Opening Nights Performing Arts 2016-2017 Season Brochure by Opening Nights

2016-2017 SEASON

16/17

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Welcome to Opening Nights!

an you believe that the 2016-2017 season is already here? We are so excited to share our momentous – and enormous! – lineup with you.

Our 2015-2016 season featured Broadway shows, a world premiere, the inauguration of our Director’s Choice collection, plus so much more, and we’re thrilled to now be offering more world-class performances and educational events than ever before. The Southern Circuit Film Tour returns on September 14 and will provide a mix of six award-winning films throughout the season via our collaboration with the Askew Student Life Cinema, the FSU College of Motion Picture Arts, The Torchlight Program, South Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Our staff curated this series with our community in mind, and we guarantee you won’t want to miss one film. October 5 marks the world premiere of Ragamala Dance Company’s Written in Water program, which was cocommissioned by Opening Nights Performing Arts and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and had a choreographic and production residency at the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) here at Florida State. This work is truly stunning, and we’re thrilled to bring back this wonderful company by hosting both the world premiere (October 5) and an encore performance (October 6) in Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre. After much success, we are continuing the curation of Director’s Choice performances this season: Grammywinning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth (October 13), the screening of Birdman with live simultaneous performance by film scorer/jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez (November 1), Twyla Tharp Dance (February 8), guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas (February 23), enchanting puppet theater by Manual Cinema (March 23), and a

performance by the Wayne Shorter Quartet – featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Danilo Pérez – with the FSU Chamber Winds, conducted by Richard Clary (April 13). In addition to the fantastic artists already mentioned, we’re honored to host some serious stars during the 20162017 season: Joey Alexander (November 22), The Hot Sardines (December 8), Marc Maron (January 24), Lily Tomlin (February 10), Smokey Robinson (February 11 & 12), Chris Botti (February 14), Lang Lang (February 15), Patti LuPone (April 1), and many more. This season will also feature an Americana music festival at Tallahassee Community College, a comedy festival co-presented with Union Productions, and more Broadway! We’re absolutely delighted to have you with us for another stellar season of Opening Nights Performing Arts, and we so appreciate your support of live performing arts in our community. We sincerely hope that you enjoy every engaging, educational, and entertaining event we have to offer this year. See you at Opening Nights!

All the best,

Christopher J. Heacox Director, Opening Nights Performing Arts openingnights.fsu.edu 3

16/17

SERIES CALENDAR S E P T EMBER 2016

DEC EM B E R 2016

9/14 GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE

12/8

The Hot Sardines - Holiday Stomp

9/14

Agents of Change

Southern Circuit Film Tour

O C T O BER 2016 10/5-6

Ragamala Dance - Written in Water 10/12

Donald Cried

Southern Circuit Film Tour

10/13

10/18

Mipso

Mandolin Orange 2/13

Richard Thompson & The Blind Boys of Alabama 2/14

Chris Botti 2/15 2/23

1/17

Director’s Choice

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Pablo Sáinz Villegas

1/22

Jeanne Robertson

MAR C H 2 017

1/23

3/7

1/24

3/9

Tom Segura Marc Maron

Rosi Golan Taj Express 3/23

FEB RUA R Y 2017 2/1

Shake ‘Em On Down 2/3

11/1

Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers

Director’s Choice

2/4

Birdman Live with Antonio Sánchez

2/12

J ANUARY 2017

Southern Circuit Film Tour

N OV E MBER 201 6

Smokey Robinson

Lang Lang

Roomful of Teeth Director’s Choice

2/11-12

Manual Cinema Director’s Choice

3/25

A Movie You Haven’t Seen 3/29

Some Beasts

Southern Circuit Film Tour

11/9

Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line with Kelsey Waldon

AP R IL 2017

Southern Circuit Film Tour

2/5

Anne-Sophie Mutter

NUTS! 11/15

Joe Pug 11/22

PRISM 2/6

Vocalosity

Joey Alexander Trio

2/8

11/23

Director’s Choice

Annie

Twyla Tharp Dance 2/10

Lily Tomlin

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

4/4

4/13

Wayne Shorter Quartet Director’s Choice

4/19

Hunky Dory

Southern Circuit Film Tour

Opening Nights Director Christopher Heacox handpicks unique and thoughtprovoking acts to be a part of our special “Director’s Choice” offerings each season. These performances are meticulously curated and are truly special. Don’t miss out on an unforgettable experience. Join us!

TICKETS & INFORMATION

10/13

Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth 11/1

Tickets go on sale to the General Public on

Screening of Birdman with live simultaneous performance by film scorer/jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. For priority ticket ordering, see pages 42-43 about membership. Please note that $15 tickets will not go on sale until 9/14.

2/8

Twyla Tharp Dance 2/23

Guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas 3/23

Student Tickets Discounted student tickets will be available in limited quantities for performances on 9/14. Once available, student tickets may be purchased online, over the phone, or in person. Limit 2 student tickets per student ID.

Group Tickets Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available for many performances. Call 850.644.7670 to learn more about group tickets. Note: Opening Nights sends parking and event information via email 1-2 days before each event. Please contact the Fine Arts Ticket Office if your email address changes to ensure we have your most up-to-date contact information.

ONLINE

openingnights.fsu.edu $3.00 Ticket Office processing fee per ticket

PHONE

Enchanting puppet theater by Manual Cinema 4/13

Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Danilo Pérez with the FSU Chamber Winds, conducted by Richard Clary

Surpassed my expectations! Excellent venue; performance was top notch. This exposed us to a performer who we would ordinarily not see. Very appreciative of this wonderful resource in our community. Cover photo: Lang Lang by Harald Hoffmann

850.644.6500 $3.00 Ticket Office processing fee per ticket

IN PERSON Florida State University Fine Arts Ticket Office No processing fee per ticket | Tuesday–Saturday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm The Fine Arts Ticket Office is located at 530 West Call Street in the lobby of the FSU Fine Arts Building. Free parking is available on the ground floor of the Call Street Garage, located on the corner of West Call and North Macomb Streets. openingnights.fsu.edu 5

$45 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Original Artwork by Ed Bock

Ragamala Dance Company World Premiere of Written in Water, Co-commissioned by Opening Nights Performing Arts & The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi WEDNESDAY 10/5 & THURSDAY 10/6 NANCY SMITH FICHTER DANCE THEATRE | 8:00 P.M. Under the direction of Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy, Ragamala Dance Company has been hailed by The New York Times as “providing some of the most transcendent experiences that dance has to offer.” Written in Water is the result of Ranee and Aparna’s ongoing investigation of the 2nd century Indian board game Paramapadam (the precursor to Snakes and Ladders), the 12th century Sufi text The Conference of the Birds, and the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings of both. The performance will unfold upon a large-scale projection of a commissioned Paramapadam gameboard on the stage floor. Featuring an ensemble of dancers and musicians, Written in Water is composed by Amir ElSaffar, known for his distinctive alchemy of contemporary jazz trumpet and Iraqi Maqam, and renowned south Indian composer Prema Ramamurthy. DANCE, WORLD MUSIC

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$55 openingnights.fsu.edu

Photo by Bonica Ayala

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

850.644.6500

Roomful of Teeth THURSDAY 10/13 | OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL | 7:30 P.M. Roomful of Teeth is a Grammy-winning vocal project dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. Through study with masters from singing traditions the world over, the eight-voice ensemble continually expands its vocabulary of singing techniques and, through an ongoing commissioning process, forges a new repertoire without borders. Founded in 2009 by Brad Wells, the group gathers annually at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams, Massachusetts, where they’ve studied Tuvan throat singing, yodeling, belting, Inuit throat singing, Korean P’ansori, Georgian singing, Sardinian cantu a tenòre, Hindustani music, and Persian classical singing with some of the world’s top performers and teachers. Commissioned composers include Rinde Eckert, Judd Greenstein, Caleb Burhans, Merrill Garbus (of tUnE-yArDs), William Brittelle, Anna Clyne, Fred Hersch, Wally Gunn, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Missy Mazzoli, Michael Harrison, Sam Amidon, and Ted Hearne. WORLD MUSIC, CLASSICAL, A CAPPELLA

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$35 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Mipso TUESDAY 10/18 | 7:30 P.M. THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT GOODWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS

“Lush and moving songs that feel as fresh as a warm spring rain.” - The Guardian Influenced by the contradiction of their progressive home of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the surrounding rural southern landscapes, Mipso explores and mixes the complexities of traditional bluegrass with modern instrumentation and smart pop melodies. The result is an intoxicating, distinctly unique blend of modern-day Americana. With over 400 shows under their belt so far, Mipso continues to expand their sonic resources while doubling down on their experimentation with string band tradition. Band members are: Jacob Sharp (mandolin, vocals), Wood Robinson (bass, vocals), Joseph Terrell (guitar, vocals), and Libby Rodenbough (fiddle, vocals). AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS, POP

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DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

Birdman Live

with Antonio Sánchez TUESDAY 11/1 | 7:30 P.M. & 10:00 P.M. ASKEW STUDENT LIFE CINEMA

“Audiences, meet Antonio Sánchez, the other star of Birdman.” - Vanity Fair Alejandro G. Iñárritu contacted friend and jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez in January 2013, inviting him to compose the score for Birdman. Drum sections comprise the majority of the score, and Iñárritu explained the choice by saying they helped to structure scenes and that “the drums, for me, was a great way to find the rhythm of the film... in comedy, rhythm is king, and not having the tools of editing to determine time and space, I knew I needed something to help me find the internal rhythm of the film.” Iñárritu also wanted a score that “wouldn’t cater to an audience’s expectations,” which the drums, being more abstract, provided. Sánchez summarized the process by saying, “The movie fed on the drums and the drums fed on the imagery.” FILM, JAZZ, CLASSICAL

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$35 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Joe Pug TUESDAY 11/15 | 7:30 P.M. THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT GOODWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS Joe Pug first made a name for himself when he left the University of North Carolina where he was studying to be a playwright for Chicago to pursue songwriting full-time. As so many musicians have had to do, Pug took an innovative approach to getting his music to his fans: he mailed out free copies to anyone who asked. More than 15,000 did. This led a record deal with Nashville indie label Lightning Rod Records (Jason Isbell, Billy Joe Shaver) and 400+ shows – including stops at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival – and Pug’s success continues to evolve and grow each year. One of Pug’s more recent achievements was a live performance at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion Festival (thus dubbed a Back Porch Session by Garden & Gun). AMERICANA, SINGER-SONGWRITER

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2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

$50| $35 | $25 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Photo by Rebecca Meek

Joey Alexander Trio TUESDAY 11/22 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. Joey Alexander taught himself to play piano by listening to classic jazz albums with his father. An amateur musician, Alexander’s father soon recognized his son’s gift for jazz as his technique and ability to grasp complicated musical concepts was beyond someone of his years. Due to the lack of jazz education where he lived, Alexander began attending jam sessions with senior musicians. From there, his musical intuition flourished, as did his love of playing jazz. In recognition of his talent, UNESCO invited Alexander to play solo piano in honor of his jazz idol Herbie Hancock, who provides enthusiastic support of Alexander’s budding career. Through festival appearances and awards for his improvisational brilliance, the world has taken notice of this phenomenal and exciting pianist with astonishing technique and soulful sound. Alexander’s debut album, My Favorite Things, received a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Album, and his interpretation of “Giant Steps” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. JAZZ

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KEN KATO & NAN NAGY AND CHARLES & AMY NEWELL openingnights.fsu.edu 11

$65| $55 | $45 tuckerciviccenter.com 850.583.4871

Annie WEDNESDAY 11/23 | DONALD L. TUCKER CIVIC CENTER | 7:30 P.M. CO-PRESENTED BY OPENING NIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS AND THE DONALD L. TUCKER CIVIC CENTER

“Spectacular on every count.” - Newsweek Leapin’ lizards! The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form this fall. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of Annie will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, Annie includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” and “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.” BROADWAY, FAMILY

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$55 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Photo by Joseph Cultice

The Hot Sardines Holiday Stomp

THURSDAY 12/8 | OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL | 7:30 P.M.

“Unforgettably wild” and “consistently electrifying... a live music powerhouse.” - Conor Kelley, PopMatters It’s a great American success story worthy of the cinema: a born-and-bred NYC actor meets a Parisian-born writer at an open jazz jam over a noodle shop in Manhattan, and before you could say, “Bourbon Street Parade,” the Hot Sardines were bringing their contagious brand of joy to audiences all over the world. Bandleader Evan “Bibs” Palazzo and lead singer “Miz Elizabeth” Bougerol combine with the Sardine ensemble of powerhouse musicians – and their very own tap dancer – to play “hot jazz” as it was in the era when live music was king: with a little glamour, a little grit, and a lot of passion. Even while giving voice to the history-defining jazz of the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, the Hot Sardines’ vibrant performances bridge generations and captivate 21st century audiences. Vanity Fair applauds their “unique repertoire and a sound and style that are distinctly their own,” and Forbes Magazine calls them “one of the best jazz bands in NYC today.” JAZZ, HOLIDAY

Sponsored by David Montrois, John Clark, Bobby Dick, Mark Webb, & Kim Dixon

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$65 openingnights.fsu.edu

Photo by Palma Kolansky

850.644.6500

Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling

TUESDAY 1/17 | OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL | 7:30 P.M. It’s no secret that the Branford Marsalis Quartet can be as freewheeling off the bandstand as in performance. Saxophonist Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Justin Faulkner are each bold personalities with strong opinions, equally intense in both musical and verbal exchanges. “The band talks about all kinds of things, many of which are unprintable,” Marsalis admits. “But we have serious musical debates as well.” Special guest Kurt Elling was more than prepared for the challenge of joining the group on Upward Spiral. Elling on his experience playing with the quartet: “My thing is always about tailoring what I do to the vision and personality of the band, and Branford’s quartet is a real working band, which is both an incredible luxury and incredibly important for the music. They provided everything on a silver platter.” AMERICAN SONGBOOK, JAZZ

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

$50 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Jeanne Robertson SUNDAY 1/22 | RICHARD G. FALLON THEATRE | 7:30 P.M.

“Contagiously funny! Jeanne is hysterical and a magnificent speaker.” - The Huffington Post At 72 years young, humorist Jeanne Robertson continues to charm audiences with her witty observations about life around her. This former Miss North Carolina, standing tall at six-foot-two, has an infectious personality, heart, and sense of humor. With eight nationally released DVDs, three books, hundreds of hours on SiriusXM satellite radio, and over 36 million YouTube hits, the demand for Robertson’s family-friendly and engaging brand of comedy has grown exponentially. Some of her most popular anecdotes include “Don’t Go to Vegas Without A Baptist,” “Don’t Bungee Jump Naked,” and “Don’t Send a Man to the Grocery Store.” Robertson’s witty depiction of everyday situations never fails to have audiences of all ages rolling with laughter. COMEDY

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$50 | $35 | $25 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Tom Segura MONDAY 1/23 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. CO-PRESENTED BY OPENING NIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS AND UNION PRODUCTIONS Tom Segura hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and has been a comedian for almost twenty years. His television credits include Conan, Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, Happy Endings, The Late Late Show, and more. Segura’s noted podcast, Your Mom’s House, which he co-hosts with his wife, comedian Christina Pazsitzky, was a finalist for Best Comedy Podcast at the Stitcher Awards and was profiled by VICE. When he’s not touring clubs, Segura continues to perform at the top comedy festivals in the world, including Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Comedy Festival - Las Vegas, The South Beach Comedy Festival, and The Hong Kong Comedy Festival. He also regularly appears on radio shows like Ron and Fez as well as some of the most downloaded podcasts in the world of comedy, such as The Joe Rogan Experience and WTF with Marc Maron. Segura’s comedy specials Mostly Stories (2016) and Completely Normal (2014) are currently streaming on Netflix, and his most recent standup album sat atop the iTunes and Billboard Comedy charts for weeks. COMEDY PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS PERFORMANCE MAY CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT

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2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

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Marc Maron TUESDAY 1/24 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M.

“Veteran stand-up comic Marc Maron is the most intriguing interviewer in the comedy world today.” - Mirth Magazine For over twenty years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing raw, honest, and thought-provoking comedy for print, stage, radio, television, and more. A legend in the stand-up community, Maron has appeared on many television talk shows, but he is perhaps most known for his thoughtful and compelling podcast, WTF with Marc Maron. Since its premiere in September 2009, WTF has hosted interviews with hundreds of iconic personalities – including Terry Gross, Robin Williams, Lorne Michaels, and President Barack Obama. It’s become a worldwide phenomenon, averaging six million downloads each month and over 240 million lifetime downloads. Maron’s scripted series Maron on IFC has also garnered national acclaim, and he continues to rake in recognition for his trailblazing, absorbing forms of comedy. COMEDY PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS PERFORMANCE MAY CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT

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Photo by Jennifer Altman

$45 | $35 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers FRIDAY 2/3 | FRED TURNER AUDITORIUM | 7:30 P.M. Amy Helm began connecting with audiences early in life, playing her first gig in her early teens in a Manhattan bar and drifting informally through a series of combos before her father recruited her to join his live band. Amy’s vocal and songwriting talents then found a home in the New York-based Ollabelle, whose three acclaimed albums and countless live gigs saw her evolve into a confident, charismatic performer, and she continues to develop a momentous career today. // With nearly 10 million views on YouTube, a 2013 European Blues Award, and the title of Best Solo Performer at the Memphis Blues Challenge, it appears that the world is now discovering Matt Andersen. As a powerhouse performer with a giant, soul-filled voice and commanding stage presence, he has built a formidable — and growing — following. Since the release of Weightless in early 2014, Andersen has received a JUNO nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, a CIMA Road Gold award, and two consecutive Maple Blues Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year. AMERICANA, BLUES, SINGER-SONGWRITER

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Photo by Todd Roeth

850.644.6500

Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line with Kelsey Waldon

SATURDAY 2/4 | FRED TURNER AUDITORIUM | 7:30 P.M. Nora Jane Struthers began playing as a pre-teen, attending festivals and fiddler conventions around the south with her banjo-playing father. After moving to Nashville, Struthers worked with bluegrass stars like Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, and Bryan Sutton and released two critically acclaimed albums. In 2012, Struthers formed The Party Line, a model-supporting band à la the Heartbreakers or the Cardinals. Joe Overton, Josh Vana, Brian Duncan Miller, and Drew Lawhorn all get their moments to shine, but their tasteful parts are first and foremost in service of the song. // Country music singer and songwriter Kelsey Waldon moved to Nashville, TN from a tiny Kentucky town called Monkeys Eyebrow. She released her critically acclaimed debut LP The Goldmine in late 2014, and it was received with hefty praise from Rolling Stone, USA Today, Billboard, and many more. Stephen Trageser of Nashville Scene may have lauded Waldon best: “The Kentucky transplant’s work is full of sterling examples of everything that’s right about Music City’s traditions, with songs about trials and troubles that come across as personal to any audience, sung in a rich, full voice with a twang that she neither plays up nor plays down.” AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY, SINGER-SONGWRITER

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Photo by Jeremy Daniel

$50 | $40 | $30 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu

Vocalosity

850.644.6500

MONDAY 2/6 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. Vocalosity is the live concert event from the creative mind of artistic producer Deke Sharon (Pitch Perfect, The Sing-Off) that takes a cappella to a whole new level! This fastpaced production features 12 dynamic voices singing some of today’s chart-topping hits in brand new arrangements too incredible to miss. No genre of music is off limits in the world of a cappella, and Vocalosity will explore them all – from tenth-century Gregorian chant and classic choral to barber shop quartet and bouncing doo-wop. Combine that with movement and choreography from Sean Curran (Stomp original cast member), and you have an exhilarating evening of song unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard live on stage. It’s the aca-perfect concert experience! A CAPPELLA, POP

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2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

$75 | $60 | $45 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Photo by Ruven Afanador

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

Twyla Tharp Dance

Twyla Tharp 50th Anniversary Tour WEDNESDAY 2/8 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than 160 works: 129 dances, 12 television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows, and two figure skating routines. She received one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, 19 honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President’s Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor. In 1965, Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. Her dances are known for creativity, wit, and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement – such as jazz, ballet, boxing, and inventions of her own making –Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance. DANCE

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$75 | $65 | $55 Photo by Greg Gorman

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin FRIDAY 2/10 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. Lily Tomlin, one of America’s foremost comediennes, continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in television, theater, motion pictures, animation, and video. Throughout her extraordinary career, Tomlin has received numerous awards, including: seven Emmys, a Tony for her one-woman Broadway show Appearing Nitely, a second Tony for Best Actress, a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics’ Circle Award for her one-woman performance in Jane Wagner’s The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, a CableAce Award for executive producing the film adaptation of The Search, a Grammy for her comedy album This is a Recording as well as nominations for her subsequent albums Modern Scream, And That’s the Truth, and On Stage, plus two Peabody Awards – the first for the ABC television special Edith Ann’s Christmas: Just Say Noël and the second for narrating and executive producing the HBO film The Celluloid Closet. In 2003, Tomlin received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and she was the recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. in December 2014. COMEDY

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$125 Photo by Alex Loops

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Mandolin Orange SUNDAY 2/12 | PEBBLE HILL PLANTATION | 2:00 P.M.

“The North Carolina duo’s music — laced with bluegrass, country, and folk — is often wistful and contemplative without being somber and is always firmly grounded in the South.” - WNYC Soundcheck It’s hard to explain how magic happens when two talented songwriters fit perfectly together. Mandolin Orange (Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz) seem to just sit back and ride their intuitive harmonies and languid lyricism through songs about faith and life’s little unpredictable changes. Marlin’s lyrics flow into each other, making the melody feel like something that happens on its own. It all feels so effortless and beautiful, you don’t even realize you’ve been sucked in until the songs reach in and tug hard at your heart. – NPR Music AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY, FOLK

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2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

Smokey Robinson SATURDAY 2/11 & SUNDAY 2/12 | 7:30 P.M. RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,” acclaimed singersongwriter Smokey Robinson’s career spans over four decades of hits. He has received numerous awards, including the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, an Honorary Doctorate from Howard University, Kennedy Center Honors (2006), and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States, and he’s also been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the course of his 50-year career in music, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit and continues to thrill sold-out audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric. Never resting on his laurels, Smokey Robinson remains a beloved icon in our musical heritage. $125 | $110 | $95

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

MOTOWN, R&B, FUNK, SOUL, POP

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$65 | $55 | $45 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Richard Thompson & The Blind Boys of Alabama MONDAY 2/13 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. Named by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time, Richard Thompson is also one of the world’s most critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters. He has received Lifetime Achievement Awards for Songwriting on both sides of the Atlantic - from the Americana Music Association in Nashville to Britain’s BBC Awards and the prestigious Ivor Novello. Thompson’s massive body of work includes over 40 albums, many Grammy nominations, and numerous soundtracks, including Werner Hertzog’s Grizzy Man. A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s music - including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, REM, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, David Byrne, Don Henley, and many others. // The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators. They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions; the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st. Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s (including Jimmy Carter, who leads the group today), the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world. AMERICANA, GOSPEL, ROOTS, SINGER-SONGWRITER

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

$75 | $65 | $55 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Chris Botti TUESDAY 2/14 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M.

“A mesmerizing trumpet player, Botti is also a storyteller who thrives on audience interaction.” - DC Metro Theater Arts Chris Botti seemed destined to become a musician almost from the very beginning. After hearing Miles Davis play “My Funny Valentine” at age twelve, Botti instantly made a lifetime commitment to both mastering the trumpet and developing a deep affection for melody, space, and balance – which has become an intrinsic aspect of his musical vision today. Now a major, Grammy-winning artist in his own right, performing worldwide with the likes of the Buddy Rich Big Band, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Sting, and many more, plus selling more than three million albums, Botti has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre. CLASSICAL, JAZZ, POP

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Photo by Harald Hoffmann

$110 | $95 $80 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu

Lang Lang

850.644.6500

WEDNESDAY 2/15 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M. If one word applies to Lang Lang, to the musician, to the man, to his worldview, to those who come into contact with him, it is “inspiration.” He inspires millions with his open-hearted, emotive playing, whether it be in intimate recitals or on the grandest of stages – such as the 2014 World Cup concert in Rio, the 56th and 57th Grammy Awards, the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Last Night of the Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, or the Liszt 200th birthday concert. He forms enduring musical partnerships with the world’s greatest artists – from conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel, and Sir Simon Rattle to artists from outside of classical music, among them dubstep dancer Marquese “nonstop” Scott, Julio Inglesias, and jazz titan Herbie Hancock. Lang Lang builds cultural bridges between East and West, frequently introducing Chinese music to Western audiences, and vice versa. CLASSICAL

Sponsored by

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$35

Photo by Shervin Lainez

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Rosi Golan TUESDAY 3/7 | 7:30 P.M. THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT GOODWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS Rosi Golan is an Israeli-born singer-songwriter who has made many stops in her travels, including Germany, Paris, and finally Los Angeles. During her travels, she not only managed to hone her infectiously melodic songwriting, but she also learned to speak three languages fluently: French, Hebrew, and English. Golan is indeed a long way from home, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly in the right place to showcase her unique talent for rich, dark melodies and a voice that not only draws you in in the present but still haunts you the next day.Â Golan was the winner of the first ASCAP Robert Allen Award for songwriting excellence, for which she performed at Lincoln Center. SINGER-SONGWRITER

Sponsored by

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

Photo by Columbia Artists Management Inc.

$65 | $55 | $45 tuckerciviccenter.com

Taj Express

850.583.4871

THURSDAY 3/9 | DONALD L. TUCKER CIVIC CENTER | 7:30 P.M. CO-PRESENTED BY OPENING NIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS AND THE DONALD L. TUCKER CIVIC CENTER

Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. The production is a high-energy celebration of new Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance, and thrilling live music. BROADWAY, BOLLYWOOD, FAMILY, WORLD MUSIC

Sponsored by

WCTV tv

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$35 | $15

Photo by Yi Zhao

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Manual Cinema

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

Presenting Ava/Ada

THURSDAY 3/23 | RICHARD G. FALLON THEATRE | 7:30 P.M.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve experienced craft, image, and emotion blended together like this.” - Helen Shaw, Time Out New York Manual Cinema is a performance collective, design studio, and film/video production company founded in 2010 by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller, and Kyle Vegter. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen. Using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design, and a live music ensemble, Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality. Manual Cinema’s work has been featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), The Tehran International Puppet Festival (Iran), La Monnaie-De Munt (Brussels), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), The Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and elsewhere around the world. PUPPETRY, FILM, THEATRE

Sponsored by

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

$25 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

A Movie You Haven’t Seen SATURDAY 3/25 | ASKEW STUDENT LIFE CINEMA | 2:30 P.M. Rose’s (1999), The Red Violin (2000), Curdled (2001), Gettysburg (2002), The General (2003), 11:14 (2004), The Agronomist (2005), The Trees Have a Mother, Stories of the Amazon (2007) Curated by Geoffrey Gilmore: The Visitor (2008), 500 Days of Summer (2009), Blue Valentine (2010), Win Win (2011), Being Flynn (2012), War Witch (2013), Palo Alto (2014) Curated by Paul Cohen, Executive Director of The Torchlight Program: Racing Extinction (2015), Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Since its inception in 1999, Opening Nights has presented an annual “movie you haven’t seen.” Silent films, local creations, Oscar® nominees, and international film circuit delights—each film has added to the collective cinema experience in Tallahassee. Our selected film will be appropriate for all audiences unless otherwise expressed and will include a panel discussion with industry professionals. Presented collaboratively with the FSU College of Motion Picture Arts and The Torchlight Program, this year’s film is sure to inspire and entertain. FILM

Sponsored by

openingnights.fsu.edu 33

Photo by Harald Hoffmann/Deutche Gramophon 34

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin Lambert Orkis, piano $95 | $85 | $75 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

TUESDAY 4/4 | 7:30 P.M. RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL

“Mutter is the undisputed queen of violin-playing...” - The Times For over three decades, Anne-Sophie Mutter has been one of the most acclaimed violin virtuosos of our time. Since her Lucerne Festival debut in 1976 and 1977 Salzburg debut with Herbert von Karajan, she has performed concerts in all the major music centers of Europe, North and South America, and Asia. In addition to performing major traditional works, she has continually treated her audiences to new and innovative range, both in chamber music and orchestral works. Mutter also uses her popularity and renown for the benefit of numerous charity projects and supports Clockwork the development of young, exceptionally Sebastian Currier talented musicians. Earlier projects of the Violin Sonata in A major, K. 526 complete Beethoven and Brahms Sonatas Wolfgang Mozart alongside her premieres of works by Sebastian Currier, Henri Dutilleux, Sofia Gubaidulina, Violin Sonata in B minor Ottorino Respighi Witold Lutoslawski, Norbert Moret, Krzysztof Penderecki, Sir André Previn, and Introduction and Rondo Wolfgang Rihm present a picture of an artist Capriccioso, Op. 28 still perfecting and exploring repertoire more Camille Saint-Saëns than 30 years after her debut. CLASSICAL

openingnights.fsu.edu 35

$65 | $55 | $45 | $15 Photo by Erica Gannett

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Wayne Shorter Quartet The Unfolding

Featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Danilo Pérez with the FSU Chamber Winds, conducted by Richard Clary THURSDAY 4/13 | RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL | 7:30 P.M.

“Wayne Shorter is one of the greatest living jazz musicians.” - NPR Music Wayne Shorter is one of the most influential saxophonists and composers in the pantheon of modern music, let alone jazz. Regarded as a pioneer since his emergence in the 1950s, Shorter’s trajectory has restlessly embodied continual exploration and unencumbered momentum. A generation of musicians and fans see and hear him as a humble master who created a timeless vocabulary as vital as it is unbound. The Unfolding is a contemporary work commissioned by Opening Nights Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Jazztopad Festival (Wroclaw, Poland). This new piece is inspired by recent scientific interpretations of the Big Bang theory that describe the expansion of the universe as an “unfolding” of matter in the time and space continuum. JAZZ, CLASSICAL

Sponsored by

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

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CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS

PRISM A COLLABORATION WITH THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC

SUNDAY 2/5 | 2:00 P.M. RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL

Featuring students from Florida State’s top-ranked College of Music, PRISM offers a wide array of entertainment from Chamber Winds, Symphonic Band, jazz ensembles, the Marching Chiefs, and many more exciting groups. So come experience this unique event that lauds our students and faculty. It’s fantastic, fresh, and not to be missed!

Erika Osborne On the Edge of the Sublime 2015

Museum of Fine Arts FRIDAY 2/17 | OPENING RECEPTION 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. | FREE Museum Dates & Hours February 17 – March 26, 2017 Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Note: Special hours during Spring Break Broken Ground, New Directions in Land Art Jeff Beekman, Guest Curator Curator Jeff Beekman states that Land Art, one of the seminal art movements that began in the late-1960s, was largely born out of a frustration with the growing commercialization of the art world and the limitations of the traditional “white cube” gallery. At its core, this movement sought to tie together artwork and landscape to the point that the works were inextricably merged. The most well-known early examples took the form of dramatic interventions into the landscapes of the American Southwest. This movement has grown to encompass issues of ecology and sustainability as well as the exploration of how human and natural forces have shaped one another in historical and contemporary landscapes and the study of past approaches to the mythologies we have about land, particularly as it relates to the concept of manifest destiny and borders.

$35 | $15 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast A COLLABORATION WITH THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE

THURSDAY 2/16 - SUNDAY 2/26 RICHARD G. FALLON THEATRE Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice Book by Linda Woolverton Originally Directed by Robert Jess Roth Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions

$22 | $20 | $10 openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

It’s a “tale as old as time.” Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, Beauty and the Beast tells the classic fairy tale of Belle, a young French maiden who doesn’t feel as if she belongs, and the Beast, a prince trapped in the body of a monster by the spell of an enchantress. In order for the Beast to become human again, he must learn what it means to love and be loved before the last petal of the rose falls. Come be a part of this magical experience suitable for the whole family. Be our guest! Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). openingnights.fsu.edu 37

Agents of Change

Shake â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Em On Down

Donald Cried

Some Beasts

NUTS!

Hunky Dory

$10* openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.6500

*Seats are first-come, first-served. Filmmaker Q&As to follow each screening.

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

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South Arts Southern Circuit Film Tour P RES ENTED BY OPE N IN G N IG H TS PE R F OR M IN G AR TS AND THE A S KE W S TU DE N T L IF E C IN E M A

Agents of Change

Shake ‘Em On Down

Filmmakers: Frank Dawson & Abby Ginzberg

Filmmaker: Joe York

Focused on the crossroads of the civil rights, black power, and antiVietnam War movements at a pivotal time in America’s history, Agents of Change examines the racial conditions on college campuses and around the country that led to major protests in the late 1960s.

Shake ‘Em On Down is the story of Fred McDowell, the godfather of the North Mississippi style of blues and major influence on the music of the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, R.L. Burnside, Taj Mahal, and the North Mississippi Allstars.

Donald Cried

Some Beasts

Filmmaker: Jesse Wakeman

Filmmaker: Cameron Nelson

After Peter LaTang’s last living relative passes away, he returns to the small New England town where he grew up. When the bus arrives, he can’t find his wallet, so he calls his childhood friend Donald Treeback for some help. What was supposed to be just a ride turns into a long day’s journey through their awkward past.

Living in an insular farming community, Sal Damon, a modern-day Thoreau, seeks solace from a past relationship in Appalachia. After his neighbor dies and he discovers a feral child living on the lam, he must reconcile his place in a world that lives outside of the law.

NUTS!

Hunky Dory

Filmmaker: Thom Stylinski

Filmmaker: Michael Curtis Johnson

NUTS! is the mostly-animated, mostly-true story of John Romulus Brinkley, a small-town Kansas doctor who discovers that he can cure impotence by transplanting goat testicles into men in 1917. From there, the story only gets stranger. Using handdrawn animated reenactments, interviews, archival footage, and a seriously unreliable narrator, NUTS! traces Brinkley’s rise from poverty and obscurity to the heights of celebrity, wealth, and influence in Depression-era America.

After his ex-girlfriend disappears, Sidney, a transgender glam rock dilettante, is forced to look after his 11-year-old son full-time. His “cool dad” facade quickly falls apart, and his life goes into a tailspin as he struggles to let go of his rock-and-roll lifestyle.

WEDNESDAY, 9/14 | 7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 10/12 | 7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 11/9 | 7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 2/1 | 7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 3/29 | 7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 4/19 | 7:30 P.M.

The Southern Circuit Film Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. These screenings are supported in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. openingnights.fsu.edu 39

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EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT Opening Nights is committed to engaging the university, local, and global communities in creative experiences. Our series of campus and community education programs provide classes, workshops, Q&As, panels, and more at no cost. Each event is custom-selected to educate, illuminate, and inspire. For more information on engagement opportunities, including those reserved for Florida State University students only, please visit our website at openingnights.fsu.edu and contact Education & Engagement Manager Calla MacNamara at 850.644.2469.

SATURDAY MATINÉE OF THE ARTS TALLAHASSEE MUSEUM Join us for the Saturday Matinée of the Arts, Tallahassee Museum’s FREE annual event featuring a rich lineup of visual and performing arts. More information: tallahasseemuseum.org

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

K-12 INITIATIVES Since the formalization of the K-12 education program in 2011, Opening Nights has provided free arts experiences to over 5,000 K-12 students annually in Leon County. This year, we continue to provide arts experiences to students and teachers with the John F. Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program and the North Florida School Tour.

THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

Opening Nights and Leon County Schools continue to collaborate to bring the John F. Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program to Leon County. The partnership provides free professional development in arts integration that helps teachers meet the needs of diverse learners, increase arts education in schools, and ensure student success.

Throughout the 2016-2017 School Year, we will present professional development workshops led by Kennedy Center Teaching Artists which will explore strategies for integrating drama, music, visual art, creative writing, and dance into teaching all subjects. These workshops were developed in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and are free to all Leon County Schools teachers.

Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both.

For more K-12 education information, including Partners in Education registration and North Florida School Tour bookings, please visit our website at openingnights.fsu.edu and contact Education & Engagement Manager Calla MacNamara at 850.644.2469.

Mipso MONDAY 10/17 – FRIDAY 10/21 NORTH FLORIDA SCHOOL TOUR Mipso will be presenting residencies and performances for one week at schools throughout Leon County and the surrounding areas. Band members are: Jacob Sharp (mandolin, vocals), Wood Robinson (bass, vocals), Joseph Terrell (guitar, vocals), and Libby Rodenbough (fiddle, vocals). “There’s no banjo, no twang, no high tenor, and no bluegrass overdrive. Instead, there’s a front-porch sweetness to their sound, a thoughtfulness that makes every note count.” – Acoustic Guitar

openingnights.fsu.edu 41

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Become A Member!

Join the ranks of Opening Nights members who provide vital support of our efforts so that we may continue to engage our university, local, and global communities in creative experiences. Members make the world-class performances and educational activities we offer possible, bringing audiences together and enriching the Tallahassee area and beyond.

ANNUAL GIVING MEMBER BENEFITS

Priority ticket ordering window for annual series and added performances (tickets go on sale to the general public on 9/14)

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE $1,500 – $2,499

PARTNER

FRIEND

$1,000 – $1,499

$500 – $999

8/10–8/16

8/17–8/23

8/24–8/30

ASSOCIATE $250 – $499

DEBUT $125 – $249

8/31–9/6

9/7–9/13

Concierge ticketing service, including waived ticket and handling fees (for events ticketed through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office)

Number of parking passes for the entire 2016-2017 series in Concierge Lots

Number of parking passes for the entire series in the Preferred Lot

Number of complimentary drink tickets for the entire 2016-2017 series

Invitation for two (2) to the Season Announcement Party introducing the upcoming series

Invitation to exclusive donor receptions and events

Placement on the Sponsor/Member wait list for sold-out events

Company or individual designation in series programs (Fall/Winter/Spring)

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

Members will be contacted via email regarding advance ticket purchases. For Membership questions, call 850.644.7670 or email openingnights@fsu.edu. Please note: $15 tickets do not go on sale until September 14.

ONLINE

(PREFERRED)

give.fsu.edu/openingnights

PHONE 850.644.7670

By providing a venue where children can encounter world-renowned artists first-hand, Opening Nights Performing Arts establishes a lasting legacy by creating the next generation of patrons and supporters of the arts. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elenita Gomez, Opening Nights Member

MAIL Print out a form online at openingnights.fsu.edu. Please note: to preserve the security of personal information, forms submitted via mail should not contain credit card information. To pay with a card, please call 850.644.2469. Checks can be made out to the FSU Foundation.

FSU EMPLOYEES FSU faculty and staff may pay for memberships monthly via FSU Payroll Deduction. Print and fill out the Payroll Deduction Authorization Form and return to Opening Nights (Mail Code: 1350).

EMPLOYER MATCHING matchinggifts.com/fsu Your company may be one of thousands that match employee contributions to Florida State University. If a matching gift company employs you or your spouse, the impact of your contribution to Florida State could be significantly increased by your employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s match. openingnights.fsu.edu 43

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SPONSORSHIP

We deeply appreciate the support and dedication of our sponsors whose generosity helps to make this series possible. Community support has been a cornerstone of Opening Nights from our inception, and the benefits are mutual! To learn more about becoming a Sponsor, please call 850.644.1531 or email kfasano@fsu.edu. PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

$20,000 & ABOVE

$10,000 $19,999

$5,000 $9,999

$2,500 $4,999

Number of complimentary “gold section” tickets to events for the entire 2016-2017 series (subject to availability)

Number of parking passes for the entire series in Concierge Lots for events at Ruby Diamond, Opperman Music Hall, and Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre

Number of invitations to Season Announcement Party introducing the upcoming series

Number of invitations to annual end of season Sponsor Recognition event

FULL PAGE

½ PAGE

¼ PAGE

⅛ PAGE

SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS Exclusive sponsorship of one performance (classical music, American music, or spoken word) Exclusive sponsorship of one performance (dance, theatre, global music, chamber arts, or film) Private pre-show reception for up to twenty (20) guests for sponsored performance Opportunity to welcome audience and introduce performance from the stage of sponsored performance (subject to artist approval) Backstage visit and photo with artist(s) of sponsored performance for up to twenty (20) guests (subject to artist availability and approval) Priority ticket ordering for annual series and added performances (8/3–8/9 window; tickets go on sale to the general public on 9/14) Concierge ticketing service, including waived ticket and handling fees (for events ticketed through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office)

Number of complimentary drink tickets for the entire 2016-2017 series

Invitation to exclusive donor receptions and events Size of advertisement in series programs opposite of sponsored performance Company logo or individual designation on all sponsored print and online material and digital displays in venues (if available) Invitation to VIP athletic event hosted by Opening Nights (subject to availability) Placement on Sponsor/Member wait list for sold-out events

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

ENDOWMENTS Opening Nights Performing Arts combines inventive artists and uniquely Tallahassee venues to make memorable experiences. – Warren Jones, Opening Nights Member

Opening Nights Performing Arts Series Endowment The purpose of the Opening Nights Performing Arts Series Endowment is to create an unrestricted endowed fund to support world-class artistic endeavors of the annual Opening Nights Performing Arts series. Disbursements from this fund will be made to commission new works, subsidize artistic fees, and assist in operating costs or any other expense related to the day-to-day operations of Opening Nights.

Opening Nights Student Access to the Performing Arts Endowment We believe that the live performing arts are fundamental to the academic mission of a great public university and essential to the soul of our community. Because of this, Opening Nights offers discounted ticket options for students at Florida State University and within our community. In order to underwrite student tickets, Opening Nights must subsidize $20 to $100 per ticket. By donating to this endowment, you assist in offsetting the subsidy Opening Nights provides, keeping ticket prices for students affordable. Note: Contributions towards the Opening Nights Performing Arts Endowments begin at $25,000.

Planned Giving Options for planned giving via the Florida State University Foundation include:

■■ Charitable Bequest

■■ Charitable Lead Trust

■■ Retirement Assets

■■ Charitable Gift Annuity

■■ Life Estate

■■ Charitable Remainder Trust

■■ Life Insurance

Contact Kelly-Ann Fasano for more information: kfasano@fsu.edu | 850.644.1531 openingnights.fsu.edu 45

16/17 VENUES

RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL

Florida State University Westcott Building 222 S. Copeland Street

OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL Florida State University Kuersteiner Music Building 114 N. Copeland Street

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Florida State University Fine Arts Building 530 W. Call Street

GOODWOOD MUSEUM AND GARDENS The Carriage House 1600 Miccosukee Road

RICHARD G. FALLON THEATRE

FRED TURNER AUDITORIUM

Florida State University Fine Arts Building 540 W. Call Street

Tallahassee Community College Fine and Performing Arts Center 444 Appleyard Drive

ASKEW STUDENT LIFE CINEMA

TALLAHASSEE MUSEUM 3945 Museum Drive

Florida State University 942 Learning Way

NANCY SMITH FICHTER DANCE THEATRE

PEBBLE HILL PLANTATION

Florida State University Montgomery Hall 130 Collegiate Loop

1251 U.S. Highway 319 South Thomasville, GA

DONALD L. TUCKER CIVIC CENTER Florida State University 505 W. Pensacola Street

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

For additional information on venues, parking, and maps, visit:

openingnights.fsu.edu

PATRON SERVICES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHERE DO I PARK? Parking options vary from venue to venue, but general parking is available for the majority of performances in the garages on the corner of Pensacola and Copeland Streets (St. Augustine Garage) and Call and Macomb Streets (Call Street Garage). To learn more about parking specific to each venue, please visit our website at openingnights.fsu.edu.

WHEN DO DOORS OPEN? Venue doors open 30 minutes prior to a performance. Guests are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes before a performance begins.

TICKETS & INFO Tickets go on sale to the General Public on SEPTEMBER

2016 AT 11:00 A.M.

14,

For priority ticket ordering, see pages 42–43 about membership. Please note that $15 tickets will not go on sale until 9/14.

BUY TICKETS

WHAT HAPPENS IF I ARRIVE LATE TO A PERFORMANCE? Latecomers to events will be seated at the discretion of the house manager or ushers and in accordance with artist preferences at a suitable break in the performance.

ONLINE

WHAT IF I’VE LOST MY TICKETS?

openingnights.fsu.edu

Lost or misplaced tickets may be reprinted. Contact the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office at

$3.00 Ticket Office processing fee per ticket

tickets@fsu.edu or 850.644.6500 for details.

CAN I REFUND MY TICKETS? Opening Nights does not issue refunds for tickets.

MAY I BRING FOOD OR DRINKS INTO THE VENUE? Most Opening Nights venues prohibit food and drinks unless otherwise noted. Please visit our website to find out if food and/or beverages are permitted at your event of interest.

BY PHONE 850.644.6500 $3.00 Ticket Office processing fee per ticket

CAN I BRING MY CHILDREN? We offer many events enjoyable to audiences of all ages. Children must have tickets

regardless of age and must be able to sit quietly throughout a performance. Children (and adults) who cause any disturbances will be politely asked to leave.

ARE EVENTS ACCESSIBLE TO PATRONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

IN PERSON

We are committed to ensuring our performances are accessible and enjoyable to all

Florida State University Fine Arts Ticket Office

Disabled parking spots are available at all venues on a first-come first-serve basis.

No processing fee per ticket 530 W. Call Street Tuesday–Saturday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm

patrons.

Accessible seats are available in all price ranges in all venues. Please contact the Fine Arts Ticket Office at 850.644.6500 to purchase tickets.

Seats for visually impaired patrons are reserved for each performance. Please contact

KEEP IN TOUCH

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available at many venues, including Ruby

Connect with us online and get up-to-the-minute announcements & features:

the Fine Arts Ticket Office at 850.644.6500 to purchase tickets.

Diamond Concert Hall, the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, and the Richard G. Fallon Theatre. Please ask a house manager at the performance about acquiring an ALD.

openingnights.fsu.edu

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP OPENING NIGHTS? Please visit our website to fill out a registration form. openingnights.fsu.edu 47

Opening Nights Performing Arts Florida State University 216 Westcott Building P.O. Box 3061350 Tallahassee, FL 32306-1350

openingnights.fsu.edu

2016-2017 Opening Nights Performing Arts

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Tallahassee, FL Permit #55