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from the issue of June 12, 2008
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Chang-Barnes guides Lied into new season
The release of a new Lied Center season schedule has always piqued Ann Chang-Barnes' interest.
After all, she is artist-in-residence as a pianist in the School of Music and was a long-time member of the Lied Center's advisory board until 2007.
But, the 2008-09 season has charged Chang-Barnes' level of excitement as, on May 16, Chancellor Harvey Perlman named her interim director of the Lied Center. She replaces director Charles Bethea, who retired May 12.
"I'm extremely proud of what this season has to offer," Chang-Barnes said. "This is our hall. We're going to work together and make sure that our patrons walk away saying that their experience at the Lied Center was worth the money spent."
The season schedule - organized by Bethea - offers 30 performances, ranging from traditional Broadway musicals to popular entertainment.
"My goal is to cast a wider net in the kind of audience we want to serve," Chang-Barnes said. "This season is a good start toward that goal."
The season opens with the Broadway musical "Sweeney Todd" on Sept. 26. For the complete list of season events, see the story below or go to www.liedcenter.org. Brochures will be available later in June and season ticket orders (four or more events) may be placed at that time. Patrons ordering four to eight events will receive a 10 percent discount on their entire order, while patrons who order tickets to nine or more events receive a 20 percent discount. Individual event tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. Aug. 18. To receive a free brochure, call the ticket office at 472-4747.
Chang-Barnes said the Lied Center staff is developing promotions for the new season - many directed at drawing more faculty, staff and students to performances.
"There is a huge amount to be gained by more participation from faculty, staff, students and their families," Chang-Barnes said. "That represents a huge part of our patron base. We really would like to make the Lied Center a big part of their lives, make it more than just a big building they walk by every day."
The promotions will be announced at a later date.
Chang-Barnes is the founder of the Meadowlark Music Festival, the award-winning summer music festival that won national acclaim and was featured on National Public Radio. She brought world-class musicians and performers to Nebraska to participate in the week long festival of concerts, classes, and other activities that attracted a broad audience to enjoy a variety of performances in Lincoln and other parts of the state.
In addition to founding the festival, she served as its executive and artistic director for six years. Chang-Barnes has also provided leadership in the arts entrepreneurship initiatives on campus.
In the School of Music, Chang-Barnes coordinates the chamber music program, in partnership with the Chiara String Quartet. She has a doctorate of music in piano performance from Indiana University-Bloomington and was recently named a Fulbright Scholar.
Chang-Barnes will serve until a permanent director is named.
Lied Center for Performing Arts 2008-09 Schedule
September
26 - "Sweeney Todd." Ten actor/musicians perform Stephen Sondheim's musical about a demon barber and his baker neighbor, Mrs. Lovett.
October
3 - "Revolution." Two 20-somethings create a multi-media explosion of American tap and Irish step dance.
7 - Glenn Miller Orchestra. Formed in 1957, the orchestra preserves Miller's signature with performances of "In the Mood," "Body and Soul" and more.
9 - Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel. The company's colorful and energetic dances evolve from flamenco's original, sorrowful Gypsy stories.
14 - Lura. The vocalist fuses her African roots and Portuguese upbringing to create a multicultural flair to her music.
17 - Perlman/Schmidt/Bailey Trio. The young chamber ensemble features pianist Navah Perlman, daughter of violinist Itzhak Perlman.
30 - The Capitol Steps. A week before the election, the comedy troupe hits town with its special blend of political satire.
November
1 - Michael Cooper (family series). The visual artist and mime uses hand-crafted masks to tell his original stories.
5 - Champions of the Dance. Ten ballroom champions from around the globe perform dances (waltz, foxtrot, etc.) as seen on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."
7 - Soweto Gospel Choir. The group performs South African traditional songs, with dialects of English, Zulu and Sotho and American gospel classics.
14 - "The Spirit of Music and Dance," The Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble. Locke's troupe celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a multimedia performance.
25 - Frankie Avalon. The chart-topping singer and movie star from the 1950s and '60s performs hits such as "Venus" and "Why."
December
6 - "Holiday With the Brass," Canadian Brass. The acclaimed brass ensemble performs holiday standards, including "Frosty the Snowman" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
19 - Tomáseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas." The acclaimed "master of the Irish narrative" performs music and stories tied to the holiday.
January
22 - Tony Kushner. "Angels in America" playwright discusses his plays and the themes found in them.
24 - "Jesus Christ Superstar." The touring production hits the stage for two performances of the first masterpiece from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
29 - "Banned in the USSR," Chiara String Quartet. The chamber ensemble, in residence at UNL, performs the program the USSR banned the Borodin Quartet from playing in 1975.
February
6 - National Acrobats of China. Troupe juggles, drums and more.
17 - "To Kill a Mockingbird," Montana Repertory Theatre. The company performs an adaptation of Harper Lee's story about a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in a small Southern town.
21 - "The Phantom Tollbooth" (family series). The Kennedy series presentation is a musical adaptation of the children's book about Milo and his trusty time-keeping dog, Tock.
27 - The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion. Kevin and Cindy Spencer levitate people, walk through walls, vanish, reappear and more.
28 - "The Pajama Game." The touring Broadway show is on stage for two performances, featuring musical theater standards "Hey There," "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway."
March
3 - "Irish Spectacular," Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra. Touring the U.S. for the first time, the orchestra under Derek Gleeson's direction performs Irish and Celtic music with some of Ireland's leading pop stars.
7 - Merce Cunningham Dance Company. The company recreates Cunningham's work "Second Hand," which features music by John Cage.
13 - "Rain: The Beatles Experience." The quartet looks and sounds like the original Beatles, performing songs from the band's beginning through the psychedelic late 1960s.
26 - "Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary - On Tour." Bill Charlap, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane and more celebrate Blue Note's jazz catalog.
28 - Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company (family series). Garbo performs comedy, dance and juggling, with giant inflatable props making up his set.
April
10 - Diavolo. Dance troupe leaps and twirls on stage in a gymnastic-like spectacle.
18 - "Ain't Misbehavin." "American Idol's" Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis star in two performances of the musical revue.
May
2 - "Swan Lake," Russian National Ballet Theatre. Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Sergei Radchenko guides the company through the Russian dance classic.
7-8 - "Homeland." Playwright Christopher Cartmill presents a play commissioned by the Lied and inspired by the trial of Chief Standing Bear.
GO TO: ISSUE OF JUNE 12
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