EJ Thomas Hall 2016/2017 Season by Live Publishing

uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2016-2017 Season 2

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On behalf of The University of Akron, we welcome you to EJ Thomas Hall, the University’s premier performing arts hall. As we celebrate another year, we want to begin by thanking, first and foremost, our loyal season ticket holders, regular theatre-goers, and those discovering EJ Thomas Hall for the first time. Our 42nd season is guaranteed to be a great one! The Hall will, once again, host numerous performances such as Vocalocity, THE ILLUSIONISTS–TURN OF THE CENTURY, Prague Philharmonia with Sarah Chang and concerts by The Akron Symphony Orchestra and Tuesday Musical Association. We will also offer many intimate Stage Door events.

Thank you again for being a part of The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall. You are truly our greatest asset, and we could not deliver or host the many events without your support.

Margo E. Ohlson Director Theatre Operations

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

Nathan J. Mortimer, CPA Vice President Finance & Administration/ CFO

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We are excited about our continuing collaboration with Playhouse Square, one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States outside of New York. This season’s Broadway in Akron includes the wonderful shows of Cinderella, Once, Rent, and Chicago.

2016-2017 Season

Welcome!

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2016-2017 Season

EJ THOMAS HALL

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

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GENERAL INFORMATION

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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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.

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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.

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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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uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2016-2017 Season 6

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)

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The Hot Sardines

EJ THOMAS HALL

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.

Don’t Miss

Take Photos with Santa and the Animated Rudolph

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Select evenings 5-8pm November 25-30 - December 1-30

714 N. Portage Path Akron, OH 44303 330.836.5533

2016-2017 Season

EJ THOMAS HALL

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2016-2017 Season EJ THOMAS HALL

In Collaboration with

The University of Akronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dance Department Present:

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company

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October 9, 2016 3:00 pm

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

DANCECleveland

uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2016-2017 Season B

Pam Young Executive Director DANCECleveland

Tom Dukes, Ph.D Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences

Welcome! We can’t say it often enough, collaboration brings forward the best ideas. For the past 11 years, DANCECleveland and The University of Akron have shared the idea that bringing the best national and international dance companies to Akron would enhance both dancer education and provide remarkable performances. DANCECleveland and its Executive Director Pam Young provide curatorial and presenting experience to this ongoing collaboration. As one of a small handful of dance-only presenting organizations remaining in the United States, DANCECleveland presents season after season of groundbreaking dance – and has been doing so for 61 years. The University of Akron opens up their dance program for a multi-day residency with the dancers. This educational residency provides extended opportunities for the talented and enthusiastic UA dance students to engage directly with the dancers. These annual professional residencies, focus on experiential learning, uniquely preparing students for the professional dance field and make The University of Akron Dance Program distinctly dynamic. This week, the artistry of BTJ/AZ Company was also shared broadly through dance classes and residency activities extended to local high school dancers and professional dancers in the community. We would be remiss if we did not also give a ‘shout out’ to northeast Ohio’s own Antonio Brown, who graduated from Cleveland School for the Arts and Julliard before joining Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Welcome home Antonio! This afternoon’s performance is also a stunning example of collaboration: that of choreographer, dancers and musicians as they reveal the deeply compelling story of Dora Amelan. “The importance of Dora’s story, Jones has said, is that she lived through a time of unspeakable barbarity … and yet she emerged free of cynicism and bitterness.” – Wyatt Mason, NY Times This afternoon’s performance is the first of a trilogy of works that Bill T. Jones is creating that explore what it means to live a good life despite the unspeakable and unimaginable circumstances that surround that life. We invite you to stay after the performance for a moderated Q&A with the dancers. Thank you for joining us for this afternoon’s performance.

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presents

BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY

This presentation is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Ohio Arts Council, the Crane Group and General Mills Foundation.

The Char & Chuck Fowler Family Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, The George W. Codrington Foundation, The George Gund Foundation and The John P. Murphy Foundation.

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Additional support for DANCECleveland is provided by

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

Mary S. & David C. Corbin Foundation

EJ THOMAS HALL

DANCECleveland would like to graciously thank the following funders, sponsors and supporters. Without their generous support this performance and educational programs would not be possible. DANCEClevleand would also like to offer a special thank you to The University of Akron's Dance Program and the E. J. Thomas Hall team for helping make this performance a reality.

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DANCECleveland and New York Live Arts present

BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY Bill T. Jones Co-Founder & Artistic Director

Janet Wong Associate Artistic Director

Featuring The Company Antonio Brown, Rena Butler, Cain Coleman, Jr., Talli Jackson, Shane Larson, I-Ling Liu, Jenna Riegel, Christina Robson and Carlo Antonio Villanueva Music performed by Nick Hallett and Emily Manzo Production Staff Hillery Makatura, Lauren Libretti, Veronica Falborn and Sam Crawford

Analogy/Dora: Tramontane (2015) Conceived and Directed by Bill T. Jones Choreography by Bill T. Jones with Janet Wong and the Company Text based on an oral history conducted by Bill T. Jones with Dora Amelan Original Score Composed by Nick Hallett Décor by Bjorn Amelan Lighting Design by Robert Wierzel* Costume Design by Liz Prince Sound Design by Sam Crawford Associate Set Design by Solomon Weisbard

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* Denotes Member of the United Scenic Artists Union (USA) Musical excerpts from: Franz Schubert, Nachtstück, Alinde and Nähe des Geliebten; Charles Trenet, Le Soleil et la Lune; Jean Lenoir, Parlez-moi d’amour; Anna Marly, Le Chant des Partisans. Commissioned by Peak Performances at Montclair State University. Co-commissioned by Dancers’ Workshop and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Developed in residence at the Alexander Kasser Theater at Montclair State University, Dancers’ Workshop in Jackson Hole, WY and Bard College. Rehearsed at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Analogy: A Trilogy is produced by New York Live Arts. The development of new works by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is made possible by the company’s Partners in Creation: Anne Delaney, Zoe Eskin, Eleanor Friedman and Carol Tolan. This engagement is supported in part by the Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation for the Arts,

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the Ford Foundation, the MAP Fund, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the

New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the O›Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation, the Jerome Robbins Foundation, the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the Scherman Foundation, the Shubert Foundation, The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, State University of New York.

tra-mon-tane adjective \trə-'män-tān, tra-mən-'\ 1. traveling to, situated on, or living on the other side of a mountain; latin transmontanus “beyond the mountains” Analogy/Dora: Tramontane is the first installment in a trilogy titled Analogy: A Trilogy. The work is based on an oral history Bill T. Jones conducted with 95-year old Dora Amelan, a French Jewish nurse & social work around 2002. Amelan’s harrowing, touching and inspirational story is broken into approximately 25 episodes that become the basis for choreography and songs. These episodes chronicle her early life in Belgium, her mother’s death as the Germans were marching into Belgium and her experiences working at an underground Jewish organization in Vichy France’s internment camps, Gurs & Rivesaltes. Here is a portrait of the ability to persevere and survive.

Mr. Jones choreographed and performed worldwide with his late partner, Arnie Zane, before forming the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in 1982. He has created more than 140 works for his company. Mr.

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The repertory of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is widely varied in its subject matter, visual imagery and stylistic approach to movement, voice and stagecraft and includes musically driven works as well as works using a variety of texts. Some of its most celebrated creations are evening length works including Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/The Promised Land (1990, Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music); Still/Here (1994, Biennale de la Danse in Lyon, France); We Set Out Early… Visibility Was Poor (1996, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA); You Walk? (2000, European Capital of Culture 2000,Bolgna, Italy); Blind Date (2006, Peak Performances at Montclair State University); Chapel/ Chapter (2006, Harlem Stage Gatehouse); Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray (2009, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL); Another Evening: Venice/Arsenale (2010, La

BILL T. JONES (Artistic Director/CoFounder/Choreographer: Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company; Artistic Director: New York Live Arts) is the recipient of the 2014 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award; the 2013 National Medal of Arts; the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors; a 2010 Tony Award for Best Choreography of the critically acclaimed FELA!; a 2007 Tony Award, 2007 Obie Award, and 2006 Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation CALLAWAY Award for his choreography for Spring Awakening; the 2010 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award; the 2007 USA Eileen Harris Norton Fellowship; the 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreography forThe Seven; the 2005 Wexner Prize; the 2005 Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 2005 Harlem Renaissance Award; the 2003 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize; and the 1994 MacArthur “Genius” Award. In 2010, Mr. Jones was recognized as Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, and in 2000, The Dance Heritage Coalition named Mr. Jones “An Irreplaceable Dance Treasure.”

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Over the past 34 years the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company has shaped the evolution of contemporary dance through the creation and performance of over 140 works. Founded as a multicultural dance company in 1982, the company was born of an 11-year artistic collaboration between Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane. Today, the company is recognized as one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the modern dance world. The company has performed its ever-enlarging repertoire worldwide in over 200 cities in 30 countries on every major continent. In 2011, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company merged with Dance Theater Workshop to form New York Live Arts of which Bill T. Jones is the Artistic Director.

Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy); Story/ Time (2012, Peak Performances); and A Rite (2013, Carolina Performing Arts at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill). The Company is also currently touring Body Against Body an intimate and focused collection of duet works drawn from the Company’s 33-year history.

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COMPANY HISTORY

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PROGRAM NOTES

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Jones is the Artistic Director of New York Live Arts, an organization that strives to create a robust framework in support of the nation’s dance and movement-based artists through new approaches to producing, presenting and educating. For more information visit www.newyorklivearts.org. ARNIE ZANE (Co-Founder/Choreographer) (1948-1988) was a native New Yorker born in the Bronx and educated at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton. In 1971, Arnie Zane and Bill T. Jones began their long collaboration in choreography and in 1973 formed the

COMPANY PROFILES ANTONIO BROWN (Dancer), a native of Cleveland, Ohio, began his dance training at the Cleveland School of the Arts and received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School in 2007 under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes. While there, he performed works by Ohad Naharin, Jose Limon, Jiri Kylian, Eliot Feld, Aszure Barton, Jessica Lang, Susan Marshall and Larry Keigwin, among others. Mr. Brown has also worked with Malcolm Low/Formal Structure, Stephen Pier, Nilas Martins Dance Company, Sidra Bell Dance New York and Camille A. Brown & Dancers. In addition to working with the company, Mr. Brown also performs with Gregory Dolbashian’s “The Dash Ensemble” and has choreographed on Verb Ballets, August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp and various other companies, schools and intensives across the United States. Mr. Brown’s company, Antonio Brown Dance, has shown work at The Juilliard School, Center for Performance Research, NYC Summer Stage, Riverside Church and Hunter College among others. Antonio is also a founding member of Elephant Room, a collective of theater artists. Mr. Brown joined the company in 2007 and is grateful to share his gifts and talents with the world. RENA BUTLER (Dancer) is a native of Chicago, IL. She has danced with Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In. Motion, David Dorfman Dance, Meetin Movement, as a guest with Luna Negra Dance Theater, and for Manuel Vignoulle-M/Motions. She has been

American Dance Asylum in Binghamton with Lois Welk. Mr. Zane’s first recognition in the arts came as a photographer when he received a Creative Artists Public Service (CAPS) Fellowship in 1973. Mr. Zane was the recipient of a second CAPS Fellowship in 1981 for choreography, as well as two Choreographic Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts (1983 and 1984). In 1980, Mr. Zane was co-recipient, with Bill T. Jones, of the German Critics Award for his work, Blauvelt Mountain. Rotary Action, a duet with Mr. Jones, was filmed for television, co-produced by WGBHTV Boston and Channel 4 in London.

featured in FORMA magazine, Refinery29. com, The Dance Enthusiast, Jordan Matter’s Dancers Among Us and Dance Magazine. She began her studies at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, studied overseas at Taipei National University of the Arts, and received her BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Her choreographic work has been featured on the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School’s BFA students, The Joffrey Ballet School in New York, in the Young Choreographer’s Festival in NYC, and CHTV Stories television program in Switzerland. Rena is a dancer, artistic collaborator, and choreographer based in New York. She is supremely grateful to be a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. CAIN COLEMAN, JR. (Dancer) started his dance training in high school at The Center for The Arts at Henrico High. He later joined The City Dance Theatre of Richmond, VA. After training at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, he began dancing with Philadanco and The Martha Graham Dance Company. He has performed works by Paul Taylor, George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Talley Beaty, George Fazon, Christopher Huggins, Ray Mercer and many more. He has been seen on Good Morning America, Good Morning New York and So You Think you Can Dance. As an emerging choreographer he has presented works at Purchase College, Regional Dance Association, The Girl Effect Project, Bare Bones Dance Project, and has produced a few of his own shows. Mr. Coleman joined the Company in 2014.

BJORN G. AMELAN (Creative Director) was the partner of the later fashion designer Patrick Kelly from 1983 until Mr. Kelly passed away on January 1, 1990. Mr. Amelan moved to the United States to begin his collaboration with Bill T. Jones in 1993. He has designed sets for the following works by Bill T. Jones: Green and Blue (1997) for the Lyon Opera Ballet; How! Do! We! Do! (1999) for Bill T. Jones and Jessye Norman, in conjunction with the Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Show (1999), You Walk? (2000), The Table Project (2001), Another Evening (2002), Verbum (2002), World Without/In (2002), Black Suzanne (2002), Reading, Mercy and The Artificial Nigger (2003), Mercy 10 x 8 on a Circle (2003), Chaconne (2003) and Blind Date (2005) for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Mr. Amelan is the

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JENNA RIEGEL (Dancer), a native of Fairfield, IA, has been a New York-based dancer, performer and teacher since 2007. Ms. Riegel holds an M.F.A. in Dance Performance from the University of Iowa and a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Maharishi University of Management. She has performed and toured nationally and internationally as a company

CARLO ANTONIO VILLANUEVA (Dancer) was born and raised in Wallington, NJ. He received his primary movement training from Scott Chandler and TJ Doucette while touring with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps of Concord, CA. He received his BFA summa cum laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts, studied Dance abroad at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and continued his training in classes and workshops provided by the Merce Cunningham Trust. Mr. Villanueva is roused by the work of Doug Elkins and Netta Yerushalmy, and collaborates continuously with Miriam Gabriel. Carlo Antonio joined the Company in 2015.

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I-LING LIU (Dancer), a native of Taiwan, received her B.F.A. from Taipei National University of the Arts in 2005. She has performed with Ku and Dancers, Taipei Crossover Dance Company, Image in Motion Theater Company, Neo-Classic Dance Company, and in works by Trisha Brown, Lin Hwai-Min and Yang Ming-Lung. Ms. Liu joined the Company as an apprentice in 2007 and became a member of the Company in 2008.

CHRISTINA ROBSON (Dancer), originally from Tewksbury, Massachusetts, received her early dance training from Tammy Ivers Aspell and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Roger Williams University in 2009 under the direction of mentor Kelli Wicke Davis. Since relocating to New York CCity, she has had the opportunity to perform with The Sean Curran Company, David Dorfman Dance, Monica Bill Barnes and Company, Alexandra Beller, Heidi Henderson, Third Rail Projects, and Deganit Shemy. Christina became a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 2015.

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SHANE LARSON (Dancer) was born and raised in Minnesota, where he received his training at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. He graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. During his time in New York City, he has branched out to collaborate with punk musicians, filmmakers, improvisational music ensembles, and site-specific visual artists. He also had the opportunity to study at the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria, where he was exposed to the expanse of the European contemporary dance scene. With a new outlook on the limitless possibilities and pathways of the body, he hopes to continue the exploration of dance with a sense of newness and discovery. Shane joined the Company in 2015.

member of David Dorfman Dance, Alexandra/ Beller Dances, Bill Young/Colleen Thomas & Dancers, johannes weiland and Tania Isaac Dance. Ms. Riegel began working with the Company as a guest artist in 2010 and was ecstatic to join the Company in 2011.

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TALLI JACKSON (Dancer) was born and raised in Liberty, NY. He received his first training with Livia Vanaver at the Vanaver Caravan Dance Institute in upstate New York. He has been a recipient of full scholarships from the American Dance Festival in ‘06 and ’08, the Bates Dance Festival, and the Ailey School. Since moving to New York City in 2006, Mr. Jackson has had the pleasure of working with Francesca Harper, Paul Matteson and Erick Montes. In 2013, Mr. Jackson was honored with a Princess Grace Award in dance, and was nominated for a Clive Barnes Award. He has been a member of the Company since 2009.

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recipient of the 2001 New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award for his designs of The Breathing Show and The Table Project. HANNAH EMERSON (Company Manager) completed her B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2011. While enrolled, she studied with and was selected to perform works by many respected dance artists. She moved to NYC shortly after being awarded the William R. Kenan, Jr. Fellowship at the Lincoln Center Institute. Choosing to remain in the northeast, she has held administrative positions at New York Live Arts and The Yard while continuing to be artistically involved in the dance community. Ms. Emerson joined the Company in 2014. VERONICA FALBORN, (Production Stage Manager) is incredibly excited to be working with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Other dance credits include The New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Vail International Dance Festival, Dances Patrelle, and NJ Ballet. She is a proud graduate of SUNY Purchase. LAUREN LIBRETTI (Lighting Supervisor) Dance credits include working with Jody Oberfelder, Kate Weare Dance Company, Lori Belilove, Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company and Ailey II. Her designs have been seen DamageDance, The Umbrella Collective, The Staten Island Ballett, and Ann Liv Young’s Elektra. She was lighting director with Martha Graham Dance Company, where she redesigned the classic, Errand into the Maze. Laurenlibretti.com HILLERY MAKATURA (Production Manager) graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.F.A. in Theater. She has been touring both internationally and throughout the U.S. since 2006. She has worked as production manager for The Actors Studio, Big Art Group, Theater Mitu and Trisha Brown Dance Company. KYLE MAUDE (Producing Director) graduated from Drake University with a B.F.A. in Theatre. She has worked with Ballet Tech/Feld Ballets New York, The Royal Ballet School of London, Buglisi-Foreman Dance, and Lesbian Pulp-o-Rama! Ms. Maude joined the Company in 2003.

LIZ PRINCE (Costume Designer) designs costumes for dance, theater and film and has had the great pleasure of designing for Bill T. Jones since 1991. Her work has been exhibited at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 2011 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Space and Design, Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, Rockland Center for the Arts and Snug Harbor Cultural Center. She received a 1990 New York Dance and Performance Award (BESSIE) and a 2008 Charles Flint Kellogg Arts and Letters Award from Bard College. She teaches costume design at SUNY Purchase College and Manhattanville College. ROBERT WIERZEL (Lighting Designer) has worked with artists in theatre, dance, new music, opera and museums, on stages throughout the country and abroad. He has worked with choreographer Bill T. Jones and his company since 1985. Projects include Blind Date, Another Evening/I Bow Down, Still/Here, You Walk?, Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/The Promised Land, How To Walk An Elephant, and We Set Out Early, Visibility Was Poor. Other works with Bill T. Jones include projects at the Guthrie Theatre, Lyon Opera Ballet, Deutsche Opera Ballet (Berlin), Boston Ballet, Boston Lyric Opera, the Welsh dance company Diversions, and London’s Contemporary Dance Trust. Robert has also worked with choreographers Trisha Brown, Doug Varone, Donna Uchizono, Larry Goldhuber, Heidi Latsky, Sean Curran, Molissa Fenley, Susan Marshall, Margo Sappington, Alonzo King and Joann Fregalette-Jansen. Additional credits include national and international opera companies, Broadway and regional theater. Mr. Wierzel is currently on the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and The Yale School of Drama. JANET WONG (Associate Artistic Director/ Projection Designer) was born in Hong Kong and trained in Hong Kong and London. Upon graduation she joined the Berlin Ballet where she first met Bill when he was invited to choreograph on the company. In 1993, she moved to New York to pursue other interests. Ms. Wong became Rehearsal Director of the Company in 1996 and Associate Artistic Director in August 2006.

Artistic Leadership Bill T. Jones, Artistic Director Janet Wong, Associate Artistic Director Executive Leadership Kim Cullen, Executive Director & CEO Board of Directors Stephen Hendel, Co-Chair Richard H. Levy, Co-Chair Helen Haje, Vice Chair Slobodan Randjelovic, Vice Chair Helen Mills, Treasurer Terence Dougherty, Secretary Bjorn Amelan Sarah Arison Bill T. Jones Colleen Keegan Alan Marks Matthew Putman Alanna Rutherford Jane Bovingdon Semel Catharine R. Stimpson David Thomson Derek Brown, Board Emeritus STAFF Programming, Producing, and Engagement Kyle Maude, Producing Director Isabella Hreljanovic, Senior Producer Hannah Emerson, Company Manager Rakia Seaborn, Education and Community Engagement Production Teresa Benavente, Production Manager Hillery Makatura, Production Manager Lauren Libretti, Lighting Supervisor Thomas Bowersox, Technical Director Veronica Falborn, Production Stage Manager Sam Crawford, Sound Supervisor

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Development David Archuletta, Chief Development Officer Janet Oh, Institutional Giving Manager Jessica Sonders, Individual Giving and Special Events Manager Alexandra Burke, Development & Membership Associate

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EMILY MANZO (Pianist) is a musician that TimeOut New York considers “a uniquely protean artist who makes several scenes move.” The New York Times has described her “attention to detail exceptional.” Emily frequently performs throughout the U.S. and Europe in concerts and festivals of chamber music, experimental music and rock music. She is a member of the Julius Eastman Memory Depot, Till by Turning and Christy & Emily. She has composed music for dance with Anna Sperber, Katie Eastburn and currently works with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. She has premiered the works of John Luther Adams, Susie Ibarra, Matthew Welch, Daniel Felsenfeld and many others. As a vocalist and pianist can be heard on Tzadik, New Amsterdam Records, SHSK’H, The Social Registry, Big Print, Klangbad, Merge, and Jagjaguar. Her degrees were earned at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Columbia University. With funding from the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Foundation, she has recently developed the Hey, Chopin! Educational project. www.emilymanzo.com, www.heychopin.com

STAFF LISTS NEW YORK LIVE ARTS

EJ THOMAS HALL

NICK HALLETT (Composer) has been writing music for and performing with the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company since 2014. He is a New York-based composer, vocalist, and cultural producer working between the worlds of music, visual art, and performance. Recent presentations include the Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Mass MoCA, Ecstatic Music Festival, National Sawdust, Centro de Experimentación Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires), the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, and The Public Theater/Joe’s Pub. Hallett’s first opera, co-authored with artist Shana Moulton, Whispering Pines 10, premiered at The Kitchen and has since been staged at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, SFMOMA, Carolina Performing Arts, Portland Institute of Contemporary Art›s TBA Festival, Cricoteka (Poland), and The Warhol Museum. The duo were awarded a Creative Capital grant to adapt their project for the internet. Since 2007, Hallett has served as Music Director of the Joshua Light Show, and—since 2004—as co-director of NYC’s celebrated Darmstadt series, which stages dynamic re-interpretations of music and art from the experimental canon.

2016-2017 Season

COLLABORATOR PROFILES

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Design, Marketing & Public Relations Bjorn G. Amelan, Creative Director Heidi Riegler of Riegler, Media & Marketing, Social Media/Marketing Liliana Dirks-Goodman, Director of Marketing Tyler Ashley, Executive and Communications Assistant Austin Guerrazzi, Marketing & FOH Assistant Operations & Finance Nupur Dey, Interim Director of Finance & Human Resources Seung Jae Lee, Bookkeeper Audience Services Renee Colbert, Audience Services Manager Shantelle Jackson, Front of House Assistant Samantha Lysagth, Hannah Seiden, Carlo Antonio Villanueva, Eli Tamondong, House Managers Matthew Perez, Shiloh Hodges, Charles Gowin, Denisa Musilova, Front of House Staff Consultants Robert Wierzel, Resident Lighting Designer Liz Prince, Resident Costume Designer Bill Katz, Artistic Consultant Marcum LLP, Certified Public Accounts, Inc Ian Douglass, Photographer Lowenstein Sandler, PC, Pro-Bono Counsel Located in the heart of Chelsea in New York City, New York Live Arts is an internationally recognized destination for innovative movement-based artistry offering audiences access to art and artists notable for their conceptual rigor, formal experimentation and active engagement with the social, political and cultural currents of our times.

At the center of its identity is Bill T. Jones, world-renowned choreographer, dancer, theater director and writer. New York Live Arts serves as the home base for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and is the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole producer, providing support and the environment to originate innovation and challenging new work for the company and the NYC creative community. New York Live Arts produces and presents dance, music and theater performances in its 20,000 square foot home, which includes a 184-seat theater and two 1,200 square foot studios that can be combined into one large studio. New York Live Arts offers an extensive range of participatory programs for adults and young people and supports the continuing professional development of artists and commissions. New York Live Arts 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011 +1 212 691-6500 / Fax: +1 212 633-1974 www.newyorklivearts.org

North America Representation Opus 3 Artists 470 Park Avenue South 9th Floor New York, NY 10016 t. 212.584.7500 info@opus3artista.com opus3artists.com

Emily Huggins Jones......................................... President John E. Jenkins.................................................... Treasurer Evelyn Burnett................................VP, Chair of Trustees Joanne Tsevdos...................VP, Chair of Programming Rena Vysnionis........................... VP, Chair of Marketing David Wittkowsky.................VP, Chair of Development

2016-2017 Season

Board of Directors Pamela Barr Dmitriy Berkovich Lauren Centa Gina France Richard Hamilton Andrean Horton Kathryn Karipides Aaron Millstone Danielle Morris Sue Peay Karen Powers Tawny Ratner Mark J. Williams Honorary Member: Miriam Glazer

EJ THOMAS HALL

About DANCECleveland

Pamela Young..................................... Executive Director Wendy Leatherberry..................Development Manager Sarah Hricko...................................... Marketing Manager Kitty McWilliams.............................. Events Coordinator Alison Tomlin.................... Administrative Coordinator Iris Kleinman..............Community Engagement Intern

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DANCECleveland’s mission is to bring the passion and verve of modern & contemporary dance to the hearts and minds of audiences in Northeast Ohio. Founded more than 61 years ago as the Cleveland Modern Dance Association, DANCECleveland, a Cleveland, Ohio based non-profit, is one of a handful of presenters nationally that is dedicated solely to the presentation of modern and contemporary dance. The centerpiece of the organizations’ programming is its annual performance series. The performances are surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including artist run master classes, residency programs, student matinees, pre-performance lectures and post-performance Q&A sessions; designed both to break artistic boundaries and provide community access to the dance dance luminaries that DANCECleveland brings to Northeast Ohio. We thank you for attending Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and we invite you to help keep dance thriving in Northeast Ohio by purchasing tickets to our remaining 2016-2017 performances including BODYTRAFFIC, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jessica Lang Dance & Ballet Biarritz (from France). For more information, please visit www. dancecleveland. org. Also, consider liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter & Instagram, @dancecleveland!

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DANCECleveland Staff

uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL

DANCECleveland in Akron! DANCECleveland is back in Akron for an eleventh year! Akron has long been a hub of dance in northeast Ohio and we are thrilled to bring world-renowned Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company to a city with such a deep cultural heritage. After the closure of the Ohio Ballet, The University of Akron and E.J. Thomas Hall invited DANCECleveland to Akron to help present national dance companies. We have opened our last ten seasons in Akron with remarkable dance performances and unique educational experiences that might not otherwise be available. The success of this endeavor rests on the strong collaborative relationship that exists between the three partners – DANCECleveland, The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall and Dance Program – and a shared vision for building new momentum and meaningful dance experiences for the broader Akron community. Building on years of educational outreach in greater Akron, DANCECleveland participated in the 2006 opening of the Dance Center at Guzzetta Hall and worked with The University of Akron to develop more opportunities to see and participate in dance in Summit County. In 2007, at the request of E.J. Thomas Hall and The University of Akron, we opened our season with our first-ever performance in Summit County – San Francisco based Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. We have since continued to bring dance to Akron, with Doug Varone and Dancers in 2008, Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2009, Keigwin and Company created Bolero:

2016-2017 Season

DANCECleveland History

From a church basement to the glittering lights of the renovated theaters of Playhouse Square, few organizations have a history as rich as DANCECleveland. In April 1955, Gertrude Schurr, a dancer from the trailblazing Martha Graham Dance Company, was brought to Cleveland to teach a master class. The class was organized by Marian Holmes, a physical education and recreation instructor and was open to anyone with an interest in dance. Thirty participants, dancers from all areas of Northeast Ohio, attended. Many were unacquainted with each other, but they all had a keen interest

Akron, an original work choreographed specifically for the city featuring a cast of Akron community members in 2010, followed by Momix in 2011, Trey McIntyre Project in 2012, BalletX in 2013, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in 2014, and Ballets Jazz de Montreal in 2015. Each engagement was surrounded by a series of educational outreach activities that gave students and dancers in the community the unique opportunity to experience the techniques of each professional dance company. In addition, in 2016, DANCECleveland and The University of Akron announced the new National Center for Choreography at The University of Akron, only the second of its kind in the nation, where visiting dance makers will create work and inspire the community though their creative process and choreography making Akron, OH a national leader in the future of dance. The presentation of today’s performance is yet another step in continuing DANCECleveland’s relationship with the Akron community. In addition to today’s main stage performance, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company dancers will provide a week long residency all week for The University of Akron, Akron Dance Institute and other area pre-professional and professional dancers, and local middle school and high school students. DANCECleveland is committed to bringing artistic excellence at the highest levels to Akron, making the companies we bring available and accessible to the broadest possible audience possible. Thank you for having us – we are thrilled to be here!

in the fledgling art form of modern dance. Hungry for communication and further class opportunities, two of the dancers, Lillian Weisberg and Joy Kane, contacted the other class members and proposed the establishment of an association to stimulate interest in modern dance as an art form in Cleveland. Nine women from the class, Lillian Weisberg, Joy Kane, Marian Holmes, Miriam McCollom, AND Iris Kleinman Feuer were joined by four other interested women, Thelma Brock, Patricia Jewitt, Viviene Krupkin and Dorothy Mozen to explore forming an organization. It was decided to hold an open meeting in January

Read to Learn… Dance to Move is an early childhood literacy and movement program that encourages a love of reading through dance to hundreds of Cleveland Metropolitan School District students each year and is taught by local professional dancers. The program culminates with the children attending an age appropriate live dance performance and receiving their very own book!

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#APresenterandMore In addition to presenting a series of world class dance companies, DANCECleveland acts as a #APresenterandMore by acting as a commissioner, collaborator and catalyst that brings the passion and verve of modern and contemporary dance to northeast ohio through a variety of educational and outreach programming for people of all ages.

EJ THOMAS HALL

What’s D.A.T.? DANCECleveland’s Dance Advance Team: Creating an ‘affinity’ for dance The Dance Advance Team (D.A.T.) is a group of local dancers, dance educators and choreographers who share their love of dance with potential new dance audience members. These individuals work to investigate innovative ways of engaging new audiences for dance by sparking curiosity and deepening dance experiences through peer-to peer engagement. The Dance Advance Team (D.A.T.) was launched with funding from The Cleveland Foundation and was part of a national initiative called Engaging Dance Audiences, a program administered by Dance/USA and made possible with generous funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

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to organize the Cleveland Modern Dance Association (CMDA) in January 1956. Of the many attendees who became active members, Miriam Glazer, twice president, is still on the Board of Trustees. Beginning with classes in a tiny church undercroft, these local pioneers sought to bring to Cleveland the radical ideas and techniques that were quickly reshaping the way the world perceived dance. Master classes and lectures were also given by visiting artists from around the country who were invited by the Association to come to Cleveland. Six weeks after being formed, the new Association co-sponsored with the Cleveland Institute of Music and Karamu House, a workshop by modern dance choreographer Jose Limon, and within a year, they would present their first dance company the Frankel-Ryder Dance Company of New York, in concert. The triumph of this organization has been resounding. With presented performances by more than 200 national or international dance companies, over 1,000 workshops and master classes and seven commissioned new works, CMDA/DANCECleveland has served both northeast Ohio and the field of modern and contemporary dance through its perseverance and unwavering dedication. By the end of the 20th century, DANCECleveland’s influence could be felt nationwide. Graduates of its workshops and class programs had created their own radical breakthroughs from their positions on the faculties of major universities as well as the ranks of the world’s great modern dance companies. Today, as one of only a handful of standalone-dance-only presenters in the United States, DANCECleveland continues to curate a dance series that brings worldrenowned dance companies to northeast Ohio for performances, master classes, educational residencies and lectures. Programs have included such greats as The Paul Taylor Dance Company, Murray Louis & Nikolais Dance, Pilobolus, Mark Morris Dance Company, Elizabeth Streb Ringside, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Urban Bush Women, Doug Elkins, Sean Curran, Rennie Harris Puremovement and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, among a host of other dance luminaries.

Master Classes Each visiting dance company leads at least one dance master class that is offered free of charge to area students, pre-professional and professional dancers. In this special experience, students have the chance to learn from the very best professionals in their field, enhancing their dance education. Career Development for High School Dance Students Opening the options within dance as a career, the career development day is designed for high school dance students and their parents to learn about careers in dance on and off the stage and the preparation process. Taught by professionals in the field, students and their parents learn about options to consider prior to applying for college and how to pursue their dreams in dance as a career.

2016-2017 Season

EJ THOMAS HALL

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

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Extended Dance Residencies We invite some dance companies on our season to be in the community for an extended period of time to teach high school and college dance classes, provide up-close professional dance experiences for students and community members and to create new dance work. Students learn what it is like to be a professional dancer and share in experiences that will have impact on their own dance careers.

DanceCleveland embraces, educates, inspires and supports dance by maintaining our core values to nurture the human spirit, expand aesthetic experiences in our community and stimulate fun, joy and passion.

Audience Engagement Building a deeper connection to dance and the companies we present, DANCECleveland delivers audience engagement opportunities through a variety of creative entry points including, Dance Matters essays, pre-performance dance chats, post-performance Q & A sessions and Make Dance Stick with You, the post it note program.

We would like to thank the following donors for their generous support of DANCECleveland. (as of 9/1/16)

Partners $100-299 Robert Berger Bernice Bolek Holly and Bill Brooks Ellen & Jonathan Brown Debra & Phillip Canuto Matthew and Dana Carson Lauren Centa-Vannucci Laura Chapman John and Molly Chiles Debra Chwast

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Visionaries $1,000-$2,499 Robert Blatchford & Clare Fitzpatrick Evelyn Burnett Rebecca & Irad Carmi Ann Ennis Richard & Maria Hamilton Andrean & Justin Horton Kathryn Karipides & David Brown Aaron & Kelly Millstone Karen Powers Deborah Deutch-Rabinowitz and Martin Rabinowitz Ronald & Deborah Ratner Family Foundation Alita Rogers Katharine & Robert Ruhl John & Barbara Schubert Nathaniel & Julia Tosi

Virtuoso $300-$499 Phillip and Debra Canuto Dolores Bielecki & Stephen Lorton Donna Fox and Loren D. Smith Deborah Glosserman Carol J. P. Griffith Mary Ann & Jack Katzenmeyer Charlene & Marv Nevans John Nosek Carol Skirball Gunter D. Schwegler Mickey Stern Stephen & Wendy Zinn Rick and Julie Ziska

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Leadership Society $5,000-$25,000 Sue & Nicholas Peay

Luminaries $500-$999 Pamela S. Barr Evelyn Burnett Ruth Anna Carlson & Albert Leonetti Adelaide & David Davies Clare Fitzpatrick & Robert Blatchford Gina France Rachel & John Jenkins Don & Pamela Jonovic Audrey G. Ratner Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland David and Inez Myers Foundation Dennis & Candace Risen Louis & Sylvia Rosenblum Memorial Philanthropic Fund Charna Sherman Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland Mark & Toni Williams

EJ THOMAS HALL

Foundation, Government & Corporate Support AHS Foundation Akron Community Foundation Arts Midwest Touring Fund Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Cuyahoga Community College Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Eaton Corporation Charitable Fund Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation The Char & Chuck Fowler Family Foundation John P. Murphy Foundation John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation New England Foundation for the Arts Nordson Corporation Foundation Ohio Arts Council PNC The Cleveland Foundation The GAR Foundation The George Gund Foundation The George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation The National Endowment for the Arts The R. C. & Katharine M. Musson Charitable Foundation The Reinberger Foundation

Joanne Tsevdos Gregory Videtic and Christopher McCann Mary C. Warren David Wittkowsky and James Anderson Ruth L. Wolfson Family Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland

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DANCECleveland Contributors

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Robert Chwast Andrea Daloia Audrey DeClement Marie Dietrich James A. Dingus James Doell Janice Driesbach Howard Erlichmann Christopher Faiver Sara and Douglas Farling Deanna Friedman Thomas Froehlich Richard Furry Deborah Glosserman Ed and Donna Rae Smith Jennifer Goings Smith Merle Gordon Elaine Green Peter R Griesinger Franklin & Kathleen Hickman Stephanie & Richard Hiles Jennifer Howard Emily Huggins Jones Jim & Gale Jacobsohn Susan Klarreich Dr. William J. Koenig Lee Kohrman Eleanor and Stephen Kushnick Barbara and Richard Lederman Stephen & Lillian Levine Debra Light Charlene Ligo and Suzanne Hamilton Peter & Kathleen Mac Ewan Chris & Gaylee McCracken Diana Prufer & Daniel Medalie Antoinette S. Miller Margie Moskovitz Susannah Muskovitz & Steven Izen Marc Nathanson

John Nosek Dorothy Pallat George Pope Julia Philipson and Seth Podolsky Barbara S. Robinson Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland Brian Robinson Roberta Rocco Anthony Rodriguez Sandra J. Schlub Brenda and Wayne Schneider Linda Schoenberg & William Jones James Secker & Marie Kilbane Bob and Elaine Siegel Janus Small Associates, LLC Gail Smith Dana Snyder & James Slivkoff Lloyd Snyder Katherine Solender James Spallino Jr Gail & David Stachnik David & Penny Strauss Robert Strother Andrea Synenberg Angela Timperio Dianne Kotrlik-Thompson and Tom Thompson Rena Vysnionis Gregory Warren Lillian E. Weisberg Myra White Dr. Nancy Wolf & Dr. Aric Greenfield Laura and David Weisberg-Wong Pam & Leonard Young Special Donations: Walter Greene & Co. Master Printing

SEPTEMBER 2016 SAT 9/24 Akron Symphony: Opening Night 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 TUE 9/27 Tuesday Musical: Emerson String Quartet 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25

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 1/27 Vocal Choral Festival Closing Concert 3 pm Free

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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 FRI 2/11 Akron Acapella 8 pm $10 SAT 2/25 Gospel Meets Symphony 7:30 pm $55, $45, $35, $20

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NOVEMBER 2016 TUE 11/1 Dave Ramsey: Smart Money 6:30 pm FRI 11/4 Akron Symphony Pops: National Parks: Sights and Sounds 7:30 pm $55, $45, $35, $20. SAT 11/5 Stephen Bishop – Stage Door 8 pm $39 TUE 11/8 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 WED 11/9 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 TUE 11/15 THE ILLUSIONISTS: TURN OF THE CENTURY 7:30 pm $58, $53, $48, $35.50 WED 11/16 THE ILLUSIONISTS: TURN OF THE CENTURY 7:30 pm $58, $53, $48, $35.50 FRI 11/18 Akron Symphony: From the New World Legacy of the Spirituals 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 SAT 11/19 Who’s Bad The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band 8 pm $22, $18

DECEMBER 2016 FRI 12/2 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show 12-7 pm $5, Seniors $4.50, Free to children 12 & under SAT 12/3 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show 10 am-6 pm $5, Seniors $4.50, Free to children 12 & under SUN 12/4 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show 10 am-4 pm $5, Seniors $4.50, Free to children 12 & under TUE 12/6 Once – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 WED 12/7 Once – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 FRI 12/9 Akron Symphony Holiday Pops: Home for the Holidays 7:30 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 SAT 12/10 Tuba Christmas 10 am & 2:30 pm – FREE SUN 12/11 Jingle Jazz 3 pm $12, $6 non-UA students, Free for UA students with card

EJ THOMAS HALL

OCTOBER 2016 FRI 10/7 Time Traveller: A Tribute to the Moody Blues – Stage Door 8 pm $20 SUN 10/9 DanceCleveland: Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company 3 pm $55, $45, $35, $25 SAT 10/15 Akron Symphony: The Planets + Sō 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 TUE 10/18 Old Jews Telling Jokes – Stage Door 7:30 pm $49.95 WED 10/19 UA Bands Gala Concert 7:30 pm Free FRI 10/21 330 Jazz Showcase featuring The Theron Brown Trio 8 pm $20, $10 UA Faculty/Staff/Students SUN 10/23 Vocalosity 8:00 pm $29.50, $24 WED 10/26 Collage 7:30 pm $12, $6 non-UA students, Free for UA students with card SAT 10/29 Sisters Back to School Catechism – Stage Door 8 pm $37

SUN 11/20 Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood 2 pm $76, $46, $36, $26 TUE 11/22 Tuesday Musical: Dina Kuznetsova/Jinjoo Cho 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25 WED 11/23 Zach: Giving Thanks 8 pm SAT 11/26 Pretenders 8 pm $75, $55, $37.50

2016-2017 Season

2016/2017 EJ SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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MARCH 2017 WED 3/1 Tuesday Musical: St. Petersburg Philharmonic 7:30 pm $45, $40, $25 MON 3/6 Five Irish Tenors 7:30 pm $42 MON 3/10 Odd Squad 7:30 pm FRI 3/17 Akron Symphony: NEOS Dance Theatre 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 WED 3/22 UA JazzFest ’17 John Fedchock – Stage Door 7:30 pm $12, $6 nonUA students, Free for UA students with card 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 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 $75, $60, $40, $10 WED 4/5 Rent – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 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 THU 4/13 The University of Akron Dance Company 7:30 pm $14 FRI 4/14 The University of Akron Dance Company 7:30 pm $14 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 MAY 2017 SAT 5/6 Akron Symphony: Mendelssohn’s Elijah 8 pm $55, $45, $35, $20 TUE 5/9 Chicago – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10 WED 5/10 Chicago – Broadway in Akron 7:30 pm $75, $60, $40, $10

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.

ayne County

Wayne County, Ohio Downtown Dazzle to Country Calm

www.wccvb.com 1.800.362.6474

Gifts, Trimmings, Greens & Holiday Cheer

Tues.-Sat. 9-5 2810 Armstrong Rd., Wooster OH 44691 330-345-6722

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Unique Kitchenware and Gifts for Cooking Enthusiasts 116 S. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691

330.601.1331

SHOP ONLINE any time at www.TodaysKitchenStore.com

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ENJOY A QUAILCREST CHRISTMAS

TODAY’S KITCHEN STORE

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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

uaevents.com 2016-2017 Season

EJ THOMAS HALL

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

OUR MEMBERS MATTER

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.

uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2016-2017 Season 14

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.

2016-2017 Season

EJ THOMAS HALL

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

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