The college this year is hosting a diverse array of cultural events – everything from Irish music to Mexican ballet – designed to appeal to people from all walks of life.
Jonathan Lee, Director of Cultural and Community Programming, said he was especially excited about this year’s series of performances. Asked about his favorite, he said it was “hard to pick just one. ‘The Snowman’ and ‘Remember the Children’ are our pet projects. They are both substantial works as well as works in progress. Although they are perennials, they grow and change every year.”
Lee said the “Jazz at Bucks” concerts “are very cool because I like to dress the room out and help these folks move their careers ahead. I want them to look great in the space and be very comfortable in their surroundings. The better they feel, the better they’re going to play. I’m looking forward to Eric Mintel because he is a highly polished pro.”
Other performances include singer/songwriter John Flynn. “It’s amazing to go on the journey with a fine writer/performer,” Lee said.
Tickets for performances staged by Lee’s office are $17 for adults and $13 for Bucks students, faculty and staff.
The Cultural Affairs Committee, which is made up of Bucks faculty, staff and students, is hosting the “Gran Ballet Folklorico De Mexico.” The company, one of Mexico’s leading dance companies, will be performing at Bucks on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $7 for students.
“They will recreate an evening of dance and music ranging from the indigenous Aztec to the Campesino of the 1920s. Held on the Library Auditorium stage it will be a great evening of dance and music. They’ll have strolling mariachi players and you can’t beat the ticket price which is subsidized for students by the Cultural Affairs Committee,” said Douglas Rosentrater, an eight year veteran of the C.A.C. and professor of communications here at Bucks.
Both Lee and Rosentrater hope to have more Bucks students attending performances, but they understand that, as a commuter school, sometimes it’s hard to get people to come to shows.
“What we bring in is usually not what the student body is initially interested in,” Rosentrater said.
English Profesor Stephen doCarmo, chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee, feels that the cultural and artistic events any college campus has to offer can truly be one of the greatest experiences.
“I think that strong cultural life is vital for any university or campus. Education has a lot to do with what goes on outside the classroom. A lot of my most memorable experiences at college have to do with events I saw outside of class. That’s one of the best things college has to offer,” said doCarmo.
For more information on upcoming cultural events or information on the Cultural Affairs Committee visit the website at http://www.bucks.edu/cultural or contact the Office of Cultural Programming at (215) 968-8087.
Here is a list of some of this year’s cultural events. For more information, go to www.bucks.edu/cultural
Morning Star in Concert –
A Celebration of Irish Music
Saturday, October 11, 2003 – 7:30 PM
Morning Star is one of the foremost exponents of traditional Irish music in the United States today. Morning Star has shared the stage with Shane McGowan, Black 47, Donal Lunney, Sharon Shannon, Eileen Ivers, and many others.
Gran Ballet Folklorico De Mexico
Friday, November 7, 2003 – 7:30PM
An exhilarating glimpse into the intense and romantic culture of Mexico. Passionate dance, thrilling music and brilliant splashes of color make this performance a must see. The exciting rhythms of the Mariachi and Marimba explode with energy, and offer a glimpse into the breathtakingly beautiful culture and traditions of Mexico. Through support from the Cultural Affairs Committee, tickets are $10 adults/$7 Students / Seniors / Military.
The Snowman
A New Holiday Perennial…
Saturday, December 6, 2003 – 2:30 PM
Featuring live orchestration by Lambertville’s Riverside Symphonia directed by world renowned conductor Mariusz Smolij of the Houston Symphony. Follow the tale of a young boy whose snowman comes to life during his Christmas Eve dream – a dream which sends the pair on a journey into each other’s world. This gentle fable of friendship and the power of imagination is set upon a rich tapestry of dance, music and color. Based on the Raymond Briggs book of the same name, this delightful event is highly recommended for family, adults and children of all ages.
John Flynn in Concert
Saturday, January 24,
2004 – 7:30PM
A national treasure and a local favorite returns to Bucks. Ticket magazine places John Flynn “at the near end of a long line of American poets, thinkers and folk artists, stretching from Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman, all the way to Kris Kristofferson.” Kristofferson himself praises Flynn’s songwriting: “The truth is in the details; the gifts are an ear for accurate dialogue, an eye for powerful imagery and anything funny, and a heart open to surprises and the possibilities of moving the emotions.”
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons presented by The Nest
Saturday, Feburary 7 2004 – 7:30PM
The Nest, a New York City based modern dance
company brings a fresh perspective on dance to Bucks County this spring. Professional dancers from The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Mantis Project, and Buglisi Foreman Dance of New York City join forces this spring to bring Vivaldi’s Four Season’s to life. This special performance also features students from many local dance studios performing side-by-side with rofessional dancers from The Nest.
Remember the Children:
The Young Atrists of Terezin
Tuesday, April 17, 2004 – 1:00 PM, 7:30PM
A tribute to young souls lost in the Holocaust, told through moving works of dance and live music. Based on the drawings and poetry created and hidden away by children who perished at Terezin, this event brings their work to light again as a beacon, with the promise that the souls of these young artists will not be forgotten. This educational and emotionally moving production is recommended for ages 11 through adult.