Portland Ovations Sets New Season at Press Hotel

With their 2015-16 season brochure hot of the presses, Portland Ovations unveiled an exclusive look at its upcoming 2015-16 season at The Press Hotel on Wednesday night to a capacity crowd of 150 Members at its Annual Members-Only Preview party.

The evening opened with a reception at the base of the hotel's dramatic open staircase within its art gallery space that features works by local artists. The festive atmosphere had the crowd buzzing about what the non-profit performing arts presenter may possibly bring to greater Portland next year. Attendees were than lead to the Composing Room where Executive Director Aimée M. Petrin announced a season steeped in artistic traditions that are connected to contemporary life. With over 25 performances taking place at six different venues and spanning genres as varied as Jazz and Blues, Broadway, Classical Music, Dance, Global Beats, Comedy, and a Family series for the youngest arts audience, it is safe to say there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Portland Ovations kicks off the new season on the evening of Thursday, October 1 at one of their newest partner venues The State Theatre with a concert by festive and swinging jazz band The Hot Sardines that will feature a supper-club atmosphere with cabaret seating and table service down near the stage. That same week on Sunday afternoon of October 4 the talent keeps coming with Gilmore Award-winning pianist Rafal Blechacz performing at Merrill Auditorium and continuing Ovations tradition of presenting Gilmore winners.

With a long history of presenting the finest classical music performers, the upcoming season upholds that heritage with offerings from the aforementioned Blechacz, cellist Matt Haimovitz teaming up with British vocal trio VOICE, Wu Man with the Shanghai Quartet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Ying Quartet with special guest Zuill Bailey.

Other highlights from the season include Shaping Sound, a dynamic company of contemporary dancers under artistic direction of Travis Wall and co-created with Nick Lazzarini, Teddy Forance and Kyle Robinson who all rose to fame on either So You think You Can Dance or Dancing with the Stars; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performing a holiday concert Big Band Holidays with vocalist Denzal Sinclaire; the originator of progressive Irish dance Trinity Irish Dance Company; a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Sound of Music by the Salzburg Marionette Theatre; a double-bill referred to as "Sin and Redemption" featuring True Blues (Corey Harris, Guy Davis and Alvin Youngblood Hart) and The Campbell Brothers, sacred steel; The Illusionists, showcasing the jaw dropping talents of the most incredible illusionists working today; the political comedy troupe The Capitol Steps performing on April Fool's Day and just in time for presidential primary season; and back by popular demand the Broadway National Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Also offered is a Family Series that includes the staged versions of the children's book favorite Caps for Sale, and The Lightning Thief.

"It's always a thrill to roll out a new season. We hope our audiences find the 15-16 season more innovative than ever -- pushing boundaries, advancing artforms and keeping the art alive -- yet grounded in the artistic traditions Ovations has long been known," states Executive Director, Aimée M. Petrin.

Visit the Portland Ovations website (portlandovations.org) to view the entire 2015-16 season. Check back regularly as Ovations Offstage activities are added throughout the season, providing several ways to understand more about each performance as well as connect with the artists, including pre-performance lectures, masterclasses and residencies.

Ovations' Members get "first dibs" at tickets for three weeks starting on Monday, June 1st, while tickets go on sale to the general public on June 22nd. If you are not a Member and would like to buy tickets early, you may become a Member at anytime or buy a pre-sale or Broadway and Beyond bundle of four or more performances at your initial purchase. Tickets may be purchased by contacting PortTIX at 207-842-0800, visiting the box office window at Merrill Auditorium or going online to www.portlandovations.org.

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