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On behalf of all of us at EJ Thomas Hall, welcome to the second half of the exciting 20162017 Season. The schedule offers a rich variety of experiences, with a mix of new shows as well as some treasured traditions. Performances to be offered during this portion of our 42nd season include The University of Akron Dance Institute’s ballet Snow Maiden, the sensational Five Irish Tenors, and the extraordinary violinist Sarah Chang, who will be joined by the PKF-Prague Philharmonia.
The Hall will also host numerous annual performances such as JazzFest, Gospel Meets Symphony and UA Dance Company. In addition, you can enjoy performances from the GroundWorks Dance Theater and UA’s unique Steel Drum Band with guest artist Kendall Williams. Thank you again for joining us. We hope that you take a few moments to peruse this brochure of upcoming performances and events and decide to spend an evening or two with us. Warmest Regards,
Margo E. Ohlson Director Theatre Operations
On the cover, clockwise from upper left: Chicago, Sarah Chang, Rent, GroundWorks Dance Theater and the Five Irish Tenors.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Nathan J. Mortimer, CPA Vice President Finance & Administration/ CFO
EJ THOMAS HALL
The Broadway in Akron series presents two all-time great shows — Rent and Chicago. The Akron Symphony performs Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Tuesday Musical Association will be in concert with the Imani Winds, one of the most successful chamber music ensembles in the United States.
2016-2017 Season
Hello from The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall!
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2016-2017 Season
EJ THOMAS HALL
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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Phone Numbers you should know: Ticket Office..........................330-253-2488 Information Counter..........330-972-6828 General Information...........330-972-7595 Lost and Found....................330-972-7595 Website........................ www.uaevents.com Ticket Office
Guest Services
Advance tickets are available at the EJ Thomas Hall Ticket Office Monday through Friday 10 am-4 pm. On days of shows the Box Office is open two hours prior to show times.
Assistive Listening System The Williams Personal Assisted sound system is available at the McCormick Information counter for all performances. This is a special receiver with headphones or loop to enable the listener to hear the spoken word more clearly.
Tickets may also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000, or at Ticketmaster outlets. There is a per ticket service charge and handling fee for all Ticketmaster purchases. Discounts are not available. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Refunds – Please check your tickets carefully, as all sales are final. Exchanges are not permitted. Refunds are given if an event is canceled and are made to the original purchaser at the point of purchase. Beware of Ticket Scalpers EJ Thomas Hall is not responsible for tickets purchased through unauthorized third parties. Tickets to EJ Thomas Hall events may not be resold at a premium. Tickets ordered within nine (9) days of the performance will be held at Will Call. A photo ID is needed to pick up Will Call tickets. Gift Certificates are available and are valid for up to one year from the date of purchase. Cancellations, postponed events, or inclement weather – On rare occasions severe weather may cause EJ Thomas Hall to cancel or postpone an event. Event cancellation information is available by calling The University of Akron emergency information number at 330-972-SNOW (7669.) You may also visit our website, Facebook page, or Twitter for the most upto-date information.
Accessible Seating EJ Thomas Hall has seating for patrons in wheelchairs and special needs at Entry 10 in the Orchestra and Entry 14 on the Grand Tier level. Patrons needing assistance to their seat may stop at the Information Counter in McCormick Lobby. An usher will assist you with wheelchair transportation to your seating area. Requests should be made when ordering tickets by calling the Ticket Office at 330-253-2488. Handicap Parking There are a limited number of handicap parking spaces available in the EJ Thomas Hall parking deck. Additional spaces are located in Lots 26 and 27, directly across from the Hill Street entrance. Show a valid H/C permit and traffic police will direct you to the nearest spot. There is a $5 charge for all parking. Accessible Restrooms Accessible restrooms are located at the bottom of both ramps on either side of the building. Family Events Some events at EJ Thomas Hall are specifically designed for children and families and we encourage you to enjoy these events. For performances not suitable for young children, parents are asked to use discretion.
Intermission Intermissions are 20 minutes in length. Lobby lights will flash as your signal to return to your seat for the start of the performance.
For a Wonderful Evening … Live performance is truly magical; art created from the energy flowing between people on both sides of the curtain. When you attend a show, you are part of the experience. There is no rewind or instant replay at a live event. In general: n Leave home early enough to find parking and locate your seats before the performance begins. Remember to allow time for poor weather conditions, heavy traffic, road construction and parking congestion, especially on school nights.
Theater Policies n Cameras or any other recording devices are not permitted – this includes cell phones. Please silence all electronic devices as a courtesy to both other audience members and the performers. n Patrons on emergency call status should leave their name and seat location at the Information Desk so that we may reach you during a pause in the performance n Smoke Free/Tobacco Free – EJ Thomas Hall is a smoke and tobacco free building. This includes e-cigarettes. n Unless instructed to do so by the performers, do not talk, hum, sing along or beat time. n Aisles must be kept free of any obstructions for safety. n For your enjoyment, food and beverages purchased at EJ Thomas Hall are permitted inside the theatre for selected shows. n In the event of an emergency, ushers and other members of the staff will advise audience members as to the appropriate procedures to exit the theater as quickly and safely as possible. Patrons needing special assistance should contact the ushers.
Interested in renting EJ Thomas Hall for that special occasion or performance? Please call 330-972-7595 or email ejthomas@uakron.edu.
n Read the program notes.
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n Safety First – Listen to the pre-show announcements and note the emergency exit routes.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Subscriber Lounge As a season subscriber to the Broadway in Akron shows, you not only “lock in” your seats from season to season, but you also enjoy live music, snacks and a private bar in Goodrich Lobby before the performance and during intermission. Season subscribers also receive complimentary parking for the performances, get priority offers to special events and have a personal Ticket Office contact for ticket exchange and replacement services.
Following these general rules of the theater will ensure that everyone can enjoy the show.
EJ THOMAS HALL
ATM PNC Bank has an ATM in the Ticket Office Lobby for your convenience. Food and beverage service is cash only.
n When in doubt, ask the ushers. They are here to help.
2016-2017 Season
Seating Latecomers Please note the curtain time printed on your tickets as performances begin promptly. Latecomers will be seated at a suitable pause in the program. This includes patrons who leave the auditorium before or during a selection.
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Edwin J. “Eddie” Thomas, 1899-1986 Born in 1899, the son of an East Akron postman, “Eddie” Thomas started with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1926 as a stenographer and worked his way up to President at age 41 (1940), Chief Executive Officer (1956) and Chairman of the Board (1958). Upon his retirement in 1964, at a time where most people would have put their feet up and relaxed, Thomas, who had been a Director of The University of Akron since 1952, turned his energies toward the future of Akron itself. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Area Progress Board he helped raise large sums of money to pump life into “the old hometown.” Projects focused on downtown redevelopment became a reality and his dedication to the United Fund and other local charities helped untold numbers of Akron residents. Even today, The E. J. Thomas Foundation continues to support many local charities and benefits the community. So persuasive were his powers and his personality that in 1967 Goodyear made a pacesetting gift of $1.25 million, the largest ever given to the University at the time, to name the performing arts hall on its campus in his honor. At the July 30, 1968 groundbreaking, Mr. Thomas and Norman P. Auburn, President Emeritus, made the following remarks: “This building will provide an inspiration for all those who labored over the years to keep the light of culture burning in Akron. This structure reflects the inspiration of Norman P. Auburn and all of the trustees, the campaign workers and the donors who have worked so hard to get it.” —Edwin J. Thomas “The opening of the Edwin J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall is another evidence of the splendid town and gown relationship in Akron. This majestic structure will now serve as a cultural bridge, linking together a thriving community and a great University. All of us who worked over the years to bring this worthy project to fruition are grateful to the thousands of donors whose gifts turned a dream into a reality.” —Norman P. Auburn, president emeritus, The University of Akron (1973)
2016-2017 Season
The Hot Sardines
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Sons Of Serendip
A Thank You…
Founded by brothers Jack and Jim Knight, newsmen who owned the Akron Beacon Journal, Knight Foundation fosters more informed and engaged communities. The foundation’s arts program works to make art general in Knight communities, so that a range of programming is seen and felt across the city. Knight invests in some of the city’s anchor arts institutions, helping them better engage the public, and in smaller initiatives through the Knight Arts Challenge, which funds the best ideas for the arts. Over the past several years, the arts program has invested $11 million in the Akron arts, including funding for a new national choreography center at The University of Akron and support for grassroots efforts through the challenge.
Learn more about the foundation at knightfoundation.org.
Sponsored by the Knight Foundation, a series of innovative, edgy trend setters who broke stereotypes while generating critical acclaim for their artistry. The Hot Sardines and Sons Of Serendip were two of the groups that performed.
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The University of Akron and EJ Thomas Hall would like to thank John Palfrey, chairman of the foundation’s board, and Alberto Ibargüen, president, for their continued support of EJ Thomas Hall. The University also wishes to recognize the leadership of Hodding Carter, III, former president, CEO and trustee and his predecessors Creed Black, C. Colmery Gibson and Ben Maidenburg. Special recognition is also extended to Dr. W. Gerald Austen, University of Akron Honorary alumnus, as former chairman and trustee of Knight Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Special appreciation is extended to the John S. Knight and James L. Knight Foundation for the generous support of EJ Thomas Hall. Knight Foundation has funded the EJ Thomas Hall Endowment to enhance programming, established the John S. Knight Lectureship at The University of Akron and continues to fund contemporary performers at EJ Thomas Hall.
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EJ THOMAS HALL THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
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Opus 3 Artists
Presents
PKF – Prague Philharmonia
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Vltava (The Moldau) from Má vlast (My Fatherland)
Antonin Dvořák Violin Concerto, op.53, B96, A minor (1841-1904) I. Allegro; ma non troppo II. Adagio; ma non troppo III. Finale: Allegro giocoso; ma non troppo
Sarah Chang, Violin
Felix Mendelssohn Piano concerto no.1 (1809-1847) I. Molto allegro con fuoco II. Andante III. Presto – Molto allegro e vivace Andrew Von Oeyen, Piano
Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 8, op. 88, B163, G major I. Allegro con brio II. Adagio III. Allegretto grazioso IV. Allegro ma non troppo
US Tour Management: Opus 3 Artists | 470 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor North, New York, NY 10016 www.opus3artists.com
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www.pkf.cz
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
— INTERMISSION —
EJ THOMAS HALL
Emmanuel Villaume, Music Director Sarah Chang, Violin Andrew Von Oeyen, Piano
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West Palm Beach, FL, Daytona Beach, FL, Gainesville, FL, Akron, OH, East Lansing, MI, Ann Arbor, MI, Carmel, IN
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PKF-Prague Philharmonia — US TOUR 2017 ORCHESTRA MEMBER LIST BY INSTRUMENTS December 2016 1st Violins Jan Fišer – concert master Miloslav Vrba Hana Jarošová Kubisová Roman Hranička Veronika Panochová Martin Bialas Zuzana Bialasová František Kosina Martina Bačová Dmitry Samojlov Eva Schäferová Tomáš Bařinka 2nd Violins Jan Adam Marta Hajšmanová Lada Ševčíková Lukáš Kroft Alena Miřácká Iva Středová Matěj Polášek Jan Zrostlík Veronika Šenová Martin Balda Violas Stanislav Svoboda Anna Cibulková Dagmar Mašková Emi Sawahata Zdeněk Suchý Ondřej Martinovský Angelika Boué Anna Šimková Violoncelli Lukáš Pospíšil – concert master Teodor Brcko Balázs Adorján Judita Škodová Martin Havelík Marie Dorazilová Double Basses Pavel Klečka Jan Prokop Dalibor Tkadlčík Lubomír Čížek
Flutes Jiří Ševčík Oto Reiprich Lenka Schichová Oboes Jan Souček Lenka Filová Clarinets Jindřich Pavliš Jan Czech Bassoons Václav Fürbach Jiří Jech French Horns Jan Musil Mikuláš Koska Adéla Triebeneklová Eva Mlázovská Trompettes Svatopluk Zaal Lubomír Kovařík Trombones Stanislav Penk Vít Kořínek Václav Kotek Tuba Petr Salajka Timpani Pavel Rehberger Percussion Radek Doležal Anton Zdanovich Štěpán Hon Arp Hana Müllerová For Opus 3 Artists: David V. Foster, President and CEO Leonard Stein, Senior Vice President, Director, Touring Division Jeffrey Vanderveen, Vice President, Manager, Artists & Attractions Irene Lönnblad, Associate, Touring Division Aaron Grant, Associate, Artists & Attractions Tim Grassel, Tour Manager Donald Irving, Stage Manager
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Biography
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The repertoire also includes Romance compositions, as well as modern and contemporary music, performed within a Special Concert series unique among the selections of Czech orchestras. Since the beginning of the 2008–2009 season, the orchestra has been headed by Chief Conductor and Music Director Jakub Hrůša, whodespite his young age already enjoys great international renown. The ensemble’s founder, the globally celebrated Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek, was at its helm until 2005, when he was named the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate. From 2005 to 2008, the Chief Conductor of the PKF-Prague Philharmonia was the Swiss conductor and flautist Kaspar Zehnder. Since the beginning of the 2015–16 season, the post of Music Director and Chief Conductor will take the distinguished French conductor Emmanuel Villaume. The PKF-Prague Philharmonia is a regular guest at international music festivals, frequently performs at prestigious world concert halls, and is a regular partner of world-famous conductors and soloists including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Milan Turković, Jefim Bronfman, András Schiff, Shlomo Mintz, Sarah Chang, Isabelle Faust, Mischa Maisky, Magdalena Kožená, Anna Netrebko, Natalie Dessay, Rolando Villazón, Plácido Domingo, Elina Garanča, Juan Diego Flórez, Radek Baborák, Thomas Hampson, and many others. To date the orchestra has recorded
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
The PKF-Prague Philharmonia, originally called the Prague Philharmonia, was founded in 1994 at the initiative of the world-famous conductor Jiří Bělohlávek to bring a breath of fresh air to the Czech and the global music scene in the form of a contagious élan and a drive to achieve superior performance of every detail of the score. Soon after its founding, the PKF-Prague Philharmonia joined the ranks of the most respected Czech orchestras and established great renown in Europe and elsewhere in the world. In its “manifesto”, the orchestra highlighted vigour, energy, and perfectionism, as well as a tremendous love for the music, with which it imbues each and every concert. The PKF-Prague Philharmonia is beloved for its characteristic sound, created in large part by the key focus of its repertoire: Viennese Classicism, pieces by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. This area is the ensemble’s primary domain, and an area at which it excels. The spirit of the art from this historical period is perfectly reflected in the PKF-Prague Philharmonia credo: to play with crystal-clear purity and a straightforward, sparkling passion that will ensure that every listener, regardless of age or profession, may understand every detail of the music performed and return home from its concerts full of joie de vivre. The art presented by the PKF-Prague Philharmonia is both exceptional and accessible to everyone.
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PKF-PRAGUE PHILHARMONIA
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more than 60 CDs for prominent Czech and foreign labels, including Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Supraphon, EMI, Warner Music, and Harmonia Mundi. Some of its albums have received such prestigious accolades as the RAC Canada Gold Disc (2000), the Harmonie Award (2001), and the Diapason d’Or (September 2007). Guest artists featured on the PKF-Prague
Philharmonia’s recordings include Anna Netrebko, Eva Urbanová, Magdalena Kožená, Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Iva Bittová, Peter Dvorský, Dagmar Pecková, and many others. The most critically acclaimed album is the live recording of the orchestra’s performance of Smetana’s My Country at Prague Spring 2010, conducted by Jakub Hrůša.
EMMANUEL VILLAUME Conductor French-born conductor Emmanuel Villaume has led captivating performances with the most prominent opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world. Currently in his second season as Music Director of The Dallas Opera, Maestro Villaume opens the 2014-2015 season with Le nozze di Figaro and returns to lead Tchaikovsky’s rarely performed Iolanta. He embarks upon a European concert tour of Iolanta in June of 2015 with performances in Lucerne, Copenhagen, Monte Carlo, and London’s Royal Albert Hall, featuring soprano Anna Netrebko. The current season also features Mo. Villaume’s highly anticipated return to New York’s Metropolitan Opera House for performances of Manon. His performances of Manon last season at London’s Royal Opera House led the Financial Times to proclaim, “The best thing about this Manon is the conducting. Emmanuel Villaume maintains spruce tempi while illuminating the opera’s soft, sensuous core.” In October Mo. Villaume was appointed as the new Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Prague Philharmonia (PKF), beginning in September, 2015. Recent projects with the PKF include a Deutsche Grammophon recording with Anna Netrebko, a Warner Classics release with Bryan Hymel, seasonal concerts and several European tours. He leads the orchestra this season in a special New Year’s concert at the Royal
Opera House Muscat. Villaume returns to New York’s Avery Fisher Hall in October to conduct the 2014 Richard Tucker Gala, featuring today’s greatest opera stars. Following his triumph with the Juilliard Opera last season with Cendrillon, he returns to conduct the Juilliard Orchestra in concert at Alice Tully Hall in February of 2015. A frequent collaborator with major opera houses in the United States, Maestro Villaume has performed with the Metropolitan Opera for Madama Butterfly, Samson et Dalila, and Carmen; Lyric Opera of Chicago for La Bohème, Manon, The Merry Widow and Samson et Dalila; and the Washington National Opera for La Rodine, Norma, Le Cid, and Les Contes d’Hoffmann. He has conducted Madama Butterfly and Werther with the San Francisco Opera; Les Contes d’Hoffmann, La Rondine, and La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein with the Los Angeles Opera; La Rodine and Faust with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; and Les Pêcheurs de Perles and The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein with Santa Fe Opera. Prior to his new position as Music Director of The Dallas Opera, Mo. Villaume conducted highly acclaimed performances of TDO’s Faust and Le Nozze di Figaro. His participation in music festivals is equally exemplary, highlighted by numerous performances with the prestigious Spoleto Festival USA, where he served as Music Director from 2001 to 2010.
TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
FINNEY CHAPEL (90 N. PROFESSOR ST., OBERLIN) $35, with discounts for seniors, military, and Oberlin staff and alumni. All students just $10. Call 800-371-0178 or visit oberlin.edu/artsguide
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8 PM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
SIAN RICHARDS
Performing the multimedia program The Circle of Creation, featuring the music of J.S. Bach
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
OBERLIN COLLEGE & CONSERVATORY’S ARTIST RECITAL SERIES
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Périchole and Werther; and the Klangbogen Festival in Vienna for Don Quichotte and Menotti’s Goya with Plácido Domingo. Emmanuel Villaume has led a distinguished career leading renowned symphonies in the U.S. and abroad. He has made an outstanding contribution as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the National Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and in his ongoing role as Chief Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra. In North America, he has conducted the Quebec Symphony, the Montreal Symphony in both Montreal and at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Symphony, and the Julliard Orchestra. He also led the San Francisco Symphony, the Houston Symphony, and the Boston Symphony at both Symphony Hall and the Tanglewood Festival. His performances with music organizations abroad include: the Royal Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Beethovenhalle Orchestra of Bonn, the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Duisburger Philharmoniker, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Kungliga Filharmonikerna, and the Prague
2016-2017 Season
On the international stage, Maestro Villaume has appeared with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for Manon, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and La Rondine; Montreal Opera for La Vie Parisienne; Tokyo Bunka Kaikan for Der Rosenkavalier; Teatro Colón for Pelléas et Mélisande; and Bastille Opera for Rigoletto. Other performances in France include: Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse for Mignon; Opéra de Nice for Faust; and Opéra Marseilles for Pelléas et Mélisande, Samson et Dalila, Carmen, and Norma. Maestro Villaume has conducted for several opera companies in Germany, including the Bayerische Staatsoper for Les Contes d’Hoffmann; Deutsche Oper Berlin for Tosca; Hamburg Staatsoper for Der Fliegende Holländer; Bonn Opera for La Fanciulla del West; and Cologne Opera for La Bohème and Werther. Other lauded performances in Europe took place at Teatro La Fenice for Thaïs, Il Crociato, and L’Africaine; Teatro Regio di Torino for Ariane et Barbe-bleue and Les Contes d’Hoffmann; Martina Franca Opera for La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein; Teatro Real in Madrid for Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Werther; Opéra de Monte-Carlo for La
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Philharmonic Orchestra. In Australia, Mo. Villaume has conducted concerts with the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane orchestras, and in Asia he has appeared with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and the China National Opera Orchestra for the 2008 Olympic Games. Born in Strasbourg in 1964, Emmanuel Villaume studied music at the Conservatoire
de Strasbourg. He continued his education at Khâgne and the Sorbonne in Paris, where he received degrees in literature, philosophy, and musicology. As author of noted articles of musicology, Mo. Villaume was appointed Dramaturg of the Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg at the age of 21. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Indianapolis. Maestro Villaume makes his home in Paris and Dallas.
SARAH CHANG Violin Recognized as one of the foremost violinists of our time, Sarah Chang has performed with the most esteemed orchestras, conductors, and accompanists in an international career spanning more than two decades. Since her debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of eight, Ms. Chang has continued to impress audiences with her technical virtuosity and refined emotional depth. Highlights from Ms. Chang’s recent and upcoming seasons, have included performances with such North American orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, San Diego Symphony, New West Symphony, Pacific Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, and the Ravinia and Aspen Music Festivals among others. With a career that has blossomed internationally, her European engagements have taken her to France, Italy, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey, and Germany, and her engagements in Asia have brought her to audiences in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. As an accomplished recital and chamber musician, Ms. Chang regularly travels the world, performing with such artists as Pinchas Zukerman, Yefim Bronfman, Leif Ove Andsnes, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Wolfgang
Sawallisch, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms. Chang’s most recent recording for EMI Classics — her 20th for the label — featured the Brahms and Bruch violin concertos with Kurt Masur and the Dresdner Philharmonie, and was received to excellent critical and popular acclaim. Her 2007 recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons attracted international commendation, with BBC Music Magazine stating: “She has never made a finer recording.” She has also recorded Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 live with the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle; Fire and Ice, an album of popular shorter works for violin and orchestra with Placido Domingo conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker; the Dvořák Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis; as well as several chamber music and sonata discs with artists including pianists Leif Ove Andsnes and Lars Vogt. Along with Pete Sampras, Wynton Marsalis, and Tom Brady, Ms. Chang has been a featured artist in Movado’s global advertising campaign “The Art of Time.” In 2006, Ms. Chang was honored as one of 20 Top Women in Newsweek Magazine’s “Women and Leadership, 20 Powerful Women Take Charge” issue. In March 2008, Ms. Chang was honored as a Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World
was awarded the Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana Prize in Siena, Italy. Other previous distinctions include the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Gramophone’s “Young Artist of the Year” award, Germany’s “Echo” Schallplattenpreis, “Newcomer of the Year” honors at the International Classical Music Awards in London, and Korea’s “Nan Pa” award. In 2011, Ms. Chang was named an official Artistic Ambassador by the United States Department of State.
Piano
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National Symphony in “A Capitol Fourth,” reaching millions worldwide in the multiaward winning PBS live telecast. Mr. von Oeyen has appeared in recital at Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall in London, Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Boston’s Symphony Hall, Zürich’s Tonhalle, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Bolshoi Zal in St. Petersburg, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Royce Hall in Los Angeles, Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Sala São Paulo, Teatro Olimpico in Rome, in Bucharest, Hanoi, Macau, and in every major concert hall of Japan and South Korea. Mr. von Oeyen’s 2016/2017 engagements include, among others, a European and North American tour with the Prague Philharmonia (including performances as both soloist and conductor), appearances with the Vancouver Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic, Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra and the orchestras of Grand Rapids, Oklahoma City, Wichita and Boise. He will also appear in recital in San Francisco and throughout Europe. In 2018 he will make his debut with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Orchestra Filarmonica della Fenice in Venice. Mr. von Oeyen’s 2015/16 engagements
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Hailed worldwide for his elegant and insightful interpretations, balanced artistry and brilliant technique, Andrew Von Oeyen has established himself as one of the most captivating pianists of his generation. Since his debut at age 16 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mr. von Oeyen has excelled in a broad spectrum of concerto repertoire — Bartok, Barber, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Fauré, Ligeti, Liszt, Gershwin, Grieg, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Schumann, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky — with such ensembles as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Utah Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Marseille, Geneva Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic. As both soloist and conductor he has led concerti and orchestral works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel and Kurt Weill. On July 4, 2009, von Oeyen performed at the U.S. Capitol with the
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ANDREW VON OEYEN
2016-2017 Season
Economic Forum (WEF) for her professional achievements, commitment to society and potential in shaping the future of the world. In 2012, Sarah Chang received the Harvard University Leadership Award, and in 2005, Yale University dedicated a chair in Sprague Hall in her name. For the June 2004 Olympic games, she was given the honor of running with the Olympic Torch in New York, and that same month, became the youngest person ever to receive the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame award. Also in 2004, Ms. Chang
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included, among others, appearances with the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Detroit Symphony, Prague Philharmonia, Chicago’s Grant Park Festival Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, Portland Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and Winston-Salem Symphony. He also appeared in recital throughout the US and Europe and performed at the Royal Opera House, Muscat, for the Sultanate of Oman’s New Year’s Eve Gala. In June 2016 Mr. von Oeyen signed an exclusive recording contract with Warner Classics. His debut album under the label will be released in January 2017 and will include works for piano and orchestra by Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Gershwin. In 2013 Mr. von Oeyen released a critically acclaimed album of Debussy and Stravinsky piano works under the Delos Label (including two
pieces written for him by composer, David Newman), following his 2011 award-winning album of Liszt works under the same label. 2013 also saw the release of the ChopinDebussy-Ravel digital album Andrew von Oeyen: Live in Recital. Mr. von Oeyen, of German and Dutch origin, was born in the U.S. He began his piano studies at age 5 and made his solo orchestral debut at age 10. An alumnus of Columbia University and graduate of The Juilliard School, where his principal teachers were Herbert Stessin and Jerome Lowenthal, he has also worked with Alfred Brendel and Leon Fleisher. He won the prestigious Gilmore Young Artist Award in 1999 and also took First Prize in the Leni Fe Bland Foundation National Piano Competition in 2001. Mr. von Oeyen lives in Paris and Los Angeles.
JANUARY 2017 TUE 1/17 Prague Philharmonic with Sarah Chang 7:30 pm $47, $42, $27 SAT 1/21 Akron Symphony: Beethoven’s Ninth 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 WED 1/25 Tuesday Musical: Imani Winds 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25
FRI 3/24 UA Jazzfest ’17 Closing Concert with Steve Tyrell 7:30 pm $25, $15 students FRI 3/31 GroundWorks Dance Theater 7:30 pm $25 APRIL 2017 SAT 4/1 GroundWorks Dance Theater 7:30 pm $25 TUE 4/4 Rent – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm
SAT 1/28 Vagina Monologues 8 pm $10
WED 4/5 Rent – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm
FEBRUARY 2017 SAT 2/4 Snow Maiden 7 pm $20 SUN 2/5 Snow Maiden 1 pm $20 FRI 2/10 Akron Symphony: The Firebird 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20
SAT 4/8 The University of Akron Steel Drum Band with guest artist Kendall Williams 8 pm $22, $20 Seniors, UA Faculty/Staff, $11 students SUN 4/9
Marc Cohn 8 pm $45
SAT 2/25 Gospel Meets Symphony 7:30 pm $55, $45, $35, $20
FRI 4/14 The University of Akron Dance Company 7:30 pm $14
MARCH 2017
WED 4/19 United States Navy Band 7:30 pm FREE
WED 3/1 Tuesday Musical: St. Petersburg Philharmonic 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25 SAT 3/4 Yesterday Once More: A Musical Celebration of The Carpenters 8 pm $25 All Seats Reserved
FRI 4/21 Akron Symphony Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie 7:30 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 WED 4/26 Tuesday Musical: Escher String Quartet 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25
MON 3/6 Five Irish Tenors 7:30 pm $42
SAT 4/29 Rubber City Beatlefest 8 pm $25
FRI 3/17 Akron Symphony: NEOS Dance Theatre 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20
MAY 2017
TUE 3/21 Delta Gamma Lectureship with Spencer Stone 7:30 pm $10 WED 3/22 UA JazzFest ’17 John Fedchock – Stage Door 7:30 pm $12, $6 nonUA students, Free for UA students with card
TUE 5/9 Chicago – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm WED 5/10 Chicago – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm
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THU 3/23 UA JazzFest ’17 John Fedchock with UA Faculty – Stage Door 7:30 pm $12, $6.00 non-UA students, Free for UA students with card
SAT 5/6 Akron Symphony: Mendelssohn’s Elijah 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
FRI 2/11 Akron Acapella 8 pm $10
THU 4/13 The University of Akron Dance Company 7:30 pm $14
EJ THOMAS HALL
FRI 1/27 Vocal Choral Festival Closing Concert 3 pm Free SUN 1/29 Rick Springfield and Richard Marx 8 pm $64.50, $54.50, $39.50
2016-2017 Season
2017 EJ SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2016-2017 Season 10
• Home of F.A. Seiberling, Goodyear Co-founder • 6th Largest Historic Home in the Nation • 70 Acres of Historic Gardens and Grounds
Events • Tours Exhibits • Family Fun 714 N. Portage Path Akron, OH 44303 330.836.5533
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What will your child do in a day? Only everything.
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oldtrail.org Contact us to schedule your visit at admission@oldtrail.org. Connect with us
Nathan J. Mortimer, CPA Vice President for Finance & Administration/CFO njm9@uakron.edu Margo Ohlson Director of Theatre Operations mohlson@uakron.edu Melissa Paul Patron Services Manager mlpaul@uakron.edu Patricia Donovan Theatre Manager patric3@uakron.edu
2016-2017 Season
EJ THOMAS HALL STAFF
Dominic Cardarelli Senior Accounts Coordinator dc21@uakron.edu
Volunteering at EJ Thomas Hall Do you ever wonder how to become a volunteer usher? If you enjoy sharing the arts with the public, helping them have a memorable experience, and making new friends, then consider becoming a volunteer usher at EJ Thomas Hall. As a team member or a substitute usher, you see a variety of programs while assisting the public, from children’s shows to Broadway, Akron Symphony and Tuesday Musical concerts to graduations. Contact Melissa Paul, Patron Services Manager at 330-972-6316 for more information. Many volunteers have served for 15 years or more and thoroughly value the friends they have made and their contribution to the arts in Akron.
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Unique Kitchenware and Gifts for Cooking Enthusiasts 116 S. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691
Explore our gardens, gift shop & greenhouse.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
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One of a kind shopping & dining experiences in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country — less than an hour away!
EJ THOMAS HALL
Lenny Pizzute Technical Services Associate pizzute@uakron.edu
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uaevents.com 2016-2017 Season
EJ THOMAS HALL
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
OUR MEMBERS MATTER
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The members of EJ Thomas Hall’s Flying Balcony Club (FBC) are supporters of this region’s premiere performance venue. Through their support, each helps EJ enrich The University of Akron’s and the greater Akron community’s cultural life with the presentation of world-class performances and dynamic educational programs. Members for the 2016-2017 season are: BRAVO! ($1,500+) Miklos & Lorita Gaspar Randy & Mary Jo Worthington STANDING OVATION ($750+) Drs. Mark & Sandy Auburn Thomas J. Dudek Hank & Arlene Nettling Wes & Linda Van Fossen RAVE ($500+) Patricia Brown Kevin & Leslie Christensen Jane Delcamp Marcia Adair & Dick Edwards Barbara Banks & Phyllis Fitzgerald Mrs. Dorothy (Stephen) Farkas Dr. Howard Greene Jim & Louise Kuhns Harvey Jay R. Hershey James Hindel Sam & Marilyn Landers
Thomas R. Luck Dr. Alan Meshekow Nathan & Karen Mortimer Sherryl & Steve Owen Molly Plaskett Roger Read Kenneth Robinson Marianne Uhl Drs. Diane & Thomas Vukovich Virginia Wojno-Forney APPLAUSE ($250+) Faith & Thane Cook DuWayne & Dorothy Hansen Dianne Kauffman Kevin Lauterjing Marc & Sharon Merklin Dr. James & Barbara Noonan Dr. Judit E. Puskas, Dr. Gabor Kaszas Dr. Thomas & Connie Repko
A gorgeous venue at the top of EJ Thomas Hall, the private Flying Balcony Club is open to members and their guests one hour prior to all Main Stage events – including Broadway, Akron Symphony, and Tuesday Musical. The Flying Balcony Club offers a full service bar, elegant seating, delicious fare, VIP treatment through the FBC Membership Services’ direct phone line, and complimentary parking. Plus, depending upon the level selected, members receive exclusive amenities such as backstage tours and complimentary tickets to select events. Do you appreciate the arts and the role EJ Thomas Hall plays in the greater Akron area? By joining the Flying Balcony Club, you join a community dedicated to keeping the arts thriving. Your donation helps underwrite programming bringing a diverse range of new and established talent to Akron. Find out how you can become a member. Contact Flying Balcony Club Membership Services at 330-972-6316 or mlpaul@uakron.edu.
2016-2017 Season
Some Trivia and History
n EJ Thomas Hall was designed in part by Dr. Vern O. Knudsen, Los Angeles, world renowned physicist, UCLA chancellor emeritus and acoustical expert, who also checked the acoustics of the building and “tuned” it after it was completed. Dr. Knudsen considered the entire Hall a musical instrument. He designed the unique system of sound dispersal with a range of various acoustical devices built into the structure to handle the differing requirements of a concert hall, opera house or Broadway show, and intimate theater. The hall is programmed to change at the push of a button on a console backstage. n The sound-reflecting ceiling is the most unique and troublesome feature of the building, with EJ Thomas Hall being one of the few halls in the world whose movable ceiling still functions. The 44 ton ceiling is composed of 3,800 interlocking steel panels, suspended in curved sections from a network of counterweighted cables attached to the Louis A. Witzman Counterweights in Goodrich Lobby with a combined weight of 47 tons. When the weights are all the way down, the ceiling is all the way up.
n EJ Thomas Hall occupies three acres on The University of Akron campus and was built at a cost of $13.9 million. Ground breaking was July 30, 1969. The cornerstone was laid on July 21, 1971, with the official grand opening October 9 and 10, 1973. “Initium,” by Carlos Chavez, was commissioned by the Akron Symphony Orchestra for the opening of the
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n When the Hall was finished, Knudsen and theater consultant Dr. George Izenour spent four days making extensive tests of its acoustical properties and ceiling apparatus. Tests were made with live and taped sounds, including a .22 caliber pistol being fired from the stage and the reverberation times measured throughout the Hall. The variance was only 3.5 to 4 decibels, a discrepancy not even a trained ear could detect.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
n Before EJ Thomas Hall was built, the only places in Akron to house performances by touring companies were the Akron Civic Theatre and the Akron Armory, which was designed to drill troops.
EJ THOMAS HALL
Above: EJ’s ghost light. Left: Counterweighted cables.
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EJ Thomas Hall by the members of Witan in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Louis Lane, musical director and conductor of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, directed its performance in world premiere on October 9, 1973. The original score is on display in the Goodrich Lobby. n EJ Thomas Hall’s ghost light was rescued from the Colonial Theatre when it was demolished in 1970. The Colonial Theatre was built in 1901-02 as a 1,600 seat playhouse, supposedly a replica of the old Lincoln Playhouse in New York. From vaudeville to motion pictures with a small Wurlitzer theatre organ to accompany the silent films, back to vaudeville during WWII and on to full time movies before closing, the ghost light now safeguards Broadway shows, UA student performances, lectures and a diverse range of performing artists. n There is almost one acre – or more than 43,000 square feet of carpeting in EJ Thomas Hall. New carpet was installed for the 40th birthday makeover, as well as new furniture and paint in the lobby. Out of sight there is a new light board, projector and two additional follow spots. n If you go on Hill Street, look between the Pardee Lobby and Stage Door entrances for the iron rings that were used to chain the elephants when the circus came to EJ Thomas Hall in the 70s. John Kenley Players also performed summer stock and volleyball games were often played in Goodrich Lobby after the shows. n The Orchestra and Choral shell is the gift of the Tuesday Musical Association, given in memory of Mary Z. Schumacher of the Quaker Oats family whose generosity helped make these concerts possible. The shell is also used for Akron Symphony Orchestra concerts, lectures and many other performances. The shell moves on air casters to be put in place on the stage.
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