Pillow Pages: A Jazz Happening
Broadway's Next Generation: A Jazz Happening
by Halli Chamberlain, Development Intern, Special Events
Sunday, August 23, 2009, 8pm Ted Shawn Theatre
Benefit Event for The School at Jacob's Pillow
This season's exhilarating annual benefit celebration, A Jazz Happening, to support The School's five distinct programs, will be held on Sunday, August 23 at 8pm in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Performers include an amazing all-star cast; Desmond Richardson (Movin' Out, Fosse, Complexions), Francesca Harper (The Color Purple, All Shook Up), Malcolm Gets, (Dreamgirls), Teri Ralston (A Little Night Music), and Jennifer Byrne (Sophisticated Ladies, Smokey Joe's Cafe).
Directed by Broadway's Chet Walker, co-conceiver of the Tony Award-winning Fosse, A Jazz Happening is a one-of-a-kind benefit that includes original choreography by Chet and the Jazz/Musical Theatre artist faculty; Bill Hastings (A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Cabaret), Dana Moore (Chicago, Fosse, Dancin'), and vocal coach Ric Ryder (The Music Man, Blood Brothers, Grease!). These seasoned professionals will perform alongside our own stars-in-the-making, the students of the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program at The School, and the music of a live onstage jazz band.
The School at Jacob's Pillow offers an immersion training experience in performance skills, history, and technique. Students are selected for five distinct programs: Ballet, Contemporary Traditions, Cultural Traditions, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance and Choreography. By connecting dancers to artists at the forefront of the international world of dance in combination with a rigorous and extensive program, these students are prepared for the demands of a professional career in dance.
The students of the Jazz/Musical Theater Dance program traveled from across the United States, France, Greece, Argentina, Japan, and Serbia to study at The School at Jacob's Pillow. From the day of arrival the students brought with them the excitement and determination to soak up every last drop of their unique experience. Observing these students as they take on the challenges presented to them by each member of the artist faculty allows a peek into the life of a passionate dancer. Vocal warm-ups begin before their first cup of coffee and the lights in Sommers Studio do not dim until they have perfected the step that, earlier in the day, posed difficulty. These students are jam-packed with ambition and appreciation and the faculty take note.
All proceeds from A Jazz Happening benefit The School at Jacob's Pillow; Tickets are $100 and include a post-show reception with the performers at the Pillow Café. Performance-only tickets are also available. Please call the Box Office to reserve your seat: 413.243.0745
Patrons attending A Jazz Happening can enjoy a cocktail, light fare, or dinner before the performance. The Pillow Pub will be open from noon to 8pm and the Pillow Café from 5pm to 8pm. The Café is accepting reservations: 413.243.2455
Click here to read the next Pillow Pages article: Ballet Hispanico Closes the Festival
by Halli Chamberlain, Development Intern, Special Events
Sunday, August 23, 2009, 8pm Ted Shawn Theatre
Benefit Event for The School at Jacob's Pillow
This season's exhilarating annual benefit celebration, A Jazz Happening, to support The School's five distinct programs, will be held on Sunday, August 23 at 8pm in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Performers include an amazing all-star cast; Desmond Richardson (Movin' Out, Fosse, Complexions), Francesca Harper (The Color Purple, All Shook Up), Malcolm Gets, (Dreamgirls), Teri Ralston (A Little Night Music), and Jennifer Byrne (Sophisticated Ladies, Smokey Joe's Cafe).
Directed by Broadway's Chet Walker, co-conceiver of the Tony Award-winning Fosse, A Jazz Happening is a one-of-a-kind benefit that includes original choreography by Chet and the Jazz/Musical Theatre artist faculty; Bill Hastings (A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Cabaret), Dana Moore (Chicago, Fosse, Dancin'), and vocal coach Ric Ryder (The Music Man, Blood Brothers, Grease!). These seasoned professionals will perform alongside our own stars-in-the-making, the students of the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program at The School, and the music of a live onstage jazz band.
The School at Jacob's Pillow offers an immersion training experience in performance skills, history, and technique. Students are selected for five distinct programs: Ballet, Contemporary Traditions, Cultural Traditions, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance and Choreography. By connecting dancers to artists at the forefront of the international world of dance in combination with a rigorous and extensive program, these students are prepared for the demands of a professional career in dance.
The students of the Jazz/Musical Theater Dance program traveled from across the United States, France, Greece, Argentina, Japan, and Serbia to study at The School at Jacob's Pillow. From the day of arrival the students brought with them the excitement and determination to soak up every last drop of their unique experience. Observing these students as they take on the challenges presented to them by each member of the artist faculty allows a peek into the life of a passionate dancer. Vocal warm-ups begin before their first cup of coffee and the lights in Sommers Studio do not dim until they have perfected the step that, earlier in the day, posed difficulty. These students are jam-packed with ambition and appreciation and the faculty take note.
All proceeds from A Jazz Happening benefit The School at Jacob's Pillow; Tickets are $100 and include a post-show reception with the performers at the Pillow Café. Performance-only tickets are also available. Please call the Box Office to reserve your seat: 413.243.0745
Patrons attending A Jazz Happening can enjoy a cocktail, light fare, or dinner before the performance. The Pillow Pub will be open from noon to 8pm and the Pillow Café from 5pm to 8pm. The Café is accepting reservations: 413.243.2455
Click here to read the next Pillow Pages article: Ballet Hispanico Closes the Festival