The Performing Arts Center at UNLV, Southern Nevada's premier performing arts venue, recently announced its 2008-2009 season. In addition to the longstanding Charles Vanda Master Series, New York Stage & Beyond Series, and UNLV Classical Guitar Series, the Performing Arts Center also will offer a special holiday performance of David Benoit's A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The season opens on September 8 with the Charles Vanda Master Series performance by The 5 Browns. The five siblings from Utah have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America and were called " ... the biggest classical music sensation in years" (New York Post).
Additional performances within this season's Charles Vanda Master Series are the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra on October 30; violinist Joshua Bell January 29; Russian National Ballet February 11; Munich Symphony Orchestra February 22; and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra March 24.
October 3 opens the New York Stage & Beyond Series with Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Award-winning performer Rita Moreno, one of only nine performers ever to win all four prestigious show business awards.
Other performances within the New York Stage & Beyond Series include American Ballet Theatre II October 29; Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa November 19; Defying Gravity: The Music of Stephen Schwartz in Concert January 31; The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra March 12; Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway April 25; and Tony Award-winning Broadway star Lea Salonga May 1.
The UNLV Classical Guitar Series, held in the Doc Rando Recital Hall of the Lee & Thomas Beam Music Center, features Scott Tennant, a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning L.A. Guitar Quartet September 13; Montreal Guitar Trio (MG3) November 4; multiple award-winning Anabel Montesinos February 17; Brasil Guitar Duo March 17; and Roman Viazovskiy April 23.
As a special addition to the season, celebrate the holidays with David Benoit's A Charlie Brown Christmas, a new show from this three-time Grammy nominee, contemporary jazz pianist, and Peanuts composer. Don't miss this collection of holiday favorites and Peanuts classics by legendary Vince Guaraldi, including the instantly recognizable "Linus and Lucy."
For information on purchasing a season subscription, please call 895-ARTS (2787) or visit pac.unlv.edu.
Founded in 1976, the Performing Arts Center at UNLV continues to be Southern Nevada's premier performing arts venue. Located on the north end of the UNLV campus, the PAC hosts a variety of performances each year in three distinct series - the Charles Vanda Master Series, the New York Stage & Beyond Series, and the Classical Guitar Series. UNLV and KLVX Channel 10 are graciously sponsoring the season.