Portland Ovations Begins 2010-11 Season

Portland Ovations, fresh from a recent summer presentation of Willie Nelson in concert, is gearing up for two more exciting preseason events, and then officially kicks off its 2010-11 season on September 29th with Liza Minnelli in concert. Next up, Ovations co-presents Garotas Suecas, the headline band of SPACE Gallery's Congress Street BLOCK PARTY! on the 11th of September. Then, Ovations hosts The 15th Annual Epicurean Auction Benefit at Merrill Auditorium on September 21st. Proceeds from the auction support Ovations Offstage programs. The full season contains twenty-two presentations of artists from around the world that have been acclaimed for their work. The line-up includes something for everyone whether its classical music, national Broadway tours, American legends in concert, world music, modern or cultural dance presentations, family shows or live theater and opera. Events continue through May 15th, 2011.
 
"In our 80th year, we are thrilled to present another diverse season of innovative and meaningful artists," states Executive Director, Aimée Petrin. "We are also commissioning new works, collaborating with other organizations within Maine's vibrant arts community and finding new ways to bring people together to celebrate the power of live performance. And, most importantly, we hope everyone enjoys what Ovations has to offer this season." 
 
Portland Ovations is excited about the continued expansion of Ovations Offstage, bringing the performing arts out into the community and to Maine students. Offstage events for 2010-11 include 17 scheduled free lectures happening prior to most Ovations' presentations. These lectures are meant to enhance the understanding and awareness of the art being performed. Masterclasses are scheduled with violin virtuoso Mark O'Connor, famed Cirque soloist Jamie Adkins', award-winning pianist Krill Gerstein, and renowned choreographer Doug Varone; as well as Masterclasses in Pop Action choreography, gypsy jazz guitar, and the Afro-Brazilian martial art known as capoeira. Several other meet-the-artist opportunities are also being planned. The School-Time Performance Series includes six presentations geared for school children, K-12. Classroom-based workshops with Ovations' artists and/or Maine-based artist-educators, professional development workshops for teachers, and online study guides are also part of the offerings for Offstage this year.
 
Maine and Its Ties to Africa, a series designed to explore the greater Portland community's relationship to Africa and African cultures, includes presentations of Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, a high-energy central African dance band, and Balé Folclórico da Bahia, a Brazilian dance troupe that performs Afro-Brazilian traditions. The series, Traverser la Frontière, which is programming that celebrates the diversity of artists from Canada and Maine's shared heritage, includes the afore mentioned circus acrobat Jamie Adkins' and his one-man-show entitled Circus INcognitus, the French-Acadian sounds of the four-member female ensemble Gadelle, and a work by Canadian composer Derek Charke as part of Kronos Quartet's program, Music Without Borders.
 
Other season highlights include presentations of Bill Cosby, The Hot Club of San Francisco, the national Broadway tours of Fiddler on the Roof and Avenue Q, the first-ever theatrical tour of Blue Man Group, a newly commissioned work performed by Doug Varone and Dancers, and the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players production of The Mikado. The season will end on May 15th with an exciting collaboration between Portland Ovations, Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ and the Lark Society for Chamber Music. The May concert incorporates a presentation of composer Phil Kline's work John the Revelator, which will also feature the the all male vocal sextet Lionheart and the Portland String Quartet, and a newly commissioned work for organ written by Kline.
 
For a complete listing of Ovations 2010-11 season, including ticket prices, times and locations, visit www.portlandovations.org. For additional information about Offstage's School-Time Performance Series or if interested in participating in Masterclasses, contact Ovations' administration office at 207.773.3150. Tickets to all Ovations performances can be purchased on the Ovations website or by calling PortTix, the Merrill Auditorium box office, at 207.842.0800.
 
Deeply discounted student tickets are available for most Ovations presentations to any full-time grade school or college students. See the Ovations' website for details.
 
Each year since 1931, Portland Ovations brings a dynamic season of exceptional performing artists from around the world to Maine including classical music, jazz, opera, dance, theater, and Broadway national tours. In addition to live performances, Ovations brings the exhilaration of the performing arts out into our community with season-long educational and outreach activities known as Ovations Offstage. A Maine-based non-profit, Portland Ovations contributes to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community by presenting an array of high quality performing artists from around the world and creating diverse educational experiences that bring the enjoyment, energy and enrichment of the arts to all.