The world-renowned Gambian National Musical and Dance Troupe will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, in the Webb Center cafeteria.
The 26-member troupe is known for its prolific traditional musicians and skilled dancers under artistic director Momodou Joof and manager/producer Latjor Ndow.
A meeting place of the cultures and traditions of West Africa, Gambia has incorporated its performing arts heritage into the troupe. The group was created in 1995 and has received rave reviews from audiences both in Gambia and abroad. The troupe toured America in 1995 and 1996 and performed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
The troupe's repertoire includes both contemporary and traditional music. The musical ensemble consists of two kora (harp lute) players, the balafon (African xylophone), the four-string halam, the flute, riti (violin), the newo, and a plethora of drums ranging from the four-drum set bugarabu, jembe, dundun, kenkeni and sabaro to the tama.
The group is in the midst of an American tour that continues through June. For the first time in this country, the dance troupe is performing the Bugarabu, an African drum and dance piece which was performed at the funerals of society elders.
Tickets are $10 and available at the Old Dominion Ticket Office. To purchase tickets by credit card call 683-4444. For more information call 683-4406.
Jazz saxophonist Chip McNeill and vocalist Lisanne Lyons will offer a series of free clinics, workshops and open rehearsals as artists in-residence with the music department, April 20-26.
The residency will culminate in two performances. The first performance, with Old Dominion's Student Jazz Ensemble, will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 25, in Chandler Recital Hall of the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. On Monday, April 26, McNeill and Lyons will perform with the John Toomey Trio at 8 p.m. in Chandler Recital Hall as part of the F. Ludwig Diehn Concert Series.
Both concerts and the clinics, workshops and rehearsals are free and open to the public. For a schedule call the music department at 683-4061.
Current music director and jazz tenor saxophonist for Grammy Award-winning recording artist Arturo Sandoval, Chip McNeill has performed at countless jazz festivals and clubs around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, the Noto Festival in Japan and the Wigan Jazz Festival in England.
Previously he was music director and jazz saxophonist for Maynard Ferguson and produced, wrote and performed on four of Ferguson's latest releases: "One More Trip to Birdland" (1996) and "These Cats Can Swing" (1995), Concord Jazz; "Live From London" (1994), Warner Brothers Jazz; and "Footpath Cafe" (1993), Avion Jazz.
Lisanne Lyons, winner of Downbeat magazine's "Dee Bee" award for best jazz vocal soloist for two consecutive years, is currently working on her first solo recording project, which will feature jazz artists Arturo Sandoval, Duffy Jackson, Chip McNeill, Ed Calle and others.
She has been a featured vocalist with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo Sandoval and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, among others. She has also performed with many of the world's top jazz artists, such as Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, the Four Freshmen, Mose Allison, Jon Hendricks and Darmon Meader.
Old Dominion University closes the 1998-99 Mainstage season with the annual Spring Performance Festival. Formerly called the Student One-Act Festival, the festival celebrates its 10th-year anniversary at the Stables Theatre.
Running April 9-11 and 14-18, the festival offers a lively mix of one-act plays, new play readings and original theatrical performances. Offerings include the one-act play "The Holy Ghostly" by Sam Shepard, directed by Briano Zottig, and three short plays from "Welcome to the Moon and Other Plays" by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Edwin Castillo.
New play readings are also on the bill, featuring the talent of student playwrights Kathleen Lawrence and Lea Ann Douglas. The one-acts and new play readings are interspersed with original theatrical performances conceived by student theater artists Edwin Castillo and Heather McClellan.
Show times are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for Old Dominion students. Call 683-5305 for reservations and information or 683-4444 to purchase tickets by credit card.
An additional evening of new play readings by student playwrights Julia Whiley and Jay McCord will be offered free and open to the public at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13.
Noted Chinese composer Chen Yi will be on campus for a pair of lectures and a concert Tuesday and Wednesday, April 13-14.
Considered one of the most important composers of her generation, Chen will give a preconcert lecture at 12:30 p.m. April 13 in room 104 of the Batten Arts and Letters Building. The lecture will be followed by a concert at 8 p.m. in Chandler Recital Hall of the Diehn Center in conjunction with the Virginia Waterfront Arts Festival. She will conduct a program of her compositions for a mixed quartet, flute and piano and string quintet and Chinese fiddles.Chen will also give a lecture and demonstration of traditional Chinese instruments at 11 a.m. April 14 in the Diehn Center.
A native of Guangzhou, China, Chen has music degrees from the Beijing Central Conservatory and Columbia University. Recent premieres of her work have been presented by the Duluth Symphony, the Shanghai Symphony, the Peabody Symphony in its debut at Lincoln Center and at Carnegie Hall.
She has been commissioned to compose for the Women's Philharmonic, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the New York New Music Consort and the late Yehudi Menuhin and the Orchestra of St. Luke's at the Lincoln Center Festival.
All of Chen's appearances at Old Dominion are free and open to the public.
The beloved classic "Rumpelstiltskin" will be lyrically told with magic, mystery and laughs this month by Old Dominion's Playtime Theatre for All Ages, directed by Frankie Little Hardin.
This original retelling includes all the classic elements plus a few surprises: the miller's beautiful daughter, the handsome prince, the magic straw which spins into gold and that mysterious little fellow.
Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the University Theatre. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children. Call 683-5305 for reservations.
A whimsical delight, "Rumpelstiltskin" puts a new twist on an old tale with heart, comedy and suspense. Designed and directed by Old Dominion faculty and staff and acted by university students, "Rumpelstiltskin" promises to be a visually stunning show, with gorgeous costumes, imaginative scenery and fast-paced action.
Playtime Theatre is in its first season as the resident children's theater company at Old Dominion. Producer/director Hardin created the popular "Childsplay" series at the Generic Theatre. She has come to Old Dominion to round out the theater program's extensive community outreach program and has already produced the highly successful and creative "Mr. Aesop's Fabulous Fables" and the vibrant "My Father Told Me."
