The Patten Series continues its tradition of showcasing the world’s incredible talent on the Chattanooga stage with the upcoming 2011-2012 season. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at the UTC Fine Arts Center at the corner of Vine and Palmetto Streets.
The theme this year is ‘Engage.’ UTC Chancellor Roger Brown explained, “We want to engage your senses, your humor, your mind, and your life with this wonderful season that continues the offers of the best and most innovative music, theatre, and dance in Chattanooga.”
The Patten Performances series was inaugurated by the University in 1980 as the Dorothy Patten Fine Arts Series, in honor of one of Chattanooga’s most famous performing artists. Patten appeared in over 30 Broadway plays, countless touring and summer stock productions, television shows and the movie Botony Bay, with Alan Ladd and James Mason.
International celtic musician Órla Fallon will open the 2011-2012 Patten Performance Series on Tuesday, September 27. The former singer/harpist with Celtic Woman has also recorded with the legendary Irish group Clannad and the acclaimed choral group Anuna. Coming from from the village of Knockananna in Co.Wicklow, Ireland, Fallon is known for her haunting, deeply moving renditions of traditional Irish airs and her self-penned compositions.
Returning for their third performance at the UTC Fine Arts Center, Imago Theatre brings their fanciful characters and hilarious situations back for a wonderful evening of whimsy on Friday, October 14. Imago’s unique, playful menagerie of creatures fill the stage in their latest production, ZooZoo. The universal nature of Imago’s world has won audience and critical acclaim in tours across Asia, Europe, Canada and the U.S. where they were awarded the New York Dance Film Award and “Best Touring Production” by Independent Reviewers of New England. Imago has been hailed by critics world-wide for their sophisticated, highly entertaining works for all ages.
Founded and based in Brooklyn, New York in 1985, Evidence, A Dance Company will perform on Tuesday, November 15. Praised by The New York Times as “one of the most profound choreographers of his modern dance generation,” Evidence’s Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown blends African, modern, ballet and social dance styles to tell stories that illuminate fundamental aspects of the human experience. This work provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms.
On Thursday, February 16, awarding winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo comes to UTC for the first time for a one-of-a-kind concert experience. For more than forty years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLaughlin, Emmylou Harris, Natalie Merchant, Mavis Staples, Ry Cooder and Ben Harper. Black Mambazo has performed before the Queen of England and the Royal Family, at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, given concerts for Pope John Paul II in Rome, the South African Presidential inaugurations and at many other special events.
Continuing its presentation of America’s top dance companies, the Patten Performances bring the uniquely theatrical Diavolo to Chattanooga for the first time ever on Tuesday, February 28. Diavolo was founded in 1992 in Los Angeles by Jacques Heim to create large-scale interdisciplinary performances which examine the funny and frightening ways individuals act with their environment. The company’s dancers, gymnasts and actors create performances collaboratively under the guidance of Heim. Their outrageous and surrealistic sets form an intrinsic part of each piece of work. Everyday items such as doors, chairs and stairways provide the back-drop for dramatic movement – leaping, flying, twirling – that creates metaphors for the challenge of relationships, the absurdities of life and the struggle to maintain our humanity in an increasingly technological world.
The Acting Company will bring Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors to life on Sunday, March 4. Founded in 1972 by the legendary John Houseman and current producing artistic director Margot Harley, along with the first graduating class of The Juilliard School’s Drama Division, The Acting Company continues to develop classically trained American actors and a national audience for the theater. The Acting Company continues to promote theater and literacy by bringing their touring repertory of classical productions, talented young actors and teaching artists into communities across America, performing each year in over 50 cities to audiences of 70,000 and reaching more than 25,000 students with its arts education programs.
The Turtle Island Quartet will finish the Patten Performance Series on Tuesday, April 3. Turtle Island’s revival of the improvisational and compositional chamber traditions resulted in Grammy Awards in both 2006 and 2008 for Best Classical Crossover Album. Through their exploration of jazz, classical, American vernacular and world music styles, the Turtle Island Quartet has taken its audiences on a journey through many musical genres, eras, and places while recording for the Windham Hill and Telarc labels. Now the quartet ventures to Electric Ladyland, tackling works by legendary guitarist, songwriter and performer Jimi Hendrix, as well as other compositions reflective of and inspired by Hendrix’s music including TIQ founder David Balakrishnan’s new composition “Tree of Life” and “To Bop Or Not To Be” by English jazz fusion guitarist/composer John McLaughlin.
For ticket information, please click here.
