WVU Parkersburg Distinguished Performance Series

Off-Broadway musical "Children’s Letters to God" opens WVU Parkersburg’s 2005-2006 Distinguished Performance Series.

CONTACT: H.G. Young, professor of music and series coordinator, 304-424-8248.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The critically-acclaimed, off-Broadway musical "Children's Letters to God" will open West Virginia University at Parkersburg's 2005-2006 Distinguished Performance Series on Thursday, Sept. 22.

The production features the original cast. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. in the college’s multi-purpose room.

Photo of production cast Direct from the historic Lamb’s Theatre in New York City's Times Square, "Children’s Letters to God" is a whimsical, family-oriented musical about the innocent joys and sometimes simple sorrows of growing up. Inspired by and based on the international best-selling book compiled by Stuart Hample, the plot touches on sibling rivalry, the trauma of divorce, death of a turtle, self-esteem, and being separated from a friend, with poignant letters introducing each scene. Humorous and serious, wise and naive, simple and complex, the musical has charmed critics who call it "cheery, uplifting, and energetic." It is a musical for the entire family.

The season’s next DP program will feature BodyVox, a fresh, lively blend of bold athleticism and creative choreography, to be staged at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21.

BodyVox creates and performs original works of human theatre. Uplifting and often uproarious, BodyVox entertains audiences with breathtaking physicality, striking imagery, and guffaw-inducing wit and whimsy. Founded by Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland, former members of Pilobolus and Momix, their body of work includes choreography for the Academy Awards, music videos for Sting, U2, Pat Metheny, and John Fogerty, and "The Glass Spider" arena concert for David Bowie. BodyVox combines diverse forms of dance, media, and stage design to create multimedia shows that are thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Dance Magazine called their performance "finely crafted, frequently funny, and impeccably danced."

On Friday, Feb. 3, the series will feature the haunting melodies of the high Andes and the joyous dance rhythms of village festivals. Andes Manta brings to life the ancient culture of the Incas, a people focused on the natural world. Performing on more than 35 traditional instruments ranging from the lyrical sounds of the Quena to the haunting tones of six-foot long panpipes, the four Lopez brothers of Andes Manta weave the magic of their sound into a trip to the Amazon rain forest, complete with chirping frogs and calling birds. These highly acclaimed Equadorian musicians have presented their vibrant and powerful music at Carnegie Hall and the Smithsonian Institution, on the Discovery Channel, and at festivals across the United States. Showtime is 8 p.m.

The season will close at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 4 with the Abaca String Band. Featuring unique instrumentation of eight-string guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, and double bass, the Abaca String Band performs diverse repertoire ranging from classical standards by Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi to arrangements of popular works by Scott Joplin, Jerome Kern, and Pete Townshend. Founded by guitarist Andrew Schulman, the band has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, the White House and Library of Congress in Washington, D. C., and the Newport Music Festival and Chautauqua Institution. Abaca’s debut CD has been broadcast nationwide by Public Radio International.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with specially priced advance tickets for WVU Parkersburg students. Ticket information is available in the college's business office.

Financial support for the series is provided by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and WVU Parkersburg.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)