World Cinema Series: El Norte
Pollak TheatreGregory Nava’s “El Norte” (1983) (R) Mayan Indian peasants escaping labor and a murderous Guatemalan government head to America in hopes for something better.
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NJ MoCA Art Conversations: Secrets of the Contemporary Art World
The Great Hall AuditoriumThe world of contemporary visual art is often intimidating, challenging, and seemingly
unapproachable. To help break those perceptions and barriers, New Jersey Museum of
Contemporary Art will present “Art Conversations,” a series of three scholar-led panel talks that
will provide context and insight into what defines contemporary art, its transformational trends,
and its relevance and impact on society. The highly credentialed and charismatic United Nations
journalist Alexandra King will moderate conversations with art critics, collectors, curators,
technology producers, and artists.
This panel will focus on Insights into the nuances and impact of contemporary visual art on society and will feature STEPHEN WESTFALL, artist and critic who is a contributing editor to Art in America; ISAAC LYLES owner of the Lyles King Gallery in NYC; and art collector STEVE SHANE.
Madeleine Peyroux
Pollak Theatre“The only thing that matters is the song,” says singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux. That conviction along with a ‘one of a kind’ voice, has carried the Jazz artist from busking on the streets of Paris, all the way to mainstream recognition. Through intensely distinctive renditions of old classics and modern tunes by the likes of Leonard Cohen and The Beatles, Peyroux has proved to be an uncannily insightful ‘interpreter’ with her consistently impeccable choice of material. Peyroux’s new album, The Blue Room, sees the genre-blending singer reworking some landmark musical gems, in a repeat collaboration with longtime Peyroux producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Walter Becker, Tracy Chapman, Herbie Hancock) The result is a sophisticated album that rather than just ‘crossing over’, seamlessly fuses musical styles together to create an entirely new sound. Peyroux has come a long way from the streets of Paris to the word’s grandest concert halls and collaborating with the some of the world’s finest musicians. Still, where other artists might rest on their laurels and bask in the glory of countless gushing reviews, Peyroux continues to fearlessly explore new territories.
$39; $49; $60 (Gold Circle)
HUGH MASEKELA & LARRY WILLIS
Pollak TheatreHugh Masekela, a world-renowned flugelhornist, trumpeter, bandleader, composer, singer, and defiant political voice, combines his talents with powerhouse pianist Larry Willis for a show of epic proportions. These two giants of the jazz world put on a one-of-a-kind show together, after decades of cultivating careers apart. Willis and Masekela met while they were both students at the Manhattan School of Music some 50 years ago. After coming under the tutelage of Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong, Masekela went on to carve out a five-decade-long (and counting) career, releasing over 40 solo albums. His 1986 anti-apartheid anthem “Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)” became a rallying call around the world for Mandela’s release from prison. At the same time, Willis has performed or recorded with almost every great jazz musician of the modern era, including Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Cannonball and Nat Adderley, and Stan Getz. Don’t miss this rare chance to watch these two jazz legends (and dear friends) perform together.
$35; $45; $60 (Gold circle)
MET OPERA: Tannhäuser (Encore)
Pollak TheatreJames Levine conducts Wagner’s early masterpiece in its first return to the Met stage in more than a decade. Today’s leading Wagnerian tenor Johan Botha takes on the daunting title role, opposite soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek as Elisabeth, adding another Wagner heroine to her Met repertoire after her acclaimed Sieglinde in the Ring a few seasons ago. On the heels of his recent triumph in Parsifal, baritone Peter Mattei sings Wolfram, and mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung is the love goddess, Venus.
Tickets on sale Friday, July 24
$23
Visiting Writer: Ed Hirsch
The Great Hall AuditoriumEdward Hirsch, a MacArthur Fellow, has published nine books of poems, including The Living Fire: New and Selected Poems (2010), which brings together thirty-five years of work, and Gabriel: A Poem (2014), a book-length elegy that The New Yorker called “a masterpiece of sorrow.” He has also written five prose books, among them A Poet’s Glossary (2014), a complete compendium of poetic terms, and How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry (1999), a national bestseller. He has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Literature. He taught in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston for seventeen years. He now serves as president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
SOLD OUT – A Celebration of Bruce Springsteen’s The River, The Ties That Bind Preview Screening
Pollak TheatrePlease note this event is SOLD OUT! The Friends of the Bruce Springsteen Special Collection, along with Monmouth University and Backstreets.com announce a special event to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of The River and the forthcoming release of The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set.
$15
Festival of World Languages and Cultures
The Great Hall AuditoriumThe Festival of World Languages and Cultures showcases the talents of students and faculty from the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Performances include poetry readings, singing, dancing, instrumental and acting productions all in the target language the students are studying. In addition, students create posters and cook authentic dishes from the target language country […]
ART NOW: Coco Fusco- Observations of Predation in Humans, A Lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist
Pollak TheatreThe Chimp psychologist from Plant of the Apes is back! Zira travelled back in time to visit us 20 years ago and narrowly escaped death at the hands of the paranoid humans who could not tolerate the idea of other primates as equals. After living in seclusion for 20 years and conducting ethological studies of our species from her hideout, she has emerged in order to share her findings relating to aggressive behavior in members of the home genus. Her lecture is introduced by esteemed posthuman cultural theorist Donna Haraway and is followed by a question and answer session with human audience members. Dr. Zira draws on the cutting edge research in the fields of neuroscience, primatology and evolutionary biology to interpret the predatory activities of human beings in postindustrial societies around the world.
One Last Waltz: A Celebration of the music and legacy of The Band.
Pollak TheatreGlen Burtnik, Salvatore Boyd, Bob Burger & Arne Wendt, performing as The Band, will be joined by local and national talent to recreate not only the music but the celebration, camaraderie and talent that took over the stage November 25 back in 1976.