2008-2009 Performing Arts Season
Monday, November 17, 2008, 7:30 pm
James Trotter's life was great until a rhinoceros came and changed everything! Suddenly he was an orphan sent to live with his mean Aunt Spiker and cruel Aunt Sponge. One day while working in the garden, a mysterious man gives James a gift that changes his life again and it involves a magical peach. Join James on his exciting adventure inside the biggest peach the world has ever seen! As he leaves behind the sadness of his life with his vicious Aunts, James sets forth on a journey with larger than life-sized insects. With the wise old green Grasshopper and the eternally pessimistic Earth-worm, among others, James sees oceans and cloud makers; is towed through the sky by seagulls; and creates a stir in the "Big Apple" when the gigantic peach lands on the Empire State Building. James and the Giant Peach is a tale of friendship, love, sadness and triumph.
Friday, December 12, 2008, 7:30 pm
Ballet Folklórico consists of dancers, musicians, directors, a lighting director, sound engineer, house manager, a production crew, and a secretary. The Ballet presents fifteen student and public concerts annually for approximately 15,000 student, valley and Winter Texan audiences. Over the years, the Ballet has performed for numerous professional guest artists including Vicente Fernandez, Veronica Castro, Mariachi Vargas, The Band Creed, etc. In addition, the Ballet has traveled to present programs for local, state and national private and public affairs, conventions and political dignitary functions. The Ballet has jointly produced ballets, concerts, zarzuelas, and musicals with the Valley Symphony Orchestra, the UTPA Theatre, and the UTPA Music Department. In 1989 the Ballet Folklórico, along with the Rio Grande Valley Symphony under the direction of Dr. Carl Seale, produced Toxcatl a Pre-Hispanic ballet based on the Aztecs celebration of the fifth month. In 1995, as the Ballet celebrated its 25th Anniversary, it ventured into the realm of live musical accompaniment. In 1996, the Ballet traveled to Ottawa, Canada to perform in their Dieciséis de Septiembre Festival. In 1999, the State of Texas House of Representatives honored the Ballet Folklórico with House Resolution N. 510. The Ballet traveled to Austin to receive the award and performed in the capital’s rotunda in celebration of the event. In 2000, in collaboration with the music department, the Ballet produced a Spanish Zarzuela entitled La Gran Via.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:30 pm
Recording artist and actor, Tom Tiratto, a native of Cleveland Ohio began his career at a very young age. Tom participated in any and all drama events, musicals, and also studied percussion. As a drummer in the High School band, Tom was able to achieve a proficiency in both percussion and later the guitar. Tom enlisted his expertise in several local bands in the Cleveland area performing various types of music which included light rock, polkas, and jazz. Tom discovered a great sense of appreciation and admiration for the music of Frank Sinatra and the Big Band era. Tom sought out the expertise of a vocal trainer and was taught that the controlled delivery of the lyric in song was paramount in any performance. Tiratto relocated in Tampa Bay, Florida where he furthered his career developing a style reminiscent of the early crooners during the 1930's and 40's. He performed in many venues throughout Florida,the Tampa Bay area, and other cities around the country. His Tribute to Frank Sinatra has since become a huge success across the United States. Tom has appeared at some of the country’s finest theaters including Miami Performing Arts Center, St. Petersburg Collisium the Tampa Bay Convention Center and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Tom has performed on television shows such as, 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', two Nostalgia TV Productions of 'Puttin on the Ritz', and 'The Nostalgia Holiday Christmas Album'. He has also appeared as a special guest on many local television shows and radio programs around the country promoting his tribute concerts. Tom was also the premier performer at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida, starring in three productions, 'Stars, Stripes and Swing' , 'Melodies and Memories' , and 'Swing of the Season' . Tom has recorded commercial jingles for businesses in Florida, Washington DC and two recent commercial ventures in Germany. Tom's latest CD entitled 'A Tribute to Frank Sinatra,' features many of Sinatra's greatest hits, such as 'Summerwind' , 'New York New York' , and 'My Way' just to name a few. Let Tom and his orchestra take you through the many moods of the man we knew as 'Old Blue Eyes’. Audiences are simply astounded by Tom's portrayal of a true legend of our time.
Jason Bishop, Illusionist
Friday, March 27, 2009, 7:30 pm
From his breathtaking double levitation to his cutting edge Op-Art and Plasma screen illusions, Jason Bishop features stunning and original state of the art magic projected onto a huge movie screen. No other touring illusionist showcases such a diverse array of talents. Additionally, the show is delivered with a totally modern energy and an outstanding rock and pop soundtrack.
The show is surprising funny and truly magical. Bishop cuts through the usual hype and focuses on entertaining audiences with one remarkable illusion after another. Each routine is presented in his unique style. Some pieces feature more laughs than are typically expected from an illusionist, while other effects literally demonstrate sleight of hand skill performed at a world class level. Jason engages the audience on and off stage. He touches them with a snow filled theater and picks their imaginations when a borrowed dollar bill generously transforms into a one hundred dollar bill.
Friday, April 17, 2009, 6:00 pm (Opening Band), 8:00 pm Headliner
Over the course of the last 36 years Benson and the Wheel have boldly defied the fickle lures of the mainstream -- and thrived -- by sticking to their noble cause of keeping that distinctly American of art forms, western swing, alive and kicking. Along the way, they've entertained thousands and won praise and admiration from everyone from Willie Nelson to Bob Dylan, George Strait to Van Morrison.
Theater isn’t the only new adventure the band has taken recently. After three plus decades in the music industry Asleep at the Wheel began playing their dance music with pops orchestras to an overwhelming response in Fort Worth, Dallas and Austin. After numerous packed houses the Wheel is eager to do it again.
Asleep at the Wheel is not just your typical dance band, they're an institution: an ever-shifting lineup (over 80 members to date) of like-minded musicians united under Benson's crusade to carry the torch of big band Western Swing music into the 21st Century. If you want to hear what Texas sounds like, all you need to do is pop in an Asleep at the Wheel CD.