(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) — Building on the success of 25 years of bringing exciting, quality entertainment to the University of Central Missouri and area communities, the University of Central Missouri’s Performing Arts Series announces its 2013-2014 season.
Following the success of the President’s Gala at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City in April 2013, PAS has formed a new partnership with the UCM Department of Music, according to a press release. The result is the new Fanfare Series, four premier performances by UCM’s talented music students and faculty, in addition to an exciting lineup of Mainstage performances that have become the trademark of PAS.
Kicking off the season is the Provost’s Faculty Showcase, a UCM tradition. UCM’s music faculty will take to the Hart Recital Hall stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, to present a variety of solo and ensemble performances that will demonstrate the unrivaled skill and expertise of UCM’s nationally recognized music faculty. The performance is free of charge, and tickets are not required.
“A Thai Tale,” a UCM Children’s Theatre production, is planned for 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in UCM’s Highlander Theatre, followed by “The French Connection: Virtuoso Music for Trumpet,” the first in the Fanfare Series, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in Hart Recital Hall. The performance features UCM faculty members Alan Wenger and Mia Hynes on trumpet and piano. The Fanfare Series continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in Hart Recital Hall as Hynes and Tian Tian, UCM’s piano faculty, present “When Worlds Collide: Scenes, Swords and a Pair of Steinways.”
The PAS Mainstage performances present “Letters Home” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Hendricks Hall. Sponsored by the UCM Office of Military and Veteran Services, the award-winning Griffin Theatre Company examines the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by exposing the humanity within the war through the eyes of those who serve.
The Mainstage performances continue on March 25 with Jim Henson’s “Sid the Science Kid LIVE!” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 25 in Hendricks Hall. Science and the answers to the question asked by curious kids are the theme of the day in the special program sponsored by KMOS-TV.
Jen Chapin returns to UCM for an encore PAS performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in Hendricks Hall. The daughter of folk music legend Harry Chapin, Jen brings her own style of jazz-tinged, urban folk-story songs that search for shared meaning.
The Mainstage series of PAS performances concludes with another encore performance by a PAS favorite. Matt Lewis presents “Long Live the King!” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18. Presented by the UCM Center for Religious Studies as part of its introduction of a new course, “Elvis: Memphis Messiah,” Lewis brings his tribute to The King to Hendricks Hall stage with his exciting presentation of Elvis’ best-known hits.
Concluding the 2013-2014 season is the fourth Fanfare Series performance, “Opera: Music from the Old Country.” The UCM Opera Theatre presents tenor David Adams, UCM artist-in-residence, and his students as they transform the UCM Alumni Memorial Chapel into a historic opera house at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 25-26.
Individual and season tickets are available at the Performing Arts Series box office, Administration 100, Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m., by calling 660-543-8888, or online at ucmpas.com. Tickets also are available at the box office one hour prior to each event.