University of Dubuque Presents 2016-2017 Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series
Jul 13, 2016
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque’s 2016-2017 Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series boasts 15 professional guest artist performances, plus two major University productions. All of the performances will be held in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.
“We are fortunate to be able to continue building a tradition of programming excellence with an exceptionally distinguished caliber of performances,” said Thomas Robbins, Heritage Center executive director. “The new schedule should appeal to a broad spectrum of campus and community members.”
Heritage Center also offers numerous pre-show offerings in conjunction with series events.
The eight-event CenterStage Series package offers the best value including a host of subscriber benefits such as priority seating, discounted tickets, reduced fees, free admission to Christmas at Heritage Center, and advance purchasing privileges on additional special events. Farber Box Office summer hours are 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Monday, August 15, normal weekday hours resume from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Online sales are available at www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter. For more information or to request a brochure, call the Farber Box Office at 563.585.SHOW (7469).
Subscription and Individual Tickets – Ordering Dates and Details:
* Subscription orders will be accepted upon receipt of order form via fax, mail, and email – effective now and processed beginning Monday, July 18; online and via phone or in-person at the box office beginning Monday, July 18.
* Individual ticket orders will be accepted upon receipt of order form via fax, mail, and email – effective now and processed beginning Monday, August 8; online beginning Monday, August 8; and via phone or in-person at the box office beginning Monday, August 15.
“Our fourth season kicks off with a spoof of presidential election politics. The season offers everything from technological spectacle to theatrical drama to family fun,” Robbins said. “I encourage everyone to come experience all that makes Heritage Center a distinctive destination for cultural experiences.”
The 2016-2017 season features the following events:
Sunday, October 2, 2016, 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Steps: Mock the Vote
The Capitol Steps provide welcome respite from 24/7 cable news with bipartisan lampoonery of the 2016 presidential campaign. Born at a Senate staff Christmas party, the Capitol Steps put the “mock” in democracy with award-winning political musical satire. Over the years, the group has recorded more than 35 albums and comprised performers working 18 Congressional offices and representing 6 years of collective House and Senate staff experience. Their newest album and show celebrates a lame-duck president in a battle of wits with his candidate counterparts. The troupe can be heard twice a year on NPR stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials.
Friday, October 14, 2016, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening with Third Eye Blind (UD Homecoming)
Since 1997, San Francisco's Third Eye Blind has recorded four best-selling albums and assembled one career retrospective. 3EB released “Dopamine,” their first studio collection in six years, in spring 2015. The band appeals to new generations of fans while legions of followers continue their allegiance to 3EB because of hits like "Semi-Charmed Life," "Jumper," and "How's It Going to Be," all reaching the Top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100.
Sunday, October 23, 2016, 2:00 p.m.
Peter Rabbit Tales, performed by Enchantment Theatre Company (Pennsylvania)
In celebration of Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday anniversary, Enchantment Theatre Company breathes life into the captivating Peter Rabbit stories. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery, and original music, the magical world of Beatrix Potter comes to life on stage. Imaginations will soar as the famed blue-coated rabbit and his cousin Benjamin Bunny reminisce about their adventures in Mr. McGregor’s garden and, with the help of friends, set off on a quest to save Benjamin Bunny’s children.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 7:30 p.m.
Step Afrika! (Washington, D.C.)
If you like tap, you’ll love step. Like tap without shoes, or a band without instruments, stepping is percussive art form that uses kicks, stomps, claps, and chants – all linked to traditional African dance. Step Afrika! brings a high-energy performance to the stage that proves to be much more than a dance show; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation.
Friday, December 2, 2016, 7:30 p.m.
Christmas at Heritage Center: Salvation Unto Us Has Come
Now in its fourth year, this UD tradition promises to bring renewed spiritual meaning to the Christmas season. UD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department celebrates the birth of Christ through a dynamic concert presentation featuring the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Wind Ensemble, live narration, and more. The heavenly acoustics of John and Alice Butler Hall provide the perfect backdrop for this festive and celebratory occasion. Complimentary holiday refreshments served following the concert.
Thursday, February 2, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
iLuminate: The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have in the Dark
iLuminate wowed the nation with their groundbreaking light suits on America’s Got Talent and then took to the road, performing for awestruck crowds around the world. Music, art, and the technological magic of iLuminate bring you a story of adventure and romance told through dance styles including hip-hop, contemporary, and breaking – all using the power of light. With dazzling wizardry, spectacular dance moves, high-tech effects, and original music, iLuminate delivers a unique dance-in-the-dark event.
Sunday, February 12, 2017, 2:00 p.m.
Alexander, Who's Not…Going to Move, performed by Theatreworks USA (New York City)
Alexander has just received some really bad news. His dad has taken a job in a city a thousand miles away, which means that he and his family are going to have to move to a whole new city. And even though his mom says, "Wait, you'll like it," Alexander already knows that he'll hate it. His mom, dad, and bossy older brothers help him to understand that home is “where your family is, where you’re with the people who love you best of all.”
Friday, February 17, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Cantus Vocal Ensemble: No Greater Love than This (Minnesota)
The nine-member men's vocal ensemble, Cantus, is known worldwide for its trademark warmth and blend and its engaging performances. The Washington Post has hailed Cantus’ sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power.” As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus works without a conductor and members perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the overall artistic process. In No Greater Love Than This, Cantus explores the experiences of bravery, protection, and camaraderie through the eyes of a soldier.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Pilobolus Dance Theater: Shadowland
Created in collaboration with the lead writer for the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, Shadowland is both intensely dramatic and comedic. As the first theatrical event of its kind to tour the globe, Shadowland incorporates multiple moving screens of different sizes and shapes, creating the coming of age story of a young girl's surreal experience in a sensational world. Shadowland is part shadow act, part dance, part circus, and part concert. It’s a groundbreaking performance combining Pilobolus’ legendary approach to modern dance merging fast-paced multimedia innovation with projected images and high-energy choreography.
Sunday, March 5, 2017, 2:00 p.m.
Laura Ingalls Wilder, performed by ArtsPower National Touring Theater (New Jersey)
Laura and her family travel across America in search of a place they can call home. Facing obstacles such as scarlet fever and eviction from their land, their pioneering spirit and family bonds are tested, but never broken. This uplifting story of one of America’s most beloved authors demonstrates a historical perspective on how a young woman discovers her personal values and builds relationships. The literature is expertly adapted for the stage in a musical theater format.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
ARTRAGEOUS: Art & Music. Gone Wild.
Imagine an artist creating a masterpiece before your eyes, unveiling larger than life art in mere moments. Artrageous mixes captivating live music, intricate choreography, and exciting audience participation to take audience members on a unique visual journey packed with wild inspiration, creativity, and fun. The Artrageous troupe of artists, musicians, singers, and dancers pay tribute to a variety of art forms, pop icons, and musical genres, culminating in a gallery of fabulous finished paintings.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, performed by American Shakespeare Center (Virginia)
American Shakespeare Center seeks to make the joys of theatre, language, and the communal experience of the Renaissance stage accessible to all. A moving look at life in the small town of Grover’s Corners, Our Town examines what it means to grow up. Through three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage,” and “Death and Eternity,” Thornton Wilder studies the deeply personal yet remarkably universal lives of the Webb and Gibbs families.
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Paul Reiser, TV/movie celebrity comedian
Star of the NBC hit sitcom Mad About You and no stranger to stand-up comedy, Paul Reiser’s national comedy tour highlights the funny things about life, love, and relationships. Reiser returned to television last year in the FX series Married. Not one to abandon his roots in stand-up, in between projects Reiser tours the country performing to sold out venues. He was voted one of Comedy Central's “Top 100 Comedians of All Time."
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 2:00 p.m.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear & Other Treasured Eric Carle Stories, performed by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Mermaid’s new production will bring together old favorites and new friends. Featuring evocative music, stunning visual effects, and innovative puppetry, the triple-bill highlights three of Eric Carle’s most beloved tales. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is joined by a whimsical cast of adventurous animals drawn from the pages of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? The poignant story of a young girl’s unusual quest, Papa Please Get The Moon For Me, fills out an hour which both entertains and educates.
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Chris Botti with the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony
Heritage Center welcomes the return of the Columbus Symphony to John and Alice Butler Hall for a concert featuring Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. With his uniquely expressive sound and soaring musical imagination, Botti’s stellar parade of releases – When I Fall In Love, To Love Again, Italia, and Impressions – have firmly established him as the world’s largest-selling jazz instrumentalist with a Grammy for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” and four No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
The Hunts, indie-folk band (Virginia)
Known for their harmony-laced take on alt-folk, The Hunts are a band of seven siblings who have been playing music together almost their entire lives. Twin sisters and five brothers, ranging in age from 26 to 18, have performed in theaters, festivals, and universities around the country – playing instruments like the mandolin, piano, ukulele, and banjo. Inspired by shared memories, The Hunts create songs that capture heartache and wonder with wide-eyed but wistful elegance.
Friday-Sunday, April 28-30, 2017, times vary
Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, performed by UD Fine and Performing Arts
James and the Giant Peach was the first of Roald Dahl's well-known children's stories that he completed. It tells the story of James Henry Trotter and his horrible aunts – and how some magic beans, a peach tree, and a collection of interesting insects conspire to change his life. Adapted into a musical, the story comes to life with innovative puppetry, a spunky soundtrack, and bright characters that will have you on the edge of your seat. Length of this performance is approximately 90 minutes.
