 "I'm very excited about the upcoming season," said Jan Traughber,
Kirkland director. "There is truly something for everyone, including
a fresh approach to classical music, comedy, world and Celtic music,
Broadway hits and family programming."The following is the lineup
of events for the 2012-2013 season. Tickets are available
immediately for all events, including Vespers, if three or more
events are purchased. Early ticket buyers will receive 10 percent
off three to five separate events and 15 percent off six or more
events. Single-ticket sales will begin Aug. 27 for the fall semester
events and on Dec. 10 for the spring semester. Tickets are available
at Kirkland's box office at 217-424-6318 or
www.kirklandfinearts.com.
___
Three Part Invention
Saturday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$16-$28 adults; $10-$14 children
Three Part Invention features graduates of Juilliard, Yale and
Harvard who have taken a background in a range of rock 'n' roll,
jazz and avant-garde classical music and applied it to their
lifelong love of Bach. Contemporary artists improvising on Bach's
music is not a new idea, but when stellar musicians such as Phillip
Aaberg (piano), Mike Block (cello) and Tracy Silverman (violin and
six-string viola) combine forces, the improvisations become an
event. Three Part Invention will perform works from their new
all-Bach CD, "Three Part Invention," an album of reinterpreted
versions of Bach masterpieces. Their live concerts also include
original works and reinventions of other classical repertoire.
Hotel California
Saturday, Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$16-$28 adults; $10-$14 children
Hotel California is the original Eagles tribute band featuring
the authentic sound of the Grammy award-winning Eagles. Each concert
presents a showcase of Eagles mega-hits such as "Take it Easy,"
"Heartache Tonight" and "Hotel California" as well as newer releases
"Get Over It" and "Love will Keep Us Alive." By blending their vocal
and musical talents, Hotel California faithfully reproduces the
sound of studio recordings by the Eagles, while recreating a classic
sound that transcends the boundaries of rock, R&B and country,
delivering a modern, action-packed performance that brings this
timeless music into the new millennium. This band, comprised of five
respected, multitalented top music industry professionals, presents
a dynamic, exciting show saluting the music of The Eagles, a
supergroup whose music has proven to have a staying power that few
bands lay claim to.
"Broadway's Next H!T Musical"
Saturday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$18 adults; $15 alumni
The hysterical "Broadway's Next H!T Musical" is the only
unscripted theatrical awards show. Master improvisers gather made-up
hit song suggestions from the audience and create a spontaneous
evening of music, humor and laughter. The audience votes for their
favorite song and watches as the cast turns it into a full-blown
improvised musical, complete with memorable characters, witty
dialogue and plot twists. BNHM has been seen recently at The Triad,
Tribeca Film Festival and at the New York Musical Theater Festival,
among many others. Under the direction of improvisation veterans Rob
Schiffman and Deb Rabbai, Theater Week hailed the show as
"brilliant" and The New York Post called it "remarkable."
Vespers 2012
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$10 adults; $6 seniors
One of Millikin University's most popular events, Vespers (which
means "evening prayer") provides the context for a seasonal concert
that has become one of the university's most beloved traditions.
Performed by 350 Millikin University singers and instrumentalists,
Vespers features traditional and new music for choirs and brass.
Individual tickets go on sale Nov. 1.
Holiday Jazz
Saturday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$14-$20 adults; $10-$14 children
The Millikin University Faculty Jazz Sextet will once again get
you in the holiday spirit with a reprise of their jazzy swing on
Christmas classics. Upbeat and soothing favorites will make everyone
in the family tap their toes and sing along. Come celebrate the
sounds of the season during the fifth annual holiday concert with
Millikin University's own School of Music faculty: Brian Justison,
Ed Schaller, Randy Reyman, Dave Burdick, Perry Rask and Steve
Widenhofer. Once again, the sextet will be joined on stage by guest
vocalist and Millikin University alumnus Angel Spiccia.
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$16-$28 adults; $10-$14 children
For more than two decades, Grammy award-winning artist Terrance
Simien, an eighth-generation Louisiana Creole, has been shattering
the myths about what his indigenous Creole Zydeco music is and is
not. Zydeco is one of the most unique and wildly popular forms of
American roots music, representing the multicultural Creoles of
Southwest Louisiana and featuring the core instrumentation of the
accordion and the frottoir (rub board). Leading his Zydeco
Experience Band, Simien has become one of the most respected and
internationally recognized touring and recording artists in roots
music today. During the past 25 years Simien has shared studio and
stage with Robert Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Los Lobos, Dr. John, The
Meters, Alan Toussaint, Paul Simon and the Dave Matthews Band.
[to top of second column] |
 The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion
Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$16-$28 adults; $10-$14 children
Today's magic isn't merely about baffling the audience by doing
something seemingly impossible. It's about spectacle, drama, danger
and personality, and that's exactly what separates the husband-wife
team of The Spencers from every other magical performer in the
field. People have been known to levitate, walk through walls,
vanish and reappear. Be prepared to experience the magic yourself,
because The Spencers don't want you to just sit in your seat and
watch, they want you to participate. In one magical experiment, the
entire audience is asked to get involved in a stunning, interactive
mind-reading experience. The Spencers have been described by the
critics as "Modern Day Houdinis." The duo presents a big, high-tech
stage show that combines drama, comedy, romance and suspense with
elaborate stage illusions.
Craicmore
Saturday, March 9, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$14-$20 adults; $10-$14 children
Deeply rooted in the music of Scotland and Ireland, Craicmore
plays contemporary traditional Celtic music and features the rich
contralto voice of Nancy Johnson. Four-part harmony and driving
rhythm from guitar, bass, Bohdran drums, flutes, bagpipes and a
rumbling didgeridoo accent the warmth and passion of Craicmore's
fiery performances. They have toured for over 10 years throughout
the western states and recently performed a 14-concert engagement in
Shanghai, China. Don't miss the sheer joy and humor of Craicmore.
Thodos Dance Chicago
Saturday, April 6, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$16-$28 adults; $10-$14 children
Thodos Dance Chicago is a critically acclaimed contemporary dance
company delivering modern dance to audiences in a unique style that
incorporates a variety of dance forms performed with innovative
flair. "Breathtakingly athletic," "vibrant choreography" and
"powerfully beautiful" are among the many critical accolades that
Thodos Dance Chicago, or TDC, has received since its inception. The
company performs on national and international dance circuits, as
well as in Chicago's most prominent dance events.
"Broadway Today!"
Saturday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$18-$30 adults; $12-$16 children
"Broadway Today!" is the concert event that lets audiences
experience the music, laughs and thrills from Broadway's most recent
seasons performed by some of the leading talent in New York today.
This unique evening was created in response to audience demand for
the most recent Broadway hits combined with familiar favorites.
"Broadway Today!" brings you the best from the past three seasons on
Broadway, including all the new shows, revivals and long-running
hits in one package so you get the most current shows as well as
classics like "West Side Story" and "South Pacific." Due to the
immediate, up-to-the-minute nature of the show, the program is
always changing to reflect Broadway's most recent landscape.
___
Millikin University believes that the arts are essential to the
enrichment of society and are a fundamental part of the educational
process. Millikin's founder, James Millikin, declared that men and
women should have both a classical and practical education to meet
the demands of a changing society. The Kirkland Performing Arts
Series supports this mission by encouraging both students and the
community to participate in its programs and understand our
multicultural heritage through performing arts events.
The Kirkland Fine Arts Center is the primary not-for-profit fine
arts presenting organization in Macon County. During past seasons,
over 100 professional performances have been staged at Kirkland,
with Broadway tours of "Cats," "Showboat" and " Rent"; Grammy award
nominees including Patti Page, The Neville Brothers and Little
Richard; animal kingdom expert Jack Hannah; PostSecret blog founder
Frank Warren; internationally acclaimed dance companies David
Parsons, River North, Cirque Eloize and MOMIX; popular celebrities
Bill Cosby and Howie Mandel; comedian Jay Leno; environmental
advocates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jean-Michel Cousteau; performing
ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Julliard String
Quartet and London City Opera; and speeches by distinguished guests
such as White House correspondent Helen Thomas, former Secretary of
State Colin Powell and former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar.
Events at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center are partially supported
by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the
Midwest Arts Council.
For more information on Kirkland Fine Arts Center, visit
www.kirklandfinearts.com.
[Text from file received from
Millikin University] |
