American University Department of Performing Arts

04/12/2024

Come hear a great program and the North American Premiere of Rachel Portman’s Earth Song (2019)

Brief rehearsal excerpt: https://www.facebook.com/reel/455020123541561.

In Nature’s Realm: Our Environment and Care for the Earth
American University Chamber Singers
Daniel Abraham, director

April 13, 7:30 p.m. and April 14, 3 p.m.
Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall

Tickets: $10-$15, free for AU students
Featuring the North American Premiere Performance of Rachel Portman: Earth Songs

https://auartstix.universitytickets.com/w/?cid=168

04/11/2024

04/05/2024

Interesting concert coming up with the AU Chamber Singers. The concert will feature the North American premiere of Academy Award wining composer Rachel Portman's Earth Song. Lovely work written for the BBC singers in 2019 on a poem by Nick Drake with additional words by Greta Thunberg.

The whole program is interesting and varied, but the highlight of Portman's work is very much worth hearing and experience.

Program
In Nature’s Realm: Our Environment and Care for the Earth

Program
Abendleid - Josepf Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-1901)
The Peace of Wild Things - Joan Syzmko (b. 1957)
Northern Lights Ēriks - Ešenvalds (b. 1977)
Into its Embrace - Gracie Gilligan & Michael Mazey

V Přírodě [5 Songs], Op. 63 (1882) - Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Good Night, Dear Heart (2009) - Dan Forrest (b. 1978)
and the swallow (2017) - Caroline Shaw (b. 1982)
Requiem - Eliza Gilkyson (b. 1950), arr. Craig Hella Johnson

Earth Song (2007) - Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)
Earth Song (2019) [U.S. Premiere Performance] - Rachel Portman (b. 1960)
Easy on The Earth - Luke Wallace (b. 1993), arr. Shawn Kirchner
Unclouded Day - Rev. J.K. Alwood (1828–1909), arr. Kirchner

02/20/2024

"I'll so offend, to make offense a skill." ⚔️

"The Herstory of Henri IV, pt. 1" opens on February 28! Equal parts comedy and tragedy, "Henri IV pt. 1" is a gender-bent adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous coming-of-age story about a young woman not only trying to figure out her place in the world, but also what sort of world she wants it to be. By William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Kate Eastwood Norris.

In the Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre, February 28-March 2. 🎟️: $10-$15, free for American University students with ID: https://bit.ly/484wmQr

📷: Ethan Kauffman

01/29/2024

It’s a privilege to p*e. From American University Theatre/Musical Theatre Program, "Urinetown: The Musical" comes to Greenberg Theatre February 22-24! 🚽

"Urinetown" tells the story of a future fascist society, run by corporate greed, that demands that the public pay to p*e. The musical, though fun and tongue-in-cheek, is a warning to us all to not take our freedoms for granted.

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

🎟️: $10-$15, free for American University students: https://bit.ly/3uBF1f2

Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann, Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis, Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer, Choreographed by Robert Bowen Smith, Music Direction by Deborah Jacobson

01/25/2024

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12/07/2023

Playwright Olivia Luzquinos, an AU alum, seeks out the conversations that characters need to have but avoid, and plunges right into them.

12/04/2023

11/07/2023

11/04/2023

Only a few tickets left to see the American University Chamber Singers perform at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center this weekend!

"Choral Abstractions" is inspired by the abstract artwork of Steven Cushner, whose work is on view at the AU Museum this fall. The concert features contemporary composers who have taken an abstract approach to creating music without word, by adopting vocal devices, or even creating open approaches to shape and form that provide greater parallels to visual art.

Saturday's concert is sold out. A few tickets left for Sunday, November 5 at 4:30PM. Tickets are $10-$15, free for AU students: https://auartstix.universitytickets.com/?cid=168

📷: Noah Puzzo

10/16/2023

An Interview with Head Over Heels director Carl Menninger and music director Kristin Stowell

09/25/2023

We're bringing the beat to Greenberg Theatre at American University next month! 🎤

From the American University Department of Performing Arts, "Head Over Heels"
follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts. This laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” and “Mad About You.”

October 20-28. 🎟️: $10-$15, FREE for American University students with ID. https://bit.ly/3ZqyG1p

Based on ‘The Arcadia’ by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder
Directed by Carl Menninger
Music Direction by Kristin Stowell
Choreographed by Cate Ginsberg

08/07/2023

Ensemble took the stage in Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary

07/31/2023

Greenberg Theatre costume designer Barbara Tucker Parker retires after 38 years

07/20/2023

Showcase your talents and exercise your creative energies with performance opportunities in dance, music, and theatre/musical theatre.

05/27/2023

We decided to do this at the last minute, but if you're free at noon today, we're going to broadcast our final program from Central Europe live at 12:00 noon EST. This concert, from the Liechtenstein palace in Prague is the seventh we have given over the last twelve days while traveling throughout Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia.

I hope you'll tune in. Info on the graphic below, or search for us on Instagram or Facebook live.

Dan

Saturday, May 27 at 12:00 noon EST -- AU CHAMBER SINGERS -- LIVE FROM PRAGUE!

04/27/2023

04/18/2023

Up next this weekend from the American University Music Program:

🎷: AU Jazz Orchestra: "Some Spring Swing" - Friday, April 21, 7PM in the Katzen Arts Center Sculpture Garden
🎼: AU Chorus: "On a Canvas of Silence" - Saturday, April 22, 7:30PM and Sunday, April 23, 3PM, Katzen Recital Hall

Tickets: $10-$15, FREE for AU students: https://auartstix.universitytickets.com/w/?cid=168

📷: Olivia Bloch

04/12/2023

Don't miss two American University Music Program events coming up this weekend in the Katzen Arts Center Recital Hall!

✨AU Symphonic Band: "Notes on Hope" - Saturday, 4/15 at 3PM
✨AU Chamber Singers: "Bach and Handel - Early Music Brilliance" - Saturday, 4/15 at 7:30PM and Sunday, 4/16 at 3PM

🎟: $10-$15, FREE for AU students: https://auartstix.universitytickets.com/

📷: Olivia Bloch

04/04/2023

Music events coming up in April! Mark your calendars 📅
https://auartstix.universitytickets.com/

04/03/2023

Student organization supports women, who are underrepresented in audio industry