River Campus season set for range of arts

From flying acrobats to heartless assassins to a symphonic take on the "Star Wars Suite," the 2014-2015 season promises opportunities to discover a new side of Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

This is its eighth season, which includes musical and theatrical performances from students and faculty in the departments of Music, and Theatre and Dance, as well as guest artists and professional touring acts.

Many of the performances are rooted in international cultures. As Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, said, the audience "can go round the world without leaving home."

Touring series

This year's touring season begins with a group straight from Beijing. The National Acrobats and Circus of the People's Republic of China was founded in 1953, making it one of the longest-running troupes in China. The company shifted away from animals in the 1980s to become a nonanimal circus, influencing pioneers of "Cirque de Soleil."

The Oct. 23 show will feature acts such as the great teeterboard, group contortion and the grand flying trapeze. Cerchio called the circus "a magnificent blend of the old and new."

After the circus is a production of the Tony-winning show "Anything Goes." The comedy features musical numbers such as "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top" and "Anything Goes." The show was selected by Earl and Margie Holland as their special choice event to be performed Nov. 1.

For the winter holiday, "Irish Christmas in America" takes the stage Nov. 4. It's followed in the spring by Giordano Dance Chicago -- known as America's original jazz dance company -- on March 24, the Broadway musical "Memphis" on March 30 and "Sleeping Beauty" by the Russian National Ballet Theatre on April 24.

Theatre and dance

Award-winning musical "Hairspray" hit the stage of Bedell Hall on Wednesday to begin the season's theater and dance series. With big hair and bigger voices, the show's campy 1960s feel and colorful characters have made it a lasting favorite with audiences. The show continues through Sunday.

Later this month, Shakespeare classic "Macbeth" will balance out the series with its dramatic tale of witches, ghosts and corruption. The fall portion of the series wraps up in November with "Fall for Dance," featuring the work of Southeast faculty, students and guest artists.

The spring begins with the love story "The King and I" in February, followed in April by "Spring into Dance" and "Daisy Pulls It Off," the latter a comedy focused on life in a 1920s girls' boarding school in Britain.

Music

Jazz pianist Peter Nero will perform with Southeast jazz musicians Oct. 30 in a tribute to Art Tatum, credited by many as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Nero will discuss Tatum's life and influences while performing renditions of "Over the Rainbow," "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."

The annual Clark Terry/Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival will be Feb. 6 and feature Grammy winner Michael Dease. The jazz series wraps up with "Let's Swing!" -- a concert showing off the talents of soloists and vocalists alike.

Other musical performances throughout the year will include performance ensembles, choir performances and faculty and guest recitals.

Symphony

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, in its 14th year, begins with its gala season opener Tuesday. The event features guest soloist Viviana Guzman, a flutist originally from Chile. Sara Edgerton, Southeast music professor and artistic director for the symphony orchestra, called Guzman a dynamic performer.

"She is probably one of the most traveling and most sought-after flute players today. She plays all over the world," Edgerton said.

Guzman plans to fly to Cape Girardeau this weekend from Beijing, Edgerton said. The artist will spend those days practicing with the orchestra and working with flutists in a master class.

"I think the students will especially enjoy meeting [Guzman] and working with her because she's such a wonderful example of someone who's forged a very exciting career for herself," said Edgerton.

The audience will have plenty to be excited about as well, she said. The performance will feature tangos, specially arranged for Guzman and the orchestra, and other pieces from Spain and Latin America.

"It all has this wonderful vivacity. It's very lively," she said. "I think that anyone who will hear these tunes will go away tapping their feet."

Many people may not expect to hear tango music when they sit to listen to an orchestra, but Edgerton said audiences may hear a new sound at every concert. In December, they will perform English music from "A London Symphony" by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The March program will feature "Mars" from "Planets" and selections from the "Star Wars Suite" by John Williams. The final program in April combines with the university choir, as well as the Southern Illinois Symphony and Choir, and a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

"So that's pretty much the whole gamut of live music will be on the stage at Bedell," Edgerton said. "But this first concert is going to be especially great, I think. We've not done Latin America music for quite a while."

Tickets for each event may be purchased at the River Campus box office, 518 S. Fountain St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or by calling 651-2265. Online ticket purchases and more details about each performance are available at RiverCampusEvents.com.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.