THEATRE: Much Ado About Nothing

UVU Theatre presents the North American Premiere of Something Wicked This Way Comes
Utah Valley University’s Noorda Theatre introduces its third showing, “Much Ado About Nothing,” by William Shakespeare. This production will open on December 3 and continue through the 12, with evening performances each night at 7:30PM (excluding Sundays). Tickets to the performance can be purchased through the box office in person or over the phone at 801-863-PLAY or online at uvu.edu/theatre. UVU Theatre and its season are supported by the School of the Arts.
John Graham, director of the production, said, “This romantic comedy about the vagaries of love and misplaced jealousy is just as relevant today as it was when it was written five hundred and ten years ago. It just goes to show that we haven’t progressed as much as we think.”
“Much Ado About Nothing” tells a story of love, wit and words. The bickering of Benedict and Beatrice and the drama of Claudio and Hero has delighted audiences for centuries. Although there have been numerous productions, UVU is putting a new spin on the story by placing it in the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
“Besides the obvious connection that the play happens during a time of war,” says Graham, “I find that many of the themes of the gender equality that occur in the play are mirrored by the Mexican Revolution. And besides that, it makes the play just plain fun with wonderful music and colorful costumes.”
For more information visit: uvu.edu/theatre.

BALLROOM DANCE | Winter Concert

Utah Valley University Department of Dance presents a winter concert performed by the Ballroom Dance Company, December 3, 4, 5 and 7 in the Ragan Theater. Since the Ballroom Dance Company’s October performance at the inauguration of President Matthew S. Holland, they have updated a large portion of the show and are looking forward to performing it for the general public. Scott Asbell, director of the company, said, “The Ballroom Dance Company is prepared to dazzle and excite audiences with ballroom dance of all styles and rhythms. With four World titles, you know the dancers are excellent, and with a complete two thirds major work-over of the show, it will be fresh and exciting.”
Tickets for the show can be purchased from Ballroom Dance team members, Campus Connection 801-863-8797, or at the door. Cost of the tickets is $10 per person. Curtains open at 7:30PM each night with seating beginning at 6:30PM. There will be a matinee performance on Saturday, December 5 at 2:00PM, with seating beginning at 1:00PM.
UVU’s Ballroom Dance Company competes and performs nationally and internationally, receiving numerous awards and honors. In May of 2010, the touring team will travel to Blackpool, England to compete in the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival where they will compete against teams from all over the world. For the first time both UVU’s Ballroom Company and BYU’s Ballroom Dance Team will be in attendance at the festival during the same time.
For more information contact Scott Asbell, 801-863-8754, or visit uvu.edu/ballroom.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: Winter Concert

The UVU Percussion Ensemble will perform a Winter Concert, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7:30PM in the Ragan Theater.
The program includes a diverse selection of well-known percussion literature, featuring Steven Reich, John Cage/Lou Harrison, Peter Maxwell Davies, Radiohead, Ravel, Scarlatti, and Schnittke. Director Hilary Demske says that the ensemble "has prepared a program spanning a wide range of classical repertoire and styles.”
The recital offers the public an opportunity to hear original percussion music and creative arrangements of standard literature. It is free and open to the public.

REPERTORY BALLET ENSEMBLE: Informal Showing

UVU Repertory Ballet Ensemble Informal Showing
Utah Valley University Dance Department’s Repertory Ballet Ensemble will present an informal showing November 19 – 21, 2009. The performances will be held at 7:30 PM in Studio PE 152. This fall performance will feature choreography ranging from classical to contemporary ballet.
Shayla Bott, a lecturer in the Dance Department and the director of the Repertory Ballet Ensemble choreographed a classical work based on water, which features the entire company. Excerpts from Dulcinea’s Garden, from the classical ballet, Don Quixote, originally choreographed from Marius Petipa will be included the performance, as well as a comedic ballet, choreographed by Wilson Domingues, a Senior in the Ballet major, and a contemporary Pas de Deux by Associate Professor of Ballet, Mark Borchelt. Guest choreographer, Heather Gray, recent winner of the National Choreography Award through Regional Dance America, has created a new, contemporary piece for the company.
Bott stated that, “Through these performances, the students involved in Repertory Ballet Ensemble are able to progress more fully. The performances help take our ballet majors beyond simply being ballet students, into being competent artists with a fully developed sense of musicality and artistic expression. In addition, the performances expose the community at large to historically based classical works and cutting-edge contemporary ballet in one evening.”
Water Suites and the Petipa excerpts will be performed as part of Repertory Ballet Ensemble’s application to Regional Dance America. If accepted, the ensemble will travel to Richland, Washington, to attend and perform at the Regional Dance America/Pacific Region Festival in the spring.

NEW NOTES: new music by UVU Composers

UVU Department of Music presents New Notes: Student Compositions
Utah Valley University School of the Arts and Department of Music present, New Notes, a concert of new music by UVU student composers on Thursday, November 19, 5:00 PM.
“These student composers are working in a very eclectic assortment of styles, from serialized percussion works to mainstream vocal solos, from choral works to symphonic compositions, and from jazz to film scoring, “ says Dr. Marden Pond, UVU composition instructor. Participating composers range from first-time music creators to active composer whose works have already been performed in various settings. Pond emphasizes that, “ Each of these composers comes with a different set of goals and abilities, but they all have enthusiasm for creating music and a unique style and approach to the creative process. “ Performed by UVU musicians and other local performers, the concert will include chamber music, big band and small group jazz, choral music, vocal solos, piano compositions, orchestral music, and computer-performed pieces.
Featured composers will include: Alex Arnold, Julianna Boulter, Jacob Bradshaw, Lyndsi Bromley Bennion, Seth Commichaux, Chris Escalante, Branson Garner, Chris Hales, Rachel Hicken, David Johnson, Sara McKenna, Steve Orr and Kristine Stewart.
The concert will take place in room 416 of the Gunther Technology building. This event is open to the public and admission is free.

Donner-Galbraith Memorial Scholarship Benefit Concert

Blake Donner and Jenn Galbraith were two socially conscious friends who shared a passion for life. After the two students died in a tragic cave accident in 2005, the Donner-Galbraith Memorial Scholarship fund was established in their memory.

November 17th at 6:30pm, in the UVU Ragan Theater, the waning scholarship will receive life as celebrities and entertainers perform and commemorate the lives of these two beloved students.

Sponsored by Dr. Stephen Fullmer's English 276R class and produced by Stephen Carnegie, the show will feature a wide variety of entertainment and be truly inspirational. Enjoy the evening with Oscar winning writer of the Rain Man and Emmy winning writer of Bill, Barry Morrow. Performing that night will be multi-platinum selling artist Mark Slaughter. In addition, local artists Broke City, Hailey Hendricksen, Brady Fullmer, and Adjacent to Nothing will share their musical talents. An unbelievable dance will be performed at the event by Aubree Marchione and Nick Scott, furthermore, Grammy award winning producer Keith Thomas, Curb Warner Record label President Loren Balman, and award winning producer of Children's Broadcasting Brad Smith, will also be attending the event.

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