Arkansas State University's College of Fine Arts

Presents

The 2011-2012 Fowler Center Series

Rhythmic Circus has quickly risen from an underground percussive-dance phenomenon to an innovative live performance company known for transforming their tap shoes into instruments of rhythm. The Minneapolis Star Tribune put it well when they called the dance troupe “Flat out amazing!”

Infusing their unpredictable blend of hard-hitting tap, high-spirited humor, and finger-snapping tunes, Rhythmic Circus satisfies their “rhythmic appetite” on everything from sand to folding chairs, and in one number even utilizes the technology of electric drum triggers to change the sound of their taps! This unforgettable show is guaranteed to leave audiences of all ages amazed with its unique “you have to see it to believe it” quality!

Other performances planned this season include:

Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project - Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

James Gavin’s Stormy Weather starring, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and featuring Award-Winning Blues Singer Paula West, is a “living, breathing, biography” combining story, song and visual images drawn from Gavin’s wealth of material and hundreds of interviews – several with Horne herself – to give us the defining portrait of an American icon live on stage. Join us as we reminisce through Ill Wind, Stormy Weather, Why Was I Born? A Lady Must Live, It’s all Right with Me, Honeysuckle Rose and many other songs made popular by “The Beautiful Lena Horne.”

Susan Werner – Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
*Riceland Distinguished Performance Series

Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner’s talent, and has proven to be a quintessential ingredient of her engrossing musical persona. Joined by Trina Hamlin, a major talent in her own right, this concert warrants its inclusion in the Riceland Distinguished Performance Series.

Home for the Holidays - Memphis Symphoney Orchestra
Stilian Kirov, conductor
Featuring the Memphis Symphony Chorus - Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
*Riceland Distingished Performance Series

It’s time to feel merry and glad! Let the Memphis Symphony Orchestra put a musical yuletide log on the fire and keep you warm with carols and songs that will help you reminisce about holiday cheer and good will to all as we celebrate that most wonderful time of the year.

Billy Dean - Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
*Riceland Distinguished Performance Series

With 12 albums and 11 top 10 hits to his credit, Billy’s musical artistry transcends genre and rakes in awards, including The Academy of Country Music’s New Male Vocalist of The Year and Song of the Year (“Somewhere in My Broken Heart”), a Grammy for a country tribute “Amazing Grace,” and Country Music Television’s Rising Star Award. His enduring success led to another honor: the BMI Million Air Plays Award.

A gifted songwriter and fabulous guitarist, Billy is also an accomplished actor, appearing in television’s Blue Valley Songbird, A Face to Kill For, Lois & Clark, One Life to Live, Diagnosis Murder, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show and many others. After decades of churning out hits, Billy Dean – with his gratifying guitar and his distinctive voice – gives every audience an unforgettable performance.

The Blanks - Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

News flash: A cappella is hip! Seriously. Leading this pack of cool is a quartet of friends, The Blanks, who appear on the worldwide syndicated television show Scrubs as “Ted's Band.” In a case of life imitating art, the group was written into the script as a quartet of friends who like to sing a cappella music. Group member Sam Lloyd played the recurring role of character “Ted Buckland” on all nine seasons of Scrubs on NBC and later ABC, now airing on Comedy Central, TV Land, WGN, and a host of other local/regional channels just in the US. The show is on several times a day everywhere in the US, giving the Blanks a constant boob tube presence.

Hot Club of Detroit-  Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

The Gypsy jazz sound made famous by Django Reinhardt has never been more passionate, fresh or hot than with Hot Club of Detroit, who are joined by the equally sizzling vocal stylings of Cyrille Aimée! Unlike the instrumentation of original Paris-based quintet, comprising Reinhardt, violinist Stephane Grappelli, two rhythm guitarists, and a bassist, the current Hot Club of Detroit is made of guitarist Perri, accordionist Julien Labro, soprano and tenor saxophonist Carl Cafagna, rhythm guitarist Paul Brady and bassist Andrew Kratzat. The fibrous accordion tones of Labro, a native of Marseilles, France, links the Detroit quintet to the French musette style from which gypsy jazz partially sprung, while Cafagna’s robust saxophone work introduces bop and post-bop elements to gypsy jazz.

Dailey & Vincent - Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
*Riceland Distinguished Performance Series

With a combined 10 IBMA Awards in 2008 and 2009 including Entertainer of the Year for 2 years running and Album of the Year in 2008, The New York Times is calling Dailey & Vincent "...the most celebrated new bluegrass act of the last few years." Their inaugural Rounder Records release Brothers from Different Mothers, debuted at #1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Album chart and even cracked the top 50 on Billboard's Country chart at #44. Headed by Jamie Dailey (formerly of Doyle Lawson's Quicksilver) and Darrin Vincent (formerly of Ricky Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder), the band's true strength lies in the uncanny harmony of their vocal trios and quartets. Combine that with Dailey & Vincent's impeccable arrangements and flawless performance and what you get is bluegrass gold.

All seating is reserved and tickets may be purchased at the ASU Central Box Office in the Convocation Center or by calling 972-ASU1. Tickets are also available on line at www.yourfowlercenter.com or www.tickets.astate.edu.