Peace Center announces shows for 2016-2017 season
June 23, 2016
Greenville, S.C. – With an eclectic schedule of music, dance, comedy and theatrical events, the Peace Center’s 2016-2017 season features something for everyone.
An Evening with Chris Thile
Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$25-$45
Multiple Grammy® Award-winner and MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile, a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, is a mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist. Thile first rose to fame as a member of trio Nickel Creek, with whom he released four albums and sold more than two million records. In 2014, the group released a new album, A Dotted Line, their first since 2005.
As a soloist, Thile has released five albums including his most recent, Bach: Partitas and Sonatas, Vol.1, which was produced by renowned bassist Edgar Meyer. In February 2013, Thile won a Grammy for his work on The Goat Rodeo Sessions, collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma, Meyer and Stuart Duncan. In September 2014, Thile and Meyer released their latest album collaboration, Bass + Mandolin, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Punch Brothers released their latest album, The Phosphorescent Blues, in January 2015.
Ben Folds
Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$35-$55; VIP package available
Multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/producer Ben Folds first found success with the Ben Folds Five. He’s gone on to have a successful solo career, writing and performing pop hits, recording multiple studio and live albums, collaborating with other artists, and writing and recording for film and television.
In its first five seasons on the air, Folds also achieved critical acclaim for his insight as a judge on NBC’s a cappella competition show, The Sing-Off.
Folds is a long-time outspoken advocate for symphonies, and has worked tirelessly to encourage and inspire new generations of music lovers to embrace orchestral music. He has performed to sold-out audiences with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras over the past 10 years, and most recently released an album entitled So There, which debuted No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical and Classical Crossover album charts. The record features his critically acclaimed “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra,” along with eight new pop songs he calls “chamber rock” that he recorded with the classical sextet yMusic.
Branford Marsalis Quartet with Special Guest Kurt Elling
Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$35-$65
The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by guest vocalist Kurt Elling in a collaboration of musical forces. The tight-knit working band featuring Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Faulkner on drums rarely invites other musicians into the folds of their nearly telepathically cohesive unit, and Elling’s deep jazz vocabulary, technical versatility and outstanding intonation will enable the band to perform a variety of material in new ways.
Energized by the artistic promise of this collaboration, the band members have all contributed new arrangements to perform with this special line-up and will be looking beyond the Great American Songbook. Although following the format of a standard jazz quartet with vocals, the collaboration between jazz’s most intense band and one of jazz’s foremost singers should prove to be anything but standard.
Ron White
Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$45-$65; VIP package available
Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon, but now as a chart-topping Grammy®-nominated comedian and a feature film actor, White has established himself as a star in his own right. His stories relay tales from his real life, ranging from growing up in a small town in Texas to becoming one of the most successful comedians in America. All four of his comedy albums charted No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts. He has sold more than 14 million albums (solo and with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour), been nominated for two Grammys, and regularly ranks as one of the top three grossing stand-up comedians on tour in America.
For mature audiences.
Zakir Hussain, tabla, with Niladri Kumar, sitar
Monday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m., Gunter Theatre
$45
Zakir Hussain is a world-renowned, multiple award-winner who, along with his legendary father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha, has elevated the status of the Indian tabla drum, garnering the respect of percussionists around the world.
Under the guidance of his father (sitar legend Kartick Kumar), Niladri Kumar mastered the instrument at an early age, playing his first performance at only six years old. In no time at all, Kumar made a name for himself, inventing the first electric sitar (dubbed the Zitar) and seamlessly blending authentic Indian music with a modern style that appeals to an expanse of music lovers.
Together, Hussain and Kumar create music unlike any other, with sounds from the tabla and sitar mixing harmoniously and delighting world music fans wherever they go.
An Evening with Keb’ Mo’ Band
Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$25-$45
Keb’ Mo’ is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, actor, humanitarian, mentor and dynamic performer. His many years of performing have garnered him multiple Grammy® Awards, a slew of loyal fans, and have allowed him to share the spotlight with artists like B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne, Natalie Cole and Lyle Lovett.
His newest project, Keb’ Mo’ LIVE, was something he created “for the fans,” and is a double-album compilation that highlights his 2015 tour. Featuring 16 tracks captured in nine different cities, Keb’ Mo’ LIVE gives fans a glimpse into the magic of live music, and showcases the songs that transformed Keb’ Mo’ into an industry icon.
When he’s not playing music, he’s paying it forward, supporting the Playing For Change Foundation, a nonprofit organization that creates positive change through music and arts education.
Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles
Friday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m., Gunter Theatre
$45
Julie Fowlis’ interpretation of Scottish Gaelic culture, and her ability to bring folk music out of the past and into something contemporary, dynamic and irresistible, are what have made her a genuine and multi-award winning crossover star.
Fowlis has a remarkable series of achievements to her name – including being the first solo Gaelic singer to be radio playlisted on the BBC, happily crossing genre to sing with Mary Chapin Carpenter or James Taylor, and singing to a live television audience of one billion people at the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
For millions of little girls around the world – and their parents – Fowlis will forever be known for singing the theme song to Brave, Disney Pixar’s Oscar®, Golden Globe® and BAFTA® winning animated film, set in the ancient highlands of Scotland.
An Evening with Gladys Knight
Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$65-$85
Very few singers over the last 50 years have matched Gladys Knight’s unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy® winner has enjoyed No. 1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. With award-winning hits like “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye),” Knight has captured the hearts of fans worldwide.
Knight’s latest album, Where My Heart Belongs, won an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Gospel Album.” Previous to that, she released Another Journey, which enjoyed success from the hit “I Who Have Nothing” as well as the up-tempo track “Settle,” produced by Randy Jackson, with whom Knight previously collaborated with on her Grammy-winning album, At Last.
En Garde Arts: Basetrack Live
Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$15-$45
Named one of the top 10 performances in 2014 by The New York Times, Basetrack Live is a documentary theater piece originally created by Edward Bilous and produced by the not-for-profit theater company En Garde Arts, about the impact of war on veterans and their families. Accompanied by a musical score, two actors portray the real life characters of AJ and Melissa Czubai., a young Marine and his wife. Audiences follow their journey through his deployment to Afghanistan and back home again, the birth of their child while he is overseas and the injury that sends him home.
Photographs and videos shot by embedded journalists bring to light the stories of other Marines AJ served with in Unit 1/8, their feelings about deploying and their hopes and dreams for coming home. There is additional video footage of Marines and their families once they are back home, that shows the transformation of ordinary people fundamentally changed by the extraordinary experience of fighting a war. Basetrack Live does not represent these characters as either heroes or victims. Instead, it shows a complicated and sensitive portrayal of how war affects us all.
Renée Fleming in Recital
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at 8 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$65-$95
One of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time, soprano Renée Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. At a White House ceremony in 2013, the President awarded her the National Medal of Arts, America’s highest honor for an individual artist. Known as “the people’s diva,” and winner of the 2013 Grammy® Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo, she continues to grace the world’s greatest opera stages and concert halls, now extending her reach to include other musical forms and media. In recent years, Fleming has hosted a wide variety of television and radio broadcasts, including the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series for movie theaters and television, and Live from Lincoln Center on PBS. She brought her voice to a vast new audience in 2014, as the first classical artist to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
Lang Lang
Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$75-$95
Star pianist Lang Lang has been heralded as “the world’s ambassador of the keyboard” by The New Yorker, and was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine, citing him as a symbol of the youth of China and its future. The Today Show coined the term “Lang Lang Effect” to describe the 40 million Chinese children inspired by his legacy to study an instrument. His open-hearted, emotive performances on the grandest of stages, including consecutive appearances on the 56th and 57th Grammy® Awards and the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, have earned him the title “hottest artist on the classical planet” from The New York Times.
MILOŠ: Bach to Beatles
Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 8 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$25-$45
Miloš Karadaglić began playing guitar at eight years old. By 16, he had been accepted into the Royal Academy of Music in London, and today, he is considered the leading classical guitarist of his generation.
From tiny chamber music halls to massive venues, Miloš’ sound fills spaces and delights audiences worldwide. He’s collaborated and performed with musicians like Tori Amos and worked with some of the finest ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He’s a passionate supporter of music education, acting as Patron of the Mayor of London Fund for Young Musicians and the Awards for Young Musicians. In 2014, Miloš recorded the soundtrack for the world-famous Japanese Studio Ghibli and their Oscar®-nominated animated film When Marnie Was There.
In this concert, Miloš will be backed by an ensemble of strings as he plays his way through a variety of pieces, covering everything from Bach to The Beatles.
Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue
Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$25-$45
Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance and music, this performance takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. The production is a high energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions, featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance and thrilling live music.
Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchanthas has been the director of choreography for more than 75 Bollywood films and is known for her hits, including Dhol Baaje, Jhoom Barabar, Kajra Re, Kamli and Dhoom3.
Celtic Woman
Friday, March 17, 2017, at 8 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$55-$85
Created by David Kavanagh, Sharon Browne and former Riverdance Musical Director David Downes, Celtic Woman is a multiple award-winning, Billboard chart-topping, all-female musical-ensemble that has been taking the world by storm since its debut in 2004.
With multi-platinum CDs, DVDs, popular public television specials, fast-paced fiddle, traditional Irish dance and gorgeous vocals from some of Europe’s best musicians, Celtic Woman provides audiences with an exciting night of music that covers everything from traditional Irish tunes to today’s popular hits.
Nufonia Must Fall Live
Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 8 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$35-$65; the $65 ticket includes an after party with DJ Kid Koala
Based on Kid Koala’s 2003 graphic novel of the same name, Nufonia Must Fall Live is a heart-tugging romantic tale of an outdated robot trying to impress the human girl that has his heart.
Using 10-inch tall plastic puppets with 17 shoebox-sized sets projected in real time on a big screen, and featuring live music written and performed by Kid Koala and the Afiara Quartet, Nufonia is a heavily choreographed, hilarious, heart-breaking, thought-provoking, action-packed story everyone – robot or not – can enjoy.
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$15-$45
Paul Taylor Dance Company, founded in 1954, is one of the world’s most highly respected and sought-after ensembles. It has performed in more than 500 cities in 64 countries, bringing Paul Taylor’s ever-growing repertoire (currently numbering 144 dances) to theaters and venues in cultural capitals, rural communities and college campuses nationally and internationally – and often to places modern dance has never been seen before. The 16-member company has a yearly three-week engagement at New York’s Lincoln Center under the aegis of Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, performing Taylor’s new and classic works, as well as great works of the past and new works by today’s leading choreographers.
Black Grace
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$25-$55
Founded by Neil Ieremia in 1995, Black Grace is New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance group. Ieremia draws from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural and generational barriers. The work is highly physical, rich in the storytelling traditions of the South Pacific and expressed with raw finesse, beauty and power. The company has toured internationally to Europe, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Australia and New Caledonia. Black Grace made its United States debut in 2004 and has regularly performed throughout North America since.
David Sedaris
Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Peace Concert Hall
$40; including a book signing. Books will be available for purchase.
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.
Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, each of which became an immediate bestseller. His pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are a total of 10 million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages.
Sedaris’ next book will be a collection of his diaries, entitled Theft By Finding, set to be released in the summer of 2017.
New this year is the previously announced Peace Chamber program, which includes a chamber concert series in the Gunter Theatre: Schubertiad (Sept. 29), Masterpieces: Major, Minor, and Modern (Nov. 3), An Evening with Robert Blocker (Feb. 23, 2017) and Jewels from the City of Light (May 11, 2017).
Also part of the 2016-2017 season are the already announced shows on the Broadway series, including A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Sept. 27-Oct. 2), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Oct. 25-30), An American in Paris (Nov. 29-Dec. 4), The Book of Mormon (Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2017), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Feb. 21-26, 2017), Something Rotten! (April 11-16, 2017), Disney’s The Lion King (May 31-June 25, 2017), Finding Neverland (July 25-30, 2017) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I (Aug. 22-27, 2017).
More events will be added as the season goes on.
Tickets for all shows except Broadway go on sale to Peacekeepers beginning Monday, June 20, at 10 a.m. and to the public on Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. Broadway and Chamber Music subscriptions are available now. Individual Broadway show tickets will go on sale at later dates to be announced.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 864.467.3000 or 800.888.7768, in person at the Peace Center Box Office or online at www.peacecenter.org. Handling fees will apply to phone and online sales.
For more information about the Peace Center and its upcoming events, visit www.peacecenter.org.
