Director’s Message
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the University of Florida Performing Arts (UFPA) 2009-10 Season. I am proud to present you with a season of outstanding, internationally diverse programs that includes a world premiere, a newly commissioned work by UFPA, as well as productions that will be built under our auspices on the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts stage.
UFPA is facing many challenges due to our budget deficits. However, we will continue to seek various forms of support to maintain our distinction as an enduring cultural destination so that the importance of the performing arts in our lives will not be sacrificed or compromised. We will also pursue our vital mission with high-quality, well-regarded and relevant programs, sustaining our role in the cultural landscape of the University of Florida, and the Heart of Florida, through the 2009-10 Season offerings.
Our department is accountable to a range of stakeholders, including audience members; volunteers; artistic collaborators; staff members; our Advisory Board of Directors and those that comprise its respective committees; event sponsors; local performing arts producing companies; members of our Capital Campaign Council; and, the university and surrounding community constituents. All have vested interests in, to one degree or another, the sustainability and success of UFPA. It is my desire, and one of my priorities, that these constituents are well-served by the programs and venues that we oversee.
While we acknowledge that the performing arts experience has transformative power, we also realize that it is ephemeral; gone as it’s performed benefiting only those fortunate enough to have witnessed the live event. To that end, we will continue to create longer-lasting experiences that can resonate over days, weeks, months and even years, through our pre-and post-performance discussions, program notes, master classes, residencies, and the like. You have my commitment that I will listen to, nurture, and respect the thoughts, ideas and comments from the many stakeholders in this process.
At times you will join us for performances that you are well acquainted with; where your comfort level is secure and your knowledge about the artist or attraction is without risk. I hope you will also join us for programs that extend beyond your “comfort zone” to experience new ways of engaging in the UFPA performing arts environment. I realize that quality is important to you as you seek a return on your investments in both your discretionary time and financial ventures.
As we help to develop the careers of artists with whom we collaborate, you will encounter innovative and energizing performances. By broadening these boundaries of expectation, we will discover new ways to deliver what you’ve come to expect from University of Florida Performing Arts. Thank you for your confidence in our enterprise and again, welcome to the University of Florida Performing Arts 2009-10 Season.
Michael Blachly
Director