Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara, California
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SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA An intimate black box theater with weekly performances by a variety of artists and companies, located in Paseo Nuevo in the heart of the downtown Santa Barbara cultural district. |
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SOME PAST PERFORMANCES: 1999 2000
2001 2002
(2003) 2004 2005 2006
2007-2008
SANTA
BARBARA DANCE ALLIANCE PRESENTS Opening night the 10th Lifetime Achievement award for contribution to dance in Santa Barbara will be presented by Mayor Marty Blum to Dianne Vapnek and Laurie Burnaby for 10 years of SUMMERDANCE. Join us for a glass of wine in celebration. "Snake. Rattle. Roll," "Don't Have to Tell," and "Folly," are just three of the exciting newly created dance pieces premiering at Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's New Works: Santa Barbara Choreographers, Friday through Sunday, January 12 14, 8 pm, at Center Stage Theater. The Dance Alliance will also present its 10th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening performance on Friday night. Dances based on themes ranging from the tragedy at Abu Ghraib, to romance in medieval times, to the enjoyment of a new yellow paper tutu, showcase accomplished dancers in solos and ensemble pieces, beautiful and quirky costumes, and inventive lighting design. With its great facilities and comfortable new seating, Center Stage is the perfect venue to enjoy this evening of drama and humor. In November a panel of judges reviewed live auditions and videotapes to select the program of eight pieces: Mixing foolery with good sense, Robin Bisio's "Folly" is a solo danced with abandon by Erika Kloumann dressed in a wild yellow paper tutu. A work for eight dancers, Valerie Huston's "Concentric Incident" portrays a relationship and mutual attraction in the dark environment of medieval times. It starts with early music (Canciones de Amigo and Santiago de Murcia codex No. 4 c. 1730) and curvilinear walking patterns that move into a circle dance Tarantella building to a mysterious conclusion. Misa Kelly explores the tragedy of the events at Abu Ghraib prison in "Lion's Fire", a collage of highly athletic movement, visual art and poetry to a sound track mix created by Stephen Kelly. "Don't Have to Tell" , a duet by Peter Cheng and Lindsay Shapiro's illustrates inner struggle and loneliness juxtaposed with the comfort and passion of sensitive touch. It reminds us of hidden aspects in our lives we mask with fake smiles and nods, which, when unmasked resolve into inter-dependence. Janna Diamond's"Snake. Rattle. Roll." was inspired by the numerous snakelike qualities in human beings. Exploring confrontation, vulnerability, and ultimately, the struggle for survival, four dancers coil, slither, rattle, and roll to fast-paced rhythms by Julia Wolfe. The UCSB Dance Company will show the piece in March at The American College Dance Festival in Montana. Andriana Mitchell and Taryn Wayne have created a playful, spooky duet evoking Halloween type spirits and mischief. "Coma 4", Marcos Duran's new work for 5 dancers, plays with fear, disorientation, inner confusion and frenzy to the music of Icelandic band, Sigur Ros. Stephanie Nugent's"Broken/UnBroken" is an exploration of how individuals construct meaning out of bits of information and how, once broken, an idea, object or relationship, can never truly become 'unbroken'. With daring lifts and falls and numerous surprises, the work begins as a solo followed by a duet danced to music by John Cage. Bringing new dance works to life is one of the many ways that Santa Barbara Dance Alliance meets its mission to promote dance and awareness of dance in Santa Barbara County. For more information and ways you can take part in the Santa Barbara dance scene, call Santa Barbara Dance Alliance 805 966-6950 and see our website www.sbdancealliance.org. For more information, visit www.sbdancealliance.org TIMES: January 12, 13, and
14 at 8:00 P.M. January 18 and 19, 2007 SANTA BARBARA JAZZ DANCE ACADEMY PRESENTS TIMES: Thursday and Friday
January 18 and 19 at 7:00 P.M. (NOTE
EARLY TIME) Saturday, January 20, 2007
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION OF USITT PRESENTS
If you are interested in attending, please email Vickie Scott at scott@dramadance.ucsb.edu For more information on this and other events sponsored by the Southern
California Section of USITT, please visit http://www.socalusitt.org TIME: Saturday, January 20,
10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
IRIDIAN
ARTS PRESENTS Keith Johnson will share three of his works: Outside Looking Up (Still) / Blueprint for A Goodbye, The Last Sliver of Sunlight, and his premier of I Dream a Highway. A deeply humanistic artist, Johnson's dances are architecturally etched without denying the inherent emotionality of the human body. Keith formed Keith Johnson/ Dancers in 1998 and the company has performed in California, North Carolina, Utah and Arizona. Currently on faculty at California State Long Beach, he is an Associate Professor who teaches both composition and contemporary dance technique. Keith received the Choo San Goh Award in 2002 for emerging choreographers and has had support from the Dance/USA Foundation. His work has included performances at University of Utah, The LIT Series, the Joyce Soho in New York, The Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City, and the Diavolo Space in Los Angeles. Now a local favorite, Stephanie Nugent will present Frame/Reframe, a piece which investigates how meaning is shaped by our past experiences, perspectives and 'frames of reference'. Nugent's work is a unique blend of dance and theater, often exploring relationships between personal truths and public personas. Nugent is a choreographer, performer, and educator with special interest in dance/ theater and improvisational dance forms. She is Artistic Director of Nugent Dance and an Associate Professor of Dance at UC Santa Barbara.
Visit the web site: www.iridianarts.com TIMES: Saturday February 10
at 8:00 P.M., Sunday February 11 at 2:00 and 8:00 P.M.
DRAMATIC WOMEN PRESENTS Sexy bears and humans cavorting in the woods, a bizarre family crisis in the back room of an outlet store in Nevada, urban chaos at a radio station in Washington DC in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination, and a confrontation in a South African squatters camp. Well-known Santa Barbara writers Anderson, Huerta and Rolle are joined by Sheila Fugard, noted South African novelist and wife of world-famed playwright Athol Fugard, for an evening of exciting new work. This is Sheila's playwriting debut, and a world premiere. Directors: Alison Coutts-Jordan, Michael Downey, Carol Fischer, Zoe McCarthy. Featuring: Leslie Annrenee, Michaun Barner, Qualiema Green, Dana Halverson, Matthew "Catfish" Jean, Diva Johnson, Michael Johnson, Starr Kirkland, Linda McCall, Paul McCormick, Lauren Parsons, Max Smith and Adaeze Uyanwah. TIMES: February 16, 17, 22,
23, and 24 at 8:00 P.M.
BALLET
SANTA BARBARA PRESENTS After its highly successful second season at the Luke Theater last November,
Ballet Santa Barbara comes to Center Stage with a captivating program featuring
the world premiere of Susan Shaberman's "Silent Voices" set to
a gripping score by Benjamin Lees. The cast of local dancers will astound
you as will the intensity of our guest performers, Carlos Fittante of NYC
and Aida Amirkhanian of L.A. In this rich repertory performance with live
musical accompaniment, Ballet Santa Barbara explores the contemporary as
well as the classical, always remaining committed to highly expressive and
dramatic dancing. Elizabeth Schwyzer of the Independent wrote: "[The
dancers] were without exception technically strong, versatile, and dramatic."
Carrie Diamond, Artistic Director; Eric Valinsky, Music Director. Vist the web site: http//www.balletsantabarbara.org TIMES: Tuesday March 6 and
Wednesday March 7 at 8:00 P.M. March 9 and 10, 2007 SANTA BARBARA JAZZ DANCE ACADEMY PRESENTS TIMES: March 9 at 7:00 P.M., March 10 at 2:00 and 7:00 P.M. (NOTE
EARLY TIMES)
MAGDALENE WOMEN PRESENTS Thirteen stories from women of different cultures and generations, including a Hindu woman's story of the red dot on her forehead, which is tied to the blood; a woman who throws the familyTV out the window while PMS-ing; a woman. who reclaims her power by bleeding all over a corporation; and young woman's first discovery that she is a lesbian when a friend shows her how to put in a tampon. Red dancing ninjas, red winged dragon dancers, poi spinners and swirling sufis, accompanied by musical instruments from around the world, create a sensory feast in between each of the monologues. Women will laugh, cry, and never bleed the same again! Men will get a glimpse into a secret corridor of woman usually forbidden to them. A one-of-a-kind controversial, conversational must-see performance-art collaborative! Friday March 16: Opening Night Thursday March 22: Benefit Night TIMES: March 15 (preview),
16 (opening), 17, 21, 22 (benefit), 23, and 24 at 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 28, 2007 PLAYING FOR PEACE: Join Antioch University Santa Barbara and the Apple Hill Chamber Players for a creative evening dedicated to peace. Featuring piano, viola, violin, and cello, this ensemble will share their music and experiences playing with musicians all over the world, using music as a bridge to enhance global awareness towards peace and understanding. From Armenia to Tanzania, the Apple Hill Chamber Players sustain a unique mission of Playing for Peace. Featuring piano, viola, violin and cello, this chamber group uses music as a model democratic process, noting that there is no single conductor-together the musicians communicate verbally and non-verbally to make music. The Apple Hill Chamber Players tour worldwide, performing concerts, conducting music workshops, and awarding scholarships to musicians of conflicting cultures. These selected scholars attend the International Summer Music Festival held in Southern New Hampshire. During five sessions, Apple Hill hosted 327 participants from 24 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, England, Georgia, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Korea, Northern Ireland, Palestine/West Bank, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Spain, Tanzania. Antioch University Santa Barbara (AUSB) has provided 30 years of higher education and community based service learning to the tri-county regions in areas of education, liberal studies, organizational management and psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. AUSB is one of six campuses in the Antioch University system. The Apple Hill Players appearance in Santa Barbara is part of a national residency and performance tour of each of the Antioch campuses. TIME: Wednesday, March 28,
at 7:00 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME)
THE LOOSE AFFILIATION OF ARTISTS PRESENTS Jon, an up-and-coming filmmaker, meets up with his best friend from high school, Vince, a volunteer firefighter who makes his money selling pot. On the eve of Jon's film premier, Vince chokes a confession from Jon about a questionable act committed against Amy Randall, a girl whom they both dated ten years prior--only to reveal that he's taped the conversation, and that Amy is on her way over. Tape is a biting examination of motive, memory, truth, and perception. How many years will the pangs of jealousy endure? Should justice be achieved through any means possible? "Tape is terrific...Belber has expert fun torturing his characters with the things that never get said, yet the language is uniquely telling and the underlying grief shines through."--The New Yorker. "Fascinating and entertaining...a terrific playReal talk, real characters, real situations-a real play."--NY Post The LAA follows in the footsteps of their premier production of Neil Labute's The Shape of Things, and continues to explore the grittier side of life, while tapping into the universal human experience. TIMES: March 29, 30, and 31,
April 5, 6, and 7 at 8:00 P.M.
IRIDIAN
ARTS PRESENTS On Sunday April 29th, at 8pm Iridian Arts presents the return of the Robin Cox Ensemble, this time with Alaska percussion virtuoso Scott Deal as an added treat. A quintet of violin, cello, clarinet, and two percussion, RCE performs the post-classical music of Robin Cox and other contemporary composers. In the last seven years this group with a one-of-a-kind instrumentation has held over one hundred performances, collaborated with many prominent choreographers, composers, and video artists, and has released two critically acclaimed recordings. It is quickly developing a reputation throughout the United States for innovative and compelling concerts, which speak to a wide range of audiences in performances both intriguing and surprising. They have commissioned works from a wide range of composers, collaborated in numerous multi- media events, and shared the stages with musicians and composers such as the Eclipse Quartet, Eve Beglarian, Sarah Cahill, Art Jarvinen, and Pamela Z. This all-new program includes "Levitation Games," a work by Cox for Deal as marimba soloist with the ensemble, Deal's own explosive percussion trio "Cocolithophore," and Terry Riley's classic minimalist piece "In C." The Robin Cox Ensemble is: Robin Cox (violinist/composer/director), Erik Leckrone (percussionist), Eric Mellencamp (percussionist), Maggie Parkins (cellist), Marty Walker, (clarinetist), and Nic Chaffee (audio engineer).
Percussionist Scott Deal is a virtuoso percussionist and innovator in collaboration between live music and video. An active performer of new music, he has been a soloist at Sub Tropics New Music Festival, May in Miami, SEAMUS International Electronic Music Conference and performed as a soloist or chamber musician at venues in London, Boston, Washington DC, Moscow, Russia, as well as throughout the United States. His frequent collaborators include composer John Luther Adams and pianist Stephen Drury. He is also a prominent member of an elite team of artists and scientists collaborating on remote location projects for Internet 2.
Visit the Iridian Arts web sites: www.iridianarts.com and www.robincoxensemble.com TIMES: Sunday, April 29 at
8:00 P.M.
FUSION DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS A dance performance that encompassess everything from a tender warmth to a blistering fire! A fun, entertaining show for the whole family--kid friendly! Some dance pieces tell a story, while others are comedic, romantic, touching, somber, exhilarating--and all are eye-captivating and entertaining! Guest performers include Steve Campbell and Lindsay Rust of Dancing Drum, Salsa Lolita/ Somos Son and Carlos and Conception (Bassh Latin dancers 2007). Fusion Dance Company upholds its name by fusing together classical dance styles such as jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, tap, and different cultural influences such as hip hop, salsa, Afro-Brazilian, and Latin flavors. Some of its credits include Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara's Fire Fighter's Alliance "Fireball," Santa Barbara Jewish Federation gala, "Dancing with the Stars," and Santa Barbara's University Club, Fosse tribute and bridal fashion show, Channel 17. Also featured on KTLA news in Los Angeles.
For more detailed information and a list of credits visit thefusiondancecompany.com. TIMES: Saturday, May 5, at
7:30 P.M.; Sunday, May 6, at 2:00 and 6:00 P.M.
(NOTE EARLY TIMES)
SBT: THE SANTA BARBARA THEATER PRESENTS Stephen Sachs's hot, modern World Premiere adaptation of Miss Julie
is set on the Fourth of July in Mississippi, during the "Freedom Summer"
of 1964. Miss Julie takes August Strindberg's original story
of forbidden love, repressed desire and class relations from1888 and adds
a layer of race relations during a fiery time in the United States' history.
John, a black man, is the chauffeur for Miss Julie's family, and sees Miss
Julie as his way out of domestic service, while also harboring true feelings
for her he has hidden since childhood. Both "Pick of the Week"
in the LA Weekly as well as "Critic's Choice" in the Los
Angeles Times, where it is praised for Sachs' adaptation as well as
its "sultry tone," Miss Julie will move to Santa
Barbara from the home of our sister company, the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood.
Due to mature content and themes, this production is recommended for
ages 18 and over.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 SANTA BARBARA YOUNG SINGERS CLUB PRESENTS TIMES: Tuesday, May 29 at 6:00
and 7:30 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIMES)
BAMBOO-MESSENGER-WOMAN PRESENTS A spirited evening featuring the artistry of Woody DeMarco
(piano), Jon Crosse (saxophones, flute, clarinet, trumpet), Stephen
Geyer (guitar), Rex Harte (drums and percussion), and Hank Allen (bass). TIME: Wednesday, May 30, at 7:30 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME) BOX OFFICE
Thursday, May 31, 2007 UCSB DANCE PRESENTS TIME: Wednesday, May 31 at 8:00 P.M.
LIT MOON
THEATRE PRESENTS This year's 2007 Lit Moon season features a truly historic event: the
first repertory of contemporary Finnish plays ever staged in the
United States, and marks the first time a Finnish director has been invited
to direct a play for a professional American company. About the Playwrights
*Special Event, one time only! Screening of Ambush, acclaimed 1999 Finnish film that received seven "Jussis," the Finnish film awards, including Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Music, Editing, and Sound and Set Design. Director Olli Saarela's film is set in the early days of WWII and follows a Finnish soldier fighting for the Axis against the Russians. Starring Peter Franzen and Irina Bjorklund. See them on screen at 4:00 in Ambush, and on stage at 8:00 in For Sheer Love of Me! All tickets $10, Contemporary Arts Forum, Paseo Nuevo Mall. The repertory is a co-production between the Lit Moon Theatre Company and the Finnish Theatre Information Center (TINFO), and has been generously underwritten by support from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Cultural Finnish Foundation, the Finnish Ministry of Education, the Finnish Literature Information Center, Finnish Literature Abroad, the EU Culture 2000 program, the Santa Barbara Arts Commission, and the Santa Barbara Foundation. Lit Moon Theatre Company: www.litmoon.com TIMES: See chart above
BENEFIT FOR DRI'S GLOBAL HEALTH JOURNEY 2007 On June 21, three of Santa Barbara’s bands will take the stage in a benefit for Direct Relief International’s Global Health Journey 2007. DRI will be heading to Africa this July to work with their clinics in Kenya and Uganda. Santa Barbara’s musicians have a personal interest: not only are many of them long time supporters of DRI, but one of them, violinist/vocalist Sally Barr is going with DRI to assist them in Africa. 100% of the concert’s proceeds will benefit DRI specifically for this journey The evening promises a spectacular array of Santa Barbara’s finest: first up, The Gove County String Quartet, headed by composer and bassist James Connolly will present what has been called “Circus Music Soaked in Americana.” Connolly will be joined by violinists Laura Hackstein and Sally Barr and violist Kirsten Monke. The second set will switch over to jazz standards with MamaJama Jazz, with Barr on vocals, Connolly on bass, Bruce Bigenho on piano Tom Buckner, sax and Tom Lackner on drums. Lithely leaping through genres from country to polka to jazz improv, Headless Household (Joe Woodard, Dick Dunlap and Tom Lackner and special guests Julie Christensen, Bill Flores, Buckner, Barr, Connolly, and more!) will be the third course in this veritable musical smorgasbord sure to please the palette. TIME: Thursday, June 21, at
7:30 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME) Friday, June 22, 2007 SANTA BARBARA BALLET CENTER PRESENTS TIMES: Friday, June 22, at
4:30 and 7:00 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME)
MOMENT OF TRUTH The Cantrell family has reached a crisis point with their teenage son, and therapy is recommended. Whether Dr. Theodore De Gras and his new approach to family theapy is the cure remains to be seen. Music and lyrics by Deborah Wynne. Book by Annie J. Dahlgren. Directed by Judy Sanger. TIMES: June 29 and 30 at 8:00 P.M.; matinee July 1 at 2:00 P.M. July 2 through 14, 2007 BALLET SANTA BARBARA PRESENTS Classes Monday through Friday, July 2 through 14 (no classes July 4). Closing performance Saturday, July 14. For more information, please phone the box office. TIMES: Closing performance Saturday, July 14, 2:00 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME)
JANUSPHERE DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS Janusphere Dance Company (JDC) invites you to its west coast premiere on July 7 and 8 at CST at 7:00 p.m. These contemporary works will be performed by a new company of outstanding dancers drawn from the Bolshoi Ballet, Boston Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and New York Theater Ballet. Janusphere Dance Company: www.januspheredancecompany.org
COMPANY XIV Company XIV: www.companyxiv.com
Friday, July 27, 2007 SANTA BARBARA BALLET CENTER PRESENTS For more information www.santabarbaraballetcenter.com TIME: Friday, July 27, at
6:00 P.M. (NOTE EARLY TIME)
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January 12
through 14, 2007
February 10-11, 2007
February 16-17, 22-24
March 6 and 7, 2007
March 15-18, 21-24, 2007
March 29-31, April 5-7, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
May 5 and 6, 2007
May 17 through 27, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
June 8 through 17, 2007
June 29 through July 1, 2007
July 7 and 8, 2007
July 20 and 21, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007