The 13 events in 2018-2019 University Arts Series presented by University Toyota will go on sale to the public Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. The Series includes: concerts by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo; the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra with Lee Greenwood; The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh; and Graham Nash. Additional performances include the national tours of The Wizard of Oz, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, STOMP, Jersey Boys and Chicago the Musical. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker returns for a December performance as does two performances of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce.
Tickets will be available at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center Box Offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or the WVU Arts & Entertainment Box Office at 304.293.SHOW (7469).
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: A Very Intimate Acoustic Evening / Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo met for the first time in 1979, in a small rehearsal room at SIR studios in New York City. The rest as they say, “is history.” Pat Benatar’s staggering vocal range and Neil Giraldo’s trailblazing artistry as a guitarist, producer, songwriter and arranger, forged the undeniable chemistry and unprecedented sound that created some of rock’s most memorable hits, including “Love Is a Battlefield,” “Heartbreaker,” “We Live for Love,” “We Belong,” and the signature, “Promises in The Dark.” Together they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won an unprecedented four consecutive Grammy awards. Their rock and roll love affair has endured for more than three and a half decades. Theirs is a chemistry that will undoubtedly be thrilling music fans forever.
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra with Lee Greenwood: Salute to America / Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Grammy Award-winning, singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood is best known for his patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA.” Voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America, “God Bless the USA” has landed in the top 5 on the country singles charts three times (1993, 2001, 2003). Greenwood joins the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra in their performance of “Lee Greenwood: Salute to America,” featuring some of Greenwood’s most famous songs, including the iconic anthem. The WVSO, founded in 1939, performs more than 50 concerts annually. WVSO Musical Director Lawrence Loh is in his second season with the Symphony. Loh has an affinity for pops programming and currently leads annual pops programs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he previously served as a resident conductor.
The Wizard of Oz / Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a dazzling Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. Don’t miss the chance to travel “Over the Rainbow” and experience this national treasure on stage.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story / Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
This immersive concert-style theater show chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Using huge projection photos and original film footage, this performance features a full live band performing all the hits, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound” and many more. Get your tickets fast as this is an evening not to be missed.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music / Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. The Sound of Music enjoyed extraordinary success as a live television production when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December 2013 and was seen by over 44 million people. The film version marked its 50th anniversary in 2015 and continues to be the most successful movie musical in history.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker / Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker – Dove of Peace Tour” is the perfect way to start your holiday season. Forty classically-trained dancers will deliver an unforgettable performance set to Tchaikovsky’s complete score. Moscow Ballet’s unique two-person Dove of Peace character, with its breathtaking 20-feet wing span, takes Masha (Clara) on a worldwide journey in search of peace and harmony in the performance’s second act. Hand-painted sets, lavish costumes, Russian snow maidens and jubilant nesting dolls add wonderment to the experience that The New York Times says leaves “kids wide-eyed with delight!”
STOMP / Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.
STOMP is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.
Mountain Stage with Larry Groce / Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. / April 28 at 7 p.m.
Mountain Stage with Larry Groce has been the home of live music on public radio for more than 30 years. Each two-hour episode is produced weekly by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music on more than 240 stations across America. While most of the shows are recorded in Charleston, WVU is proud to have served as the show’s second home for the last decade. The show features performances from seasoned legends and emerging stars in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country to indie rock, synth pop, world, alternative and beyond. Each event showcases five artists as well as songs from the Mountain Stage band and soloist Julie Adams. The show culminates in the finale number where all five acts come together to perform a special song chosen by the show’s producers. Artists for each of the shows will be announced as each date nears.
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh / Feb. 17 at 3:30 p.m.
Commemorate Black History Month with The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh’s performance of “Let My People Go: A Spiritual Journey Along the Underground Railroad.” This dramatic work interweaves spirituals, first and third narrative texts, and “code songs” to depict the African American slave’s struggle for freedom. “Code songs” inspired fellow slaves to seek freedom and provided instructions to use the Underground Railroad. The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Matthew Mehaffey, is known for its mastery of the great choral classics as well as masterfully tackling more contemporary works. Renowned for its excellence, the MCP combines the clarity of words with the mystical power of music so the deepest and most universal of human expressions are magnified through a community of voices.
Jersey Boys / March 27 at 7:30 p.m.
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard before and the radio just couldn’t get enough of it. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story – a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon, Jersey Boys. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s just too good to be true. Featuring the legendary top ten hits: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and “December 1963 (Oh What A Night).”
An Intimate Evening of Songs & Stories with Graham Nash / March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Graham Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – with Crosby, Stills, and Nash and with the Hollies. He is a two-time Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee – as a solo artist and with CSN – and he is a Grammy Award winner as well. His multi-faceted career has given birth to a litany of songs that he has written and introduced into the soundtrack of the past half-century. That list of songs is almost unending. “This Path Tonight,” “Chicago/We Can Change the World,” “Our House,” “Simple Man,” “Just a Song Before I Go,” “Teach Your Children” and more. This evening of unforgettable music also promises stories from Nash’s legendary career.
Chicago the Musical / April 7 at 7:30 p.m.
This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy, thousands of standing ovations and now the No. 1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Chicago has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. It’s no surprise that Chicago has wowed audiences from Mexico City to Moscow, and from Sao Paulo to South Africa.
All University Arts Series events are held in the WVU Creative Arts Center’s Lyell B. Clay Theatre. Subscription packages are on sale now through Friday, Aug. 24. All University Arts Series events will go on sale as single events Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Mountainlair and CAC Box Offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or the WVU Arts & Entertainment Box Office at 304.293.SHOW (7469). Additional event information is available online.
The University Arts Series is produced by WVU Arts & Entertainment and presented by University Toyota. Stay connected with the latest event updates through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following @wvuevents.