Press Calendar For Immediate Release: February 2, 2018 MARCH 2018 AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY S CENTER FOR THE ARTS featuring: David Krakauer and The 35mm Orchestra Walnut Street Theatre s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Russian String Orchestra Moscow Festival Ballet Bria Skonberg with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and many more! (FAIRFAX) George Mason University s Center for the Arts released today its schedule of events for March 2018 as part of the Great Performances at Mason series. The calendar includes reimagined film music, classical ballet, comedic theater, acclaimed orchestral works, swinging jazz beats, and a celebration of Asian dance and culture. Additionally, Mason alum, students, and faculty are featured in theater productions and classical and jazz music concerts. The Center s March offerings begin on March 2 with The Big Picture by David Krakauer and The 35mm Orchestra, where music and visuals from some of the most important films in history are reimagined through new arrangements and site-specific video projections. On March 3, Walnut Street Theatre, American s oldest theater, presents the hilarious murdermystery Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery with only five energetic actors playing the roles of more than 40 quirky characters. The third chance to catch pianist Jeffrey Siegel this season will be on March 4, when audiences can explore the virtuoso variations of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin through performance and conversation. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan will thrill dance aficionados on March 9 with its inventive blend of Qigong, martial arts, modern dance, and ballet in celebration Asian culture and aesthetics. The criticallyacclaimed Russian String Orchestra returns on March 11 with renowned works ranging from Mendelssohn s Octet for Strings and Strauss s Serenade to pieces by contemporary composers.
The Moscow Festival Ballet wows audiences with a full weekend of classics including Swan Lake, which is set to Tchaikovsky s masterful score, and Cinderella, which features 50 dancers. For these ballet performances, the Center invites attendees of all ages to partake in A Princess Fairytale Weekend by: wearing princess attire of their choice; joining a pre-performance discussion with a company dancer; enjoying specialty cocktails and themed treats available at concessions; and immortalizing the memory of a fun night out at a photo booth in the lobby. The month s programming concludes on March 31 with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra featuring Bria Skonberg, a trumpet player and singer who is Shaking Up the Jazz World. A full schedule of performances and events for March 2018 is below. Unless otherwise noted, performances will take place in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall located at 4373 Mason Pond Drive in Fairfax, Virginia. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the Center for the Arts Ticket Office (open Tuesday Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), by calling 888-945-2468, or through the Center for the Arts website at cfa.gmu.edu. The Big Picture David Krakauer and The 35mm Orchestra Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Great Performances at Mason Step into a musical and cinematic voyage as this renowned clarinetist along with this jazzinspired orchestra explores themes of identity, place, and resilience. Celebrated clarinetist David Krakauer and The 35mm Orchestra reimagine the music and visuals of some of the most important films in history, featuring scores by Academy Award and Grammy -winning composers such as John Williams, Marvin Hamlisch, Randy Newman, and Mel Brooks. While these groundbreaking music arrangements are playing, a series of new animated films created by the New York video company Light of Day is projected on a screen behind the performers. Don t miss an evening of enlivening panoramas with emotive exuberance (All About Jazz). Tickets: $44, $37, $26 Walnut Street Theatre Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Saturday, March 3 at 8 p.m. Madcap mastermind, Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo), reinvents Sir Arthur Conan Doyle s 1902 classic mystery into a hilarious romp about everyone s favorite
detective and his most infamous case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being murdered one by one, and Sherlock Holmes, along with his trusted sidekick Dr. Watson, must work feverishly to crack the mystery of the curse before it dooms the newest heir. With only five energetic actors playing the roles of more than 40 quirky characters, this production from America s oldest theater takes the audience on a sidesplitting caper through the Devonshire moors, crowded railway stations, foggy London streets, and gloomy baronial mansions where the duo searches for clues, runs into dead ends, and puzzles out the truth for the shockingly funny conclusion. Tickets: $44, $37, $26 Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel Virtuoso Variations Sunday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Explore the virtuoso Variations of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin in Jeffrey Siegel s third mesmerizing performance of the season. Listen to Beethoven s humorous Variations on God Save the King, Mendelssohn s deeply affecting Variations, Op. 54, and the 17 year old Chopin s imaginative flourishes on the popular melody La ci darem la mano from Mozart s Don Giovanni while learning more about these 18th and 19th century musical masters. His performances were expressive and full of passion This is an artist who means every note he plays (The New York Times). An interactive Q & A will conclude this program. Tickets $42, $36, $25 Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Formosa Friday, March 9 at 8 p.m. Formosa! 16th century Portuguese sailors exclaimed when they saw a verdant island, thick with mountains and trees, rising out from the sea off the coast of China. Formosa, or Beautiful Island, was later renamed Taiwan. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, led by pioneering choreographer Lin Hwai-min, uses this legend as inspiration for its latest evening-length work. Using luminous projected images of Chinese characters as a visual backdrop and music by award-winning indigenous singer Sangpuy, dancers move with unparalleled grace to share the story of abstract beauty born of land and lore. For more than forty years, the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan company has thrilled audiences with its inventive blend of Qigong, martial arts, modern dance, and ballet to celebrate Asian culture and aesthetics. No company in the world dances like Cloud Gate. It presents a distinct and mature Chinese choreographic language (Dance Europe). Tickets: $50, $43, $30
This tour is made possible by the grants from the Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). Russian String Orchestra Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. Misha Rachlevsky, conductor R. Strauss: Serenade, Op. 7 Bekmambetov: For Misha s Gang Suite for small, regular, large and extra-large fiddles Schnauber: In Memory of Henri Temianka Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings Russia s finest young string ensemble, the Russian String Orchestra returns to the Center with its acclaimed virtuosity, high energy, and warmth. Under the baton of founder and music director, Misha Rachlevsky, the ensemble is recognized internationally for its quality, depth, and the variety of its repertoire. This program exemplifies the ensemble s versatility by playing works ranging from Mendelssohn s popular Octet for Strings to works by contemporary composers. The Russian String Orchestra has met critical acclaim including the Critics Choice in London s Gramophone and Critics Choice in The New York Times. Tickets: $50, $43, $30 Moscow Festival Ballet Swan Lake Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. The exquisite dancers of the Moscow Festival Ballet showcase the traditions of Russian grand ballet in this performance of Tchaikovsky s beloved masterpiece. Inspired by a fairy tale, Swan Lake follows the story of Odette, a beautiful princess who falls victim to a spell cast by an evil sorcerer. Celebrated for its stunning choreography by Petipa and Ivanov and, of course, its sublime score, this crown jewel of classical ballet continues to earn adulation from audiences worldwide. The esteemed Moscow Festival Ballet Company, founded in 1989 by legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet Sergei Radchenko brings together the best of Russian ballet. The dancers of the Moscow Festival Ballet spoke to the soul through the body (Post and Courier). The whole family will enjoy this stunning full-scale production complete with elaborate sets and beautiful costumes. Tickets: $56, $48, $34 Princess Weekend with the Moscow Festival Ballet Find your best tiara, gather your favorite princesses, and come to this very special weekend of exquisite ballets from Russia's premier ballet company. A special girl's night out or a fun experience for the whole family!
Princess cocktails and fairy tale sweet treats available at concessions A photo booth fit for a princess Princess attire is encouraged for all ages A pre-performance discussion with a dancer from this prestigious company Moscow Festival Ballet Cinderella Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. Fifty graceful dancers from this world-renowned ensemble perform a ballet for the whole family. Cinderella is based on the well-known fairy tale about the kind but mistreated stepdaughter and step-sister who is forbidden to attend the royal ball. When her fairy godmother magically appears, Cinderella s fate is wondrously transformed. With enchanted melodies, opulent costumes, lavish scenery, hilarious physical comedy, and highly-skilled dancers, this performance is a family friendly treat for all to enjoy. Tickets: $56, $48, $34 Princess Weekend with the Moscow Festival Ballet Find your best tiara, gather your favorite princesses, and come to this very special weekend of exquisite ballets from Russia's premier ballet company. A special girl's night out or a fun experience for the whole family! Princess cocktails and fairy tale sweet treats available at concessions A photo booth fit for a princess Princess attire is encouraged for all ages A pre-performance discussion with a dancer from this prestigious company Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra Bria Skonberg, trumpet/singer Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. Named as a Millennial Shaking Up the Jazz World by Vanity Fair, Canadian singer, trumpeter, and songwriter Bria Skonberg joins Mason s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in a swinging evening of fresh beats and brassy standards. Music Director and alto sax virtuoso Jim Carroll leads this distinguished ensemble comprising some of the metro area s finest jazz musicians in this sensational concert. The orchestra is joined by the multitalented Skonberg whose soulful, sultry voice and impressive trumpet dexterity fuses modern pop with jazz. In 2016, she released a debut LP of original compositions titled BRIA showcasing her extensive range from the bluesy instrumental Down the Deep to the Brazilian-flavored How Can It Be. The Wall Street Journal called Skonberg one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation, and she was recognized in 2016 as one of 25 for the Future by DownBeat magazine.
Tickets: $46, $39, $28 Mason Student and Faculty Performances Visual Voices Speaker Series Juliet Bellow, Performing Stillness: Rodin s Nijinsky Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. A professional lecture series sponsored by the School of Art, invites eight nationally recognized visiting artists and designers to speak about their work and the world of art and design. In addition to providing a look inside the studios of these top professionals, the series offers students the opportunity to interact with them during daytime seminars and studio visits. Free and open to the public. The Imaginary Invalid By Molière, translated and adapted by Ken Elston Directed by Nicholas Horner Thursday, March 1 Saturday, March 3 at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m. TheatreSpace A fearful and miserly hypochondriac divides his time between summoning doctors to care for his illusory ills and spending energy not settling the resultant bills. Moliere s final work combines the genres of satire and farce in a fast-moving plot that lampoons doctors, hypochondria, romance, and the fantasy of control. Tickets: $20, $10 students/staff/seniors/groups University Singers Sunday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m. Catch the University Singers in concert before they head off to their Northern Lights Tour of Iceland on a study abroad trip. Conducted by Dr. Stan Engebretson. Tickets: $12 adults, $8 seniors, $5 youth Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band Tuesday, March 6 at 8 p.m. Mason Wind Symphony conducted by Prof. Mark Camphouse
Mason Symphonic Band conducted by Prof. John Kilkenny & Prof. Denton Stokes Tickets: $12 adults, $8 seniors, $5 youth Visual Voices Speaker Series John Henry, The Quest for Unintended Consequences Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. A professional lecture series sponsored by the School of Art, invites eight nationally recognized visiting artists and designers to speak about their work and the world of art and design. In addition to providing a look inside the studios of these top professionals, the series offers students the opportunity to interact with them during daytime seminars and studio visits. Free and open to the public. Vocal Jazz Festival Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10 at 9 a.m. The Mason Vocal Jazz Festival is a non-competitive invitational event open to high school and college groups. Groups will perform a 20-minute set followed by a clinic with guest clinicians, Jennifer Barnes (University of North Texas) and Rosana Eckert (University of North Texas). The Festival Director is Dr. Darden Purcell. This festival is free and open to those who want to watch performances and clinics. 2018 Dance Gala Concert Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24 at 8 p.m. The Gala Concert is Mason Dance Company's crowning season event featuring dance by Mason s beautifully trained dance majors. This Gala performance will also be presented at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 25, at 4:00 p.m. The 2018 Mason School of Dance Gala Concert is a performance event featuring Mass by Doug Varone, Within Reach by Yin Yue, Flesh by Iván Pérez, and Brahms Symphony by Lar Lubovitch. Tickets: $25, $15 student/staff/seniors, $10 groups Mason Symphony Orchestra Wednesday, March 28 at 8 p.m. Concert conducted by Dr. Dennis Layendecker.
Tickets: $12 adults, $8 seniors, $5 youth The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee; Directed by Edward Gero Thursday, March 29 Saturday, March 31 and Thursday, April 5 Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Saturdays, March 31 and April 7 and Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. With contemporary resonance, Lawrence and Lee imagine circumstances surrounding 19th Century writer Henry David Thoreau s imprisonment for his refusal to pay a poll tax designed to support an unpopular war. Reflected through the memories of his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, the play explores the roles of government and the governed, civil disobedience, education, and the interdependence of man and nature. Tickets: $30, $15 students/staff/seniors/groups Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Mozart Requiem Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. Other Performances and Events Christopher Zimmerman, conductor Fairfax Choral Society and the Music & Arts Chorus Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 Ilya Kaler, violin Mozart: Requiem Prokofiev composed his bittersweet and soaring Violin Concerto No. 2 in 1935, as he was returning to Russia after decades in the West. The work is said to reflect Prokofiev s nomadic concert-tour life with the main theme composed in Paris, the 2nd movement in Voronezh, the orchestration in Baku and the premiere in Madrid. Hear this classic played by the contemporary violin master Ilya Kaler, past Gold Medal winner of the world s most prestigious international violin competitions including the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow and the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart s sublime Requiem needs no introduction to music lovers everywhere. Its manifold beauties have inspired performers and listeners alike for more than two centuries, while intriguing audiences with its mysterious history and unfinished score. Tickets: $65, $53, $39 Student Tickets: $15
About Great Performances at Mason Great Performances at Mason is a program of George Mason University s Center for the Arts, the professional presentation and production arm of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). CVPA provides an academic environment in which the arts are explored as individual disciplines and interdisciplinary forms that strengthen one another. The college prepares students for careers as creators, performers, teachers, scholars, arts leaders and arts entrepreneurs. Understanding that an education in the arts is deepened by regular contact with the work of distinguished visiting artists, the Center for the Arts, the professional presentation and production arm of the college, welcomes a variety of professional and world-renowned artists, musicians and actors to its stage. Students have the opportunity to perform, create and exhibit their work in a wide variety of public venues including a 2,000-seat Concert Hall. CVPA is home to the Schools of Music, Dance, Art and Theater, as well as the Computer Game Design, Arts Management, and Film and Video Studies programs. About George Mason University George Mason University is Virginia s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 35,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. For more information, please visit: George Mason University s Center for the Arts #MasonArts # # # PRESS CONTACTS Camille Cintrón Devlin Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications 703-993-8794 cdevlin6@gmu.edu Hyla S. Helsel London Director of Marketing 703-993-9808 hhelsel@gmu.edu