Ravinia's Summer Season Has a Line-up of Over 130 Events

Ravinia Festival's 2008 season opens with an exciting line-up of Latin jazz, dance, pop and cabaret beginning with opening night at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 featuring   Miami-based, Grammy-nominated salsa band Tiempo Libre, who create energetic, Cuban-influenced music fit for dancing. They will team up with Chicago contemporary dance company Luna Negra Dance Theater for the Ravinia premiere of Eduardo Vilaro's CUGAT! featuring music by Xavier Cugat. The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra will also join Tiempo Libre for the Chicago premiere of Ricardo Lorenz's Rumba Sinfónica. A temporary covered and lighted 40' x 60' dance floor will be built on the north lawn for the Women's Board's third annual amateur dance contest. Patrons can participate in the contest by signing up in person on May 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dancers will be put into three categories: 12 and under, beginner/intermediate and advanced. The winners will receive prizes of Ravinia merchandise. This performance kicks off Ravinia's annual tribute to the late dancer and choreographer Ruth Page. The 2008 Ruth Page Festival of Dance features all Chicago-based dance companies throughout the summer. Also on May 31 is the introduction of Ravinia's newly created concert/dining packages, which will be available on selected nights throughout the season. These packages will introduce audiences to Ravinia's new dining pavilion in its first full season at a special price of $50.

Making his highly anticipated Ravinia debut is singer/songwriter James Taylor in a two-night stand of completly sold-out shows on Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, both at 7:30 p.m. Well known the world over for classic hits such as "Carolina On My Mind," "You've Got a Friend," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"and the first top-ten hit of his career, "Fire and Rain," Taylor has won five Grammy Awards, released over 20 albums and collaborated with artists including Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, Carole King, John Denver, Jackson Browne and Alison Krauss.

Pianist Kevin Cole kicks off the Martinis at the Martin cabaret series that celebrates the Great American Songbook at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, in the Martin Theatre with his show "In the Words of Ira: The Songs of Ira Gershwin." Cole was featured as a singer/pianist in Gershwin's Lady, Be Good! at Portugal's Teatro Nacional de São Carlos. His work as a pianist, music director and archivist has garnered the praises of Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim and members of the Jerome Kern and Gershwin families. Reserved tickets for the Martinis at the Martin concerts are only sold as series.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, the Russian American Kids Circus kick off the Kraft Kids Concert series, designed for folks of all ages to enjoy. This circus troupe features  members ages 6 to 16, all from Russian-American families, who learn all aspects of a traditional Russian circus, including welding, costume construction and coaching, as well as tightrope, juggling, unicycle, acrobatics, spinning plates and clowns. This is the circus's third performance at Ravinia since its debut last year.

Kraft Kids Concert Ralph's World returns to Ravinia at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, featuring singer-songwriter, playwright and author Ralph Covert. Covert first received musical acclaim with his Midwest-based rock band, The Bad Examples and has since made family-friendly music on seven albums. Ralph's World's music videos can be seen on Playhouse Disney through a partnership with Disney Sound. Pavilion tickets are still available, but lawn is sold out.  

Ravinia Festival is located at Lake-Cook and Green Bay roads in Highland Park. For concert information or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.ravinia.org. Tickets can be purchased by phone with all major credit cards beginning on May 18 at (847) 266-5100. Ravinia Festival is a not-for-profit organization.

Saturday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. – Pavilion
Ruth Page Festival of Dance     
"Latin Night"
Tiempo Libre ^
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra #
Luna Negra Dance Theater ~
Tickets: $30/Lawn $10/Park opens at 5 p.m.
Special dining package: $50 for reserved seat and dinner at the Mirabelle

Sunday, June 1, 2 p.m. - Pavilion
Kraft Kids Concert
Russian American Kids Circus
Tickets: $10/Lawn $3/Park opens at 1 p.m.

Friday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. – Pavilion
James Taylor and His Band of Legends +
Tickets: SOLD-OUT/Park opens at 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m. – Pavilion
James Taylor and His Band of Legends +
Tickets: SOLD-OUT/Park opens at 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 8, 2 p.m. – Pavilion
Kraft Kids Concert
Ralph's World
Tickets: $15/Lawn SOLD-OUT/Park opens at 1 p.m.

Sunday, June 8, 7 p.m. – Martin Theatre
Martinis at the Martin    "In the Words of Ira: The Songs of Ira Gershwin"
Kevin Cole, Piano and Vocals
Tom Knific, bass +
Tim Froncek, drums +
Tickets: reserved tickets sold as Martinis Series A only $225/Lawn $10/Park opens at 4 p.m.

Note that artists and programs are subject to change. Repertoire being performed at Ravinia Festival for the first time is marked with an asterisk (*). Artists making their Ravinia Festival debut are marked with a plus sign (+).

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