Friday, August 08, 2003

Wilmington, N.C. – The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Arts in Action Performance Series has announced the 2003-2004 lineup. Scheduled October through April, the series features eight events which appeal to a broad spectrum of music, dance and theater enthusiasts. All performances are held at 8 p.m. at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium.

Turtle Island String Quartet

“Blue in Green: The Legacy of Miles Davis”

Saturday, Oct. 4

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

The series opens Oct. 4 with the Turtle Island String Quartet’s tribute to Miles Davis, titled “Blue in Green: The Legacy of Miles Davis.” Since 1985, TISQ has been a singular force in the creation of bold, new trends in chamber music for strings. Cellist Yo Yo Ma has praised TISQ for breaking new ground, giving rise to some of the most creative music making today. “Blue in Green” pays homage to the great jazz trumpeter as well as showcases the musical traditions Davis drew from and inspired.

Blind Boys of Alabama

Saturday, Oct. 18

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Blind Boys of Alabama take center stage Oct. 18. The two-time Grammy Award winners recently toured with Peter Gabriel. They have spent the past 60 years keeping alive the spirit and energy of pure soul and gospel music. The Blind Boys of Alabama also extend that tradition by transforming popular song into consecrated writ, the most famous example of which is their juxtaposition of “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun.” It’s no surprise that these never-tiring men have been inducted into the Gospel Music Association Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Paul Winter Consort

Friday, Nov. 7

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Paul Winter Consort EARTH MASS

Saturday, Nov. 8

2 p.m., Warwick Center Ballroom

Paul Winter Consort performs Nov. 7 to round out the fall performances. Formed in 1967, the Paul Winter Consort was one of the earliest exponents of world music, combining jazz with elements from various African, Asian and South American cultures. The group also includes notable “voices” from wildlife, a component of their music that led to the creation of their renowned Earth Mass, which will be held the following day. The performance is co-presented with the UNCW Department of Music.

Umbilical Brothers: Thwak!

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

The first event of 2004 for Arts in Action is the Drama Desk-nominated Umbilical Brothers Jan. 26. Get a first-hand look at this unique collaboration of comic imagination, physical skill and vocal ingenuity that took New York City by storm. Known as the thinking man’s clowns, Australian creators/performers David Collins and Shane Dundas use a high octane mix of tightly choreographed mayhem and live audio-acrobatics to create a surreal world, full-tilt with adventures, where anything can (and does) happen.

N.C. Jazz Festival Preview

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

The N.C. Jazz Festival Preview returns to Kenan Auditorium Feb. 5. One of the nation’s premiere weekend jazz parties kicks off its 24th year with this Dixieland-flavored concert preview. A stellar line-up of consummate jazz masters – from Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Davern to Michael Moore and Allan Vache – take the bandstand each year, making this kick-off an event that is always standing-room only. This performance is co-presented with the NC Jazz Festival, Inc. and the UNCW Department of Music.

Les Yeux Noirs

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Part gypsy, part klezmer, Les Yeux Noirs perform Feb. 11. The music of this Paris-based octet presents some of the most rhythmic and emotional sounds that have moved people to sing and dance for centuries. They draw from Romanian, Hungarian, Russian, Armenian and Yiddish traditions to create music with boundless energy, technical excellence and spontaneity.

Bruce Wood Dance Company

Friday, Mar. 26, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Bruce Wood Dance Company will swing, stomp and waltz onto stage Mar. 26. Choreographer Bruce Wood is known for his compulsive creativity and natural whimsicality, evidenced by dance numbers that range through music like Ravel’s “Bolero” and Lyle Lovett’s songs. The Ft. Worth, Texas-based group strives to capture the imaginations of audiences of all ages and artistic tastes. Critics agree that they have done just that.

Sam Bush

Saturday, Apr. 17, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

The series finale is master musician and bluegrass rebel Sam Bush Apr. 17. More than a staple of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the mandolin virtuoso is considered the “cosmic glue” that has defined the festival’s maverick spirit for almost 30 years. He blends styles ranging from gospel to rock, pop to reggae, jazz to country, folk and bluegrass. His list of musical co-conspirators proves Bush’s popularity and talent: Phish, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Ricky Skaggs, Lyle Lovett, Bela Fleck, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Steve Earle, among others.

Box Office and Ticket Information

Subscriptions to the series are now available, which offers a savings of 20-percent as well as priority seating for all performances. Season tickets are priced at $29 for UNCW students and children age 12 and under; $58 for senior citizens and UNCW faculty/staff and $86 for all others. A smaller ticket package ("Choose-Your-Own-Series") option is also available and offers 10-percent savings for ticket purchases to four different events.

Individual tickets, on sale beginning August 25th, are priced at $6 for UNCW students and children age 12 and under; $12 for senior citizens and UNCW faculty/staff and $18 for all others.

For tickets, call the Kenan Auditorium Box Office at 910/962-3500 or 800/732-3643 outside of the Wilmington area. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About UNCW Arts in Action Performance Series

Sponsored by the Campus Activities and Involvement Center at UNC Wilmington, the Arts in Action Performance Series seeks to culturally enrich, educate and entertain both students and the general public through the presentation of diverse programs featuring professional, high-quality performing artists. Each series features an eclectic combination of jazz, world music, modern dance, theater and chamber music. For more information, please visit the Arts in Action Web site at www.uncw.edu/stuaff/arts.

UNCW Arts in Action is a member of the N.C. Presenters Consortium and the U.S. National Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The 150 member venues of the N.C. Presenters Consortium may be visited at www.presenters.org.

Black and white or color photography of 2003-2004 artists is available. Please contact Shannon Hooker, assistant director for programs and marketing at 910/962-7600 or hookers@uncw.edu.

Calendar Editors Please Note: Listing Follows

UNCW Arts in Action Performance Series

2003-2004

Calendar Listing

Turtle Island String Quartet

“Blue in Green: The Legacy of Miles Davis”

Saturday, Oct. 4

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Blind Boys of Alabama

Saturday, Oct. 18

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Paul Winter Consort

Friday, Nov. 7

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Paul Winter Consort EARTH MASS

Saturday, Nov. 8

2 p.m., Warwick Center Ballroom

Umbilical Brothers: Thwak!

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

NC Jazz Festival Preview

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Les Yeux Noirs

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

Bruce Wood Dance Company

Friday, Mar. 26, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium



Sam Bush

Saturday, Apr. 17, 2004

8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium