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New year at UA Presents takes global perspective

Largest season expected with more events and international artists

Officials from UA Presents say the 2000-2001 season, "Infinite Possibilities," features an emphasis on artists' voices and performers from diverse backgrounds.

"I'm a devotee of the power of art to connect people," said Ken Foster, executive director of UA Presents. "You can achieve a spiritual level with art."

Foster said another aspect of "Infinite Possibilities" is a focus on international artists.

"After the past successful year, we wanted to take a broader look at it all - a global point of view," he said. "We're starting to go beyond the realm of recognition into more unusual works."

A new feature will be the "Cultures in Context" program, each for a month focusing on the traditions of four different nations. Experts and artists will be on hand to discuss the certain aspects of a particular time in history.

In 1999-2000, UA Presents featured nine series that included 34 events and was their largest season to date. For the 2000-2001 season, they expect a total of 150,000 people to attend 11 performance series and 44 events. Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday, Sept. 16.

"We've taken a global look at a genre like music and pulled from different places in the world stage," Foster said. "Two-thirds of the events are Southern Arizona premieres."

The season kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with a performance by the Kirov Orchestra from Russia. "Infinite Possibilities" continues with traditional and modern dance shows, solo performance artists, jazz musicians and the renowned satirist Ravi Shankar.

Included in the line-up are Broadway musicals Cabaret, Ragtime and Stomp.

"They're all my favorites," Foster said. "All three shows in the Broadway series have won Tony Awards, and I'm very excited about Buena Vista Social Club's return and the Chorus Repertory Theater of India's first U.S. tour."

While the performances all take place on the University of Arizona campus, Foster said students comprise only 20 percent of the audiences.

"We don't separate them out - at events that are more adventurous, the audiences are quite mixed with senior citizens," he said. "The reverse is true when you see college students at a ballet."

For some students, UA Presents offers global entertainment at a local site with affordable prices.

"Being a student, it's hard to see shows at this magnitude and with a limited budget," said Yvonne Pak, a graduate student in pharmacology. "It has left a lasting impression on me."

Now in her third year of subscribing to UA Presents, Pak estimates she spends between $200 and $300 each season.

"It's worth the money, and my friends go home talking about it," she said.

Though Pak normally attends the Broadway shows and dance performances, she is also looking forward to the more unusual artists.

"I'm not too familiar with what they've got, but I trust Ken (Foster)," she said. "With his taste and judgment, I know they'll be awesome. His passion makes me want to buy tickets to the whole season."

Eighty percent of the funding for UA Presents comes from ticket sales, the 12 percent provided by the university goes to pay people's salaries, and contributions comprise the remainder.

Rebecca Missel can be reached at catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu.

INFO BOX:

For a complete listing of the events in "Infinite Possibilities," visit the UA Presents Web site at: www.uapresents.arizona.edu. Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday, Sept. 16, and students with a CatCard can receive a 50 percent discount for certain shows. For more information, call the Centennial Box Office at 621-3341.

"Cultures in Context" schedule: India - October; Mali - November; Hawaii - February; Russia - March.

SUGHED: UA Presents Schedule Fall 2000

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday 12 7:30 p.m. The Kirov Orchestra

Tuesday 19 7:30 p.m. Cabaret

Wednesday 20 7:30 p.m.

Thursday 21 7:30 p.m.

Friday 22 8 p.m.

Saturday 23 2 and 8 p.m.

Sunday 24 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Monday 25 7:30 p.m. Buena Vista Social Club Presents

Tuesday 26 7:30 p.m. Omara Portuondo with Barbarito Torres

Saturday 30 8 p.m. Martha Graham Dance Company

OCTOBER

Saturday 7 8 p.m. Nicholas Payton "Louis Armstrong Centennial"

Thursday 12 7:30 p.m. Yo-Yo Ma

Saturday 14 8 p.m. Brazil Night

Tuesday 17 7:30 p.m. Ratan Thiyam's Chorus Repertory Theater

Friday 20 8 p.m. "Dracula" with Philip Glass and Kronos Quartet

Friday 27 8 p.m. Stomp

Saturday 28 4 and 8 p.m.

Sunday 29 3 and 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER

Thursday 2 7:30 p.m. Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg and Sergio & Odair Assad

Friday 3 8 p.m. Kate Clinton "Y2K8.COMedy"

Saturday 4 8 p.m. Ravi and Anoushka Shankar

Thursday 9 7:30 p.m. The Academy of Ancient Music

Saturday 11 8 p.m. Voices of Mali - Oumou Sangare and Habib Koite

Wednesday 15 7:30 p.m. "Remember Shakti" with John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain

Thursday 16 7:30 p.m. Bale Folclorico da Bahia

Saturday 18 8 p.m. Marcus Roberts Trio

Tuesday 28 7:30 p.m. Ragtime

Wednesday 29 7:30 p.m.

Thursday 30 2 and 7:30 p.m.

DECEMBER

Friday 1 8 p.m. Ragtime

Saturday 2 2 and 8 p.m.

Sunday 3 2 p.m.

Saturday 9 8 p.m. Boys Choir of Harlem

Sunday 10 4 p.m.