By Joanna Reid
Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center (PAC) is back for a fifteenth season with a great lineup of shows that will take center stage in person on campus. Blyth Daylong, executive director of the PAC, said that while performances continued virtually throughout the pandemic and audiences were welcomed back last season, this season is a “return to normal and we look forward to welcoming even more audiences back to enjoy our programming.”
“Performing online [during the pandemic] was a great way to keep things going, but there is no way to recreate the experience of a live performance. This is a critical part of the training for our students and we're all looking forward to the excitement that only comes from the interaction between a performer and the audience,” Daylong added. “As we put the finishing touches on our fifteenth season of performances at the Adelphi PAC, we're looking forward to another great season of guests along with our talented dance, music and theatre students.”
The line-up is an exciting mix of tribute, fundraisers, Broadway, traditional music and holiday performances. Below are some of what PAC visitors can expect.
On September 17 the PAC will once again be holding a Larson Legacy Concert. Zeniba Now, the 2021 recipient of the American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grant, will take the stage. New York actors will perform alongside her to showcase her new projects. Now is a writer, musician and director whose work has been performed at the Public Theatre and featured on PBS. Now was the winner of the Richard Rodgers Award in 2020 as well.
October 11 is “A Concert for Ukraine,” which will be held in honor of those impacted by the ongoing Russian attack in Ukraine. Broadway actors will come together and perform songs in efforts to raise relief funds to support Ukrainians.
The following day, look for Nobuntu, a female accapella group from Zimbabwe, known best for singing and dancing to traditional Zimbabwean songs, Afro jazz and gospel music.
If you’re a Broadway fan, a show to look forward to on October 16 will be “Anthony Rapp: Without You.” The Broadway star and “Star Trek” actor, Anthony Rapp has adapted his 2006 memoir into a heart-warming, one-man show. The memoir takes place when Rapp auditioned for “Rent” and was first in the room with Jonathan Larson. Rapp will sing original songs, those written by Larson and songs by the rock band REM. The show is sure to tell Rapps’ touching story while also honoring Larson.
Additionally, Broadway fans will enjoy “Adelphi's Best of Broadway” playing Oct. 22-23. This will be put on by Adelphi’s theatre students, where they will present some of the discography from popular Broadway musicals.
From Nov. 1-6, the Theatre Department will stage a production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” This play was adapted from the novel by Mark Haddon. It focuses on a character named Christopher who is in high school and on the autism spectrum. When his neighbor’s dog dies he feels the urge to uncover who killed him. Christopher’s journey to discovering who killed the dog will not only lead him to answers, but help him learn how to navigate life on his own. This is perfect for anyone who appreciates a good mystery mixed with a moving story.
On November 13, Jim Altamore ‘74 will sing songs of the classic musician, Frank Sinatra. Altamore portrayed Sinatra on Broadway in the musical “A Bronx Tale.” He has also worked with renowned musicians like Diana Ross and Spyro Gyra. Not only is Altamore a successful musician, he's also an alum of Adelphi.
As is the holiday tradition, our talented student performers will be putting on their annual reading of “A Christmas Carol” on December 17 when the Theatre Department has a “radio-style” reading of the famous Charles Dickens novel. On December 18, Eileen Ivers joins Adelphi just in time for a holiday celebration. Ivers is a Grammy award-winning musician. She will play holiday music on violin.
Student productions will continue to fill the month of December with a first-year showcase from the Theatre Department and two shows held by the Department of Music. The chair of the Dance Department, Orion Duckstein has announced their showcase too.
“The Dance Showcase features student projects in choreography and repertory projects from independent studies,” Duckstein said. “These pieces have been developed under the guidance of professors and are brilliant examples of the quality of creative artwork by the next generation of creators. The highlight of this show will be a work created by Ann Francis Ang (AU’19)”.
To find a full list of events and more information, check out the Performing Arts Center’s website at www.adelphi.edu/pac/.