 a.m.­5 p.m. Monday­Friday • Call 913­469­4445 Tickets are required for most events in Polsky Theatre and Yardley Hall. Programs, dates and times are subject to change. Discounts are available for music, theater and dance students.

PAS Administrative Office: Open 8 a.m.­5 p.m. Monday­Friday • Call 913­469­4450 A request for interpretative services must be made 72 hours before a performance. Call the box office at 913­469­4445 or TDD/TTY 913­469­4485.

Persons with disabilities who desire additional support services may contact services for patrons with disabilities, 913­469­8500, ext. 3521, or TDD/TTY 913­469­3885.

31

*free­admission event

8 p.m. Feb. 26 Yardley Hall

$30, $40

The Vienna Boys Choir

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

12345 COLLEGE BLVD

OVERLAND PARK KS 66210­1299

NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Johnson County

Community College

www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Experience old and new Japan Japanese visual and performing arts, language, costumes, sports, gardening, cuisine and more come alive at the 13th annual Greater Kansas City Japan Festival from 10 a.m.­8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Carlsen Center, presented by the Heart of America Japan­America Society and Japan Festival committee and Johnson County Community College.

From the tradition of calligraphy to pop culture’s anime and manga, from tea ceremonies to local Japanese restaurants’ samplings, festival­goers experience both millennia­old and modern Japanese culture. This year’s festival keeps annual favorites — classical Japanese performances of koto, shamisen and buyo dancers; a formal opening ceremony with the ritual breaking of the sake barrel and toast; exhibits of kimonos, hina dolls, ikebana (flower arranging) and bonsai; anime and manga; children’s activities like origami and portraits in kimono or samurai armor; Japanese candy artist; and calligraphy, Japanese conversation, tea ceremony and martial arts workshops.

New additions include Japan’s pop singer Aya Uchida; Kuniko Yamamoto, a traditional Japanese storyteller; the group God of Shamisen (the shamisen is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument); and a bunraku puppet group (a famous and traditional form of Japanese puppet art).

A large selection of food and beverages will be offered. Festival­goers can sample traditional Japanese food from 11 a.m.­7 p.m. and enjoy a Japanese beer and sake tasting event from 4­7 p.m.

There are two similar concerts, one from 2­4:30 p.m. and the other from 6­8:30 p.m. in Yardley Hall. For a complete list of events go to www.kcjapanfestival.org. Call 913­469­8500, ext. 3470, for more information.

JCCC has hosted the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival since 2004.

Tickets $5 students and children (free for those younger than 5), $10 adults,

Depiction of the Torii Gate at the Itsukushima Shrine at the 2009 festival

Japanese candy artist