A new quarter brings a new variety of art performances for students to experience at the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Throughout January, the PAC will host performances ranging from psychic mediums to Broadway musicals. Two shows, violinist Itzhak Perlman and Broadway musical ‘Kinky Boots’, have already sold out.
However, according to Cal Poly Arts director Steven Lerian, tickets are still on sale for many January performances. Although Cal Poly Arts brings in a majority of the shows performed during winter 2018, not all shows are Cal Poly Arts shows. Therefore, not all shows will have a student discount available. Below is a listing of January show dates:
Tuesday, Jan. 16 – Itzhak Perlman: SOLD OUT
Perlman is a world-renowned violinist. According to Lerian, Perlman’s tickets were in high demand and sold out quickly because he is considered the greatest living violinist.
Perlman is on a two-week tour of the West Coast and Cal Poly will be the last venue during his tour.
Wednesday, Jan. 17 – Psychic Medium and Author John Edward
John Edward is a psychic medium who will be returning to the PAC Jan. 17 because of community interest in his previous visit.
According to Kristen Teufel, who oversees the PAC’s marketing and communications, Edward’s performance stands out because it is not the type of show typically seen at Cal Poly.
Friday, Jan. 19 to Saturday, Jan. 27 – 80’s Mixtape: Orchesis Dance Concert
The Orchesis Dance Company is a Cal Poly dance company directed and produced by students. The performances will be shown for an entire week, which, Teufel said, is rare as far as performances shown at the PAC. This quarter’s performance is called ‘80s Mixtape and will feature ‘80s music and dance.
Friday, Jan. 26 – Michael Feinstein “Sings Sinatra!”
Michael Feinstein is a pop singer who found inspiration in classical music. Feinstein covers a wide range of music spanning across the ages, primarily covering the 1920s to 1960s. His performance at Cal Poly, “Michael Feinstein Sings Sinatra” will feature Feinstein’s rendition on Sinatra classics, according to Lerian.
Saturday, Jan. 27 – Met Live in HD
The Met Live series is shown in the PAC annually and is co-presented by Cal Poly Arts and Opera San Luis Obispo. The series broadcasts the Met Live performances that have happened in the past. Jan. 27 will be the first of three Met Live showings throughout the quarter.
Sunday, Jan. 28 – Keola Beamer and Henry Kapono
The Cal Poly Arts department tries to bring at least one Hawaiian-themed performance per year because, Lerian said, the San luis Obispo community seems to enjoy Hawaiian music. Keola Beamer and Henry Kapono are Hawaiian artists.
As Lerian described, Beamer is the “godfather”of Hawaiian slack-key guitar and traditional Hawaiian music, whereas Kapono plays more contemporary-style music. Beamer’s wife Moana, who is a renowned hula dancer, will be joining them on stage to perform.
Tuesday, Jan. 30 – Kinky Boots: SOLD OUT
“Kinky Boots” is an upbeat broadway musical popularized in part because of actress and singer Cyndi Lauper’s role in writing the music score. According to Lerian, Kinky Boots has been the fastest sold out show brought to the Performing Arts Center by the Cal Poly Arts department.
The show had nearly sold out on subscription sales alone. Subscription sales allow people to purchase tickets before they are on sale to the general public. After the first hour of general public sales, Lerian said, the tickets sold out.