Benjamin RozakNo matter a person’s age, taste, gender or preference for entertainment, Cal Poly Arts has put together a vast assortment of productions that are sure to impress.
“We pretty much cover all ranges and tastes,” interim director for Cal Poly arts, Peter Wilt said.
In fact, the department is the major presenter of performing arts events on the Central Coast.
All of the shows are booked as early as a year in advance to guarantee they play on the Cal Poly campus.
“We are just starting to look at the 2009-2010 season,” Wilt said. “I will be going to a conference in Seattle to begin the hunt for talent.”
For the fall quarter alone, 16 different shows will be performed.
Not only will there be an array of music presented including classical, jazz/blues and pop/rock, but there will also be countless Broadway/theater productions taking the stage including “Oliver!,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee.”
To satisfy a love for world music, Great Big Sea, a Celtic pop band will be playing; and if watching the foxtrot, waltz or cha-cha titillates you, then attending Simply Ballroom with guest host Debbie Reynolds is right up your alley.
(Dave Moller) Materials engineering senior, said that he might be attending more than one show this season if the conditions are right.
“I’d go to the ballroom show if I went with someone I cared about, and will check out the Celtic band to see if the drummer is a badass,” he said.
Wilt said Kris Kristofferson, “Sweeney Todd” and the American Ballet Theater II are almost guaranteed to be the most popular this fall.
Returning from last year’s line-up due to their popularity are singer Sam Harris and renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch.
“The Lar Lubovitch Dance Co. was here about 15 years ago,” Wilt said. “It seemed appropriate to bring them back as this may be their last season of touring.”
What really sets this year apart from other seasons is that for the first time in the Cal Poly Arts 25-year history, an acting master class will be offered by the company doing “Hamlet.”
The class will be available for students in the theatre and dance department.
An interesting fact about the production of Hamlet is that Cal Poly “has not done a professional touring Shakespeare production in probably 12 years,” Wilt said. “The production is significant in that the actors playing Hamlet, his mother and his step-father are the actor’s parents in real life.”
This year’s critically acclaimed talent is sure to suit all types of audiences and budgets. To find out more about specific dates, ticket prices or summary on any of the Cal Poly Arts productions, visit calpolyarts.org or call 805-756-6556.
Oliver!
Sept. 26 (Fri)
and 27 (Sat)
7 p.m., Harmon Hall,
Christopher Cohan Center
Sam Harris
Oct. 4 (Sat.)
8 p.m., Spanos Theatre,
Performing Arts Center
Great Big Sea
Oct. 5 (Sun)
7 p.m., Spanos Theatre,
Performing Arts Center
Branford Marsalis
Oct. 9 (Thur.)
8 p.m., Harman Hall, Christopher Cohan Center
Bungee Jumpin’ Cows
Oct. 11 (Sat.) 11 a.m., Spanos Theatre, Performing Arts Center
Millennia Consort
Oct. 12 (Sun)
3 p.m.,
Harman Hall,
Christopher
Cohan Center
Sophie Milman
Oct. 16 (Thurs)
8 p.m., Spanos Theatre, Performing Arts Center
Kris Kristofferson
Oct. 17 (Fri)
8 p.m., Harman Hall,
Christopher Cohan Center
Lar Lubovitch
Oct. 25 (Sat)
8 p.m., Spanos Theatre
Performing Arts Center
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Nov. 3, (Mon)
Nov, 5, (Wed)
7 p.m., Harman Hall,
Christopher Cohan Center
American Ballet Theatre II
Nov. 20 (Thurs)
8 p.m., Harman Hall,
Christopher Cohan Center
Takács String Quartet
Nov. 24, (Mon)
7 p.m., Spanos Theatre
Performing Arts Center
Sweeney Todd
Dec. 4 (Thurs)
7 p.m., Harman Hall,
Christopher Cohan Center