UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 2, Page 6
September 12, 1991
Up and coming

Evening of Gershwin opens U.D. Performing Arts Series
     Three energetic musicians-pianist Leon Bates, soprano Eddye
Pierce Young and bass-baritone Benjamin Matthew-will combine their
talents Friday, Sept. 20, to present "Gershwin by Request" at 8
p.m. in the auditorium of Newark Hall.
     The three celebrate Gershwin's music in high style in a
sparkling program of vocal and piano music. Many popular favorites,
including "Rhapsody in Blue," "Fascinatin' Rhythm," "The Man I
Love," "Strike Up The Band" and selections from Porgy and Bess,
will be featured during the evening.
     "Gershwin by Request" is the first program in the University's
1991-92 Performing Arts Series. Single ticket prices for "Gershwin
By Request" are $15 for the general public, $10 for University
faculty, staff and senior citizens, and $5 for students.
     Bates, a former member of the U.D. faculty, is a familiar
figure on the international concert scene. He has performed with
the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the
Hollywood Bowl and at the Kennedy Center.
     He has toured Europe where he performed Gershwin with the
Vienna Symphony Orchestra. His performance of Gershwin in Rome with
Ben Matthews has warranted him five return engagements to that city
for both orchestral appearances and recitals. A native of
Philadelphia, Bates studied with Natalie Hinderas.
     Matthews recently returned from Rio de Janeiro where he
performed the leading role in Porgy and Bess for two months. His
other operatic credits include performances with the New York City
Opera, the Graz Opera in Austria and the Philadelphia Grand Opera.
He has performed a wide variety of roles from Mephistopheles in
Gounod's Faust, to Prince Itelo in Leon Kirchner's Lily.
     Matthews has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras in
the United States, Canada, Europe and South America.
     Eddye Pierce Young has appeared in recital, opera and oratorio
throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe. A national
finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and winner of the San
Francisco Opera Grand Finals, Young made her New York recital debut
in 1979 to glowing reviews and audience acclaim.
     She is a member of the faculty at Sarah Lawrence in
Bronxville, N.Y., where she offers master classes and coaching in
conjunction with recital programs, symphony solos, oratorio and
opera productions.
     For reservations or more information, contact the Mitchell
Hall box office at 451-2204.

New shows, revivals in PTTP schedule
     The Professional Theatre Training Program opens its third
season on campus this fall with a schedule that includes 10 new
shows and six revivals of popular PTTP favorites.
     Four ticket purchase plans are being offered in addition to
individual tickets purchases for specific plays.
     The season opens on Sept. 21 with Thornton Wilder's classic
Our Town, which runs through Sept. 29. Offered Sept. 25-28 is She
Stoops To Conquer.
     October and November's lineup includes The Roof (Oct. 24-Nov.
9), The Glass Menagerie (Oct. 25-Nov. 10) and Peer Gynt (Oct.
30-Nov. 10).
     The Importance of Being Earnest opens Nov. 30 and runs through
Dec. 15. Also offered in December are Tartuffe (Dec. 4-14) and The
Tempest (Dec. 10-15).
     January's offerings include King Lear (Jan. 16-19) and Man and
Superman (Jan. 31-Feb. 2.)
     Also scheduled in late winter is The Caucasian Chalk Circle
(Feb. 21-March 1).
     Revivals of The Cherry Orchard and Love's Labour's Lost will
be presented in March and a soon-to-be chosen African-American play
will be presented in April.
     The season concludes with Henry IV, Part I (May 1-10) and
Dancing At Laughnasa (April 29-May 10).
     All performances are scheduled in Hartshorn Gymnasium with
curtain times at 7:30 for evening shows and 12:30 for matinees.
     To make reservations, contact the box office at 451-2204.

Music, art, dance offered this year
     Theatre, dance and music from classical to gospel, as well as
a lecture on the Robert Mapplethorpe controversy, will be featured
in the University of Delaware Performing Arts Series for 1991-92.
     The season will open on Friday, Sept. 20, with "Gershwin by
Request," a celebration of one of America's favorite composers.
     On Friday, Oct. 11, Chanticleer, America's premiere vocal
ensemble, will perform at 8 p.m. in Newark Hall auditorium. This
"orchestra of voices" has a repertoire that spans music from the
Renaissance to today. A master class with the group is scheduled at
10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, in the same location.
     Sister Sadie and the Famous Biblettes, who have been
performing soul-stirring music together for 12 years, will bring
gospel and blues to Newark Hall auditorium at 8 p.m., Saturday,
Nov. 2.
     On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the man who was at the center of the
controversy over the exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe's
photographs will give a free public lecture. Dennis Barrie,
director of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati will discuss
"Robert Mapplethorpe, the First Amendment and the Freedom of
Expression" at 7:30 p.m. in 140 Smith Hall.
     Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, a band of 10 assorted trumpets,
trombones, french horns, tuba and drums, will perform at 8 p.m.,
Saturday, Nov. 23, in Newark Hall auditorium. The band's
repertoire, which Bowie dubs "avant pop," covers everything from
pop standards of decades past to funk to Latin to rhythm and blues.
     On Sunday, Dec. 8, a Holiday Gala will be presented at 2 and
8 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, located at 276 South College
Ave. in Newark. This concert will feature faculty artists and
ensembles from the University's Department of Music.
     The Mendelssohn String Quartet, in residence at the
University, will present two special concerts and hold master
classes with guest artists Robert Mann of the Juilliard String
Quartet and Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet during January. A
recital with Tree is scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and a recital
with Mann is set for Saturday, Jan. 11
     The Parsons Dance Company, which has been called "one of the
hottest tickets in contemporary American dance," will be in
residency at the University from Jan. 11-13. A performance is
scheduled at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12 in Mitchell Hall.
     Concluding the 1991-92 Performing Arts Series will be "Pretty
Polly," presented by the Roadside Theater at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March
10, in Newark Hall auditorium. During a week residency, this
ensemble will share its Appalachian heritage and travel around the
state gathering stories and music. A performance is also scheduled
at Dover High School on March 11.
     Tickets may be reserved by telephone, by mail or in person at
the Mitchell Hall box office, telephone 451-2204.

Racial, cultural week to begin Monday
     This fall, the University of Delaware will hold its first
Racial and Cultural Awareness Week, underscoring a commitment to
racial and cultural diversity on campus.
     The activities, scheduled from Sept. 16-19 on the Newark
campus, are designed to attract participation by the entire
University community, including students, faculty and staff.
     The week will begin with a free public presentation of "Let My
People Go," based on a poem by James Weldon Johnson. Presented by
the Avodah Dance Ensemble of New York City, the program will begin
at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, in the auditorium of Newark Hall.
     Other events during the week will be showings of videos,
"Racism 101," Tuesday, Sept. 17, and "Rise in Campus Racism" on
Wednesday, Sept. 18. Both presentations, which run approximately 50
minutes, will be shown continuously from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the
Bacchus Room in the Perkins Student Center, the Center for Black
Culture and Smith Hall lobby.
     "Racism 101" will be followed by a panel discussion, based on
the video, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, in 140 Smith Hall.
     "Beyond the Dream, Part 3," a two-hour video presentation,
will be shown on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m.-l p.m. in the
Center for Black Culture and Smith Hall lobby and from noon-2 p.m.
in Bacchus in the Perkins Student Center.
     That evening, a panel discussion with students representing a
variety of racial and cultural backgrounds will be held at 7 p.m.
in 140 Smith Hall. Black, Hispanic, Jewish, gay and lesbian
students among others, will take part in the discussion.
     After the program, University President David Roselle, will
make a closing address.