UFPA brings back 27 artists for upcoming season

May 24, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Performing Arts director Michael Blachly has announced the 2012-13 season, which continues the program’s 20th anniversary celebration that began last season.

“The program that eventually became UFPA started with the Florida Arts Celebration and the construction of the Phillips Center, which opened its doors in January 1992,” Blachly said. “Because the year 2012 coincides with both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Seasons, we decided to celebrate the anniversary over both seasons.”

The 2012-13 season provides a diverse lineup of artists from various genres, including dance, theatre, classical, jazz, contemporary, comedy and world arts.

UFPA welcomes back 27 artists who have previously performed under UFPA’s auspices, dubbed “20th Anniversary Artists.”

Some of these 20th Anniversary Artists are Gainesville regulars – the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Interpreti Veneziani return for the seventh time; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, The Chieftains and political comedy troupe The Capitol Steps for the sixth; and local favorite Sister Hazel for the fifth.

Many Anniversary Artists make their first return to Gainesville, including One Night of Queen, Vienna Boys Choir, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Monterey Jazz Festival.

Other 20th Anniversary Artists include Japanese drumming sensation Kodo; Riders in the Sky; California Guitar Trio (with Montreal Guitar Trio) and dance companies MOMIX, Trey McIntyre Project and Mark Morris Dance Group.

UFPA welcomes two of Broadway’s most famous productions – “HAIR” and “West Side Story”; comedy performances “YOU SAY TOMATO, I SAY SHUT UP!” and “One-Man Star Wars Trilogy”; a trio of Young Concert Artists; and a slew of world performances including Ragamala Dance, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Benise, Creole Choir of Cuba and Tannahill Weavers.

UFPA will also present the world premiere of “ETHEL” and Todd Rundgren’s “Tell Me Something Good,” a tribute to the 1970s; the U.S. premiere of U.K.-based dance company Motionhouse’s work “Scattered”; and Alison Balsom & Scottish Ensemble’s piece “Seraph,” which will premiere in the U.S. during their 2012-13 tour.

“It’s nice to have a second season reflecting the 20th anniversary calendar year of the Phillips Center with artists that have been with us before, alongside those new to our stage,” Blachly said.

New this season is Specticast, featuring five pre-recorded operas and a documentary at the Phillips Center in HD quality. Among these productions are “The Beatles: The Lost Concert,” Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” and Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida.”

“The Specticast pre-recorded productions offer us the opportunity to bring events to Gainesville that otherwise would not be possible due to cost and accessibility of the product,” Blachly said. “With a new HD projector the Phillips Center Main Stage will bring operas and other productions to life in a wonderful, qualitative way.”

Tickets for the 2012-13 season go on sale to the public at noon July 13. For a complete list of UFPA’s 2012-13 season, please visit www.performingarts.ufl.edu.