Director’s Message
Welcome to the 2008-09 University of Florida Performing Arts Season. It is our hope that you are as pleased with the artists and attractions in this set of world-class offerings, featuring artists from 16 different countries. We believe that the artistic options are exciting, dynamic, artistically diverse and far-reaching in both their scope and their stature.
You will find marquee artists. Artists whose names are identified with their instrument or their art form. Artists such as Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Ravi Shankar; The Chieftains; Arlo Guthrie; the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra; and Denyce Graves.
You will also find artists and attractions who will be presenting their emerging talents in our community for the first time. Included in this group are American Choreographer Trey McIntyre and the Trey McIntyre Project, Tango Fire and The African Children’s Choir.
Many artists that have become familiar faces to you in previous seasons will also be returning to perform in our venues. Among these are the Ahn Trio with a new program titled Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac featuring special guests to be announced; Interpreti Veneziani; STOMP!; the Capitol Steps, for two performances the two days prior to our 2008 National Presidential Election; Laurie Anderson in a new work co-commissioned by University of Florida Performing Arts; the National Philharmonic of Russia; and, for our younger audience members, the return of Dan Zanes and Friends.
From a strong history of Broadway and theatrical productions, we hope that you join us for The Pajama Game; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee—which we acknowledge is not a spelling bee for the younger audience members in our community; RIVERDANCE; The Drowsy Chaperone; and L.A. Theatre Works’ new approach to the Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of War of the Worlds, presented appropriately on April Fool’s Day along with The Lost World.
This season will conclude the Beethoven Cycle that began in 2007-08 featuring all of the Beethoven quartets played over a two-year period in six concerts by six different string quartets. We complete the cycle with the American Quartet, the Ying Quartet, and the Ebène Quartet from France.
It’s my wish that as you make your way through the University of Florida Performing Arts 2008-09 Season you’ll find something that will satisfy your interests and stimulate your thoughts about attending a performance in a genre that is new to you. Please join us for one or more of the world-class dance, music or theater events being offered. We hope to satisfy your creative interests while stimulating new opportunities for you to explore the globe through some of the most significant artists performing today, right here in Gainesville, Florida.
Warmly,
Michael Blachly
Director