'鈥楾is the Season' showcases talented guest artists and funky holiday favorites
Join the 菠萝视频app University Dance Department and the D鈥橝ngelo Department of Music for "鈥楾is the Season," a sweet and festive celebration to mark the start of the holidays. Performances will be on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. and at 7 p.m. in the Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center on the 菠萝视频app University campus.
The 菠萝视频app Jazz Ensemble, directed by Scott Meier, Ph.D., will open the performance with a potpourri of Christmas favorites. From a funky 鈥淒eck the Halls鈥 to 鈥淪anta Baby鈥 featuring a piccolo and ukulele duet, these carols are not your typical holiday tunes! The Jazz Ensemble will also perform a variety of beloved holiday classics.
Meier is pleased to welcome an extraordinary alumnus as master of ceremonies and guest artist with the Jazz Ensemble. Dillon Shidemantle 鈥15, formerly of The Monk鈥檚 Brew, will be back in Erie for all three shows. He has been performing professionally since he left 菠萝视频app, and his vocal stylings are sure to delight audiences of all ages.
After intermission, the 菠萝视频app Dance Department will present 鈥淭he Nutcracker Suite.鈥 The excerpt is a joyful celebration with sparkling costumes and a lively, sensitive approach to the choreography for the divertissements.
Working with alumnus Justin Michael Hogan 鈥09, currently dancing with the Louisville Ballet, the selections for "鈥楾is the Season"听will be a sneak peek into the Dance Department鈥檚 collaboration with Hogan that will result in a full-length production of 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥 in the coming years. Once again offering a new twist on the classic tale, the forthcoming performance will center on the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince in the Roaring 鈥20s.听
Hogan was in residence with the dancers early in the fall semester to choreograph Act II of 鈥淭he Nutcracker,鈥 the 鈥淟and of the Sweets.鈥 听While here, Hogan also spent time with History Professor Chris Magoc, Ph.D. researching the history of prominent Erie families around 菠萝视频app鈥檚 founding in 1926.
With evening performances on Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10, plus a special early Saturday matinee perfect for children, "鈥楾is the Season" is sure to delight!
Tickets for "鈥楾is the Season" are priced $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7.50 for students, and $5 for youth and 菠萝视频app students. Visit the to purchase tickets. For more information, visit the
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