By Henry Fisher | August 21, 2023
The University at Albany’s Performing Arts Center (UAlbany PAC) has released a full list of shows for the 2023-2024 school year, including many that students are able to participate in through classes or university organizations. Many of these events are free, with those that are not being somewhere between $4 and $22.
The University at Albany Performing Arts Center.
Photo Credit: Henry Fisher
For over 50 years, the UAlbany PAC has acted as an important venue not only for UAlbany, but for the entire Capital Region. Originally opened in 1969 as the final building to be completed on the Academic Podium, the UAlbany PAC replaced the older Page Hall at the UAlbany Downtown campus as the home of the Departments of Music and Theatre as well as the premiere UAlbany venue.
This semester, the UAlbany PAC is working with another venue, the Egg in Empire State Plaza for the “Dance in Albany” program, which will have performances at the Egg and PAC. They will also feature “Prime Performances” for local artists and events, as well as performances presented by the Department of Music and Theatre. Prime Performances are presented by the UAlbany PAC itself.
For students looking to get involved, UAlbany PAC Associate Director Kim Engel has said “Students can participate by attending and engaging in ancillary activities such as pre- and post-show talks, panel discussions… Students can also join a Music Program ensemble (Orchestra, Band, Chorale, etc.) and perform as part of these groups. The Theatre Program has open auditions each semester. Anyone can audition; not just Theatre majors and minors.”
The following is a list of all performances from September to December 2023 that students can attend. It is separated by program type. Priced events will have ticket prices listed, and events outside of the PAC are noted. More information and tickets can be found on the UAlbany PAC website.
UAlbany Performing Arts Center Prime Performances
Sept. 24 will feature “Rising Tides: The Crossroads Project” at 2:00 p.m., first of the Prime Performances and the only of such features in September. It is a combination of original music, art, imagery, and science presented in collaboration with UAlbany’s Office of Sustainability.
October has three Prime Performances open to UAlbany students. At Page Hall are two screenings of “Fahrenheit 451,” with the first on Oct. 13 featuring the 1966 version and the one on Oct. 20 featuring the 2018 version. Both showings will begin at 7:00 p.m.. Back at PAC, there will be a “Fahrenheit 451” stage adaptation on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. by Literature to Life. Tickets for the adaptation range from $10-$20.
Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. has a screening of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” accompanied by live music by Quintocracy. The 1920 silent film is considered the first true horror film. Quintocracy, a wind ensemble, will be performing Brett L. Wery’s accompanying score.
The Egg and UAlbany PAC’s Dance in Albany Series
While grouped with the Prime Performances, the Dance in Albany series has been separated due to the off-campus shows at the Egg. This is the eighth year of the collaboration, and features six performances at the Egg and two at the UAlbany PAC. A package deal is available for all eight performances for $110.
Three of these performances will be held during the Fall 2023 semester. At the Egg will be Dayton Contemporary Dance Company on Oct. 20 at 8:00 p.m. and the Billie T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company on Dec. 2 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets for the October show are $28, and $36 for the December show.
The only UAlbany performance this semester is from the Passion Fruit Dance Company Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. for $10 to $20. Tatiana Desardouin, Lauriane Ogay and Mai Lê Hô form a multinational trio through the Passion Fruit Dance Company that shines light on social issues through different dance styles, including street dance, hip-hop, house and clubbing.
Department of Music and Theatre Performances
“Viva Mexico” is the first performance at the UAlbany PAC this semester on Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m. for $4 to $10. It is a celebration of the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring Pianist Max Lifchitz. Lifchitz returns for “Tangos & More” on Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. to mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. Ticket prices range from $4 to $10.
“The Glass Menagerie” is a poetic drama by Tennessee Williams with several dates in October. Oct. 18 and 19 both have a show at 8:00 p.m., Oct. 20 has a show at 3:00 p.m., Oct. 21 has two shows at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and the final show is Oct. 22 at 3:00 p.m.. The show concerns the life choices for a young, yet-unknown playwright. Tickets are $12 to $21.
The UAlbany Symphony Orchestra & Concert Band will present a shared program on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., with tickets at $4 to $10. “The Choral Hours” is another combined event on Oct. 28 at 3:00 p.m. by both the UAlbany Chamber Singers and Community Chorale. With tickets from $4 to $10, these two organizations will perform both separately and together.
Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. is the Senior Recital, which will feature arrangements by Sam Piazza. It will have both solo performances and Jazz Ensembles.
“Clyde’s,” a performance written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage, will be performed Nov. 15 and 16 at 8:00 p.m., Nov. 17 at 3:00 p.m., Nov. 18 at both 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 3:00 p.m.. It is a play where a group of formerly incarcerated people perfect the art of sandwich-making. Tickets are $12 to $22.
“Bach to Broadway” will feature performances by students in the vocal program on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. for $4 to $10.
“Miolina: The Dueling Violinists” will take place Nov. 29 at 4:00 p.m. and features violinists Mioi Takeda and Lynn Bechtold performing contemporary music – including some written by Capital Region composers. Tickets are $4 to $10.
December and the semester will close out with a set of three student performances. Dec. 1 at 6:00 p.m. will have the “Student Recital” where students will showcase their musical talents for their departmental studies. The “Holiday Concert” on Dec. 3 at 3:00 p.m. will have a combination of Music program ensembles and student groups. Tickets are $4 to $10. The final performance on Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. is a combined program with the UAlbany Percussion Ensemble and the Jazz Band. Tickets are $4 to $10.
Signs outside of the UAlbany PAC.
Photo Credit: Henry Fisher
Together, both the Prime Performances and the UAlbany Department of Music and Theatre performances make each month at UAlbany full, with the latter offering many opportunities for students to participate. While not covered in this article, the schedule has also been released for Spring 2024, which is likewise filled. More information and tickets can be found on the UAlbany PAC website.
Comments