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Doo Wop Explosion: A Night of Acappella Harmony

Pollak Theatre

Born on the street corners of urban America, rhythm & blues and doo wop singing reached its peak in the 1950’s, but still has a strong following today. While doo wop singing began as an African American art form, by the late 1950’s it was enjoyed by singers of all races. Doo wop harmony in its purist form is acappella (without instrumentals). We’ve assembled six of the top acappella doo wop vocal groups from NYC to Philadelphia, plus a couple special guests. Choice hails from Jersey City and has been singing for 35 years. Their video recently went viral attracting 6 million views. The Tee-Tones formed on the streets of Brooklyn and fine tuned their harmonies in the tunnels of the NYC subway system. They’ve since appeared on Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight. The versatile group, Quiet Storm, has developed a huge following in the Philadelphia area. Called “Storm Chasers,” their fans follow them from concert to concert. Frankie and the Fashions are a Philadelphia acappella group whose origins reach back to the 1960’s. They’ve recorded several CD’s and are well known for their popular signature song, “What Do I Have To Do”. The popular Piscataway NJ group, Re-MemberThen, has the distinction of twice winning the acappella showdowns at the Meadowlands. The Vic Donna Group is known for their tight intricate harmonies of obscure R&B and Doo Wop collectors sides and original material. Vic, himself, has been singing since 1956. Over the years, he’s been backed on record by such noted groups as the Fi-Tones, Parakeets, Cadillacs, Sharps, Compliments and Angels. The Vic Donna Group has recently added a couple new singers with a lot of previous experience. As a special guest, we welcome Larry Chance of the Earls. Larry is an internationally known doo wop star who has agreed to sing acappella for us, backed by Re-MemberThen. By way of a big screen video, we’ll have De’Sean Dooley, grandson of the Orioles Sonny Til, singing Orioles songs backed by Quiet Storm.

$25 $35, $45 (Gold Circle seats include meet and greet reception)

MET OPERA: Les Pêcheurs de Perles (Encore)

Pollak Theatre

Bizet’s gorgeous opera of lust and longing set in the Far East returns to the Met stage for the first time in 100 years. Soprano Diana Damrau stars as Leïla, the beautiful Hindu priestess pursued by rival pearl divers competing for her hand. Her suitors are tenor Matthew Polenzani and baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, who sing the lilting duet “Au fond du temple saint,” which opera fans know and adore. Director Penny Woolcock explores the timeless themes of pure love, betrayal, and vengeance in a production that vividly creates an undersea world on the stage of the Met. Conductor Gianandrea Noseda brings his romantic flair to the lush score from the composer of Carmen.

$23

Bolshoi Ballet: The Taming of the Shrew (Broadcast in HD)

Pollak Theatre

Many suitors dream of marrying the lovely and docile Bianca, including Luciento. However her father will not let anyone marry her before her elder sister, the ill-tempered shrew Katharina, is herself married. French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot lands a coup with his adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy tailored specifically to the Bolshoi dancers, and achieves a magnetic two hours of breathtaking, nonstop dance unlike any other, portraying the Bolshoi’s audacity and energy in a completely new way. This new production was staged exclusively for the Bolshoi and cannot be seen anywhere else!

$22

Dr. Paul Shane Annual Policy Symposium

Anacon Hall, 2nd Floor, Student Center

You are invited to attend the Dr. Paul Shane Annual Policy Symposium Themes: Race Relations & Environmental Justice Friday, February 26, 2016 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monmouth University Anacon A & B, Student Center 400 Cedar Avenue West Long Branch, NJ 07764 Registration: 9:30 a.m. Program begins 10 a.m. The event is FREE   […]

Cherish the Ladies

Pollak Theatre

“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” says the Boston Globe speaking of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene and has since toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, recorded 15 outstanding albums including their latest, “An Irish Homecoming” which was also videotaped for an Emmy winning Public Television Special that is airing across America.

$40; $50

MET OPERA: Turandot (Encore)

Pollak Theatre

Nina Stemme, one of opera’s greatest dramatic sopranos, takes on the title role of the proud princess of legendary China. Tenor Marco Berti is Calàf, the brave prince who sings “Nessun dorma” and wins her hand. Franco Zeffirelli’s golden production is conducted by Paolo Carignani.

Tickets on sale Friday, July 24

$23

Music & Madness at Monmouth University

The Great Hall Auditorium

Join the Monmouth University Department of Psychological Counseling for Music & Madness on Tuesday, March 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Wilson Hall Auditorium on the campus of Monmouth University. The event will take attendees on a journey through bipolar disorder in music and stories. It is produced and performed by saxophonist and Mental Health Counseling graduate student Rob Chaseman. Admission is free and open to the public For more information call 732-571-3570.

Bus Stop by William Inge

Lauren K. Woods Theatre

Bus Stop is a romance drama written by one of the great, if underappreciated, playwrights of the 20th century: William Inge.

$20

National Theatre Live: Hangmen (Broadcast in HD)

Pollak Theatre

Following a sell-out run at London’s Royal Court Theatre, Olivier and Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (The Pillowman, The Cripple of Inishmaan, In Bruges) returns to the West End with Matthew Dunster’s award-winning production of his deeply funny new play Hangmen, broadcast live to cinemas by National Theatre Live.

In his small pub in the northern English town of Oldham, Harry (David Morrissey – The Walking Dead, State of Play) is something of a local celebrity. But what’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging?

Amongst the cub reporters and pub regulars dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, his old assistant Syd (Andy Nyman – Peaky Blinders, Death at a Funeral) and the peculiar Mooney (Johnny Flynn – Clouds of Sils Maria) lurk with very different motives for their visit.

Run time: 180 minutes
Content appropriate for 15 years old and up.

$22

Ethel with Robert Mirabal

Pollak Theatre

Continuing a deeply successful six-year collaboration inspired by ceremonies dedicated to the Sun, ETHEL and Robert Mirabal, Native American musician, instrument builder and three time GRAMMY® Award winner present their next evolution of the cross-cultural concert experience. The inspiration this time is Water as the embodiment of Spirit, and its essential role in Life on Earth. The audience is immersed in a flow of music, narrative, and ritual, that evokes timeless Native American traditions through contemporary musical artistry. As delivered by these master performers, the effect is breathtaking, even ecstatic. To complement the music created by ETHEL and Mirabal exclusively for this program, ETHEL will also perform part of Gabriela Lena Frank’s epic Andean Walkabout and Phil Kline’s gorgeous The River.

“Indefatigable and eclectic” (The New York Times), “vital and brilliant” (The New Yorker), at the heart of ETHEL is a collaborative ethos—a quest for a common creative expression forged in the celebration of community.

A Native American “Renaissance man”—musician, composer, painter, master craftsman, poet, actor, screenwriter, horseman and farmer—Mirabal travels extensively throughout the world, offering “exquisitely nuanced flute playing” (The New York Times) and creating music that honors the spirits of the earth.

$28; $38; $50 (Gold Circle)