Event Descriptions
2008-2009 Arts Alive at the Rogers Center for the Arts
The Rogers Center for the Arts 2008-2009 Season brochure will be available soon at the Rogers Center at Merrimack College. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive a brochure, please forward your mailing address to RogersCenter@merrimack.edu or call the Box Office at 978-837-5355.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
“The Band’s Visit”
6:30 PM Commentary 7:00 PM Screening
When an Egyptian police orchestra gets lost on its way to a performance in Israel, the band and its stoic leader wind up far from home in an obscure Israeli village. Lightly approaching the political issues that surround the band’s visit, this charming, heartfelt comedy shows how people of all cultures share the trials of friendship and romance.
Free
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
“Vertigo”
6:30 PM Commentary 7:00 PM Screening
To say “Vertigo” finds Hitchcock at his most obsessive, his most perverse, and his sexual best, doesn’t even begin to convey how haunting this film is, or how bizarre. Nor does it convey Hitchcock’s passionate style and the way he defies logic working in a much riskier manner than usual. A retired police detective (James Stewart) must overcome vertigo and his obsession for a friend’s wife (Kim Novak) in this eerie tale of passion. Universal Pictures; Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Free
Saturday, February 7, 2009
NATIONAL MARIONETTE THEATRE presents “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”
2:00 PM
Break out of your winter slumber and bring the kids to this highly entertaining production based on the classic story featuring Ali Baba, thieves, exotic locales and exciting adventure. The National Marionette Theater is known around the world for it's artistry and mastery. Children and adults alike will delight in the joy of live entertainment. So turn off the TV, bundle up, and enjoy an afternoon at the theater.
All Tickets: $12
Thursday, February 12, 2009
HOT 8 BRASS BAND - New Orleans Traditional Hot Jazz
7:00 PM
The members of the Hot 8 were all born and raised in New Orleans; many of them began playing together in high school. In 1995 they came together and began playing traditional New Orleans brass band music professionally. The Hot 8 are famous for playing all day in the sun, then hopping to a club gig and playing through the night. But even more than their boundless energy, what makes the Hot 8 special are the sounds they coax from their well-loved, well-worn horns.
Advanced Tickets: $15 Students and Seniors: $12 All Tickets at the Door: $18
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
“Turtles Can Fly”
7:00 PM Screening
Thirteen-year-old Soran is known as “Satellite” because of his skill at installing dishes in his Kurdish village, where people are searching for news of Saddam Hussein on the eve of the American Iraqi invasion. This film celebrates the stoic survival of the human spirit.
Free
Saturday, February 21, 2009
“SHUTTING UP PEGGY LEE!” Written and performed by Susan Poulin (aka Ida from Maine)
2:00 PM
“Shutting Up Peggy Lee!” is not about being middle aged. It’s about reaching that point in your life where you feel like you’ve arrived, then realizing, “Now what?” Well, maybe it is about being middle aged. Only funnier.
Advanced Tickets: $18 Students and Seniors: $15 All Tickets at the Door: $20
Monday through Thursday, February 23 - 26, 2009
Boston Lyric Opera presents “The Magic Flute”
9:45 AM and 11:45 AM
Magical instruments…A wicked queen…An imprisoned princess…A courageous prince…. Will Prince Tamino’s magic flute be enough to protect him on his quest to save the lovely Princess Pamina? The ultimate adventure opera!
Tickets: $7
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”
6:30 PM Commentary 7:00 PM Screening
Ranking with “Stagecoach” as one of the greatest of its genre, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is the modern-day Western to beat all Westerns. Jimmy Stewart plays the bungling but charming big-city lawyer determined to rid the fair village of Shinbone of its Number-One Nuisance and Bad Man: Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). And as if all that weren't enough, the biggest star that ever aimed a six-shooter plays the "Man" of the title: John Wayne. Super-sincere Stewart and rugged rancher Wayne share the same love interest (Vera Miles). One gets the gunman but the other gets the gal . . . and the glory. Directed by John Ford.
Free
Friday, February 27, 2009
GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS - Fun For All Ages!
7:30 PM
The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today.
Advanced Tickets: $18 Students and Seniors: $15
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Seventh Annual A CAPELLA NIGHT
7:30 PM
This annual event just keeps on growing as does the audience for the revival in A Cappella singing. It is stunning to hear what the human voice can do! A great night featuring some of the best vocal groups in the greater Boston area.
Advanced Tickets: $12 Students and Seniors: $10 All Tickets at the Door: $15
Saturday, March 7, 2009
MAKEM BROTHERS WITH MICKEY AND LIAM SPAIN - Irish Extravaganza!
7:30 PM
Every generation has a few acts that define where a musical genre is going, performers so confident in their chosen field that they are able to completely embrace the genre and yet introduce something new to it. In Irish folk music today, that act is the Makem and Spain Brothers. Using a host of various instruments and five male vocals, the Makem and Spain Brothers perfectly blend three-part harmonies into what many have described as a wall of sound.
Advanced Tickets: $20 Students and Seniors: $18 All Tickets at the Door: $22
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
“Talk to Her”
6:30 PM Commentary 7:00 PM Screening
This Academy-Award-winning film by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is a story of friendship between two men, of loneliness, and the long convalescence of wounds provoked by passion. Funny, melodramatic, and moving, many critics considered this the best film of 2002.
Free
March 26-28, 2009
The Onstager’s Dramatic Society Presents “CHESS”
Chess is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson, formerly of ABBA. The story involves a romantic triangle between two players in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters’ personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
“Kiss Me Kate”
6:30 PM Commentary 7:00 PM Screening
A superior film version of Cole Porter's stage hit and adapted from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew,"” Kiss Me Kate” includes outstanding songs such as "So In Love," "Too Darn Hot" and the humorous "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." Featuring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson. Directed by George Sidney.
Free
Saturday, April 4, 2009
GIZMO GUYS - A Great Family Event!
2:00 PM
Children and adults alike will be enthralled and amused at the antics of Allan Jacobs and Barrett Felker, better known as the GIZMO GUYS. Their rapid-fire act exhilarates and inspires sidesplitting laughter in audiences of all ages!
All Tickets: $12
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Merrimack College Jazz Ensemble presents its Fifth Annual: “AN EVENING OF JAZZ”
7:30 PM
Don’t miss this popular concert featuring great arrangements of some of music’s greatest hits. This orchestra, under the leadership of Charles Collins, features students, staff and faculty and continues to blaze new territory as their popularity soars.
Friday, April 25, 2009
ARTIE SHAW ORCHESTRA - Big Band Jazz
7:30 PM
Join us for the rousing return of the ever popular Artie Shaw Big Band. The music that he arranged has lasting appeal and this orchestra will get the feet tapping and the hands clapping to perennial favorites like “Begin the Bequine”, “Stardust” and “Moonglow”.
Advanced Tickets: $22 Students and Seniors: $20 All Tickets at the Door: $25
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OTHER EXCITING EVENTS COMING TO THE ROGERS CENTER:
Friday, December 12 - 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 13 - 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 14 - 2:00 PM
New England Civic Ballet Company presents Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker”
Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince for this holiday favorite. Journey along as they make their way through the Enchanted Snow Forest to the Palace of Sweets where they are entertained by sweets from around the world.
Tickets: $24 Children and Seniors $20
Group Rates Available.
Reservations and Information: 978-975-0289 or www.newenglandcivicballet.org
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Treble Chorus of New England presents “Songs of the Season”
7:00 PM
Join Merrimack Valley's premiere youth chorus in its annual holiday concert.
Under the direction of Artistic Director, Valerie J. Becker and Heather Chu, Director of the schola, discover the joy and splendor of the holiday season. Traditional carols and choral works such as Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols" will be performed by this outstanding young group of singers.
Tickets: $15 Students: $10
Reservations and Information: 978-837-5461 or www.treblechorus.com
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Blue Window Group - “Not Your Typical Silent Night”
4:00 PM
The magic of Christmas comes alive through the diverse sounds and styles of music presented by over 150 artists that make up the cast of this unique multi-arts-media performance. From internationally recognized artists to the powerhouse Choral Majority Gospel Choir, children’s choirs and dancers, big-band horns and ringing bells, there’s something for everyone in this local favorite.
Tickets: $15 Children 12 and under: $8
Reservations and Information: 978-837-5355 or www.NYTSN.net
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Andover Choral Society presents Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”
3:00 PM
The Andover Choral Society, under the direction of Allen Combs, presents Felix Mendelssohn’s most beloved choral work. This thrilling oratorio depicts the life of the Old Testament prophet in choruses and arias of stunning beauty and fiery drama. The work will be presented in English, with full professional orchestra and renowned soloists Glenn Billingsley (as Elijah), Patrice Tiedemann, Krista River, and Rockland Osgood.
Tickets: $20.00
Reservations and Information: 978-688-6353 or www.andoverchoral.org
Friday, January 30 - 10:00 AM
Thursday, March 12 - 10:00 AM
Friday, March 13 - 10:00 AM
Shakespeare and Company presents “Romeo and Juliet”
“Romeo and Juliet,” a tragedy of “star-crossed lovers,” is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works. Shakespeare & Company’s spring tour of “Romeo and Juliet” is a lively, 90-minute production, which emphasizes language, pleasure in playing, and the relationship that exists between the actors and the audience. Our actors create a wonderful rapport with students, and while we make Shakespeare immediate and accessible, we never dumb it down. In addition to the performance we offer an interactive Post-Show Forum and provide educational materials for teachers. Our spring tour has been conducted annually since 1982 and receives generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Reservations and Information: education@shakespeare.org
Saturday, February 7, 2009
New England String Ensemble presents “Classical Devotion”
7:30 PM
The classical elegance of Mozart and Haydn set the stage for Osvaldo Golijov's raw passion.
Tickets: $35 & $25/Students: $10 discount
Reservations and Information: 781-224-1117 or www.newenglandstringensemble.org
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Andover Chamber Music Series presents “Love and Lyricism”
4:00 PM
Romance your valentine with a program of passionate chamber works that will make your heart sing. We are honored to welcome dynamic cellist Paul Katz to the ACMS stage for the first time. Katz is known to concert-goers the world over as the cellist of the Cleveland Quartet, who, during an international career of twenty-six years, made more than 2,500 appearances on four continents. Hailing from California, pianist Nina Scolnik joins Katz in the Dumky Trio, and joins artistic director Julie Scolnik in a first-time collaboration of the Scolnik sisters.
Tickets: $30 and $25
Reservations and Information: 978-474-6222 or www.andoverchambermusic.org
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Society Concert Series
2:30 PM
Felix Mendelssohn
Hebrides Overture, Opus 26 (Fingal’s Cave)
Richard Wagner
Wesendonck Songs
Susan Trout, Soprano
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944
Susan Trout is known for her versatility in a wide repertoire. She has appeared as an oratorio soloist with the baroque orchestras of Emmanuel Music, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Boston Cecelia Society, and the Washington Bach Consort, in such works as Handel’s Samson and Saul, Copland’s “In the Beginning,” Bach’s cantata “Gottes Zeit ist die Aller Beste Zeit,” the B minor Mass, and his St. John, and St. Matthew Passions.
Tickets: $18 Students and Seniors: $12 Children: $5
Group Rates Available
Reservations and Information: 978-685-3505 or www.mvpomusic.org
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Treble Chorus of New England presents “The Enchantress”
10:30 AM - Educational Performance
7:00 PM
An educational one-hour performance for students and teachers, featuring the delightful operetta by Victor Herbert in celebration of his 150th birthday. In a fairytale like setting, meet princesses trying to catch the eye of a prince, heir to the throne, who is in love with an enchantress.
An education packet is provided for teachers before the performance, and students will have the opportunity to meet the cast.
Tickets: $6.00
Reservations and Information: 978-837-5461 or www.treblechorus.com
Sunday, March 8, 2009
New England Classical Singers presents: “Handel and Haydn”
3:00 PM
The year 2009 marks milestone anniversaries of the deaths of George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759) and Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809). Celebrate with New England Classical Singers, local area high school singers, soloists, and orchestra as they present great choral works from these pillars of classical music.
For Concert Information and Tickets: 978-474-6090
Saturday, March 21 - 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 22 - 2:00 PM
New England Civic Ballet Company presents “Sleeping Beauty”
Your presence is requested at the castle for the sixteenth birthday celebration of Her Royal Highness Princess Aurora. Join the festivities along with her friends Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebird, Puss ‘n Boots and many more. This children's adaptation of “Sleeping Beauty” will surely delight audiences from three to ninety-three.
Tickets: $24 Children and Seniors: $20
Group Rates Available.
Reservations and Information: 978-975-0289 or www.thenewenglandcivicballet.org
Friday, April 3, 2009
New England String Ensemble presents “Ballets Russes”
7:30 PM
Established in 1909 by Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes created a sensation in Western Europe, in part because of the ground-breaking artistic collaboration among composers, choreographers (including Nijinsky and Balanchine), and artists (Matisse, Picasso, Coco Chanel, et al.). Four composers with close associations to the Ballets Russes are featured in this rich and riveting program.
Tickets: $35 & $25/Students: $10 discount
Reservations and Information: 781-224-1117 or www.newenglandstringensemble.org
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Andover Chamber Music Series presents
The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra in “Scott Joplin and the Original Kings of Ragtime”
4:00 PM
It’s Roots Music, it’s Americana, it’s Historic Jazz, it’s African-American, it’s part of our culture!
Come and enjoy an evening of classic rags and songs from Tin Pan Alley. With thousands of 1900’s pieces in full orchestrations of the era, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra is the acknowledged leader in its field. Rick Benjamin’s historical and witty introductions and a silent film accompanied by its original score, all add up to a unique and dynamic event.
Tickets: $30.00 and $25.00Reservations and information: 978-474-6222 or
www.andoverchambermusic.org
Friday, April 17 - 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 18 - 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sunday, April 19 - 2:00 PM
The Pentucket Players in their Fifteenth Anniversary Season,
present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma”
Here it is - the “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin” show. Packed full of
all of our favorite characters like Ado Annie; Will Parker; Curley and Laurey; Ali Hakim and, of course, Aunt Eller. Served up good and proper with a healthy dose of the most beautiful and enduring songs ever written for
the musical theater including; “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,”
“People Will Say We’re in Love,” and the foot stompin’ “Oklahoma!”
Come celebrate Americana with the Pentucket Players and “Oklahoma!”
Tickets: $20.00
Reservations and Information: 978-521-9259 or
www.pentucketplayers.org
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Andover Choral Society presents Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle”
7:00 PM
Under the direction of Allen Combs, Gioacchino Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” will be performed by the Andover Choral Society. The composer’s own tongue-in-cheek description of the work as “penance for the sins of old age” belies the beauty and spiritual nature of this setting of the Mass. Written long after Rossini had retired from operatic composition, the work nonetheless retains many characteristics of his familiar style. It will be performed in its original version for two pianos and harmonium, and will feature well-known Boston area soloists.
Tickets: $20.00
Reservations and Information: 978-688-6353 or
www.andoverchoral.org.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Society presents an All American Program
2:30 PM
Richard Rodgers
“Slaughter on Tenth Avenue”
William Grant Still
Symphony No. 1 (Afro-American Symphony)
George Gershwin
Concerto in F major for Piano and Orchestra
Louis Stewart, Piano
Louis Stewart, conductor, composer, and pianist, was born in Aberdeen, Washington in 1944 and received a B. Mus. from Whitman College in Washington; an M. M. from the New England Conservatory in Boston; and a D.M.A. from the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. His teachers have included Willis Stevens, Robert Goldsand and John Ogdon in piano and Frederik Prausnitz and Attilio Poto in conducting. Specializing in new music, Louis Stewart has conducted and played premieres in New York, Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore and has guest-conducted in the United States and Southeast Asia.
Tickets: $18 Students and Seniors: $12 Children: $5
Group Rates Available
Reservations and Information: 978-685-3505 or www. mvpomusic.org
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Treble Chorus of New England presents “A Celebration of Women”
7:30 PM
Join the Treble Chorus as it embraces the words and music of women composers and writers such as Emily Dickinson, Mary Rossetti, Eleanor Dailey, and Ruth Watson Henderson.
Tickets: $15 Students: $10
Reservations and Information: 978-837-5461 or www.treblechorus.com