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Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

2008-2009 Performance Calendar

Featuring performers from five continents and several premiere works

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College announces its 54th Season of music, dance, theater, and family programming reflecting the multicultural diversity of Brooklyn with an outstanding line-up of international performances. Series offered in 2008-2009 include World of Dance, World Stages, Theater, and Arts in the Afternoon, and the newly christened Target FamilyFun series.

“As a beloved community institution that has served the borough of Brooklyn for more than half a century, we feel a responsibility to build upon Brooklyn Center’s impressive history by presenting artists of exceptional quality while keeping ticket prices at an affordable level,” said Artistic Director Seth Soloway. “We feel that this season’s artists will resonate with the residents of Brooklyn,” added Managing Director Frank Sonntag. “Our attendance increased to over 70,000 for our 2007-08 season, which is up more than 5% over attendance numbers from only two years ago in spite of the economic challenges that New Yorkers have been facing. It is very gratifying to us that so many patrons appreciate our efforts.”

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts’ 2008-2009 season includes:

* L.A. Theatre Works performs War of the Worlds / The Lost World

* Estampas Porteñas in Tango Fire

* Israeli singer/songwriter Chava Alberstein

* Patti Austin and the Duke Ellington Orchestra

* The Very Hungry Caterpillar

* Christmas in the Caribbean with The University Singers

* The Colonial Nutcracker

* Australia’s Expressions Dance Company in Score! (New York premiere)

* U.S. Military Academy Band

* Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co.

* Vusi Mahlasela and Rokia Traoré in concert

* Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

* The Male Choir of St. Petersburg (New York premiere)

* The Wizard of Oz

* Arthur – Live!

* Ballet-théâtre atlantique du Canada in Don Juan (New York premiere)

* Hot Peas ‘N Butter

* To Kill a Mockingbird

* Marvin Hamlisch

* Julia Migenes in Diva on the Verge

* Annie

War of the Worlds / The Lost World – October 26, 2008 at 3pm

L.A. Theatre Works, Susan Albert Loewenberg, Producing Director, presents War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, adapted by Howard Koch, and The Lost World, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by John de Lancie and Nat Sagaloff. America’s premier radio theatre company performs a special double bill presentation of two masterpieces of science fiction and adventure, performed by a cast of actors from Star Trek, The Sci-Fi Channel, and The X-Files (casting to be announced).

Tickets $30, $20

Estampas Porteñas in Tango Fire – November 15, 2008 at 8pm

Argentine company Estampas Porteñas features ten torrid dancers in a seductive journey through the history of Tango, from its origins in the red light district of Buenos Aires to the dazzling world of contemporary ballroom. Under the artistic direction of Carolina Soler and accompanied live by the fiery Quatrotango, the ensemble sets the stage ablaze with its passion and precision.

Tickets $45, $30

Chava Alberstein – November 16, 2008 at 2pm

With over 50 recordings since the late 1960s, many of them now gold or platinum, Chava Alberstein is undoubtedly one of Israel’s greatest singers. She brings her warm, soulful sound to Brooklyn Center in a program of Yiddish, Hebrew, and English songs ranging from traditional Jewish melodies to her own poignant originals.

Tickets $25

Patti Austin and the Duke Ellington Orchestra – November 22, 2008 at 8pm

Winner of the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album (Avant Gershwin), the incomparable Patti Austin teams up with the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra for an evening sizzling with pop and jazz classics.

Tickets $100*, $40, $25

*constitutes select prime center orchestra seating and includes admission to post-performance reception with Patti Austin.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – November 30, 2008 at 2pm

The little caterpillar with the big appetite is coming to Brooklyn! Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia draws upon the magic of black light and puppetry to capture the whimsical charm of three of Eric Carle’s classic children’s stories. The triple-bill includes the wondrous story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly, the fanciful account of Little Cloud’s travels through the sky, and the Mixed-Up Chameleon’s discovery of his unique nature.

Tickets $6

Christmas in the Caribbean with the University Singers – December 13, 2008 at 8pm

The University Singers have distinguished themselves as one of the leading choral groups in the Caribbean with their widely versatile repertoire of original music composed by Caribbean writers, classical choral works, American Negro Spirituals, Jazz, and Gospel. Always a favorite at Brooklyn Center, Jamaica’s cultural ambassadors return with a joyous holiday program.

Tickets $40, $25

The Colonial Nutcracker – December 14, 2008 at 2pm

Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music comes to life in wintry colonial Yorktown, complete with a red-coated mouse army, an enchanted nutcracker prince, and compelling narration that will help illuminate this timeless story for both the young and the young at heart. Created especially for children, this hour-long version of the holiday ballet is performed by Dance Theatre in Westchester.

Tickets $6

Expressions Dance Company in Score! – January 10, 2009 at 8pm

Founded in 1984 under the artistic direction of Maggi Sietsma, Expressions Dance Company is known across the globe for its highly athletic and theatrical brand of dance. This Australian company performs the New York City premiere of Score!, a new multimedia dance-theater piece inspired by Michel Fokine's ballet Petrushka and set in the insanely competitive world of reality TV. Packed with striking physicality, Score! incorporates live footage, video projections, and spoken word into this gripping tale of two contestants battling for the ultimate prize.

Tickets $25

U.S. Military Academy Band – February 1, 2009 at 2pm

As the U.S. Army’s oldest active band, the United States Military Academy Band has served the nation for over 190 years, performing for U.S. Presidents and Heads of State. Under the direction of Lt. Col. Timothy Holtan, it is committed to being the standard bearer of musical excellence, instilling the best of national values, spirit and patriotism in the American public. Tickets to this event are free and may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Brooklyn Center, PO Box 100163, Brooklyn, NY 11210, attn: Military Band tickets.

Tickets FREE

Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company – February 8, 2009 at 2pm

Bursting with originality, this spectacular show will delight the whole family with its giggle-inducing combination of clowning, vaudeville, dance and mischief. Enormous blow-up shapes and characters bounce around the stage in kaleidoscopic wonder, shimmering in a rainbow of colors. Fast-paced, energetic, and universally engaging, the Inflatable Theater Co. will mesmerize you with imaginative exuberance and artistic foolishness.

Tickets $6

Vusi Mahlasela and Rokia Traoré in Concert – February 14, 2009 at 8pm

Celebrate Black History Month with a double-bill concert of two of Africa’s most exciting contemporary singer/songwriters. Vusi Mahlasela mixes folk, blues, and soul to create a unique sound that connects South Africa’s Apartheid-scarred past with the promise of a better future. Malian songstress Rokia Traoré’s fresh, energetic music has been praised by Time Magazine as “mesmerizing, casting its spell with virtuoso vocals, rich textures, and startling diversity.”

Tickets $30, $20

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana – February 22, 2009 at 3pm

Exhibiting an unparalleled purity of form, rhythm, and intensity, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana presents a powerful and passionate afternoon of folkloric mastery, in what The New York Times has called “an infectiously joyful celebration of music and dance.”

Tickets $35, $25

The Male Choir of St. Petersburg – March 7, 2009 at 8pm

Making their New York premiere as part of their first U.S. tour, this venerated choir is comprised of some of the finest singers in Russia and includes four bassi profundi, adding a unique depth and richness to the ensemble’s legendary sound. With repertoire including 19th century liturgical works, selections by Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, and Russian folk songs, marches, and anthems, The Male Choir of St. Petersburg offers a truly remarkable expression of the soul of Russian music.

Tickets $45, $30

The Wizard of Oz – March 8, 2009 at 2pm

American Family Theater, one of the nations leading producers of musicals for young audiences, presents everyone’s perennial favorite story of Dorothy’s adventures over the rainbow, as she follows the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion towards the Emerald City and the mysterious Wizard who can help her get home.

Tickets $6

Arthur-Live! – March 15, 2009 at 3pm

Based on Marc Brown’s books and Emmy-Award winning PBS series, this interactive, family-friendly musical adventure features everyone’s favorite aardvark and his friends as they try to trick the Tooth Fairy.

Tickets $25

Ballet-théâtre atlantique du Canada in Don Juan – March 22, 2009 at 2pm

Making its New York City premiere at Brooklyn Center, Igor Dobrovolskiy’s lighthearted contemporary ballet presents a witty and fresh look at the legend of one of history’s most infamous lovers. A dazzling fusion of inventive sets, exquisite lighting and the music of George Gershwin delivers the perfect environment for the virtuosity, grace, and athleticism of the dancers of Ballet-théâtre atlantique du Canada.

Tickets $30, $20

Hot Peas ‘N Butter – April 5, 2009 at 2pm

Even if your kids don’t like peas, there’s no way they can resist Hot Peas ‘N Butter! This New York based children’s musical group, best known for their appearances on the cable network Noggin, combines an interactive, invigorating approach to performance with contemporary multicultural music. Musicians Danny Lapidus and Francisco Cotto incorporate elements of jazz, R&B, folk, rock, and Afro-Caribbean into their inspirational family concerts that excite children and adults alike.

Tickets $6

To Kill a Mockingbird – April 19, 2009 at 3pm

Montana Repertory Theatre presents this faithful stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The story of Atticus Finch, an attorney and widower who defends a young black man falsely accused of violating a white woman in 1950s rural Alabama. is told through the eyes of Scout, his tomboyish daughter. A poignant tale of justice, acceptance, and forgiveness that proves to be as resonant today as when it first burst upon the American literary landscape fifty years ago.

Tickets $30, $20

Marvin Hamlisch – April 25, 2009 at 8pm

Best known for his smash Broadway hit A Chorus Line and for such film scores as “The Way We Were” and “The Sting,” this Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning composer/performer returns to Brooklyn Center for an elegant evening of unforgettable music.

Tickets $40, $25

Julia Migenes in Diva on the Verge – April 26, 2009 at 2pm

Soprano Julia Migenes’ credits include her Broadway debut as Zero Mostel’s daughter in the original Fiddler on the Roof, Maria in the 1964 Broadway revival of West Side Story, and her Grammy Award-winning portrayal of the title role in the film Carmen opposite Plácido Domingo, and has a discography of over 20 albums. In her one-woman show, Diva on the Verge, she combines stunning (and often hilarious) interpretations of some of the world’s best-known arias with uproarious anecdotes about the rigid world of opera.

Tickets $25

Annie – May 17, 2009 at 3pm

Leapin’ lizards! Annie is coming to Brooklyn Center! The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including the ever-optimistic “Tomorrow,” Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Don’t miss this all-new production that Variety calls “a winner!”

Tickets $40, $30

About Brooklyn Center’s New Work / New York initiative

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts will continue its New Work/New York initiative for 2008-2009, presenting multi-disciplinary New York and world premiere performances at affordable prices to Brooklyn audiences. Introduced last year, New Work/New York includes, but is not limited to, the commissioning and development of new works, thereby also supporting the artistic community. For 2008-2009, Brooklyn Center’s New Work / New York initiatives include the New York premieres of L.A. Theatre Works’ The Lost World, Expressions Dance Company’s Score!, The Male Choir of St. Petersburg, and Ballet-théâtre atlantique du Canada’s Don Juan.

Subscriptions to Brooklyn Center’s World of Dance, World Stages, Theater, and Arts in the Afternoon series packages range from $64-$137. All seats for all performances in Brooklyn Center’s Target FamilyFun series are $6. Multibuy packages (three or more performances) save up to 15% off individual ticket prices. Multibuy discounts do not apply to Target FamilyFun performances. Discounts are available for seniors, students, Brooklyn College faculty/staff/alumni, and groups of 15 or more.

About Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

Founded in 1954, the mission of Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts is to present outstanding performing arts and arts education programs, reflective of Brooklyn’s diverse communities, at affordable prices. Brooklyn Center’s presentations explore both the classical traditions and the boldest contemporary performances, embracing the world culture that defines Brooklyn. Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts welcomes over 70,000 people to the 2,400 seat Walt Whitman Theatre each season, and boasts one of the largest arts education programs in the borough, serving schoolchildren from over 225 schools annually.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College

2900 Campus Road, Brooklyn

Online orders: BrooklynCenterOnline.org
Box Office: (718) 951-4500, Tuesday – Saturday, 1PM – 6PM
Subscription Orders/Season Brochure Requests: (718) 951-4600, ext. 25
Groups of 15 or more: (718) 951-4600, ext. 22

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts’ programs are made possible in part with public funding from the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding for Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts’ 2008-2009 season is provided by: Target; JP Morgan Chase; Independence Community Foundation; Con Edison; National Grid; Citi Foundation; Commerce Bank; Macy’s; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; Air Jamaica; the Carnegie Corporation of New York; and the Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund, established in the New York Community Trust by founders of The Reader’s Digest Association. Additional support provided by the Best Western Gregory Hotel, Courier-Life Publications, The Brooklyn Eagle, and The Brooklyn Paper.

Brooklyn Center gratefully acknowledges the support of the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York State Assembly: Assemblymembers William F. Boyland, William Colton, Steven Cymbrowitz, Diane Gordon, Janele Hyer-Spencer, Rhoda Jacobs, Alan Maisel, Joan Millman, Felix Ortiz, N. Nick Perry, Sheldon Silver, Darryl C. Towns, Helene E. Weinstein; and members of the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York State Senate: Senators Eric Adams, Martin Golden, Kevin Parker and John L. Sampson. Brooklyn Center thanks the New York City Council: Councilmembers Simcha Felder, Domenic M. Recchia Jr., Kendall B. Stewart, and Albert Vann, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin.