a season to savor inside - sandler center · with jim brickman, feb. 19, or enjoy an audience with...

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inside: Newsletter of the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Fall 2010 A Message from the President Adventures in Learning Through the Arts Hooray for Merchants of Bollywood The Aluminum Show is Metallic Magic Why Not Wednesdays? Were the Place to Be Subscriber Spotlight a season to savor 1 1 2 2 3 3 The weather is cooling down, but a veritable feast of a season is heating up at the Sandler Center. The 2010-2011 lineup promises flavors to suit every taste, from iconic singer-songwriters to truly spectacular stage shows fit for the whole family. First, it’s all about the music makers. Neil Sedaka, the man behind a string of classics like Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, brings the hits, Sept. 30. Al Jarreau does a little pop, a little jazz and a little R&B, Oct. 1. Folk-country hero John Prine strums four decades of favorites, Oct. 15. Prepare to be blown away by blues- rock phenomenon Joe Bonamassa, channeling the guitar gods, Nov. 19. Show your love for America—the band, that is, April 1. Do the Lido Shuffle with silky-voiced guitarist Boz Scaggs, April 6. Can’t get enough classic rock? Get in the holiday spirit with Empire Brass featuring Elisabeth von Trapp in The Sound of Christmas, Dec. 17, or deck the halls with Kenny Rogers Holiday Show, Dec. 21. In the mood for love? Give your baby the gift of Motown with The Temptations & The Four Tops on Valentines Day. Indulge in an Evening of Romance with Jim Brickman, Feb. 19, or enjoy an audience with the “King of Romance” himself, Engelbert Humperdinck, March 18. If comedy’s your thing, funnyman Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond fame brings his stand-up style, Nov. 12. Two larger-than-life dance productions, Merchants of Bollywood on Nov. 16 and The Aluminum Show on Jan. 18, are guaranteed to stir imaginations and dazzle audiences of all ages. Tap dance sensation Savion Glover’s latest rhythm-packed ride, SoLo iN TiMe, rolls in Feb. 17. Keep things in motion with Parsons Dance Company in Remember Me, a high-energy show incorporating dance, opera, rock music, and effects, Jan. 11. If Broadway’s your bag, you’ll be on your feet for Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway, the all-new revue, March 10. Also from Broadway comes The Color Purple, the theatrical phenomenon based on the epic novel and stirring film, April 2. Find a complete calendar of events at Sandlercenter.org. For tickets, call 757-385-ARTS, go to CoxTix.com or visit the Sandler Center Box Office.

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inside:

Newsletter of the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Foundation

Fall 2010

A Message from the President

Adventures in Learning Through the Arts

Hooray for Merchants of Bollywood

The Aluminum Show is Metallic Magic

Why Not Wednesdays? Were the Place to Be

Subscriber Spotlight

a season to savor

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The weather is cooling down, but a veritable feast of a season is heating up at the Sandler Center. The 2010-2011 lineup promises flavors to suit every taste, from iconic singer-songwriters to truly spectacular stage shows fit for the whole family.

First, it’s all about the music makers. Neil Sedaka, the man behind a string of classics like Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, brings the hits, Sept. 30. Al Jarreau

does a little pop, a little jazz and a little R&B, Oct. 1. Folk-country hero John Prine strums four decades of favorites, Oct. 15.

Prepare to be blown away by blues-rock phenomenon Joe Bonamassa, channeling the guitar gods, Nov. 19.

Show your love for America—the band, that is, April 1.Do the Lido Shuffle with silky-voiced guitarist Boz Scaggs, April 6. Can’t get enoughclassic rock?

Get in the holiday spirit with Empire Brass featuring Elisabeth von Trapp in The Sound of Christmas, Dec. 17, or deck the halls with Kenny Rogers Holiday Show, Dec. 21.

In the mood for love? Give your baby the gift of Motown with The Temptations & The Four Tops on Valentines Day. Indulge in an Evening of Romance with Jim Brickman, Feb. 19, or enjoy an audience with the “King of Romance” himself, Engelbert Humperdinck, March 18.

If comedy’s your thing, funnyman Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond fame brings his stand-up style, Nov. 12.

Two larger-than-life dance productions, Merchants of Bollywood on Nov. 16 and The Aluminum Show on Jan. 18, are guaranteed to stir imaginations and dazzle audiences of all ages. Tap dance sensation Savion Glover’s latest rhythm-packed ride, SoLo iN TiMe, rolls in Feb. 17. Keep things in motion with Parsons Dance Company in Remember Me, a high-energy show incorporating dance, opera, rock music, and effects, Jan. 11.

If Broadway’s your bag, you’ll be on your feet for Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway, the all-new revue, March 10. Also from Broadway comes The Color Purple, the theatrical phenomenon based on the epic novel and stirring film, April 2.

Find a complete calendar of events at Sandlercenter.org. For tickets, call 757-385-ARTS, go to CoxTix.com or visit the Sandler Center Box Office.

adventures in learning through the artsWhat do a pioneering girl on the American frontier, a feline with a fondness for cupcakes, and crew members of the Starship Enterprise have in common? They are all fantastic ways to get young people engaged in the arts. As part of our continuing mission to reach students in Hampton Roads through the performing arts, we are proud to present the Sandler Center 2010-2011 Education Series, which includes student matinees, specialized master classes and workshops.

The first student matinee is Patchwork—The Little House Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Theatre IV, based on the real-life adventures

of Laura Ingalls, who traveled the country with her family in a covered wagon through often perilous terrain in the early 19th century, Nov. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Next up is Omaha Theater Company’s interpretation of If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, based on the popular books series by Laura Numeroff, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. and noon. Finally, on Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m., students are invited to warp intothe world Star Trek Live performed by Mad Science and featuring interactive fun and learning.

Outreach opportunities for students offer unique hands-on experiences with some of the world’s most celebrated performers. This season

at the Sandler Center, students can participate in the following workshops:

· Blues workshop withJoe Bonamassa

· Brass workshop with EmpireBrass

· Movement workshop with TheAluminum Show

· Modern dance master class withParsons Dance Company

· Vocal master class with 101 Yearsof Broadway

If you are interested in supporting the Sandler Center’s education programs, please contact Michele Catalano at (757) 385-0227 or [email protected].

As one season comes to a close and another begins, it is natural to reflect on our

accomplishments while looking forward to new opportunities.

We have so much to celebrate and even more to anticipate as we kick off our fourth

spectacular season here at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.

We want to recognize the tremendous generosity of our donors, the support of our

patrons and all of the hard work of our staff and volunteers, without whom none of

the magic that oddslot regularly happens on the Sandler Center stage and beyond

would be possible.

For the second season in a row, we were thrilled to present our free concert series, Why

Not Wednesdays?, from May to September on our beautiful outdoor plaza. Thousands of patrons came out to

enjoy the best in local entertainment, food, drinks and even goodies on sale from the Virginia Beach Farmers

Market, creating a vibrant atmosphere and furthering our mission of establishing a cultural focal point for the

performing arts in Virginia Beach.

Now that summer is over, we are so excited to dive into what promises to be another amazing year of incredibly

diverse performances and sensational educational programs from musical icons, stage legends, electrifying

dance groups, noted comedians and so much more.

We hope you’ll join us in making this our most memorable season yet.

Annie Sandler, President

message from the president

Merchants of Bollywood, coming to the Sandler Center November 16 at 7:30 p.m., is spectacular pageantry as itsglittery, glamorous best. Billed as the first authentic Bollywood musical, the shows boasts a 40-member cast decked out in more than 1,000 gorgeous costumes and 2,000 pieces of sparkling jewelry, extravagant dance numbers, original music, sets and lights that would be right at home on any Las Vegas stage.

But, as director Toby Gough notes, it’s also “the story of families, dynasties and dreams.” Gough found inspiration for the show when he met top Bollywood choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant and learned of her family’s deep roots in the Bollywood tradition. Vaibhavi’s ancestors were the custodians of classical Kathak dance in India, and her grandfather, Shri Hiralal was a legendary choreographer

of some of the most beloved Bollywood films of the mid-20th century.

The Merchants of Bollywood story, told through the lens of Bollywood films past and present, is based on Vaibhavi Merchant’s real-life struggle to find her own creative voice. It is a classic tale of the clash between tradition and modernization, between East and West, between one generation and the next.

A worldwide fascination with the vibrancy and richness of Indian culture inspired by films like Slumdog Millionaire helped draw audiences to Merchants of Bollywood’s premiere in 2006, and its dazzling production values kept them coming back for hugely successful tours of Australia, Europe and Asia.

You too will be hungry for more when you feast your eyes on this kaleidoscope of color, rooted in the soul of India.

It’s a worm! It’s a snake! It’s a dancer inside a giant metal tube! We promise you have never experienced anything quite like The Aluminum Show, though this ingeniously inventive original production from the imagination of Israeli-born choreographer Ilan Azriel has drawn comparisons to other unique stage experiences like Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.

Azriel’s concept began with a simple observation. He noticed aluminum pipes—the kind used in industrial heating and cooling systems—and wondered how their shape and material properties might translate into organic, mobile props for the stage. He began experimenting with the versatile reflective metal, enlisting the help of special effects master Yuval Kedem. Add dancers, some beautiful lighting and music and eventually The Aluminum Show was born.

In the choreographer’s capable hands, however, the humble element

known by the atomic symbol “Al” transforms into something far beyond a simple prop. The cast of The Aluminum Show is made up of acrobatic dancers and prop operators who will the aluminum in its many incarnations—from tubes to flying pillows—to wriggle and bounce and sway like futuristic organisms on some far away planet. Yet Azriel’s penchant for simplicity of stagecraft and respect for aesthetics makes the show as much an artistic triumph as it is an enthralling spectacle.

Audiences around the world have reacted with amazement to this singular event, which includes interactive elements in which the observers become part of the show.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic in the metal, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

hooray for merchants of bollywood

the aluminum show is metallic magic

Neither heat, nor rain, not even threat of a hurricane could stop the party on the plaza during the 2nd Annual “Why Not Wednesdays?” Free Summer Concert Series & Farmers Market, which came to a rocking close with Jimmy Buffett tribute band the Party Fins on September 8.

More than 12,000 patrons came by car, by bike and by foot to be a part of the action in Town Center this year. Virginia Beach residents and even visitors have put “Why Not Wednesdays?” on their warm weather to-do lists. And why not? It’s fun, it’s free and it’s the place to be.

This season’s festivities got a tasty boost from the addition of some of your favorite local stands from the Virginia Beach Farmer’s Market. Vendors offered a smorgasbord of locally grown goodness to sample and sell—from tomatoes, peaches and peppers to fresh flowers and seafood.

Concertgoers also lined up once again for cold beverages, hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill, and other good eats to enjoy with friends while taking in the tunes. The proceeds from the sales of food and drinks go towards the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts education programs.

We hope to see you on the plaza next year when warm weather and “Why Not Wednesdays?” return.

The Sandler Center Foundation Board

of Directors and staff would like to

extend a heartfelt thanks to one of

its founding members and generous

supporters, Glen A. Huff, Esq. Mr.

Huff was one of the “founding

fifty” that helped garner support

for the construction of the Sandler Center and its hugely

successful fundraising campaigns. His leadership and

expertise will be greatly missed on the Board of Directors

but we wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Bravo!

why not wednesdays? were the place to be

foundation board member Glen Huff Esq. takes a bow

subscriberspotliGHt

Youngest Supporter of the Sandler Center Goes On To Carnegie Hall

Virginia Beach will never forget the young local artist, Annika

Jenkins, who actively sought and supported the construction of the

Sandler Center for the Performing Arts at just 12 years old. In 2004,

she went before the City Council – violin in hand – and proposed a

much-needed performing arts venue for the City of Virginia Beach. In 2005,

she shared a spade with Mayor Meyera Oberndorf at the Sandler Center’s

groundbreaking ceremony.

Now 15, Annika just made her Carnegie Hall solo debut as one of four young

violinists selected from auditions held across the country. Annika was also recently

awarded First Prize Instrumentalist in the 2010 State of Virginia Bland Foundation

Music Scholarship Competition and received a $2,500 scholarship for music study. Annika

is also a scholarship student studying at The Juilliard School, Pre-College Division, in

New York City. She serves as Concertmaster of Bay Youth Orchestras, and frequently performs with Symphonicity: The Symphony

Orchestra of Virginia Beach, who is an honored resident company of the Sandler Center. The

residents of Virginia Beach will be forever grateful to this stellar young artist for her unique vision

and dedication to the arts in our community.

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Neil Sedaka,7:30pm

The U.S. Army Training & Doctrine

Command Band, Fort Monroe, VA,

“American Faces,” 3pm

Al Jarreau,8:00pm

John Prine,8:00pm

Symphonicity, “Song Fest,” 3pm

Virginia Musical Theatre,

“Man of La Mancha,” 8pm

Virginia Musical Theatre,

“Man of La Mancha,” 2pm

Virginia Musical Theatre, “Holiday Melody: The New

Edition,” 8pm

Virginia Musical Theatre, “Holiday Melody:

The New Edition,” 2pm

Ballet Virginia International,

“The Nutcracker,” 2pm & 7:30pm*

Virginia Symphony Orchestra,

“Holiday Pops,” 8pm

Symphonicity, “8th Annual

Messiah Sing-Along,” 8pm

Ballet Virginia International,

“The Nutcracker,” 2pm*

* The Nutcracker Tea Party at 12 pm Dec. 11 and 12.

Virginia Musical Theatre, “Holiday Melody: The New

Edition,” 2pm & 8pm

Virginia Symphony Orchestra, “Haunted

Classics,” 2:30pm

Brad Garrett,8pm

Joe Bonamassa,8pm

Symphonicity, “A Russian

Celebration,” 3pm

Merchants of Bollywood,

7:30pm

Virginia Beach Forum, Karl Rove, 7:45 pm

Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s

Pastoral Symphony,” 2:30 pm

Kenny Rogers Holiday Show,

7:30pm

Empire Brass in “The Sound of

Christmas,”7:30pm

Moscow Ballet,7pm

Moscow Ballet,7pm

upcoming events

Virginia Musical Theatre,

“Man of La Mancha,” 2pm & 8pm

centerstageP.O. Box 66129Virginia Beach, VA 23466-6129p: 757-385-0227 f: 757-493-5450www.sandlercenter.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDNorfolk, VA

Permit No. 396

foundation board of directors

we saved you a seat. now put your name on it.

Annie Sandler, PresidentVincent Olivieri, Vice PresidentCheryl McLeskey, SecretaryThomas A. Rucker, TreasurerLinwood O. Branch, IIIJames CorzattJ. Morgan DavisGerald DivarisLouis HaddadWilliam Harrison, Jr.Laura MillerR.J. NutterRonald RipleyArthur B. SandlerSteven B. and Toni R. SandlerDorothy Wood

Foundation Staff Emily Spruill, DirectorMichele Catalano, Development Specialist

The Sandler Center’s Seat Campaign is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

to celebrate your family, friends, or businesses by naming a seat in the

Performance Hall at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts!

We have 1,300 ways (seats) to honor that special person in your life or even

market your business or organization while also leaving a lasting legacy of

support for the arts in Virginia Beach. Personalized seats are now available on

the Orchestra level for a gift of $1,000, the Mezzanine level for $750 and on the

Balcony level for a gift of $500.

Your contribution is 100% tax deductible and will go directly to the Sandler

Center Foundation’s Great Performers Endowment to help bring the very best

performers to Virginia Beach each year.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to give a gift that audiences will cherish

and applaud for generations. To purchase a seat, visit www.sandlercenter.org

or call (757) 385-0227.

ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES! VISIT www.sandlercenter.org

Newsletter of Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Foundation