Places by Chris Gray

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A preview of Performing Arts at Johnson County Community College www.jccc.edu/TheSeries November/December 2012

Lindsey Buckingham Compagnie de Danse Jean-René Delsoin (Haiti) Richard Scarry’s Busytown Sara Evans PROJECT Trio Bowfire – Holiday Heart Strings Lindsey Buckingham

Sara Evans

Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham to show off arsenal of skills Lindsey Buckingham, the Fleetwood Mac guitarist turned solo performer, will appear at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, in the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall as part of the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College. The show, called An Intimate Evening with Lindsey Buckingham, will showcase Buckingham’s distinctive guitar-picking style and his instantly recognizable voice. He is expected to perform songs from his latest album, Seeds We Sow, as well as favorites from his previous solo and Fleetwood Mac albums. “As I‘ve grown as an artist, I‘ve gotten more and more in touch with my center, and that center is voice and guitar,” Buckingham stated on his website before going on tour last year. “Over time it has become increasingly vital to express more with less; that is my touchstone now and the embodiment of that philosophy is what will be largely represented in the new show.” Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 with his then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks. He is the predominant musical force behind such Mac albums as Rumours and the innovative Tusk, and he has created a criticallyacclaimed body of solo work that yielded the hits Trouble, Go Insane and Holiday Road.

Though Buckingham enjoyed the success of Fleetwood Mac, he says something was missing. “The irony of the bulk of the Fleetwood Mac experience was that none of us were comfortable,” he said. “We had this external success going, which was not matched by any kind of internal success. It didn’t make any of us whole people or contented people in that sense.” Now married and with three kids, Buckingham has found the internal success he had been seeking. “It really does feel like the best time of my life,” he said. That contentment and peace shows throughout Seeds We Sow, released last year. From the soft melodic pop/rock tinge of End of Time to the album‘s rocking track One Take to the touching When She Comes Down, the album showcases Buckingham’s full arsenal of skills. “I think the lyrics over the years have actually gotten better because they have gotten a little – I don’t want to say obscure – but they have gotten more poetic in the way they’re created,” Buckingham said. “It’s a mysterious process even to me.” Tickets $65, $50 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries

Renowned dance troupe to deliver colors, rhythms and sounds Jean-René Delsoin will bring his renowned Compagnie de Danse troupe from Haiti to Yardley Hall at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The company of four dancers and three musicians has cultivated a distinctively nuanced view of Haitian culture and movement traditions, drawing on ballet and modern dance techniques in dialogue with Haiti’s plethora of rhythms and sounds. The Compagnie de Danse moves through the many worlds that intersect in Haiti: the rough-edged and vivacious rural dances and ceremonies, the refined social dance of the cities and the vivid yet stark lines of contemporary global dance. When the troupe is on stage, bold swaths of color alternate with somber, focused intensity. The earthy expressive voices of traditional drums interweave with the precise grace of classical ballet. Modern dance aesthetics and a deep love of popular moves meet beats that migrated from West Africa to Haiti. They all come together effortlessly in bold, emotionally resonant moments aimed to open doors to a better understanding between Americans and Haitians, between the artists and their American viewers and counterparts. “Dance is my prayer,” Delsoin explains. “I want everyone in the audience to be touched by the colors and rhythms and to feel the energy and spirit of the company. I can’t imagine a more powerful way to promote understanding between us.”

The troupe’s presentation is part of Center Stage, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by the New England Foundation of the Arts, in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations.

Delsoin will conduct a pre-performance introduction and a post-show question-and-answer session with the audience. The actual dance performance will be an hour long.

Tickets $30, $20 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries

Richard Scarry’s lovable characters come to life on stage The adventures of Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm and their unforgettable friends will come to life on stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, when Koba Entertainment presents Richard Scarry’s Busytown: Busytown Busy at Yardley Hall. The production captures the incredible world of Scarry’s characters, which has been enjoyed by families for more than 50 years. Busytown will be hosting a talent contest and the friends will be discovering their true talents – with lots of laughter and only a few hiccups along the way. The show is designed for children pre-kindergarten to second grade. Two performances for schoolchildren will be held earlier in the day, at 9:45 a.m. and noon. Schools interested in participating should visit jccc.edu/TheSeries to make reservations or contact Angel Mercier at 913-469-8500, ext. 4221. The school shows are part of the college’s Arts Education outreach program. Scarry is one of the world’s best-loved children’s authors. He was born in Boston in 1919 and passed away in 1994. He wrote more than 300 children’s books, which have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. The stories have been broadcast on television as Busytown Mysteries in North America and Canada. Koba Entertainment has produced a roster of celebrated theatrical productions, including Max & Ruby: Bunny Party and The Backyardigans: Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens. The Busytown production is set to original music by Juno Award winner Norman Foote. It also features the work of Koba’s artistic director Patti Caplette and co-writer and Gemini award winner Jim Taylor. Tickets $16 adults, $12 youth (ages 12 and under) 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries

Country star Sara Evans appears for President’s Scholarship fundraiser Country singer Sara Evans, one of the most compelling female vocalists of her generation, will appear at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in Yardley Hall. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has enjoyed a prolific recording career. She has sold nearly 6 million records and landed five No. 1 country singles, including the self-penned Born to Fly. Her latest album, Stronger, debuted on Billboard’s chart of top country albums when it was released in March 2011. The performance by Evans will serve as the annual benefit for JCCC’s President’s Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement by Johnson County high school graduates. The event is tagged as the President’s Choice; President Terry Calaway chose the performer. Before releasing Stronger, Evans had been out of the music spotlight for six years. She weathered a high-profile divorce, focused on her three children and married football-star-turnedsportscaster Jay Barker. She also became an author, publishing The Sweet By and By and Softly and Tenderly. And she remained a favorite on country radio stations with her hits such as Suds in the Bucket, I Keep Looking and Perfect. On her website, Evans states that she feels like she is beginning anew. “I feel like I‘m just starting my life, my career and there‘s nothing that I can‘t do. I‘m definitely more confident now than I‘ve ever been in my life.” That confidence carries into Stronger‘s lead single, A Little Bit Stronger. The song, a portrait of a survivor that carries an empowering message, was written by Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird and Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott. Evans, 41, grew up in Boonville, Mo., and sang with her family‘s band as a child. She has garnered numerous accolades, including the Academy of Country Music‘s female vocalist honor in 2006 and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year prize for Born to Fly. Her previous studio albums have been strong sellers. Her sophomore set, No Place That Far, has been certified gold; 2001’s Born to Fly is double platinum and 2003‘s Restless and 2005’s Real Fine Place are both platinum. Opening for Sara Evans is Kelleigh Bannen, known for her recent hit, Sorry on the Rocks. Tickets $150 ($50 tax-deductible); $70, $55 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries

PROJECT Trio fuses classical music with eclectic variety of music PROJECT Trio, a chamber music ensemble that blends classical training with jazz, hip-hop and rock, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the Carlsen Center’s Polsky Theatre. The Trio, comprised of three virtuosic composer/performers from Brooklyn, N.Y., are Greg Pattillo on flute, Eric Stephenson on cello and Peter Seymour on bass. They perform more than 70 concerts a year, playing to fans of all ages in venues around the world. Their YouTube channel has had more than 71 million views. DownBeat magazine described the Trio as “packed with musicianship, joy and surprise.” And The Wall Street Journal hailed them for their “wide appeal, subversive humor and first-rate playing.”

have been viewed more than 45 million times. He was classically trained as a student of Joshua Smith at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In San Francisco, he began blending beatbox techniques and flute styles with the sounds of beat poetry and hip-hop rhymes, ultimately developing his style combining classical music with the street art of beatboxing. Stephenson’s style ranges from classical to jazz to rock and folk. He has performed with numerous orchestras such as the IRIS Orchestra in Memphis, Tenn., and the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder. He also was a regular substitute for the Cleveland Orchestra. Stephenson earned his bachelor and master of music degrees with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

PROJECT Trio’s discography includes four recordings: Winter in June, PROJECT Trio, Brooklyn and their most recent release, When Will Then Be Now, and a DVD, PROJECT Trio: Live in Concert, all on the Trio’s own record label, Harmonyville Records. Last fall, their catalog-spanning Random Roads Collection was released on Tummy Touch Records and immediately soared to the top of the classical and jazz charts.

Seymour, a native of Dallas, has performed with a multitude of artists and ensembles. As a regular substitute with the Cleveland Orchestra, he performed under the baton of Franz Welser-Most and as a member of the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He served as events coordinator for the New World Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2004.

Pattillo is known throughout the world for his redefinition of flute sound. Praised by The New York Times as “the best person in the world at what he does,” his groundbreaking videos on YouTube showcasing beatbox flute

Tickets $30 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries

Performing Arts Events J o h n s o n

C o u n t y

November 2012 Sunday 4

C o m m u n i t y

Lindsey Buckingham 7 p.m., Yardley Hall $65, $50

JCCCTheSeries.wordpress.com

*Free

Monday 5

C o l l e g e

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

16 Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood 7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre*

18 Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood

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Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood 2 and 7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre*

11 Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood 2 p.m. Free, Polsky Theatre

Polsky Series The Heart of a Warrior Navajo Code Talker film 7 p.m., Yardley Hall* 6:30 p.m. reception

Saturday 3

Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood 7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre*

Ruel Joyce Jazz Series Chung-Hoon Peter Chun, viola Jiwon Choi, piano noon, Recital Hall*

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Facebook.com/JCCCTheSeries

Richard Scarry’s Busytown Busy 7 p.m., Yardley Hall $16, $12 youth

Compagnie de Danse Jean-René Delsoin (Haiti) 8 p.m., Yardley Hall $30, $20

17 Academic Theatre The Mystery of Edwin Drood 2 and 7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre* 24

2 p.m. Polsky Theatre* Sara Evans President’s Choice Event 8 p.m., Yardley Hall $150, $70, $55

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December 2012 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1

JCCC Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble Swing Eighths Like Straight Eighths 7 p.m., Polsky Theatre*

PROJECT Trio 8 p.m., Polsky Theatre, $30

JCCC Chamber Choir and MadRegalia Holiday Concert 7 p.m., Polsky Theatre*

Polsky Series Jerome Silbergeld, Princeton Chinese Art History professor 7 p.m. Nerman Museum*

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Bowfire – Holiday Heart Strings 8 p.m., Yardley Hall $80, $50, $40

For best seats, order early. Call 913-469-4445 or buy tickets online at www.jccc.edu/TheSeries. Box Office: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4445. Tickets are required for most events in Polsky Theatre and Yardley Hall. Programs, dates and times are subject to change. Discounts are available for students.

PAS Administrative Office: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4450. A request for interpretative services must be made 72 hours before a performance. Call the box office at 913-469-4445 or TDD/TTY 913-469-4485. Persons with disabilities who desire additional support services may contact services for patrons with disabilities, 913-469-8500, ext. 3521, or TDD/TTY 913-469-3885.

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 12345 COLLEGE BLVD OVERLAND PARK KS 66210-1299

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Johnson County Community College

www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Bowfire to spread holiday cheer in show at Yardley Hall “When you put the best string players from around the world together on stage, something magical happens,” said Lenny Solomon, the group’s founder and artistic director. “We are changing people’s perception of what a stringed instrument can do.” Solomon has a reputation as one of the world’s most skilled and innovative jazz violinists. He has toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Japan with The Lenny Solomon Trio and was a three-time winner of the annual Violinist of the Year Award presented by The National Jazz Awards. Besides Solomon, Bowfire performers include Stephane Allard, Quebecois jazz violinist; Bill Bridges, guitarist; Stephanie Cadman, Celtic fiddler; Shane Cook, fiddler; Bogdan Djukic, classical virtuoso/violinist; George Gao, Chinese erhu; Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, violinist; Ray Legere, bluegrass fiddler; Lew Mele, bass; Jon Pilatzke, Celtic fiddler; Ben Riley, drummer; Bernie Senensky, pianist; Wendy Solomon, cellist; and Kelli Trottier, Celtic fiddler. Bowfire’s ensemble of world-renowned musicians will celebrate the holidays when they appear at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Yardley Hall. Some of the world’s greatest fiddlers and violinists, who perform in various genres, will present Bowfire – Holiday Heart Strings. The show will include favorite classics such as The Nutcracker Suite, Sleigh Ride, So This Is Christmas, Dreydl, Dreydl, Dreydl and The Christmas Song. Bowfire has been impressing audiences worldwide since forming in 2000. The ensemble takes audiences on a journey that moves seamlessly from jazz to classical to bluegrass to Celtic to rock and world. The combination of master musicians, choreography and vocals is complemented by elaborate costumes and set design.

The creative team includes Olivier-nominated stage director Stafford Arima, whose list of credits in the musical theater world include Altar Boyz, the West End production of Ragtime, and Chef's Theater at New York City’s Supper Club; choreographer Patricia Wilcox, who has created numbers for everything from Broadway shows to championship ice skaters; scenic director David Kornis, who has lent his creative talents in design to Broadway, film and television; lighting designer Ben Stanton, who is based in New York City specializing in design for theatre, dance, concerts and corporate events and renowned costume designer Karen Ann Ledger. Tickets $80, $50, $40 913-469-4445 jccc.edu/TheSeries