(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University’s Center for the Arts remains a constant beacon of artistic and cultural inspiration for thousands of New Jersey residents as it announces its 2019-2020 season. A season filled with innovative programming, legendary music, significant authors and ground-breaking visual artists.
The new season begins on September 28, with the highly anticipated return of Kiss the Sky, a meticulous re-production of the most iconic moments of Jimi Hendrick’s majestic career featuring virtuoso guitarist Jimy Bleu, part of a week-long series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary Woodstock. Known as the female Bob Dylan, Melanie takes the stage on October 4 to perform signature hits such as Brand New Key (Roller Skate Song), and Peace Will Come. On October 11 Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Steve Dorff, who penned over 20 Top 10 hits for artists around the world such as Barbra Streisand, Willie Nelson, Celine Dion, and Alison Kraus will perform many of his best loved hits and share the fascinating stories behind them. The 5th Dimension will bring their legendary harmonies to Pollak Theatre on October 18. Florence LaRue and company have amassed thousands of fans all over the world with classics like Up, Up, and Away, One Less Bell to Answer, Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep At All, Wedding Bell Blues, Stoned Soul Picnic, and the iconic Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In.
America’s Got Talent Finalist William Close and the Earth Harp Collective returns to Pollak Theatre with a majestic harp that spans the audience and creates beautifully haunting music that never fails to enchant on November 2. On November 16, The Center celebrates the 25th Anniversary of On A Winter’s Night from veteran singer-songwriters Christine Lavin, John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Cheryl Wheeler and Cliff Eberhardt. Father Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of Saint Peter by the Sea perform their 29th annual holiday concert of carols and seasonal favorites on December 6. Led by Joanie Madden, one greatest of the musicians and personalities history of Irish music in America, the Grammy Award nominated super group Cherish The Ladies returns to the Pollak on February 28 for a concert of Celtic music celebrating their 35th anniversary. On March 7, the legendary Marshall Crenshaw of The Marshall Crenshaw Band and Beatlemania fame joins New Jersey rock heroes The Smithereens for an evening of hits such as A Girl Like You, Blood and Roses, and Blue Period.
Dance, film, and virtual reality collide when Bridgman|Packer Dance presents Voyeur and other works on November 15. Inspired by artist Edward Hopper, the performance features choreographer/performers Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer’s innovative work in “Video Partnering”—the integration of live performance and video technology. On February 8, Jade Solomon’s Black Like Me considers hateful rhetoric through dance, verbal, visual and sonic language in five narratives and perspectives..
Steve Solomon brings twenty characters to life on March 28 in his one-man Broadway show, My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy!
The incredibly popular Live in HD series satellites the world renowned Metropolitan Opera, National Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet to Pollak Theatre beginning with Puccini’s Turnadot on October 12 followed by Jules Massenet’s Manon on the 26. The National Theatre’s season includes The Lehman Brothers, directed by Sam Mendes, (September 26), All About Eve starring Gillian Anderson (October 10) and a 10th anniversary encore of the beloved Richard Bean production, One Man, Two Guvnors (October 24) starring The Late Late Show’s own James Corden. The Bolshoi Ballet begins on October 27 with Raymonda and includes Giselle, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet among others.
Tuesday Night Record Club resumes with The Beatles album, Abbey Road on September 17th, and will also cover albums by Bruce Springsteen, Dave Brubeck, Beyonce, and Marvin Gaye throughout the year.
A new film series called Great Art on Screen presented with the same impeccable quality as the Live in HD Series will feature new immersive documentaries on visual art’s great masters with titles like Tintoretto: a Rebel in Venice (September 23) and Gauguin in Tahiti: Paradise Lost (October 21.)
The World Cinema Series will explore women as leaders of change in patriarchal cultures and include films like Lemon Tree (January 28), The Eagle Huntress (February 26), and Persepolis (April 23) and others in a robust lineup this season.
The uniquely brilliant Alexandra Kleeman (September 27) will be part of this season’s Visiting Writers Series along with Taije Silverman (November 18) and Jordy Rosenberg (April 7).
Finally, the University’s three galleries will mount Woodstock & Beyond, photographs of legendary moments in rock history by Mike Frankel; Throughline a retrospective of 30 years of work by Karen Bright and an special installation of Wolfgang Staehle’s 2001 in partnership with The National September 11 Memorial & Museum and will showcase some of the area’s most impactful visual artists while also featuring student works.
Look for the 2019-2020 Season Brochure appearing soon, for details on other exciting happenings on the Monmouth campus, including gallery exhibitions and additional events in the ArtNow series. Check www.monmouth.edu/MCA for updated information on upcoming events at Monmouth University — as well as other surprises still to be announced. Tickets to all events in the 2019-2020 Performing Arts Series are on sale now with reservations available by calling the Monmouth University Performing Arts Box Office at 732-263-6889.
