of art & design
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Ruthie Foster
If you were in Stewart Theatre on November 14, 2008, you won’t
need convincing: a concert by Ruthie Foster is an unforgettable,
take-your-breath-away experience. Many awards later, she is
in the forefront of the blues/roots music world. Ruthie Foster’s
rich, robust, soulful voice draws repeated comparisons to
Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald, but she’s a major force
on her own. An extraordinarily gifted singer and songwriter
from Texas, she mixes contemporary folk with old-school gospel
and blues with dazzling efficiency. Pre-show discussion,
7pm, Walnut Room.
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Musicians from
the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival
Now in its 12th season in residence at East Carolina University, the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival is firmly established as a world-class festival and a cultural leader in North Carolina. Led by violinist and artistic director Ara Gregorian, internationally-acclaimed musicians will join together for a thrilling program of chamber music masterpieces. LEARN MORE >
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Aquila Theatre – The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde’s “Trivial Comedy for Serious People” is crammed full of memorable satirical humor and larger than life characters (in fact, in all of theatre, is there one more delectable than Lady Augusta Bracknell?). Aquila Theatre’s staging of Wilde’s masterpiece promises to overflow with wit, elegance, and romantic comedy. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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Regina Carter
Is it obvious? We adore Regina Carter. We are thrilled to welcome her back for her fourth appearance on the Center Stage series. The leading jazz violinist of our time, she has put her indelible stamp on collaborations with artists as diverse as Wynton Marsalis, Lauryn Hill, Cassandra Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and Dolly Parton. With her own band, Regina Carter reaps praise for her unparalleled ability to integrate the finer elements of jazz, funk, African, Brazilian and soul music with an adventurous rhythmic sensibility. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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Dobet Gnahoré
Ivory Coast vocalist and dancer Dobet Gnahoré first took American
audiences by storm in 2006, when she joined African music legends
Habib Koité and Vusi Mahlasela on Putumayo’s Acoustic Africa
tour. In 2010, Dobet and India.Arie won the Grammy for Best
Urban/Alternative Performance for the song “Pearls.” With a
Pan-African sound ranging from Mandingue melodies to Congolese
rumba, Ivory Coast ziglibiti to Cameroon bikoutsi, Dobet is
hailed as one of the freshest talents in new African music.
The BBC calls her “a vivacious bundle of energy, blessed with
a powerful voice and infectious charisma.” Come see why. Pre-show
discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room.
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Shana
Tucker
Transcending genre distinctions, Shana Tucker is a "ChamberSoul" cellist and singer/songwriter from New York who's set on blazing a trail for herself down here in North Carolina. Her music is a sultry pastiche of acoustic pop and soulful, jazz-influenced contemporary folk. Shana just released her debut album, Shine, described by The News & Observer as “a delectable combination of folksy acoustic pop and in-the-pocket jazz, topped off with her easy croon.” LEARN MORE >
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Brian Brooks Moving Company – Motor
Choreographer Brian Brooks fuses “minimalist rigor with flamboyant whimsy” (The New Yorker). Brian’s latest whimsy? Spanning the distance from the back of the stage out to the farthest walls of the theatre, over three miles of sky blue cables expand to create a tunnel-like space over both audience and performers in the 60-minute dance Motor. Within this vibrant, large-scale installation, dancers wrestle with themselves and one another in an exploration of perpetual motion that amplifies our linear perception of time and experience. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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Turtle Island
Quartet – The Music of John Coltrane
John Coltrane’s jazz epiphany, A Love Supreme, was recorded four decades ago at a time when the country was deeply troubled by issues of race and war. Coltrane’s music was a personal statement of redemption and salvation that struck a chord in the hearts of millions. In exploring the musical legacy of this North Carolina native, the two-time Grammy Award winning Turtle Island Quartet continues its tradition of employing the string quartet form to shed new light on the timeless joy and beauty contained in the greatest music of the American jazz masters. Presented in partnership with the Raleigh Chamber Music Guild. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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David Dorfman Dance – Prophets of Funk
David Dorfman, a longtime favorite of Center Stage and ADF dance audiences, returns with Prophets of Funk – Dance to the Music. Set to the irresistible sounds of Sly and the Family Stone’s groundbreaking, visceral, and powerful music, Prophets of Funk exemplifies the struggles and celebration of everyday people, inviting the audience to find ardor in the muck and mess – the funk – of life. Recognizing the vitality and revelry of the 1970s, Dorfman’s Prophets of Funk seeks to lift up the spirit of Sly: insisting that in the face of this funk, there are still hopes and aspirations that reside in all of us. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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The Cashore Marionettes
Simply magical. Unmatched in artistry, grace and refinement of movement, the enchanting Cashore Marionettes redefine the art of puppetry. A series of touching vignettes set to classical music explore a range of emotions and celebrate life. Marvels of engineering, The Cashore Marionettes are so well conceived and projected, the movement so convincing, the illusion so powerful, that the result is a compelling, unforgettable theatrical experience for all ages. 3pm: Simple Gifts (all ages), 8pm: Life in Motion (adults and young adults). LEARN MORE >
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Sagapool
With its vibrant music and contagious joie de vivre, this band of six musicians has created an original and dazzling repertoire that reflects the colorful influences of Montreal’s cultural mosaic. Guitar, bass, accordion, percussion, banjo, glockenspiel, Rhodes, violin, clarinet and piano all shine in the hands of these multi-talented instrumentalists. Sagapool lets its music travel without borders and preserves the free spirit and exuberance of its first loves – gypsy music, gypsy swing and klezmer – while adding ska, Latin and folk rhythms. Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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John
Pizzarelli & Jessica
Molaskey: The Heart of Saturday Night
They don’t come any better than John Pizzarelli: witty, utterly
charming, an amazing voice, a dazzling guitarist. And now…
on his third trip to Center Stage, he’s teaming up with the
fabulous Broadway star and singer extraordinaire, Jessica Molaskey
(who just happens to be his wife). Their splendid cabaret show
features rich, original interpretations of songs from the Great
American Songbook mixed with contemporary classics.
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Red Baraat
Infectious energy! Led by dhol player Sunny Jain, Red Baraat delivers an explosive stage performance with a riveting “Bollywood meets New Orleans” brew of North Indian, funk, go-go, Latin and jazz rhythms. Comprised of dhol (a double-headed Punjabi drum), drum set, percussion, sousaphone, and five horns, this Brooklyn-based group is pure joy. "The band artfully hybridizes Indian bhangra and something akin to New Orleans second-line funk. Plus it's fun as hell." – Chicago Reader Pre-show discussion, 7pm, Walnut Room. LEARN MORE >
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Mermaid
Theatre – Goodnight Moon & The Runaway
Bunny
Two bedtime stories come to life on stage with these adaptations
of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s beloved classics.
The acclaimed Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (last with us
two seasons ago for The Very Hungry Caterpillar) brings
its whimsical puppetry, dreamlike imagery, and original music
to two best-loved childhood stories, infusing young audiences
with a wonderful sense of security and peace, and providing
an effortless introduction to the performing arts and the excitement
of reading.
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TheatreworksUSA – Skippyjon Jones
“Holy guacamole,” Skippyjon Jones exclaims. “My ears are too
big for my head, my head is too big for my body. I am not a
Siamese cat – I am a CHIHUAHUA!” He dons a mask, a cape, and
an accent, and transforms into Skippito Friskito, the greatest
canine sword fighter in old Mexico! Based on the book by Judy
Schachner, Skippyjon Jones is an enchanting musical
about unleashing your powerful imagination and following your
dreams.
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