Daraja Ensemble

Through Brod's romantic Quintet in C Major, Jolivet's thrilling Sèrènade, Franciax's virtuosic Wind Quintet No. 2 and Damase's lighthearted Dix-Sept Variations, the Daraja Ensemble explores the unique variety that exists within the French wind quintet repertoire. 

FARRUQUITO Direct from Spain! Lecture-Demonstration, Improvisation in Flamenco

Born into one of Spain’s most celebrated family of Gypsy flamenco artists, Farruquito made his Broadway stage debut at age five alongside his grandfather, the legendary dancer Farruco. He starred in Carlos Saura’s film Flamenco at age eight, and was directing his own shows by fifteen. In the ensuing years this vibrant young artist has garnered worldwide recognition at the highest level as he continues to deepen his personal approach to flamenco, bringing his family's dance legacy firmly into the 21st century.

WORLDWISE Arts & Humanities Dean's Lecture Series: NEA and NEH: Fifty Years

The arts and humanities help us to understand the human experience and critical issues such as power, inequality and quality of life. Join us as NEA Chairman Jane Chu, NEH Chairman William Adams and ARHU Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill discuss how the arts and humanities unlock solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. Discover how the arts and humanities impact public engagement, technological advancement and cultural preservation.

Lost in Wonderland: A reading of Pallas Theatre Collective's new musical

Lost in Wonderland takes the audience back to the literary universe of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, this time through Lewis Carroll’s eyes. As Carroll follows his beloved Alice through his own magical world, he discovers that Wonderland is not as pleasant as he imagined.

American Moor

American Moor is a 90-minute solo play written and performed by Keith Hamilton Cobb, examining the experience and perspective of black men in America through the metaphor of William Shakespeare's character, Othello. American Moor is not an "angry black man play." Rather the diverse audiences that have experienced it echo the piece's awareness that we see only what we want to see of one another, and that we all long to be wholly noticed and wholly embraced.

Troilus and Cressida: Touchdown for Love?

Troilus and Cressida

Troilus and Cressida photo by Stan Barouh

What do the characters of William Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida have in common with the youth of 2016? They are powerful, boisterous and relay the news of the latest love triangles via text message. The UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies’ production of Troilus and Cressida provides a modern take on a classic war tale of two rivaling ancient powers in the pursuit of land and love. To those viewers expecting to see the aftermath of a great war in the ruins of Troy, one might be surprised to find the battlefield of mid-13th century BCE adorned with lively infusions of modernity including: track suits with toga-like sashes and traditional ancient battle armor placed atop football jerseys. This adaptation takes inspiration from a high school homecoming football game to tell this story in a reimagined way. Interspersed between tense war scenes, this production also enjoys a soundtrack of many 21st century popular music hits which provide a welcome relief from the strife brought on by the spirited battle scenes.

A Cappella is Back

This blog post is by Kathleen Kelly, a junior government & politics and communications double major.

Vocalosity

Vocalosity photo by Jeremy Daniel

One does not have to be a devoted follower of a capella music to have been completely blown away by Friday night’s Vocalosity performance. After watching Vocalosity perform, there was not a member in the audience who could deny the truth. A capella is cool again. This modern take on a capella combines current, chart-topping songs with fearless, fresh dance moves, and has completely revamped the look of a capella.

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