WASHINGTON, PA (Aug. 23, 2011)—Washington & Jefferson College’s 2011-12 Arts Series season will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Olin Fine Arts Center season by showcasing a wide variety of returning performers.
“To commemorate our 30th season, this year’s Arts Series is a “Greatest Hits” program, featuring exciting acts that have been here before and were popular crowd-pleasers! With a classical American Big Band concert to a one-man comedic performance of Macbeth, our coming season is diverse enough to please any taste,” said Dan Shaw of the Olin Fine Arts Center.
Season tickets for all six Arts Series events are $48 for general admission, $38 for senior citizens over 60 years of age and W&J alumni and non-W&J students, and $28 for children 12 years of age and under. Individual show tickets are also available.
The 2011-12 Arts Series Season
• Pittsburgh Banjo Club
Friday, September 30, 2011; 7:30 p.m.
The oldest returning act and a fitting opening to the anniversary season, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club performed to great accolades at the Olin Fine Arts Center in June 1994. Made up of men and women from all walks of life, the group shares a common goal—the encouragement and preservation of the banjo, America’s native instrument. The ensemble includes banjos, trumpets, tubas and bass, playing a program of sing-alongs, vocals, banjo solos, music from the ’20s and ’30s, polkas and Dixieland. The club has donated more than $60,000 to local Pittsburgh-area charities.
• The Gaden Shartse Monastery
Sunday, November 6, 2011; 7:30 p.m.
W&J welcomes back the Gaden Sharste Monastery, which was in residence at the Olin Fine Arts Center in 2008. This Tibetan Buddhist Monastic group will be in residence Nov. 6-11 and will be making a Mandela in the Olin lobby all week and presenting “Sacred Dance and Chants of Tibet” on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in our theatre. Gaden Monastery is the original Buddhist monastery of the Gelug tradition of Tibet. The creation of it was prophesized by the Buddha himself 1,900 years before its actual founding in 1409 CE. All proceeds from their sales and appearance fees go to support the monks in their mission to be of service to the world community by helping to spread peace, harmony, compassion and tolerance through cultural exchange, interfaith dialog, and Buddhist teachings.
• MacHomer
Tuesday, November 29, 2011; 7:30 p.m.
This one-man vocal spectacular features impressions of more than 50 voices from TV’s “The Simpsons” in a hilarious performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth! “With a script that remains 85 percent Shakespeare, MacHomer will leave you “exhausted with laughter,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Spot-on impressions of characters from the hit series populate this imaginatively staged version of the tragedy, a multi-media update truly “full of sound and fury.” The result is that rare jewel: an educational and entertaining show, which has amazed audiences of all ages, backgrounds and languages.
• Oscar® Nominated Short Films
Live Action: Thursday, February 23, 2012; 7:30 p.m.
Animated: Friday, February 24, 2012; 7:30 p.m.
This most recent returning favorite was just presented during the 2010-11 season. Everyone dressed up in their Oscar® finest for the viewing of the nominated short-subject films, and then rooted for their favorites during the awards ceremony. The 84th Annual Academy Awards will be presented the following Sunday, Feb. 26.
The advance single ticket price (or season ticket package) includes tickets for both nights. Individual tickets will be available at the door for specific nights, but for the full ticket price.
• Fabio and Alberto Parrini
Monday, March 5, 2012; 7:30 p.m.
Italian born-brothers Fabio and Alberto Parrini will be celebrating the music of Italy in this piano and cello concert.
Fabio’s diverse musical experience includes recordings, radio and TV broadcasts, solo recitals, concerto performances, chamber music, and collaborative work across Italy and the United States.
Alberto has been principal cellist of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic since 2007 and a member of the American Symphony since 2010; he also performs regularly with the New York Philharmonic and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. As a founding member of the Zukofsky Quartet, he has given performances of the complete string quartets of Milton Babbitt in New York and Chicago. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School.
• The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Tuesday, April 17, 2012; 7:30 p.m.
In November of 2008, The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra played to a sold-out crowd at the Olin Fine Arts Center. Touring consistently since 1956 and playing an average of 300 concerts a year, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands ever. Popular songs from Glenn Miller include: “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “In The Mood,” and “String of Pearls,” among many others.
A variety of additional theatre, music, and art gallery events are scheduled throughout the school year. For more information about Olin Fine Arts Center, tickets and a schedule of events, call 724-223-6546 or visit www.washjeff.edu/arts_series.html.
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