PressCalendar ForImmediateRelease: November14,2017

JANUARYANDFEBRUARYATGEORGEMASONUNIVERSITY’SCENTERFORTHEARTSfeaturing:

DublinIrishDanceSteppingOutTheBirdlandAll-Stars

LesBalletsTrockaderodeMonteCarloHelsingborgSymphonyOrchestra

TAOVirginiaOpera’sAMidsummerNight’sDream

RIOULTDanceNYandmanymore!

(FAIRFAX)—GeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterfortheArtsreleasedtodayitsscheduleof

eventsforJanuaryandFebruary2018aspartoftheGreatPerformancesatMasonseries.The

calendarincludesIrishstep-dancers,jazzextraordinaires,comedicballet,renownedorchestral

works,operaproductions,andmoderndancepresentations.Additionally,Masonalum,

students,andfacultyarefeaturedintheaterproductionsandclassicalandjazzmusicconcerts.

TheCenter’swinterofferingsbeginonJanuary27withSteppingOutbyDublinIrish

Dance,anexplorationoftheCelticexperiencethroughthefastfootworkofIrishstep-dancers

andaneight-membertraditionalIrishband.Servingupiconicrock‘n’rollsongsandclassicjazz

tunes,TheBirdlandAll-StarsjoinfameddrummerTommyIgoeforahigh-energyperformance

onJanuary28.LesBalletsTrockaderodeMonteCarlowillamazeaudiencesonFebruary2with

theirmasculinemuscles,flawlessenpointetechnique,andfabuloustutus—provingthatguys

canbeballerinastoo!OnFebruary9,Sweden’sHelsingborgSymphonyOrchestrawilloffera

stirringconcertofworksbySmetana,Rachmaninoff,andTchaikovsky,andfeaturingworld-

renownedArmenianpianistNarehArghamanyan.TAOpresentsDrumHeartonFebruary10,

showcasinganancientformofJapanesedrummingwithstunningcostumesandchoreography.

Shakespeare’sAMidsummerNight’sDreammeetsthegeniusofBritten’slushmusicalscorein

anewproductionbyVirginiaOperapresentedonFebruary17andFebruary18.Lastly,RIOULT

DanceNYreturnstotheCenteronFebruary24withatwo-partdanceprogramtitledFrom

Purple to Pärt,featuringthemusicofcomposerArvoPärtandtheBritishbandDeepPurple.

AfullscheduleofperformancesforJanuaryandFebruary2018isbelow.Unless

otherwisenoted,performanceswilltakeplaceintheCenterfortheArts’ConcertHalllocatedat

4373MasonPondDrive,Fairfax,Virginia.Ticketsareavailableforpurchaseinpersonatthe

CenterfortheArts’TicketOffice(openTuesday–Saturday10a.m.to6p.m.),bycalling888-

945-2468,orthroughtheCenterfortheArts’websiteatcfa.gmu.edu.

GreatPerformancesatMason

DublinIrishDanceSteppingOutSaturday,January27at8p.m.Images:DublinIrishDanceFollowtheevolutionofCelticcultureinSteppingOut,ahigh-energyextravaganzaofsightsandsoundspresentedbyDublinIrishDance.TheseaccomplishedIrishstep-dancersandmusicianstakeusonajourney,exploringthehistoryoftheCelticculturalexperiencethroughsonganddance.ThisentertainingproductionrevealsinfluencesthathaveshapedIrishmusicanddancethroughouthistory:fromthefarmsofruralIrelandinthe1800s,totheGreatFamineandthemassmigrationtoNewYork,whereIrishandAmericanculturesblendedandinfluencedeachother.ThisproductionfeaturesthefastfootworkoftalentedIrishstep-dancers,aneight-membertraditionalIrishband,andavocalist—manyofwhomhaveperformedwithinternationallyfamousIrishensembleslikeRiverdance,MichaelFlatley'sLordoftheDance,andCelticWoman.Tickets:$50,$43,$30TheBirdlandAll-StarsFeaturingTommyIgoeSunday,January28at7p.m.Images:TheBirdlandAll-StarsDirectfromNewYork’slegendaryBirdland,thisextraordinarybandbringsafinemixofjazz,funk,Brazilian,Latin,andworldmusictogether.Featuringthecity’sfinestmusiciansandledbydrummingsensationTommyIgoe,theBirdlandAll-StarshavebeenpackingthehouseeveryFridaynightat“TheJazzCorneroftheWorld”forthepast10years.Forthistour,theyhavecreatednewarrangementsfeaturingmusicofDavidBowie,ThePolice,andSteelyDan,aswell

asfreshinterpretationsoficonicworksbyCharlieParker,ChickCorea,andHerbieHancock.TommyIgoeisoneoftoday’smostsuccessfulanddiversedrummers,havingperformedwithBlood,SweatandTears,ArtGarfunkel,NewYorkVoices,andStanleyJordan.HealsohelpedcreatethedrumsetbookforBroadway’sTheLionKing.Don’tmissthis“completelyuniqueexperience…thereisn’tanotherbandlikethisanywhere”(TimeOutNewYork).Tickets:$48,$41,$29LesBalletsTrockaderodeMonteCarloFriday,February2at8p.m.Images:LesBalletsTrockaderodeMonteCarloMuscularmenwearingtutusanddancingenpointewithflawlesstechnique?Itmustbetheworldwidedancephenomenon,LesBalletsTrockaderodeMonteCarlo.Theworld’sforemostall-malecomicballetcompany,affectionatelyknownasthe“Trocks,”performsafullrangeofballetandmoderndancerepertoireinfaithfulrenditionsasyou’veneverseenitbefore.Portrayingbothmaleandfemaleroles,thesehighlytraineddancersaredelightfullyearnestintheirefforts,completewiththehumorofintentionalfoiblesandaccidentsthatkeepaudiencesrollingintheaisles.ThiscompanywasfoundedinNewYorkin1974byasmallgroupofballetenthusiastsasaplayfulparodyoftraditionalballet.TheyimmediatelyattractedtheattentionofthepressandtheTrockswereoffandpirouetting.Whetherthisisyourfirsttimeatadanceperformanceoryour1000thtime,youwillbedelightedandentertained.Tickets:$50,$43,$30HelsingborgSymphonyOrchestraFriday,February9at8p.m.Images:HelsingborgSymphonyOrchestraSmetana:“Šárka”fromMáVlast(Myhomeland) Rachmaninoff:PianoConcertoNo.2inCminor,Op.18 Tchaikovsky:SymphonyNo.5inEminor,Op.64OneofSweden’soldestorchestras,theHelsingborgSymphonyOrchestra(HSO)presentsadynamicconcertofcherishedorchestralworks.UnderthedirectionofStefanSolyom,theorchestraperformsathrillingconcertfeaturingworksbySmetana,Rachmaninoff,andTchaikovsky.World-renownArmenianpianistNarehArghamanyanjoinstheorchestratoperformRachmaninoff’ssecondpianoconcerto.TheHSOhasperformedatmanyprominentEuropeanvenues,includingthreerecentsold-outperformancesattheGreatFestivalHallinSalzburgandinVienna.Tickets:$60,$51,$36

TAODrumHeartSaturday,February10at8p.m.Images:TAODrumHeart,TAO’snewestproductionoftaikodrumming,isaheart-poundingexperiencelikenootherthatisguaranteedtothrillthewholefamily.Thethunderoussightsandsoundsofpowerful,athleticperformersdressedinstunningcostumesplayinginstrumentsandfiercelystrikingdrumsisaspectacletobehold.TAOiscelebratedforitsprecisechoreographyfilledwithenergyandstamina,andisthefirstprofessionaltaikocompanytoincludefemaleperformersinthistraditionallymale-dominatedartform.Criticsdescribethecompanymembersas“extraordinarilytalentedpercussionartists,andthey’reseductive,alluringperformers”(ChicagoTribune).Tickets:$50,$43,$30VirginiaOperaAMidsummerNight’sDreamSaturday,February17at8p.m.Sunday,February18at2p.m.Images:VirginiaOperaWilliamShakespeare’siconic15thcenturylanguagemeetsBenjaminBritten’s20thcenturyinventiveandenchantingmusicinthisdelightfuloperaaboutlove,forgiveness,andthepowerofdreams.Adomesticdisputebetweenthekingandqueenoffairiesspillsintothehumanrealm,creatingchaosasthestoriesofthreecouplesandatroupeofamateuractorscollidewithhilariousresults.Nothingiswhatitseemsasfairies,“rudemechanicals,”andmoonstruckyoungloversspendasingle,magicalnightintheforest.AdamTurnerconductsthisopera’slushdynamicscorewhilemanyVirginiaOperafavorites--sopranoHeatherBuck(Titania),baritoneMatthewBurns(Bottom),andtenorDavidBlalock(Lysander)--returntoperforminthiscomictourdeforce.SunginEnglishwithEnglishsupertitles.Tickets:$110,$90,$54RIOULTDanceNYFromPurpletoPärtSaturday,February24at8p.m.Images:RIOULTDanceNYThesensual,articulate,andexquisitelymusicalworkofacclaimedmodernchoreographerandformerMarthaGrahamprincipaldancerPascalRioultreturnstotheCenterfortheArtswithhis

company,RIOULTDanceNY,inatwo-partdanceprogramtitledFromPurpletoPärt.TeDeum,settothemusicofEstoniancomposerArvoPärt,isareimaginingofoneofPascal’searliestworks.Thenewly-premieredFireintheSkyisinspiredbyclubdancingfromRioult’syouthandthemusicofDeepPurple,thefamedBritishrockbandwhosesoundflourishedthroughthe'70sand'80s.Foundedin1994,thedaringandimaginativeRIOULTDanceNYcompanycontinuestodeliver“powerful,emotionallymoving”(DurhamHeraldSun)performancesandhasreceivedaccoladesfromaroundtheworld.“Musicallyastute,visuallyarrestingandkineticallyexciting...Rioultandcompanyareundeniablechampsofmoderndance”(TheDailyGazette,Schenectady).Tickets:$48,$41,$29

MasonStudentandFacultyPerformancesVisualVoicesSpeakerSeriesBrianNoyes,“RecipeforChange:Ifyoucan’tstandtheheat,getintothekitchen””Thursday,January25at7:30p.m.HarrisTheatreAprofessionallectureseriessponsoredbytheSchoolofArt,inviteseightnationallyrecognizedvisitingartistsanddesignerstospeakabouttheirworkandtheworldofartanddesign.Inadditiontoprovidingalookinsidethestudiosofthesetopprofessionals,theseriesoffersstudentstheopportunitytointeractwiththemduringdaytimeseminarsandstudiovisits.ThelecturesarefreeandopentothepublicVisualVoicesSpeakerSeriesTeresaJaynes,"TalkingtotheFingersintheLanguageoftheEyes:HapticInterpretationsoftheArchive”Thursday,February1at7:30p.m.HarrisTheatreAprofessionallectureseriessponsoredbytheSchoolofArt,inviteseightnationallyrecognizedvisitingartistsanddesignerstospeakabouttheirworkandtheworldofartanddesign.Inadditiontoprovidingalookinsidethestudiosofthesetopprofessionals,theseriesoffersstudentstheopportunitytointeractwiththemduringdaytimeseminarsandstudiovisits.Thelecturesarefreeandopentothepublic

TheMasonCabaretinConcertSaturday,February3at8p.m.HarrisTheatreAperennialfavorite,ourMusicalTheaterambassadors,theMasonCabaret,returnwithafreshlineupofstellarvocalistsofferingshowstoppers,balladsandduetsfromtheGreatWhiteWay.AsSondheimoncewrote,“Somethingfamiliar,somethingpeculiar,somethingforeveryone…”This“Fun-raiser”willhaveyoudancinginyourseatsandhummingallthewayhome!Tickets:$30GeneralAdmissioninsupportofMason’sMusicalTheaterProgram35mm:AMusicalExhibitionByRyanScottOliver;DirectedbyAngelicaMiguelandMaxwellSnyderFriday,February16at8p.m.Saturday,February17at8p.m.HarrisTheatreAConcert-StyleMusicalTheaterPerformanceInthisstudentcollaborationbetweentheMasonPlayersandMason’sGreenMachine,apictureisworth1,000words.Thesongsmaybeworthmore.InspiredbythephotographsofMatthewMurphy,35mmisanintricatelywovencollectionofstoriestoldthroughsongthatre-imagineswhatthemodernAmericanmusicalcanbe.Tickets:$20GeneralAdmission,$10students,staff,seniorsandgroupsVisualVoicesSpeakerSeriesDr.SharifBey,“Artist,Researcher,Teacher:Problems,Paradigms,andProcesses”Thursday,February22at7:30p.m.HarrisTheatreAprofessionallectureseriessponsoredbytheSchoolofArt,inviteseightnationallyrecognizedvisitingartistsanddesignerstospeakabouttheirworkandtheworldofartanddesign.Inadditiontoprovidingalookinsidethestudiosofthesetopprofessionals,theseriesoffersstudentstheopportunitytointeractwiththemduringdaytimeseminarsandstudiovisits.Freeandopentothepublic.

OtherPerformancesandEvents

FairfaxSymphonyOrchestraInspiringtheNextGenerationSaturday,February3at8p.m.ChristopherZimmerman,conductorInMoYang,violinFeaturingthe2018FairfaxCountyAll-StarsYouthOrchestraTchaikovsky:ViolinConcertoInMoYang,violinTchaikovsky:RomeoandJuliet–FantasyOverture Prokofiev:RomeoandJulietExcerptsfeaturingthe2018FairfaxCountyAll-StarsYouthOrchestraHailedas“oneofthenewgeneration’smosttalentedyoungstringvirtuosi”(TheViolinChannel),KoreanviolinistInMoYangistheFirstPrizeWinnerofthe2014ConcertArtistsGuildCompetition.Mostrecently,heearnedFirstPrizeatthe54thInternationalViolinCompetition“PremioPaganini”–theonlyFirstPrizeawardedbythecompetition’sjuryinnearlyadecade.Thesecondhalfoftheprogramfeaturesthe2018FairfaxCountyAll-StarsYouthOrchestraperformingside-by-sidewiththeFSO.ThisnewFSOeducationinitiativebringstogetherthebrightestyoungmusiciansfromacrossFairfaxCounty’sninesupervisorydistrictstoformtheAll-StarsYouthOrchestra.ThesetalentedmusiciansreceivementoringandcoachingfromFSOmusiciansleadinguptotheconcertandareFairfaxCounty'sdynamicmusicambassadors.Tickets:$65,$53,$39StudentTickets:$15Pre-PerformanceDiscussion:ConductorChristopherZimmermanandspecialguests45minutesbeforetheperformance.AboutGreatPerformancesatMasonGreatPerformancesatMasonisaprogramofGeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterfortheArts,theprofessionalpresentationandproductionarmoftheCollegeofVisualandPerformingArts(CVPA).CVPAprovidesanacademicenvironmentinwhichtheartsareexploredasindividualdisciplinesandinterdisciplinaryformsthatstrengthenoneanother.Thecollegepreparesstudentsforcareersascreators,performers,teachers,scholars,artsleadersandartsentrepreneurs.Understandingthataneducationintheartsisdeepenedbyregularcontactwiththeworkofdistinguishedvisitingartists,theCenterfortheArts,theprofessionalpresentationandproductionarmofthecollege,welcomesavarietyofprofessionalandworld-renownedartists,musiciansandactorstoitsstage.Studentshavetheopportunitytoperform,createandexhibittheirworkinawidevarietyofpublicvenuesincludinga2,000-seatConcertHall.CVPAis

hometotheSchoolsofMusic,Dance,ArtandTheater,aswellastheComputerGameDesign,ArtsManagement,andFilmandVideoStudiesprograms.AboutGeorgeMasonUniversityGeorgeMasonUniversityisVirginia’slargestpublicresearchuniversity.LocatednearWashington,D.C.,Masonenrolls35,000studentsfrom130countriesandall50states.Masonhasgrownrapidlyoverthepasthalf-centuryandisrecognizedforitsinnovationandentrepreneurship,remarkablediversityandcommitmenttoaccessibility.

Formoreinformation,pleasevisit:

GeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterfortheArts

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###PRESSCONTACTSCamilleCintrónDevlin,AssistantDirectorofMarketing&Communications703-993-8794|cdevlin6@gmu.eduHylaS.HelselLondon,DirectorofMarketing703-993-9808|hhelsel@gmu.edu