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Alton Brown, Esperanza Spalding and Buddy guy.
Alton Brown, Esperanza Spalding and Buddy guy.

UB Center for the Arts announces 2014-15 20th anniversary season

by jmaloni

Submitted

Wed, Aug 27th 2014 11:30 pm

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, announces its 2014-15 performance schedule. This season marks the center's 20th anniversary and will once again offer a wide variety of programming.

Tickets for all events are on sale now unless noted.

The season will feature a number of concerts representing diverse genres. Pop singer/songwriter Christina Perri performs next week. Other fall concerts include: prog-rock pioneer and flautist Ian Anderson performing the "Best of Jethro Tull"; renowned jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding; and the WYRK Acoustic Show featuring Scotty McCreery.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show will make its local debut at the Center for the Arts, performing Pink Floyd's hits accompanied by a laser light show and more. Returning to the CFA is guitar virtuoso Brian Setzer, along with his 18-piece band on his popular annual holiday tour.

In support of the center's ongoing Arts in Healthcare Initiative, musician Stuart Fuchs will work in Women & Children's Hospital and Roswell Park Cancer Institute for 10 days and premiere new music/sound collages at the CFA. Country a cappella group Home Free and the legendary R&B group Boyz II Men will perform in November in a benefit concert for the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo.

Spring 2015 concerts include the Croatian instrumental duo and YouTube sensations 2CELLOS;blues legend Buddy Guy; and Zap Mama with afro-pop group Antibalas.

The CFA also offers a new concert series. The "New Voices Series" features several up-and-coming national artists in a series of concerts in the 388-seat Drama Theatre. The series features: "Marissa Mulder in Tom Waits...In His Words"; Cyrille Aimée; and Becca Stevens Band.

This season will not be without its share of laughs. Returning by popular demand, Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy-nominated "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", perform a night of improvisational comedy driven completely by audience participation. Also, Alton Brown, star of "Iron Chef America," "Cutthroat Kitchen," and "Good Eats," brings his new tour to the CFA featuring cooking, science, music and comedy.

The CFA is Western New York's premier presenter of dance. This season's M&T Bank Dance Series features the Western New York premiere of the Richmond Ballet, who will join with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by JoAnn Falletta to present Igor Stravinsky's enduring and influential masterwork, "The Rite of Spring." Returning to the CFA stage this fall is Buffalo's own LehrerDance, which will offer two world premieres, as well as audience favorites from a diverse body of work.

Tango Buenos Aires, one of Argentina's greatest cultural exports, visits the center with its special authentic and poignant program that celebrates the life of Eva Perón ("Evita"). Contemporary dance company RIOULT Dance NY will make its first visit to the CFA, and also perform outreach activities as part of the annual professional dance residency. The Russian National Ballet Theatre will round out the dance series with its performance of the timeless classic "Sleeping Beauty." And the holiday season would not be complete without the American Academy of Ballet's presentation of "The Nutcracker."

Great for families, world-renowned magician Greg Ferwin, will wow the audience during a night of illusion and mystery this September.

TheSchool-Time Adventure Series continues with a series of age-appropriate programs open to school groups only. The season includes: "The Berenstain Bears"; "Stella, Queen of the Snow"; "Four Score and Seven Years Ago"; "The Acting Company in Shakespeare's Macbeth"; and Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet in "Cinderella." School groups interested in booking seats should call 716-645-6771.

Off-Broadway hit "Girls Night: The Musical" visits this spring. In this feel-good comedy, five girlfriends re-live their past, celebrate their present, and look to the future on a wild night out.

Each season, the CFA offers a number of unique cultural/international performances. Fall attractions will include the diverse repertoire of The Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir, and a new production by The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China. The spring season will include a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico under the direction of Maestro Enrique Bátiz.

For more information on these events, call 716-645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org.

Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts Box Office (weekdays, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.), and online at tickets.com. Charge by phone at 1-888-223-6000. For group sales, call 716-645-6771.

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