The Grapevine

Syllabi, pumpkin spice and everything nice —fall semester is finally here and with it comes an array of arts events just as colorful as the autumn foliage.

From classic and contemporary comedies to a CFA wonderland of dancing, filmmaking and more, here is the ultimate guide to all things arts coming to UB’s campus this fall.

Theatre

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Katherine Cornell Theatre

Oct. 7 - 8

The first in this season’s student-directed series, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” is a play adapted from the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon.

The story centers around Christopher Boone, an autistic teenager, and his investigation into the death of his neighbor’s dog. Directed by theatre major Thomas Hughes Bellavigna and assistant directed by theatre major John K. DellaContrada, this production aims for the audience to understand Christopher’s journey “exploring London alone.”

Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $10 for adults. 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — Black Box Theatre

Oct. 27 - 30, Nov. 3 - 6

A musical comedy situated in upstate New York, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” offers more than simple viewership of quirky characters and the “inevitabilities of puberty.” Peppered with audience interaction, this musical becomes an immersive experience for all involved in the Tony Award-winning take on academic competition.

“Putnam County” also features the return of guest artist and director Terry Berliner, who directed last season’s “Violet.”  

Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $20 for adults. 

Noises Off — Drama Theatre

Nov. 17 - 20

Another comedy coming to UB’s campus, “Noises Off” plays upon being a play within a play. Centered around an eclectic cast of actors performing the fictitious play “Nothing’s On,” a failing sex farce, “Noises Off” promises three acts of raucous laughs.

Directing this production is UB instructor and professional actor, Greg Natale.

Tickets are $12 for students and $22 for adults.

Music

Faculty Recital — Slee Hall

Ongoing

Every year, Slee Hall hosts a series of faculty recitals ranging in all types of genres and instruments. Here is this semester’s line-up.

Sept. 16 — Stephen Guerra, guitar

Description: “Afro-Brazilian Pixinguinha’s Music and Influence”

Nov. 5 — Tiffany Du Mouchelle, soprano and Erice Huebner, piano

Description: features Messiaen’s “Poemes pour Mi” an Saariaho’s “Quatres Instants”

All faculty recitals are free to students with ID and $10 for other guests.

Visiting Artists — Slee Hall

Ongoing

Just as Slee Hall features its very own artists, it also supports the work of music artists outside of UB. Here is this semester’s guide to Slee Hall’s visiting artists.

Oct. 18 - 19 — Jerusalem Quartet

Nov. 11 — Nikki Chooi, violin and Eric Huebner, piano

Dec. 4 — Meridian Arts Ensemble

All visiting artists’ performances are free to students with ID. Prices for other guests vary on performance.

Lukas Foss Tribute Concert — Slee Hall

Sept. 18

Performed by members of UB’s Slee Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra, this concert will pay tribute to Lukas Foss by featuring works such as “Time Cycle.”

Lukas Foss was a German-American composer who founded and directed the Center for Creative and Performing Arts at UB.

This concert is free to all.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis — Mainstage Theatre

Oct. 7

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) is a large jazz group led by American trumpeter and composer, Wynton Marsalis.

Marsalis has received nine Grammy Awards along with a Pulitzer Prize for Music.

JLCO performs a wide variety of compositions including original works and works by prominent jazz musicians including Duke Ellington.

Limited student tickets are available for $24. All other tickets range between $44 and $72.

The Royal Pitches Unplugged Concert — Norton 190

Oct. 14

UB’s all-female a cappella group will hold its first semester performance at its annual “Unplugged Concert.”

This concert is performed without special equipment, such as microphones, highlighting the raw voices of the group.

Sphinx Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra — Slee Hall

Oct. 15

Sphinx Virtuosi is a professional chamber orchestra “dedicated to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in classical music.” The group highlights the performances of its Black and Latinx classical soloists through various works “inspired by the events of the present day.”

Tickets are free to students with ID and $20 for all other guests.

An Evening with Bruce Hornsby — Mainstage Theatre

Nov. 10

Bruce Hornsby is a Grammy-Award-winning American singer-songwriter who first gained prominence with his band, The Range. The Range’s song “The Way It Is,” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been sampled notably by rappers including Tupac Shakur and Polo G.

Most recently, Hornsby has released the studio album “Flicted,” in May 2022.

Tickets to “An Evening with Bruce Hornsby” range from $44-$59.

The Royal Pitches A Cappella Concert — SU 106/201 Theatre

Dec. 3

Finishing off their semester, The Royal Pitches will hold their annual fall concert on Dec. 3.

Tickets are priced at $8 for students, $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door. 

Punch Brothers and Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart — Mainstage Theatre

Dec. 17

Punch Brothers is a Grammy Award-winning folk band composed of mandolinist Christ Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny and violinist Gabe Witcher.  

Punch Brothers will be performing with Grammy Award-winning banjoist, Bela Fleck. Fleck’s album, “My Bluegrass Heart,” which features Punch Brothers, won Best Bluegrass Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Limited student tickets are available for $25. All other tickets range from $49-$62.

Art

Art in the Open — UB CFA

Oct. 27

An annual event hosted at UB’s CFA, “Art in the Open” is a showcasing of every nook and cranny of UB’s art scene.

From open studios, to live music, to art galleries and dance rehearsals, “Art in the Open” celebrates the diversity and creativity of students from UB College of Arts and Sciences. 

This event is free to all.

Dance

Zodiaque Dance Company 48th Season Fall Program — Drama Theatre

Oct. 14 -16

UB’s pre-professional dance company, Zodiaque, returns for its semesterly performance highlighting various styles of dance from jazz, tap, modern, commercial and contemporary.

Performed by UB dance majors, the program will be directed by dance professors Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver.

Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $20 for adults.

Emerging Choreographers Showcase — Katherine Cornell Theatre

Nov. 11 - 13

Emerging Choreographers Showcase is an annual production highlighting performances from UB dance students.

The showcase ranges in all kinds of dance genres from hip-hop to jazz in which students explore a diversity of ideas. This year’s production will focus on themes including “drowning in one’s own thoughts” and contemplations on words including “apricity,” which the showcase defines as “the warmth of sun in winter.”

Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $20 for adults.

MFA Dance Showcase — Katherine Cornell Theatre

Dec. 2 -3

Each semester, MFA dance students put on a concert featuring completed and incomplete works. The aim of the showcase is to provide a look into the work and “creative process of dancemaking.”

The showcase is directed by MFA students and operates as a space for experimentation and creativity.

All tickets are $5.

Kara Anderson is the senior arts editor and can be reached at kara.anderson@ubspectrum.com

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