onstage
Spring/Summer 2012
Epic. Unforgettable. Spectacular.
2012-13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series p. 12
Knight theater Levine Center for the Arts
Blumenthal performing arts center Belk Theater • Booth Playhouse Stage Door Theater
Spirit Square McGlohon Theater Duke Energy Theater
3............................................................................................Letter from the President
board of trustees
4..............................................................................................Blumenthal News Briefs
Jennifer D. Blumer
5........................................................................................... Duke Energy Gift Inspires
James Bullock
6.........................................................................................................Upcoming Events
Joni Y. Davis
7........................................................................ Charlotte Squawks: 2012 Makes Eight
James F. Downs
8............. BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Bridges the Worlds of Cheerleaders and Dance
Charlie Elberson
10........................................................................................................COME FLY AWAY
Claire Green Fallon
11................................................................................... Countdown to “The Blumeys”
Walter D. Fisher, Jr., Past-Chair
12........................................................2012/13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series
Dorlisa K. Flur, Chair
table of contents Spring/Summer 2012
16........................LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Dazzles with Big Characters On- and Offstage 18..................................................................................................................... Calendar 20............................................................................................Spectacular Dance On Stage 21-23...................................................... News on Membership, Corporate Partners
Molly B. Griffin Timothy L. Gunter Greg Haislip Charles Harrington Rebecca Henderson Steven A. Hockfield
National Poetry Slam Arrives in Charlotte
W. Todd Houser
This year, the 23 annual National Poetry Slam will be held in Charlotte, NC.
Sunny Harris Hutchinson
More than 1,000 people from across the country will arrive in Uptown Charlotte in early August for one of this year’s most anticipated competitions, and no, we are not talking about the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Lloyd E. Johnson
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Susan Jamison, Secretary John Lassiter
About four weeks before the DNC begins, Charlotte will first get national attention for hosting the largest team performance poetry event in the world, the National Poetry Slam (NPS). Hosted by Blumenthal Performing Arts, SlamCharlotte and Poetry Slam Inc. (Psi), the 2012 NPS will bring 72 teams from North America together from Tuesday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 11, to compete for the national championship.
Dr. Joan Lorden
Over the course of these five days, Blumenthal will use all of its facilities to host the 46 official bouts that make up nationals (40 preliminary rounds, 4 semi-finals, 1 group final and 1 final), culminating with the Finals on Saturday, August 11 at the Knight Theater. The Queen City’s own SlamCharlotte won back-to-back NPS titles in 2007 and 2008, and will look to once again be a strong contender for the 2012 national title.
Rick D. Puckett, Chair-Elect & Treasurer
Part super bowl, part poetry summer camp and part traveling exhibition, the National Poetry Slam has emerged as slam’s highest-profile showcase and is staged in a different city each year. While other PSi events (such as the Individual World Poetry Slam and the Women of the World Poetry Slam) have previously been hosted by Blumenthal and SlamCharlotte, this is the first time that Charlotte has hosted PSi's most popular competition, and just the second time that NPS has taken place in the Carolinas since NPS was launched in 1990.
Gregory L. Taylor
"Every month we get to see how much Charlotte loves spoken word events with the SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam in the McGlohon Theater and the Speak Up Youth Poetry Slam in the Duke Energy Theater, so it is exciting to have a chance to host the highest profile spoken word event in the country," says Douglas Young, Blumenthal's Vice President of Programming and CoCoordinator of NPS 2012. "This is also a phenomenal opportunity for us to showcase Charlotte as a great city for artists and to spotlight our own local artists, prior to the Democratic National Convention.” Tickets for the 2012 National Poetry Slam will go on sale in April. For more information on the National Poetry Slam, visit nps2012charlotte.com. •
Dr. Edith Valladares McElroy Edwin B. Peacock, III Jennifer Roberts Anne Stolz Catherine Warfield
onstage Editor-in-Chief Writers Graphic Designer
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Daniel Knaub Elizabeth Bertrand Crystal Dempsey Courtney Devores Jeri Fischer Krentz Jessica Stanley
Cover Photo: WAR HORSE Photos © Brinkhoff/Mögenburg 2011 London Cast; TRACES; Jelani Remy as “Simba” and the ensemble in “He Lives in You” from THE LION KING National Tour. ©Disney. Photo by Joan Marcus; Tiffany Haas and Anne Brummel in WICKED. Photo by Joan Marcus.
President’swords TOM GABBARD Dear Friends: The Blumenthal’s venues this Spring will be filled with remarkable young talent, both professional and student. As this issue of Onstage highlights, inspiring young people to dream big dreams and work hard to achieve them is a high priority for us at Blumenthal Performing Arts. Talented students from throughout the Charlotte region in May will compete in our first-ever High School Musical Theater Awards Show, which we’ve titled, The Blumey Awards. This will be a first-class production thanks to our presenting sponsor, Wells Fargo. In April, our annual Broadway Junior Celebration will attract over 1,000 elementary and middle schoolers who perform for and receive coaching from a team of pros that we bring in from NYC. In the audience this Spring you’re certain to see plenty of young theatergoers, too. With tickets paid for by our donors, Big Brothers and Big Sisters will bring eager kids to our venues to experience first-rate shows. As part of Duke Energy’s sponsorship of the Broadway Lights Series, hundreds of young people will also have a chance to see their first big show. Bring It On is a new musical with a lot of heart that explores the world of competitive cheerleading, and teaches that winning isn’t everything. The cast melds top young talent from Broadway with stars from the competitive cheerleading world. This issue of Onstage also highlights the just announced 2012/13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series. War Horse is one of the most remarkable productions I have ever seen. Since I first saw it at the National Theater in London 3 years ago, I’ve been eager for our fans here to experience this phenomenal show. The story is touching, the message is powerful, and it is told in a theatrical way using life-sized puppets that is unbelievable.
York at the Union Square Theater in an open-ended run. In June they will play the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. It’s been quite a while since the musical Les MisÉrables has been seen in Charlotte. British producer Cameron Mackintosh assembled a new creative team to reimagine this glorious work and give it a fresh look and feel. Classical music fans will be pleased to know that this summer an orchestra shell will be installed in the Knight Theater. The shell is a temporary enclosure with ceiling and wall units that helps project the sound out to the audience, and makes it easier for musicians to hear each other across the stage. We’re adding the shell as a result of the success that the Charlotte Symphony has had with their KnightSounds concerts. People love the intimacy of the Knight. Adding the shell will assure that concertgoers have a first-class concert experience when the Charlotte Symphony and other classical music groups play there. We’re honored to welcome back to Charlotte the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. We first hosted the company in our venues in 2006 with 2 performances. Several years later that grew to 3 performances. Now for the second time we are blessed to have this remarkable company with us for a full week. Whether you are are a long time Ailey fan, or a soon to be fan, don’t miss this chance to see one of the world’s most acclaimed dance companies in the intimate Knight Theater at the Levine Center for the Arts. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon at the theater!
Our very own Blumenthal-produced production of Traces makes a triumphal return to Charlotte after being selected by Time Magazine as one of the Top Ten Shows of 2011. Since the show played here in 2008, the cast was enlarged and acts added. It was expanded to play larger venues, and has played cities like Chicago, LA, Denver, and since last summer in New
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Tom Gabbard President onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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NEWSbriefs
Clater Kaye Theatre Works performed a selection from their production of High School Musical during the 2011 Broadway Junior Theatre Celebration.
5th Annual Broadway Jr. Celebration Returns to the Knight Theater Move over “Smash” and “Glee”– you’ve got nothing on Charlotte region’s next generation of theater stars. On Thursday and Friday, April 19-20, around 1,000 students from 17 schools will participate in the 5th annual Broadway Junior Theater Celebration in Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. Representing six counties including Mecklenburg, Gaston, Union, York, Cleveland and Guilford, students will take arts education center stage in a program created and directed by iTheatrics. During the two-day celebration, students from each school will present a selection from their Broadway Junior or Broadway Kids musical production for a panel of theater professionals. The students will then receive feedback about their creativity, engagement in the performance, understanding of the material and connection to the lyrics and movement. Discussing last year’s celebration, Ann Flynt, of St. Pius X Catholic School, said, “What a wonderful experience for all! As an educator for over 16 years, I think that the Broadway Junior Celebration was by far the best field trip that I have ever gone on. It was informative, positive, uplifting and motivational.” This year’s event will feature performances from Willy Wonka, Jr., Guys and Dolls, Jr., Mulan Jr., Aristocrats Kids, The Jungle Book Kids and more. •
"Big" Wynn Hightower with her "Little."
Ticket Scholarship Program Benefits Big Brothers, Big Sisters During Blumenthal’s 2011-12 performance season, the Education Department continued a $13,000 ticket scholarship account program with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Charlotte. Through this program, BBBS can get tickets to performances at Blumenthal theaters. “Being able to share my Little’s first play with her was an experience I will always remember. Looking over at her during the performance and seeing her happiness radiate, is a humbling and joyful experience that I will never forget. We still talk about Cats and THE ADDAMS FAMILY when we get together,” said “Big” Wynn Hightower. Blumenthal is gratexful to the many volunteers that generously contribute their time to mentor the kids. Ultimately, the goal from Blumenthal Performing Arts’ perspective is to acquaint at-risk children with the wonder and transformative power of live theater. If you’re interested in becoming a “big,” or if you want more information on the BBBS program, visit BBBSCharlotte.org. •
Get to Know The Show Do you love behind-the-scenes secrets about Broadway shows? Are you interested in the creative process of launching a new production? Does the very thought of a specific director, actor or producer give you goose bumps?
Past events have included...
Blumenthal Performing Arts offers a popular activity that provides this kind of insight. Get to Know the Show events are workshops and activities that feature local artists, specialists or experts offering insight into an upcoming Broadway production.
• Teaching Artist Jermaine Nakia Lee led participants in a demonstration of dances like the Hand Jive, The Stroll and The Twist in support of the musical MEMPHIS.
Get to Knows are held at the Blumenthal’s theaters and locations around the community. The events are FREE, but sign-up is required. Plus, attendees receive special discounts on tickets (subject to availability).
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• Noel Freidline, “Professor of Rock” at UNC Charlotte and a GTKTS favorite Teaching Artist, talked about the life and times of Mel Brooks, who wrote Young Frankenstein.
• Gat3 Productions hosted a Get to Know at their studio in Charlotte to give participants a behind-the-scenes look at a real recording studio like the one in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. Sound interesting? Check out upcoming events and more information about the program, at BlumenthalArts.org/GetToKnow. •
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
DUKE ENERGY GIFT INSPIRes During THE ADDAMS FAMILY last fall, Sarah Casey remembers looking down the row of seats at her daughters. All three girls love music and dancing, but this was their first chance to see a professional production. A giant neon iguana was “live” on stage “and they were wideeyed and loving it,” Casey says. She knew the evening would be something they'd never forget. The Caseys – 10-year-old twins Tandra and Zandra, 15-year-old Sayya and their mom – attended the show through Blumenthal Performing Arts Ticket Scholarship program. Sponsored by Duke Energy, the program allows families to enjoy the best of Broadway at no cost. “As Charlotte has grown, especially in the arts, there are many amenities that some families don’t get the opportunity to benefit from,” says Richard “Stick” Williams, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. “We wanted to try to share the performing arts with those families.” The program is in its third year. For the 2010-11 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, it provided tickets for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Shrek The Musical. This season, 150 kids and adults were able to watch the kooky antics of Morticia, Gomez and Lurch of THE ADDAMS FAMILY in October; another 100 tickets will be available for the musical BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL at Belk Theater in April. The Blumenthal’s Education Department distributes the tickets through several community organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte, Communities in Schools, Johnston YMCA and YWCA. “We love being able to offer an uplifting evening,” says Dana Carpenter, operations director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte. “Many of these families are facing very challenging circumstances. Having time together, where Mom and Dad aren’t stressed about how much it’s going to cost, is good for the soul. And this connects them to the community through a great experience.”
As part of the program, Blumenthal’s Education Department enhances the theater experience by providing a pre-show event. Ticket scholarship recipients get an overview of the musical as well as general information about live theater, Broadway and touring Broadway productions. Refreshments are provided and Blumenthal staff members are on hand to answer questions and share insights. The Duke Energy Foundation also sponsors a program that provides opening night tickets to leaders and staff members of local nonprofits, as well as teachers, as a way to thank the people who work hard to make an impact in the community. With both programs, the goal is to expand access to cultural arts. “The good news,” says Tom Gabbard, President of Blumenthal Performing Arts , “is that Charlotte has been able to attract the top tier of Broadway shows with a level of production and artistic quality that’s every bit as good as what audiences see in New York. And Duke Energy’s sponsorship of the Broadway Lights Series is a part of how we’re able to do that. But with expensive entertainment like that, there can be folks that are left wanting – so Duke Energy is taking it one step further by making sure that more people have access to the productions.” Gabbard believes it’s especially important for young people to have a chance to come through the doors. He remembers being in the third grade when he heard the United States Marine Band at the San Jose Civic Auditorium, and the event was a catalyst for his lifelong love of the arts. “Those of us who are blessed to see a lot of these performances sometimes forget how transformative they can be,” he says. “Those little experiences can have a lifetime impact.” Williams agrees. “If you are able to grab the heart and mind of one or two kids,” he says, “you have made an extraordinary investment.” Sarah Casey can’t say enough about her daughters’ experience last fall. “We all left feeling inspired. But the best part was the chance to have a wonderful, positive experience as a family.” -Jeri F. Krentz
Knight Theater + Aquavina Steaks and Seafood = Perfect Partnership Blerim Meta, Managing Partner of Aquavina, has been a Blumenthal Restaurant Partner for two years and is pleased to provide Blumenthal patrons the perfect complement to their theater experience. Aquavina is located on The Green directly across the street from Levine Center for the Arts. This location is ideal for Blumenthal patrons who want to enjoy dinner before a show, or dessert and wine from their extensive, award-winning wine list in the Great Wine Room following a show. On pleasant days, Aquavina offers an elevated patio overlooking The Green with views of Knight Theater. Aquavina has four private rooms for events and special occasions. It is open Monday through Friday for lunch and Monday through Saturday for dinner. • Charlotte-area students enjoying a show at the Knight Theater courtesy of Duke Energy's donation.
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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upcoming events
RAIN Sgt. Pepper photo by Cyllavon Tiedemann.
Concerts are King this Year at the Blumenthal Some of the hottest selling shows this year have been concerts. B.B. King, Arlo Guthrie: Boys Night Out and The Civil Wars all sold out…and in record time. With performance spaces that have great acoustics like the McGlohon, Belk and Knight Theaters, and the pedigree of talent gracing our stages, this has been the year of the concert. Party attendees had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Blumenthal’s Tony Award® for SPAMALOT.
Save The Date: Tony Party is June 10 Our annual Tony Awards® party has become the go-to event for anyone wanting to watch the telecast on the big screen with the camaraderie of fellow theater enthusiasts. In fact, Blumenthal hosts one of the largest Tony Awards® parties in the country. The 8th annual viewing party will be Sunday, June 10, when the 66th annual Tony Awards® air on CBS at 8 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments, FREE soft drinks and a cash bar at the Tony Party. Admission is FREE. You’ll get video sneak peeks and behind-the-scene secrets about our 2012-13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series (see page 12 for full list of shows). You also will receive some incredible swag and be entered into a drawing to win tickets to some of our upcoming Broadway shows. Additionally, attendees will have another opportunity to have their photos taken with the Blumenthal’s Tony Award® for SPAMALOT, a huge hit last year. Vice President of Programming Douglas Young will once again emcee the event that has become a Blumenthal tradition. Doors to Spirit Square will open at 6 p.m. Pre-show festivities start at 7:30 p.m. •
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Two upcoming concerts actually pay tribute to some of the hottest bands of the last few decades. RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles April 16 • Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center The winner of the 2011 Drama Desk Award® for Outstanding Musical Revue, RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles is heading back to the road after a stint on Broadway. The show “gives audiences a chance to sing along, twist and shout, and generally make like swooning teenyboppers from the 1960s as the hits roll by,” said New York Times. RAIN performs the full range of the Beatles discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that the Fab Four recorded but never performed for an audience. From the early days of their appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964, through the Sgt. Pepper era and on to the Abbey Road years, RAIN's performance captures it all flawlessly. One Night of Queen April 17 • Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts “It was like walking into a time machine,” said Peter Evans, a reviewer in Plymouth, UK. One Night of Queen is a two-hour stage show, paying tribute to the music and stage theatrics of Queen. The performance by Gary Mullen and The Works recreates and pays tribute to one of the greatest live bands of all time. Fans of Queen will delight in this note-for-note experience of mega-hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We are the Champions,” “Killer Queen,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Under Pressure,” "Another One Bites the Dust" and many others. •
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Charlotte Squawks: 2012 Makes Eight Now entering it’s eighth year…you read that right, the eighth year…Charlotte Squawks will have no shortage of material, thanks to what we already know will be making news in 2012. Let’s see, it’s a general election year. Then there’s the economy rebounding (or is it?). Last, but certainly not least, Charlotte will host the Democratic National Convention in early September. And then there’s the news that we don’t know about because it hasn’t happened. The Queen City’s answer to “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show” plays June 8-30 in the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center for a record-long run of 12 performances after breaking attendance records last year. “We’ve added an additional weekend because of popular demand,” said Douglas Young, Vice President of Programming at Blumenthal Performing Arts. “Last year was the first time Squawks was performed at the Booth Playhouse and the audience loved the intimacy there. Plus the Booth allowed us to add more technical elements than ever before, so just wait to see what we have planned for this year!" Part of the fun of the show is anticipating who and what will be skewered. Will former mayor Pat McCrory make a third appearance in the show now that he’s running for governor? Despite the presence of Rookie of the Year Cam Newton, the Panthers didn't win a lot, so it’s only fair that there’s a musical
number about them in there, right? And let’s not forget the NBA lockout. Here’s what we can spill: The Squawks have settled on the title for the show! Hot off of Six Degrees of Desecration and 7-year Bit©#, this year's show — drumroll please — is Charlotte Squawks: 8 Misbehavin’! Most of the cast is returning, including the hardest working man in Charlotte, radio and TV superstar, Mike Collins. Brian Kahn, who writes the lyrics for the show, is back feverishly writing for the June deadline. “I have six songs written already,” said Brian Kahn. Part of the challenge with a show like Squawks is the jokes and songs are time sensitive, which often leads to many last minute rewrites, “and late nights” joked Kahn. Some of the topics being shopped around for inclusion in 8 Misbehavin’ include a song about the arrival of Chiquita, a parody of the hit LMFAO song “I’m Sexy And I Know It” all about texting and a hilarious spoof of “I Heard it Through The Grapevine” called “I Learned it from Dateline.” And that’s just a small taste of what you can expect this summer. What other topics will be skewered this year? You’ll just have to buy your tickets and see for yourself. •
Charlotte Squawks: 8 Misbehavin' June 8-30 • Booth Playhouse
Charlotte Squawks photos by LunahZon Photography.
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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Photo by Michael Lamont.
BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Bridges Worlds Of Cheerleaders and Dance Musical theater and cheerleading may sound like odd partners at first, but the idea of bringing the intense energy of competitive cheerleading with its rhythmic numbers and acrobatic stunts to the stage is kind of irresistible. It’s certainly worked for "Glee." So the development of a cheerleading-themed musical was only a matter of time. Where better to look for inspiration than Hollywood’s most successful cheerleading film franchise: 2000’s Bring It On, which has grossed over $90 million worldwide and spawned four sequels. BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, which launched its national tour Oct. 30 in Los Angeles, makes its Charlotte debut April 10-15 at Belk Theater. Charlotte is one of only 12 cities the musical is playing. Though its Tony Award®-winning seasoned creative team has helped launch numerous productions, the challenge of BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is blending the gravity-defying stunts and precise cheering techniques with the fluid world of dance. To help make the transition director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler cast “triple threat” actors/dancers/ singers along with real-life, professional cheerleaders. and hired Jessica Colombo as a Cheer Consultant on the recommendation of Varsity, the competitive cheer organization, and Universal
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Cheerleaders Association. “Jessica is the point person to translate cheer technique for performers who are not used to these skills. I had specific ideas of what I wanted stunting moments to say – what was the story of these moments – and I could visualize them, but Jessica really helped me to bring together these visualizations into concrete, stunting moments,” said Blankenbuehler, who won a Tony Award® for choreography for In The Heights While Blankenbuehler chose multi-talented performers Adrienne Warren of the recent Dreamgirls revival tour and newcomer Taylor Louderman as lead rivals Danielle and Campbell, the all new story follows the urban vs. suburban warring squads of the film. Twelve champion-level cheerleaders fill out the teams. The key was familiarizing both athletes and actors with each other’s worlds. “I wanted to integrate the groups…they both really need and rely on each other,” he explains. It’s often just a matter of basics. “We have cheer girls who aren’t afraid to fly 20 feet in the air, but we need to define what Upstage and Downstage is, things that are basic to a performer’s vocabulary. And then we need to
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Photo by Craig Schwartz.
put performers in stunts that have never been off the ground in that way. This all helps develop a wonderful sense of teamwork with both sides contributing an incredible amount to each other, moving forward together.” Unlike most musicals where the music and lyrics moves the story and emotional level, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL relies as much on movement and enthusiasm to convey its biggest themes. “I attended a National Cheerleading competition and could not believe how loud people chanted, how heightened the emotions were. When people were happy they were about to pop in pure joy and excitement. When they were upset they were absolutely crushed. How do we capture this in the overall feel of the show?” he said. “The level of performance in cheerleaders’ routines and their connection with the audience is incredible.” His goal was to to build routines and dance numbers that felt like cheer and were true to that world, but also used elements of cheer for every day actions. “The benefits of using this cheer vocabulary throughout a variety of moments in the show is that they truly build a 3D musical with vivid physical colors," he said. “Usually with musicals, performers sing when they feel an incredible flow of emotion. In BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, we can use cheer vocabulary – for example, a girl flying through the air when her heart is soaring.” -Courtney Devores
Meet The Creative Dream Team BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Features A Roster Of Talented Award-Winners BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL brought together some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway, including Tony Award®-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q); Tony Award®winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights); Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity); Tony Award®winning orchestrator Alex Lacamoire (Wicked); and Tony Award®winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights). But did you know that ... • Kitt arranged both an album-turned-musical AND the most recent studio album by Green Day. Kitt is responsible for the music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations for American Idiot on Broadway and the show0’s Grammy® Award-winning cast album. He was also the string arranger on their most recent album 21st Century Breakdown. • Lacamoire is currently writing dance arrangements for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. • Blankenbuehler has danced in musicals on Broadway, and he has been featured as a guest performer on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.
bring it on: the musical April 10-15 • Belk Theater
• Miranda most recently performed in the City Center Encore Series production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. • Green and Kitt are writing original songs for a movie musical version of Debbie Does Dallas. •
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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COME FLY AWAY Tharp’s Sinatra Homage Will Put You Under Its Spell If you’re looking to fall in love with a show this season, COME FLY AWAY promises to fly you to the moon on the voice of the one and only Frank Sinatra and the stunning choreography of Twyla Tharp. As that amazing, legendary and instantly recognizable voice radiates into the theater, you’ll be tempted to believe in ghosts in COME FLY AWAY. Hearing ‘that voice’, you forget for a moment that Frank Sinatra isn’t live on stage. That’s how skillfully this mesmerizing production has combined a live, 14-peice big band with recordings of some of Sinatra’s most famous songs. The result is a score that will have you humming along from start to finish with this Broadway spectacular coming May 1-6 to the Belk Theater. The concept for this oneof-a-kind show sprang from choreographer Tharp, who Charlotte theater fans will recall from Movin’ Out, which played an entirely sold-out engagement several years ago as part of the Broadway Lights Series. In this new work, Tharp again uses dance to tell the story, this one about love, with Sinatra providing the seductive soundtrack for her vivid vision. Four couples flirt, fight and romance in this lush, beautiful and sexy homage to Sinatra that is “pure entertainment,” according to Ron Todorowski, a principal dancer in the show, as well as the resident director.
Among the Sinatra songs featured in the show are “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Way,” “New York, New York” and many more. Critics have describe COME FLY AWAY as “spectacular and dazzling” (The New York Times), “The Sexiest show on Broadway” (Time Out NY), and “A delicious love note to Ol' Blue Eyes” (Entertainment Weekly.) After its successful Broadway engagement, COME FLY AWAY moved to Las Vegas. Tharp used the move as an opportunity to tinker with her work. She eliminated the live female vocalist that had appeared on Broadway and let Sinatra’s velvety baritone star alone. The end result is a show that “works even better than in New York,” Todorowski says. “It's a blast of energy and things just flow. The way she restructured it is so clever.” For Todorowski, being part of a Twyla Tharp show is “an actor/ dancer's dream come true.” COME FLY AWAY marks his third Broadway production helmed by Tharp (the others were the Tony Award®-winning Movin' Out and The Times They Are A-Changin', a Bob Dylan tribute). He describes the experience as nothing less than “exhilarating.” “Each one has been so unique and different in its own way,” says Todorowski, who as Resident Director for COME FLY AWAY is charged with maintaining the level of the performance and supervising rehearsals while the show is on tour. “The artistry and creativity level has been so high.” •
“The sound department has brilliantly synched up the vocals with the band. Frank is the voice of the evening,” says Todorowski. “His music is timeless. It's loved and adored by people of all ages.”
Come fly away
May 1-6 • Belk Theater
Company of COME FLY AWAY; Ramona Kelley and Christopher Vo; Marielys Molina and Matthew Stockwell Dibble. Photos by Joan Marcus.
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Presenting Sponsor The Blumey Awards
countdown to "the blumeys" The countdown is on for the Blumey Awards on Sunday, May 20, in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The event presented by Wells Fargo promises to be one of the most exciting days in high school musical theater in the Charlotte region.
rehearsals, giving up nights and weekends. I have noticed cast members take more ownership by helping each other learn the music, choreography, lines, etc. Honestly, we have been talking about The Blumeys all year. ... This will be a great way to end the year, especially for my seniors.”
Modeled after similar programs in more than 30 other cities, The Blumey Awards will recognize and celebrate the best in high school musical theater and foster even greater achievements in the future.
Currently, each school’s musical is being evaluated by a panel of three judges, who award points according to detailed guidelines. The six highest scoring nominees in each of 13 categories will be finalists. Winners will be announced live at The Blumey Awards
Joining the celebration is Wells Fargo, which recently became the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Blumey Awards. The Doctor Family Foundation is providing additional support. “Wells Fargo is pleased to underwrite this innovative program celebrating our next generation of cultural arts performers and stars,” said Rebecca Henderson, Deputy General Counsel in Wells Fargo’s Law Department and a member of the Blumenthal’s Board of Trustees. “Wells Fargo invests in arts, history and cultural education in our schools as part of our overall commitment to education, so this program is a great way to highlight the talent of students and schools throughout the greater Charlotte region.” For the inaugural event, 21 schools are competing to be in the May 20 awards ceremony. Finalists will be selected late this spring and winners in 13 categories will be announced on the stage of the Blumenthal’s largest venue. Like the Tony Awards, The Blumey Awards gala will feature performances by the finalists for Best Musical, Best Actor and Best Actress, as well as selections from the six shows that are finalists for Best Musical. “Just being able to participate in this new adventure has given my students an added thrill this semester,” said Michael Dove, Fort Mill High School choral director. “I have seen an extra spark in their commitment and hard work throughout
Blumenthal Performing Arts has also been accepted in the National High School Musical Theater Awards taking place in New York in Summer 2012. The two students named Best Actor and Best Actress at The Blumeys will receive an allexpenses-paid trip and weeklong stay in New York City where they will train and compete with other regional winners in a national competition known as The Jimmy Awards (named after famed Broadway producer, James M. Nederlander). This will be the first time theater and music students in our region will have a chance to compete in “The Jimmys.” “We’re proud of the remarkable creative talent in our community. The launch of the Blumey Awards in 2012 is an opportunity for us as a community to celebrate and encourage the budding talent of high school artists, as well as the faculty and staff who work behind the scenes to mount school musicals,” said Tom Gabbard, President of Blumenthal Performing Arts. “We’re thankful for the exceptional high schools who are participating in the debut of a new tradition that will encourage talented young artists to dream big dreams and to work hard to achieve them.” For more information on the The Blumeys, visit BlumenthalArts.org/BlumeyAwards or Facebook.com/Blumenthal HighSchoolMusicalTheaterAwards. •
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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2012/ 2013
epic. Unforgettable. Spectacular. Epic entertainment. That’s what the 2012/13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series will bring with seven productions that will leave audiences gasping—in amazement, in delight, in triumph and in utter jubilation—at the experience delivered by these powerful productions. Some of Broadway’s most memorable and most mesmerizing stories, characters, music and productions will shine on stage next season. These remarkable shows have 50 Tony Award® nominations between them and have won 24 Tonys. Two of Broadway’s hottest new shows, the Tony Award® winning Best Play WAR HORSE and the fabulously funny and high spirited SISTER ACT join the return of blockbusters WICKED and THE LION KING, two of the most popular and beloved shows to ever appear on our stages. Then, there’s a return by the incredible TRACES, now an international phenomenon that launched it road to stardom on the Broadway Lights Series, and an all new production of the legendary LES MISÉRABLES. Finally, Charlotte will be one of the first cities in the country to enjoy American Idol and Broadway star Constantine Maroulis in all new revival of JEKYLL & HYDE. Charlotte engagement will be one of only a handful of preBroadway engagements so theater fans here will get to see it before fans in New York! Tickets for all season shows are included in a Duke Energy Broadway Lights Season Subscription. Duke Energy returns as the title sponsor of the Broadway Lights Series with seven touring productions, three of which are playing multi-week runs.
“The 2012-13 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series is one of our biggest seasons thanks to the return of Broadway hits like WICKED, THE LION KING and LES MISÉRABLES,” said Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard. “Also some of the hottest new tours like WAR HORSE, JEKYLL & HYDE and SISTER ACT, visiting the Queen City during their first year on tour. In fact, Charlotte is one of 10 cities chosen to premier JEKYLL AND HYDE during its preBroadway run. That speaks highly of our city. “Additionally, we are thrilled to be producing TRACES, one of Time Magazine’s Top 10 shows of 2011, which fans may remember appeared in Charlotte in 2008 in the McGlohon Theater.” Tickets for the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series productions are available now as part of a Broadway Lights Series season subscription. Prices for the seven-show package start at less than $150. Prime seats on weekend performances can be had for less than the cost of a couple of lattes a week for the year. To renew or become a subscriber, call 704.335.1010. You may also stop by the Belk Theater Box Office during business hours or at a show. Online ordering is also available at BlumenthalArts.org/Broadway, where you can check out videos of the shows. Along with guaranteed seats for the series’ shows, season subscribers receive exclusive benefits, including access to the very best seats. Subscribers also can receive as much as a 20% discount on some performances. They also have the opportunity to purchase additional single tickets to the series’ shows.
The Original Broadway Production of Sister Act. Photo by Joan Marcus.
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
february 12-17 • Belk Theater November 6-11 • Belk Theater
DREAM THE DREAM
Starring in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, American Idol star and Tony Award® nominee Constantine Maroulis injects new life into the classic tale of good and evil, JEKYLL & HYDE.
Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.
After four thrilling, chilling years on Broadway and multiple world-wide tours, this dark and dangerous love story from Tony ® and Grammy ® Award nominee Frank Wildhorn returns in a stunning new pre-Broadway production that includes all the classic songs (“This is the Moment,” “A New Life,” “Someone Like You”) that first grabbed audiences by the throat and transformed JEKYLL & HYDE into a theatrical phenomenon.
The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.” The StarLedger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit. This 'LES MISÉRABLES’ has improved with age” and NY1-TV proclaims “this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: ‘Les Miz’ is born again.” Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, LES MISÉRABLES is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more.
january 8-13 • Ovens Auditorium SISTER ACT is Broadway's feel-amazing musical comedy smash! The New York Post calls it "RIDICULOUSLY FUN,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement! Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar ® winner ALAN MENKEN (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to REJOICE!
march 13-31 • ovens auditorium Back by “Popular” demand. Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon,” and when it last played Charlotte in 2010, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony Awards®, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times). Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete - and completely satisfying - new musical in a long time” (USA Today).
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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may 7-19 • Knight Theater
August 6 - September 1 • Belk Theater
“The most fun and memorable 90 minutes you will have all year.” - Entertainment Weekly
Experience the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING when Charlotte’s best-loved musical makes a triumphant return to the Belk Theater following its record-breaking (year of premiere engagement) engagement! Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you’ll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar ®-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.” Let your imagination run wild when the Tony Award®-winning Broadway sensation returns to the Belk Theater stage. •
TRACES combines awe-inspiring acrobatics with infectious urban energy, this thrilling modern brand of circus is infused with the energy of street performance. The artists of TRACES employ every trick in the book—from music, dance, and illustration to skateboarding, basketball, and highrisk acrobatics—to make a lasting impression. TRACES is spectacularly anti-spectacle, relying instead on the fantastic abilities of the performers, individuals who appear to be nothing more than a group of friends, just as easygoing, affable, and potentially clumsy as the guy next door—until they unleash ninety minutes of heart-stopping acrobatics and unbridled energy that leave audiences breathless and exhilarated.
may 28 - june 2 • Belk Theater A remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. England, 1914. As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness that is currently playing to packed houses in London and New York. At its heart are astonishing lifesized puppets created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, that bring to life breathing, galloping, charging horses strong enough for men to ride.
WAR HORSE. Photos © Brinkhoff/Mögenburg 2011 London Cast.
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Broadwayextras
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December 18-23 • knight Theater CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE is "so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil" according to the New York Daily News. Cirque Dreams Holidaze, re-imagines the holiday season with an international cast of over 30 multi-talented and brilliantly costumed artists performing astonishing feats of disbelief.
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the groundbreaking BROADWAY musical
March 8-10 • Belk Theater
The smash-hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day’s GRAMMY® Awardwinning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it’s never gone before. AMERICAN IDIOT contains adult content and strong language. •
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Pay for your subscription with equal monthly installments to your credit card through October. The earlier you renew, the sooner we can initiate your lower monthly payment!
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Fun Facts JEKYLL & HYDE The musical ran on Broadway for 1,543 performances from 1997 through 2001. The show was nominated for four Tony Awards®.
SISTER ACT The musical inspired by the hit movie features music by Alan Menken, whose scores include Newsies (heading to Broadway), The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (coming June 26-July 1 to the Belk Theater).
LES MISÉRABLES This beloved favorite was nominated for 12 Tony Awards® in 1987 and won eight, including Best Musical.
WAR HORSE Each horse is controlled by three people to precisely capture each breath and movement. WAR HORSE has also been given the Hollywood treatment. Stephen Spielberg directed the Oscar ® nominated film!
THE LION KING The musical premiered on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997. It is now Broadway’s seventh longest-running show in history. •
LES MISÉRABLES Jeremy Hays (Enjolras). Photo by Deen van Meer.
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Dazzles, CHARMS Hamilton, Sieber Are Characters On Stage And Off! In a hit musical known for its larger-than-life characters, Christopher Sieber fits right in. After all this is the same 6’2’’ actor who stunned audiences by walking on his knees for more than a year as the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad in Broadway’s Shrek the Musical. This time the Tony®-nominated Sieber stars alongside the dapper George Hamilton in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, coming to Belk Theater May 29-June 3.
show to play both leading roles. Before joining the national tour as Albin, Sieber played Georges in the Broadway production, alongside actor Harvey Fierstein (also the show’s libretto writer).
LA CAGE revolves around Georges (Hamilton), the owner of a glitzy nightclub in St. Tropez, and his partner, Albin (Sieber), who has a penchant for cross-dressing and headlines at the club as the chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son invites his fiancée home, along with her ultra-conservative parents, he wants to create the illusion of having an “ordinary” family. Naturally, the results are full of pitfalls, misunderstanding, and riotous fun.
Sieber now shares the stage with another theater great, the legendary George Hamilton. Known for his dashing smile and trademark tan, the debonair Hamilton’s 50-year career has included starring roles on film, TV and Broadway. He’s also produced five feature films and written two best-selling books.
Sieber attributes the show’s popularity to three main factors: its extremely hummable score by celebrated composer Jerry Herman (Mame; Hello, Dolly!), the hilarious plot line, and what he describes as the show’s message. “A family is a family if you want to be a family,” says Sieber. “It doesn’t matter who you love, it’s that you love.” If anyone knows the ins and outs of the show, it’s Sieber, having distinguished himself as the only actor in the history of the
Christoper Seiber in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES © Paul Kolnik.
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“God forbid, if anything happens, I could do both parts,” says Sieber, with a chuckle. “It was a rare gift as an actor to be opposite Harvey Fierstein on Broadway. Imagine being able to work with the author in the show!”
“I love the man; he’s so much fun to be around,” says Sieber, who especially enjoys getting the “real” story on Hollywood gossip from Hamilton. There’s no point checking his sources either since, according to Sieber, Hamilton’s refrain always goes something like this: “ ‘I was there... I was literally sitting next to Judy Garland...’ ” Sieber says that performing on the road is thrilling but very demanding physically and vocally. He has to report to the theater an hour before curtain just to get into make-up and costume. That means each performance is a 3 ½ hour
Christoper Seiber and George Hamilton in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES © Paul Kolnik.
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
commitment for him. He hardly leaves the theater on weekends, with matinee and evening performances on both Saturdays and Sundays.
5 Questions for George Hamilton The legendary George Hamilton, who starts with Christopher Sieber in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, is known for his dashing style, good looks and charm – he is a Southerner, after all. He has appeared in films, on the stage and on TV. His films include Light in the Piazza; Love at First Bite; Zorro, the Gay Blade; and The Godfather Part III. On stage he has appeared in Love Letters, The Philadelphia Story, Funny Girl and Chicago. TV appearances include Columbo, Dynasty, Roots and Las Vegas.
“You really have to pace yourself to have the energy to get through it,” says Sieber. “[Hamilton’s] 72 and he’s kicking it; he’s terrific in the show. I’m 42 and I’m exhausted.” The rigorous schedule means Sieber’s “like a nun on the road.” Gone are the nights of gorging himself on entire pizzas or staying out late at the bars. Daytime, however, is a different story. Sieber loves sight-seeing, meeting new people and tasting the local cuisine. “I’m excited to come back to Charlotte,” says Sieber, who appeared in Blumenthal Arts’ 2011 presentation of Celebrity Autobiography. “We had a lovely time there last time and the restaurants there were just terrific.” So what’s he most looking forward to during his stay in the Queen City? “There’s a place near the Center where we’re performing,” says Sieber. “...MERT’S! Love it! Oh, my God. The great thing about [touring] is you get to see the best of so many amazing cities. To be able to see for yourself the cities and meet the people is fantastic.” “I’m excited for Charlotte to see us,” he adds. “I think they’re really going to enjoy the show and have a great time!” -Elizabeth Bertrand
la cage aux folles
May 29 - June 3 • Belk Theater
Many people know about your film and TV work, but tell us about your stage experience. “I’ve done 26 plays and quite a while ago, I realized if I wanted to make acting more than just a hobby, I had to learn how to do it. You don’t learn it in film. In film you learn camera and angles and how to be effective as a film actor. Acting is based on timing and the only way to learn that is on stage.” For musicals, did you study voice and dance? “When I was about 17, I was going with this girl. I would sing Frank Sinatra songs and she said to me, ‘You can’t sing. Just don’t sing.’ So I just thought I couldn’t sing. Then that year, when we broke up, I was asked to do the lead in the school play, it was Brigadoon. I said, ‘I’m good as an actor, but I can’t sing and this part’s for a singer.’ Now, my brother was in the play and he said, ‘you can sing, who said you can’t sing?’ I told him it was Liz, but I broke up with her. So I went out for the show and I was singing. After that I did different plays and I would sing." Now for LA CAGE, you didn’t have to audition, did you? “No, but strangely enough I auditioned with the other actors. Once I got the role, I wanted to audition because I wanted to make sure the combination, the chemistry was good.” What do you find interesting in this show? “It is about love. It’s about family. It’s about being true to yourself. I think these are the valid points of the show. What is the underlying universal truth that makes people want to come see the show? Real honesty in the relationship which is a challenge to play.” One of your early movies, Light in the Piazza, was made into a musical. What other movies of yours do you think could be made into a Broadway musical? “Love at First Bite would be a wonderful musical. It could so easily, in a second, go on to Broadway. It’s funny. It has a slight retro-70s quality. I couldn’t play it, but I could produce it.” •
George Hamilton with The Cagelles in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES © Paul Kolnik.
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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APRIL 1 Jeanne Robertson Outback Concerts Knight Theater 1 An Evening with The Darrell Scott Band McGlohon Theater 3-8 STOMP Belk Theater 4-15 Don’t Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell Starving Artist Productions Duke Energy Theater 10-15 BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Belk Theater 14 David Wilcox McGlohon Theater 15 Restoring Hope: Amnon Weinstein & the Violins of Hope College of Arts + Architecture, UNC Charlotte Knight Theater 16 RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles Belk Theater 17 One Night of Queen Knight Theater 17 Shatner’s World: We Just Live In It Belk Theater 17-21 Measure for Measure Shakespeare Carolina Duke Energy Theater 20 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam McGlohon Theater 21 Triumph of Hope: Violins of Hope with the Charlotte Symphony College of Arts + Architecture, UNC Charlotte Belk Theater 22 Human Nature the Motown Show Smokey Robinson Belk Theater 22 Help Kids Rock! Streetwise Music McGlohon Theater 22 Speak Up Youth Poetry Slam Duke Energy Theater 25-28 World Without End Chaos Ensemble Duke Energy Theater 26-28 Dangerous Liaisons North Carolina Dance Theatre Knight Theater 27-28 Bach & Mahler Charlotte Symphony Belk Theater 28 Dancing Through Latin America Charlotte Latin Dance McGlohon Theater 29 Dave Barnes McGlohon Theater MAY 1-6 COME FLY AWAY Belk Theater 3-19 Passion Queen City Theater Company Duke Energy Theater 4 KnightSounds: Bolero Comes Alive! Charlotte Symphony Knight Theater 5 Lollipops: Peter and the Wolf Charlotte Symphony Knight Theater
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coming
stomp
RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
soon.... An Evening with The Darrell Scott Band
One Night of Queen
Dave Barnes
6 Rat Pack Together Again! T.S. Productions McGlohonTheater 10 Esperanza Spalding Sol Kitchen Knight Theater 11-12 Beethoven Missa Solemnis Charlotte Symphony Belk Theater 12-13 Hooray For Hollywood Carolina Voices McGlohon Theater 15-20 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Knight Theater 16 Burn The Floor Belk Theater 16 Madeleine Peyroux McGlohon Theater 17 How Loud is My Silence? Tide Center/A Call to Men Duke Energy Theater 18 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam McGlohon Theater 20 Speak Up Youth Poetry Slam Duke Energy Theater 22 Coffey Talk with Chip Coffey Trixstar Productions McGlohon Theater 28 The Polyphonic Spree McGlohon Theater 29 - June 3 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Belk Theater JUNE 1 Night of Notes Charlotte Children's Choir Knight Theater 1-16 Rhyme Deferred On Q Productions Duke Energy Theater 8-30 Charlotte Squawks 8 Booth Playhouse 15 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam McGlohon Theater 16 Beatle's Night Tribute Tosco Music Party Knight Theater 17 Speak Up Youth Poetry Slam Duke Energy Theater 17 A Bluegrass Evening with Vince Gill Knight Theater 26 - July 1 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Belk Theater 29-30 The Screwtape Letters Fellowship for The Performing Arts Knight Theater AUGUST 7-11 National Poetry Slam Blumenthal Performing Arts
Please Visit BlumenthalArts.org for the latest details on all shows.
Madeleine Peyroux
A Bluegrass Evening with Vince Gill Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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Spectacular Dance on Stage Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Burn the Floor Return to the Queen City this May. Whether you like contemporary and modern, or classic and international, these two productions offer the best in the world of dance
• The Foxtrot is a slow, syncopated 4/4 rhythm, in a slow/ slow-quick/quick count and employs the fashionably rebellious use of “trotting steps.”
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
• The Viennese Waltz, the oldest of the ballroom dances, is a 3/4 rhythm which began as a peasant dance in Provence, France in 1559.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most renowned and prestigious dance companies in the world, returns May 15-20, in Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. What began from a now-fabled performance in 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, has forever changed the perception of American dance. The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 23 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents -- as well as millions more through television broadcasts. Ailey’s signature piece “Revelations” is being performed at all performances. Other pieces vary throughout the week. For the full schedule, visit BlumenthalArts.org and click on the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater event page. BURN THE FLOOR: If you like Dancing with the Stars, you'll love Burn The Floor. The 24-member dance company takes to the Belk Theater stage May 16 for one night only. From the Tango to the Cha Cha to the Samba to the Foxtrot, there is no shortage of “international style” when this Broadway-caliber dance production returns to the Queen City. The show stars So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) Australia winner Robbie Kmetoni and SYTYCD USA finalist Janette Manrara. Need some help understanding the dance lingo? Here’s a helpful guide to some of the dances you’ll see in Burn The Floor. Standard Dances • The Waltz is a ballroom dance in 3/4 time, with a strong accent on the first beat, and a basic pattern of step-step-close.
• The Tango originated in Argentina and was brought to Paris in 1910. The international tango was born in the 1930s and combined the proud posture of the other ballroom dances with 4/4 rhythm, staccato action and walking steps, which move around the ballroom floor. * Quickstep is an international style ballroom dance that follows a 4/4 rhythm, similar to a fast foxtrot. It evolved from dances in the 1920s like the Charleston and the influence of the ragtime music popular during that era. Latin Dances • The Cha Cha, a Cuban dance, became popular in the 1950s. It is an offshoot of the triple mambo and has a 4/4 rhythm. It is fun, flirty and playful. • The Samba, the “ladies dance,” originated and is still celebrated in Brazil. The fast and intricate cross-percussive music and steps are danced to a 2/4 rhythm. • Paso Doble is of Spanish origin, though it was developed in France. Using a 2/4 rhythm, it is a highly stylized dance that is based on the Spanish bullfight and uses marching steps. The man represents the matador; the woman the cape. • The Rumba has a 4/4 Cuban rhythm and is the slowest and most sensuous of the Latin American dances. It is known as the “dance of lust.” • The Jive is based on jazz and improvisation. Set in 4/4 time, this dance originated in the United States in the early 1940s. •
AAADT's Alicia Graf Mack and Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims. Photos by Andrew Eccles; Burn the Floor photo by Beytan Erkman.
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
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Contributions received from February 15, 2011 through February 15, 2012
restaurant/hospitality partners
435 S. Tryon St., Suite 180 Charlotte, NC 28202 704.377.9911 aquavina.com
100 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.376.8880 ariacharlotte.com
Hearst Tower (Corner of 5th & College St.) Charlotte, NC 28202 704.927.2583 bluerestaurantandbar.com
201 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.348.1400 thecapitalgrille.com
6903 Phillips Place Ct. Charlotte, NC 28210 704.643.1664 deandeluca.com
237 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.332.4141 dunhillhotel.com
101 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 866.999.3799 newks.com
10722 Carmel Commons Blvd. Suite 420 Charlotte, NC 28226 704.622.9944 silverfoxlimos.com
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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Carolinas Medical Center and Blumenthal Rarely do two organizations from such different sectors have a vision so perfectly aligned. In Charlotte, however, Carolinas Medical Center and Blumenthal Performing Arts see success through the same lens.
activities that not only enhance the availability of healthcare services but enrich the overall quality of life. The following statement from the Carolinas HealthCare System web site summarizes this philosophy quite well:
Carolinas Medical Center, one of North Carolina’s largest hospitals, serves as a regional referral center for western North Carolina and northern South Carolina. The hospital is a Level I Trauma Center, one of only five Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospitals in North Carolina, and is one of more than 30 medical centers currently affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System. It is home to a number of highly regarded specialty centers and institutes, where some of the most talented medical personnel in the country treat patients with a wide variety of complex medical conditions.
“Ultimately, our success is determined not by the buildings we construct, but by the investment we make in the people and programs that bring each new facility to life. We are providing a broad framework of support that enables extraordinary professionals to bring caring, commitment, integrity and teamwork to a vitally important healing mission. The motivating force behind all of this activity is fulfilling our duty to meet community needs.”
When the people at Carolinas Medical Center talk about the definition of “success,” they like to focus on a whole range of
Blumenthal Performing Arts similarly is so much more than the buildings it manages. It is the performances on the stages and the associated education and outreach initiatives that change lives and keep all segments of the community well connected
corporate partners leadership gift
signature
2011/12 Broadway Lights Series Sponsor
major
gift
Official Healthcare Provider of Blumenthal Performing Arts
Presenting Sponsor The Blumey Awards
gifts
Preferred Dining Partner of Blumenthal Performing Arts
chairman, ceo, presidential
Preferred Snack Food Provider of Blumenthal Performing Arts
Preferred Caterer of Blumenthal Performing Arts
partners
Put your company center stage with a program ad Save your space in the 2012/13 Blumenthal Program. You'll reach more than 350,000 arts fans including those from Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, NC Dance Theater and Opera Carolina.
Blumenthal Performing arts Blumenthal Performing Arts Center • Spirit Square Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts
For details call 704.379.1356. Belk TheaTer
At blumenthAl performing Arts center
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onstage | Spring/Summer 2012 Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Share a Vision to Enrich Community Life and culturally enriched. Michael C. Tarwater, Chief Executive Officer of Carolinas HealthCare System, said it well when he made the following observation: “The health of a community can be measured in many ways, and Carolinas HealthCare System believes that one of the most significant of these is quality of life. We feel a strong obligation to help this community remain exceptional -- not only for the quality of its healthcare but for the quality of artistic and cultural opportunities. Our partnership with Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is just one way to encourage a flourishing arts scene for the people of this region.” Blumenthal Performing Arts is proud to partner with Carolinas Medical Center, its Official Healthcare Provider. • Michael and Ann Tarwater at the Corporate Campaign Finale celebration.
Blumenthal recognizes the following sponsors and corporate partners for their generous support. Internetwork Services Inc.
Directing Partners Rodgers Builders Executive Partners Alston & Bird, LLP Belk, Inc. BlackArch Partners Brixx Wood Fired Pizza-Uptown Ernst & Young LLP Family Dollar Store Fifth Third Bank, NC Hubbell Consulting, LLC Hunton & Williams, LLP InterCon Building Corporation K&L Gates, LLP KPMG LLP King & Spalding LLP McGuire Woods LLP Midrex Technologies, Inc. NUCOR Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Shaw Group SteelFab, Inc. Managing Partners Areva NP Inc. BB&T C design Inc. Carolina Tractor Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Clariant Direct Source, Inc. Imperial Printing
foundation
Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. KBR Building Group Lincoln Harris McGrann Paper Corporation Modular Designs Morningstar Mini-Storage Momentum Construction LLC NASCAR Media Group North Highland Company Preferred Electric Co. Inc. Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc. RSM McGladrey, Inc. Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Stewart Engineering, Inc. Toshiba America Business Solutions W. B. Moore Company of Charlotte, Inc. Associate Partners Absolute Fire Control Acoustics Incorporated Ajax Rolled Ring & Machine Ashley Furniture HomeStore Aster Group Corporation B.E. Holbrooks Co., Inc. Bailiwick Data Systems, Inc. C.M. Steel, Inc. Carousel Capital Company Carroll Financial Associates, Inc. Charlotte Engineers LLP Charlotte Paint Company, Inc.
Chicago Title Insurance Company Childress Klein Properties Choate Construction Co. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Cochrane Steel, Inc. Collins and Wright Inc. Crosland Southeast CSI Leasing, Inc. Defease With Ease Design Strategies LLC Dixon Hughes Goodman E.F. Belk & Son, Inc. Ec,a Architecture, PC Elm Engineering Forsythe, Inc. Galvan Industries, Inc. Garmon & Co., Inc. Commerical Flooring Hendrick Construction, Inc. Herlocker Mechanical Systems, Inc. High Performance Technologies, Inc. Hitachi Data Systems Hood Hargett & Associates, Inc. Hoopaugh Grading Co., LLC IKON Office Systems Karas Hospitality, Inc. KDC Keith Corporation KingGuinn Associates, P.A. LB&A, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC (formerly Toler Bly) LITTLE Marsh Properties
Martin Marietta Materials MCC Mechanical, LLC McCombs Steel Company, Inc. McNeary, Inc. Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Mooresville Glass and Mirror Company, Inc. Myers & Chapman, Inc. NASCAR Foundation North Carolina Bank and Trust Reznick Group, P.C. Robert Pittenger Company Rogers Unloading Service Schindler Elevator Corp. Security Forces, Inc. Signature Consultants Sprint Staley Inc. Sun Belt Office & Data Suppliers, Inc. Tandus Flooring The Title Company of North Carolina United Mechanical Corporation Velligan Medical Services Warco Construction, Inc. White Knight Engineered Products Willis Yorel Integrated Solutions, Inc. Contributions received from February 15, 2011 through February 15, 2012
gifts
THE DOCTOR FAMILY FOUNDATION
Education Programs and Student Scholarships
The Arts & Science Council supports Blumenthal Performing Arts’ 2012 Fiscal Year budget with a Basic Operating Grant in the amount of $345,401.
Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org
Blumenthal Performing Arts receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
onstage | Spring/Summer 2012
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onstage
Spring/Summer 2012
Blumenthal Performing Arts 130 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202
Live On Stage!
June 26at blumenthal - julyperforming 1 • Belk theater arts center 704.372.1000 • BlumenthalArts.org Group Sales: 704.379.1380