PLATTEVILLE — Tickets for the fall session of the 2012–13 UW–Platteville Performing Arts Series are on sale.
Tickets for the spring session will go on sale Dec. 10, with an Internet-only pre-sale on Dec. 8.
This year’s lineup includes:
The Wingra Woodwind Quintet, Nohr Art Gallery, Sept. 30, 2 p.m.: The Wingra Woodwind Quintet has earned a reputation as an accessible and dynamic ensemble with a repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary and, their most recent focus, cross-cultural music.
Founded in 1965, the quintet is the ensemble-in-residence at the UW–Madison School of Music with a tradition of artistic and teaching excellence. Wingra’s enthusiasm for performance and teaching makes it an ensemble that delights every audience.
The Aquila Theatre Company performance of “The Taming of the Shrew,” Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.: One of Shakespeare’s most famous and most challenging comedies, “The Taming of the Shrew” tells the story of the timeless battle of the sexes.
The inspiration for multiple operas and spinoffs, “The Taming of the Shrew” has been famously adapted by each generation, inspiring Gil Junger’s modern retelling, “10 Things I Hate About You,” and Cole Porter’s Tony Award-winning musical “Kiss Me Kate.”
“The Taming of the Shrew,” performed by the Aquila Theatre Company, based in New York City, is described by The New Yorker as producing “classics made relevant with superb acting and clever staging” and The New York Times as “an extraordinarily inventive and disciplined outfit.”
The Katie Armiger Band, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m.: With four hits on the U.S. Country Billboard charts by 20, Katie Armiger has twice been named Highest Charting Independent Female Artist and is one of the great rising stars in country music.
Armiger entered Houston’s Best Country Singer competition at 14 and took home the grand prize, a shot at recording a two-song demo, which developed into her self-titled debut album.
After spending more time on the road opening for such hit-makers as Jason Aldean, Craig Morgan and Luke Bryan, Armiger came up with her critically acclaimed sophomore effort, “Believe.” “Confessions of a Nice Girl,” her third album, became her first album to chart and her latest single “Better In A Black Dress,” inspired by her run as the fan-voted number 1 Hottest Bachelorette in Country Weekly Magazine for the last two years, marks her highest chart debut landing.
The Four Bitchin’ Babes, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Featuring the brand new tour, Mid Life Vices, the Babes hysterically journal the lives of the Baby Boomer generation and, in true Babe fashion, use their musical wacky viewfinder to honor the quirks and habits of men and women who (like the Babes) refuse to act their age.
Featuring a 20-plus-year career on stage with multiple DVDs and recordings, these four multi-talented gal pals, each a writer–musician–comedienne, share the stage with harmonies and sophisticated stand-up comedy.
A pre-show dinner with cash bar will be held in the Nohr Gallery beginning at 5:45 p.m.
A Leahy Family Christmas, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.: With a CD that went platinum and reached number four on the Billboard World Music Charts, the Leahy family is a Canadian triple-threat of fiddle-driven music, dance and vocals augmented by keyboards and percussion.
Their music combines the influence of their Irish and Scottish roots with new sounds from a variety of musical genres and instruments encountered during their tours in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. This touring success was captured in a student documentary, “The Leahys: Music Most of All,” which won an Academy Award in 1985 for Best Student Foreign Film.
Marvin Stamm, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.: Marvin Stamm is an accomplished jazz trumpet player who has gained considerable recognition throughout his career for playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), the Duke Pearson Big Band and the Benny Goodman Sextet.
Stamm has been on a worldwide tour with Woody Herman and performed with the legendary Frank Sinatra. Stamm currently spends his time touring and committing his energy to helping young music students develop their musical talent through jazz education.
The Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque Ziva, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.: The Golden Dragon Acrobats have been demonstrating their centuries-old Chinese art form to audiences all over the U.S. for more than 30 years.
In 2005, the Golden Dragon Acrobats had their Broadway debut with a seven-week run at the New Victory Theater, which earned two New York Drama Desk Awards nominations. With a fast-paced, technically innovative new show, Cirque Ziva has earned critical acclaim for its incredible feats of aerial talent and ability.
Giordano Dance Company, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.: The original jazz dance company, the Giordano Dance Chicago has captivated audiences worldwide with dynamic performances featuring its high-energy, high-impact artistry.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, GDC expands the definition of jazz dance with each new season.
The Vienna Boys Choir, March 16, 7:30 p.m.: With a repertoire including everything from medieval to contemporary music, the Vienna Boys Choir is one of the premiere choral touring groups in the world.
Founded more than half a millennium ago, the Vienna Boys Choir was founded to sing for the imperial court, mass, private concerts and functions and state occasions. Since 1918, the Vienna Boys Choir has expanded its role outside of state occasions and frequently tours throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
Break of Reality, April 18, 7:30 p.m.: The terms “cello rock,” “cinematic rock” and “heavy cello thunder” have all been used to describe the sound of Break of Reality, an instrumental rock band formed at the Eastman School of Music and consisting of three cellists and a percussionist.
Break of Reality allows fans of Led Zeppelin, Radiohead and Yo-Yo Ma to become acquainted with each other.
David Danielson Eaton, April 28, 2 p.m.: Dr. David Danielson Eaton’s organ-playing career has taken him throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Bahamas.
Eaton’s appearances at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, The Piccolo Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston, S.C., and The Concordia Organ Series at Concordia College in New York have all been met with great enthusiasm. He is a winner of the Elizabeth Margaret Meyer Award for Excellence in Music at Concordia College, an E. Power Biggs Fellow with the Organ Historical Society and a recipient of the Fredrick Rahn Scholarship for excellence in academic achievement at the University of Iowa.
Eaton is on the music faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he teaches organ and harpsichord.
More information on the Performing Arts Series and other performance events can be found at uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.
Tickets are available through the University Box Office in the lower level of Ullsvik Hall at the corner of Hickory Street and West Main Street in Platteville. The UBO is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone orders can be made by calling 342-1298 or 1-877-727-1CFA. Tickets are also available online at tickets.uwplatt.edu.
