College of Fine Arts and Design

Sept. 1, 2010

The University of Central Oklahoma's 2010-11 performing arts season will feature compelling musicals, engaging comedies and the first-ever High School Dance Festival featuring Central's award-winning Kaleidoscope dancers.

The season begins with a dynamic solo piano performance Sept. 8 by UCO Artist-in-Residence, Valery Kuleshov, in Central's brand-new recital hall in the Center for Transformative Learning (CTL).
 
"This concert is one of many firsts:  the inaugural performance in the CTL's recital hall, the first public debut of a recently-donated Steinway by the Brisch family and the first time Kuleshov will perform '12 Preludes' by Alexander Scriabin," said Lori Alspaugh, director of Development for the College of Fine Arts and Design.
 
Central's Music Theatre Division will premiere the musical "The Sweet Smell of Success" Nov. 18-21 about a desperate press agent who sells his soul to a powerful newspaper columnist.
 
"I tend to pick musicals that are unconventional classics, musicals that an audience doesn't always have the chance to be exposed to," said Greg White, Central's director of Music Theatre and producer for Broadway Tonight.

"'The Sweet Smell of Success' was on Broadway in 2002 and invokes the early '50s with a jazz-infused, cold, steely, film-noir feel."
 
From Nov. 4-6, the Dance Department will feature the first-ever Oklahoma High School Dance Festival.
 
"Central is proud to provide statewide high school students the opportunity to showcase their dance programs and to support dance education at the secondary level," said Jamie Jacobson, Central's Dance Department chair.
 
"The Kaleidoscope dancers also will perform during this festival, so high school students will have the chance to be exposed to college-level dancing."
 
Other highlights of the performing arts season include the Oct. 19 concert "With Bells On!" by the UCO Wind Symphony.  Joining the symphony will be the hand bell choir from Edmond's First Presbyterian Church.  
 
From Oct. 7-10, the Theatre Arts Department will feature the masterfully constructed thriller "Wait until Dark," a Broadway hit and a major motion picture.  "Wait until Dark" will be followed by the production of "Mr. Marmalade," Nov. 4-6, an extremely black comedy about what it takes to grow up in difficult times.
 
"This season's shows will alternate between keeping you in suspense and rolling in the aisles," said Daisy Nystul, chair of Central's Theatre Arts Department.
 
UCO's Broadway Tonight also will present two Oklahoma premieres this season including "Flipside: Patti Page, The Singing Rage," debuting April 9-10.  White is currently writing it in conjunction with Page, the 84-year-old singer.
 
"This is not only an Oklahoma premiere, but a world premiere about Patti Page's life as well as her music," noted White.
 
In addition, "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," co-produced by Broadway Tonight, Central's Music Theatre Department and CityRep, will close the season from May 10-22, and guarantees a wheel-spinning, mud-splattering good time.
 
"This show will be very exciting for students as well as the community. Central's Steven Smeltzer directed the national tour and will now be directing it here at Central," said White.
 
Tickets for plays, musicals, operas and dance productions are $14 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, UCO faculty and staff, and $4 for UCO students. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Mitchell Hall box office at (405) 974-3375.
 
Tickets for concerts are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and UCO faculty and staff, and $4 for UCO students.
 
For a detailed description of the 2010-11 season, including dates, times and ticket prices, visit www.uco.edu/cfad/events.