Tuesday, September 15 at 12 noon
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Millennium Park
Call 312-334-7777
www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org
Tap Your Toes - Not Your Keyboard - at the Harris Theater's New $5 Eat to the Beat Lunchtime Dance Performances : Lunchtime Performance Series to Feature Budget-Friendly, Accessible Dance Programs from DanceWorks Chicago
Building on the success and enthusiasm for its pilot lunchtime performance program last season, when nearly 400 dance fans purchased tickets to the Harris Theater's special midday presentation of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park will launch an exciting new lunchtime performance series, Eat to the Beat, this fall to offer performing arts patrons, students, area residents and professionals who work in the vicinity of the Harris Theater and Millennium Park a "taste" of the extraordinary - and unexpected - offerings at the Harris. For its inaugural year, the Harris' Eat to the Beat series will consist of three unique midday dance programs, each forty-five minutes in length. Audience members are encouraged to munch their lunch during the performances and with tickets just $5 each, Eat to the Beat is an accessible, budget-friendly and fun way to spend the lunch hour in the Loop.
"The Harris Theater always seeks to emphasize aspects of artists or their repertoire that accent the work of our resident companies and performances that delve further into the exploration of contemporary artistic innovation," said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director of the Harris Theater. "Eat to the Beat is an accessible and fun new program that we're sure will inspire and delight both patrons who attend performances at the Harris on a regular basis, as well as new audience members, in what I am proud is becoming regarded as the 'Harris' way," noted Tiknis.
Eat to the Beat performances will begin at noon and tickets will cost $5 per performance or $10 for a subscription to all three performances; seating will be general admission. In advance of each performance, audience members will have the opportunity to purchase a box lunch prepared by the Park Grill and pick it up in the Harris Theater lobby on the day of the program or they can bring their own; munching to the movement during the program is encouraged!
The Harris Theater's first Eat to the Beat series is a new collaboration with DanceWorks Chicago, a vibrant and exciting contributor to the City's cultural landscape, committed to excellence in dance. Founded in 2007 by a team of the most talented and active members of Chicago's dance scene, DanceWorks Chicago provides dancers, choreographers, musicians, technicians and audiences with an opportunity to grow and learn in an environment of excellence and build a richer, more dynamic dance community for Chicago. In addition to participating in the new Eat to the Beat series, DanceWorks Chicago performs around the city on a regular basis, including the Jazz Dance World Festival at the Harris this month, and presents a number of engaging programs such as Dance Flight, featuring "flights" of dance performances, and Dance Chance, an opportunity for choreographers to show their work informally and create a forum for dialogue among their peers.
The Harris' three unique Eat to the Beat performances will provide audiences with a "flavor" for different genres of dance and feature DanceWorks Chicago with live music by Chicago's folk trio Sons of the Never Wrong www.sons.com and human beat boxer Yuri Lane www.yurilane.com. A la the recent YouTube symphony orchestra experiment, the final Eat to the Beat program will feature a competition inviting artists, musicians, DJs and spoken word artists to create a soundscape to accompany the dance piece If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished by Alex Ketley. The winner's piece will premiere at the Harris for the concluding Eat to the Beat performance.
"Eat to the Beat offers the Harris an exciting opportunity to collaborate with DanceWorks Chicago on an inventive new program that not only reflects a unique perspective of the Harris' founding mission of partnership and collaboration, but also ensures that our offerings continue to feature inspired, imaginative programming and artists with innovative repertory," added Tiknis.
"DanceWorks Chicago is eager to partner with the Harris Theater to showcase who is new and what is next in contemporary dance; celebrating unique individuals and finding harmony in collaboration," said Julie Nakagawa, Artistic Director and Co-founder of DanceWorks Chicago.
To purchase tickets to the Harris Theater's Eat to the Beat series, visit www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org, call 312-334-7777 or visit Harris Theater Ticket Services at 205 E. Randolph Dr. Chicago, IL 60601. To purchase a box lunch in advance of the Eat to the Beat performances, call 312.334.7777 or visit www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org. Lunches will be available for pick it up in the Harris Theater lobby on the day of the program.
Eat to the Beat program information
Created for DanceWorks Chicago by choreographer Gina Patterson, My Witness is Patterson's moving tribute to "those who have walked beside us as our witness through life." The piece features live music by Chicago-based Sons of the Never Wrong, considered one of Folk music's most distinctive trios. Following the dance performance there will be a brief set by Sons of the Never Wrong.
DanceWorks Chicago featuring Yuri Lane
Beat in the Box
Tuesday, November 17 at noon
A quirky, full company piece, Beat in the Box blends contemporary dance, improvisation and everyday movement with the exciting sounds of beatbox music to create an energetic dance with a hip, urban feel. Beat in the Box, featuring Chicago actor, musician and beatboxer Yuri Lane, was created for DanceWorks Chicago by choreographer Brian Enos.
DanceWorks Chicago
If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at noon
Calling all Chicago area artists, musicians, DJs and spoken word artists: DanceWorks Chicago is looking for a sound accompaniment for choreographer Alex Ketley's work If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished. An exciting finale to the Eat to the Beat series, the Harris Theater and DanceWorks Chicago will sponsor a competition to select a soundscape for Ketley's work. In September 2009 the dance piece will be available for viewing online at www.vimeo.com in order for participants to watch the piece they are creating an accompaniment for. The winner of the selected soundscape will premiere his/her work as an accompaniment to If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished for the final Eat to the Beat performance at the Harris.
The inaugural Eat to the Beat performance on September 15, 2009 kicks off the Harris Theater's 2009-2010 season, which features a star-studded line-up of internationally acclaimed artists from around the world, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Lang Lang, Stephen Sondheim, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Kathleen Battle, as well as an exciting schedule of performances by the Theater's diverse resident companies, including Luna Negra Dance Theater, Music of the Baroque, Fulcrum Point New Music Project and Chicago Opera Theater.
Founded in May 2007, DanceWorks Chicago is an organization committed to building a foundation for the individual artistic growth of dancers and choreographers, providing a laboratory from which early career artists propel themselves and the art form to a new level through training, collaboration, mentorship, and performance. Led by Artistic Director Julie Nakagawa and CEO Andreas Böttcher, DanceWorks Chicago is dedicated to creating an environment conducive to nurturing experiences of significance for everyone from artists to audiences. To learn more about DanceWorks Chicago, visit www.danceworkschicago.org.
Founded in 2003, the Harris Theater's mission is to partner and collaborate with an array of Chicago's emerging and mid-sized performing arts organizations to help them build the resources and infrastructure necessary to achieve artistic growth and long-term organizational sustainability. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929 and today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and international companies. To learn more about the 2009-2010 season at the Harris Theater for music and dance, visit the Harris Theatre Web site or call the box office at 312-334-7777 to request a brochure.
FALL 2009 SEASON AT HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE
Continuing the momentum and building on the critical success of its Fifth Anniversary season, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park will present its sixth season this fall 2009 with an impressive and diverse selection of performances by the city's most acclaimed music and dance institutions as well as world-renowned national and international artists and ensembles through its Harris Theater Presents series.
The schedule for the Harris Theater fall 2009 season includes a variety of acclaimed Chicago favorites, Chicago premieres and performances by individuals and organizations that are seldom seen in Chicago. Joining such popular and acclaimed Chicago institutions as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Fulcrum Point New Music Project and Chicago Jazz Ensemble is highly anticipated return of ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, performing the Chicago premiere of Three solos and a duet with his long-time dance partner and collaborator Ana Laguna; a distinctive holiday engagement with the great American soprano Kathleen Battle and the Chicago Children's Choir; and an exciting new program by the acclaimed all-male ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Additionally, the Harris recently announced an exciting new lunchtime performance series, Eat to the Beat, which will feature midday dance performances by DanceWorks Chicago and tickets priced at just $5 each.
This fall the Harris Theater will introduce Tix at Six, a new discounted ticket program for audience members. As part of the program, a set number of $10.00 Tix at 6 performance tickets will be available to the public while supplies last 90 minutes prior to the start of a performance at the Harris; tickets must be purchased with cash and in person only. Tix at 6 tickets will be applicable for all performances at the Harris -- both Harris Theater Presents events as well as performances by the resident companies.
"The Harris Theater's Fifth Anniversary Season was a resounding success and we are eager to begin our sixth season and continue to collaborate with our resident companies and present such a diverse and artistically significant array of music and dance offerings to Chicago audiences," said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director. "Through our Harris Theater Presents series we always seek to emphasize aspects of artists or their repertoire that accent the work of our resident companies and performances that delve further into the exploration of contemporary artistic innovation, as well as those which enlighten and delight audiences in what is becoming regarded as a unique and 'Harris' way," noted Tiknis. "We believe our offerings during the 2009-2010 season accomplish even more of this and are proud to present some of the most intelligent, imaginative programming our stage has seen yet."
Single tickets and Subscriptions to the Harris Theater Presents performances are on sale now. Tickets are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting the Web site.
A sampling of Harris' low-cost or free events
Classical Music
Roosevelt University's CCPA Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:30 pm
Tickets: FREE
Alexander Platt, guest conductor featuring Student Solo Competition Winner Yuki Hashimori, violin
Elgar Cockaigne, Op. 40 (In London Town)
Barber Symphony No. 1 in One Movement, Op. 9
Brahms Violin Concerto
Roosevelt University's CCPA Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7:30 pm
Tickets: FREE
Stephen Squires, conductor
Faculty soloists Chris Martin, trumpet; Jay Friedman, trombone
Schwanter Free Flight
Jolivet Concertino for trumpet
Enescu Legend
Castérède Concerto for trumpet and trombone
Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
Jazz, World and New Music
MusicNOW
Rzewski and Kurtág
Monday, October 5, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: Adults $20; Students $10
Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Cliff Colnot, conductor
Tony Arnold, soprano
Frederic Rzewski Steptangle
Pocket Symphony
György Kurtág Tre Pezzi
Messages of the Late R.V. Troussova, Op. 17
The 2009/10 MusicNOW season begins with an eclectic sampling of works by American composer Frederic Rzewski and Romanian composer György Kurtág.
The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
11th Annual Cuatro Festival
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 7:00 pm
Tickets: $20 - $25
The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance proudly presents the 11th Annual Cuatro Festival – the largest indoor Puerto Rican cultural event in the Midwest. The Festival, named for the island's ten-string guitar-like instrument, celebrates traditional Puerto Rican Cuatro music and features cuatristas from the Midwest and Puerto Rico.
MusicNOW
Twice Through the Heart
Monday, November 23, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: Adults $20; Students $10
Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Cliff Colnot, conductor
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Jazz Calendar
Mark-Anthony Turnage Twice Through the Heart
Mark-Anthony Turnage's Twice Through the Heart tells the painful story of an abused woman imprisoned for the murder of her husband.
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Artistic Director Jon Faddis
50th Anniversary Celebration honoring Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman
Thursday, December 10, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15-$45
Special guests David Sanchez, tenor saxophone and Steve Wilson, alto saxophone
In 1959, three extraordinary innovators - John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis - released three of the most adventurous, influential, and ground-breaking recordings in the history of Jazz. Join Artistic Director Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble in celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane's, "Giant Steps;" Ornette Coleman's, "The Shape of Jazz to Come;" and Miles Davis,' "Kind of Blue."
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Artistic Director Jon Faddis
Celebrating "The Great Summit": The Music of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
Friday, January 15, 2010, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15-$45
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble pays tribute to Jazz greats, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington in what is sure to be an evening of fabulous music. Highlights of the performance include big band arrangements of Armstrong classics, such as "What a Wonderful World," "Swing that Music," and "Stardust," as well as Ellington favorites pulled from the CJE's own library.
Chicago Children's Choir
Songs of the Season
Sunday, December 13, 2009, 3:00pm
Tickets: $15 - $55; Subscription discount: $13 - $50
Josephine Lee, Artistic Director
Celebrate the season with Chicago Children's Choir! Under the direction of Josephine Lee, the Emmy Award-winning Concert Choir will inspire you and your family with songs from around the world.
Midwest Young Artists
Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 19, 2009, 1:00 and 3:00 pm
Tickets: $17-$32 for adults; $7-$22 for students and seniors
Celebrate the holidays with the traditional classic "Snowman" and other holiday favorites! A perfect holiday outing for the whole family!
Blake Snowman
G. F. Handel Soulful Messiah
Arr. Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson, and Mark Kibble
Randal Allen Buss Twas the Night Before Christmas
Christmas Carol singalongs
