PACE PRESENTS AT PACE UNIVERSITY’S MICHAEL SCHIMMEL CENTER FOR THE ARTS BEGINS ITS SPRING SEASON WITH TAYLOR 2 DANCE COMPANY ON JANUARY 6 & 7

DIRECTED BY MARTIN I. KAGAN, PACE PRESENTS’ INAUGURAL SERIES CONTINUES TO BRING WORLD-CLASS MUSIC, DANCE AND VISUAL ARTS TO LOWER MANHATTAN IN 2012

INCLUDES PERFORMANCES BY LAURIE ANDERSON,
CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS, PATRICIA RACETTE, AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE STUDIO COMPANY, ANA MOURA, NY CHORAL SOCIETY, “GREAT PAINTERS” WITH DR. JANETTA REBOLD BENTON AND MORE

On January 6 and 7, Pace University’s inaugural Pace Presents season at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts in Lower Manhattan begins its spring season with two evenings of performances by Taylor 2, the Paul Taylor Dance Company’s acclaimed touring ensemble. Pace Presents then continues through May with a roster of events that spans dance, several musical genres and the visual arts. The series is curated by Martin I. Kagan, Pace University’s newly appointed Director of Cultural Affairs, who notes, “Pace Presents has established itself as a key new player in New York’s performing arts landscape—a vibrant new platform for international artists and ensembles of the highest quality to perform for downtown audiences at affordable prices.”

Over the course of two evenings, Taylor 2—described by the New York Times as a “kind of miracle”—will present two distinct programs of some of the Company’s most beloved pieces: Airs, Runes, Piazzolla Caldera, Images, Funny Papers and Esplanade. Dance programming continues April 13 and 14 with The Mariela Franganillo Company performing Tango Connection, two evenings of dancers, musicians and vocalists who are at the forefront of the tango world today. May 4 brings a special downtown evening with the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company.

Music programming for the winter and spring emphasizes the variety and breadth of excellence in American music today. March 2 brings the Carolina Chocolate Drops performing their brand of what Rolling Stone calls “dirt-floor-dance electricity” in celebration of their upcoming Nonesuch Records release. On March 9 and 10, Laurie Anderson comes to the Schimmel Theatre for two final performances of Delusion, her meditation on language, longing, memory and identity. A rare, intimate cabaret performance by opera star Patricia Racette—fresh from starring roles in Metropolitan Opera productions of Tosca and Madama Butterfly—immediately follows on March 11. And on May 19, the New York Choral Society launches its summer tour of Italy with a program of Italian and American choral music.

A selection of today’s leading world music innovators are also on tap for the new year. International fado sensation Ana Moura performs her soulful take on the Portuguese musical style on February 10 followed by Mariachi Los Camperos on February 11, an ensemble that has been entertaining audiences worldwide for over 50 years. Yasmin Levy, whose voice the San Francisco Examiner says “seems to sing directly from [her] soul,” performs her acclaimed blend of Judeo-Spanish Ladino and flamenco styles February 16, accompanied by Turkish multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek.

Finally, following four successful events in the fall, renowned scholar and art historian Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton returns with an encore presentation of four more of her signature multimedia presentations on Great Painters and Their Masterpieces. February brings explorations of Michelangelo (February 8), Peter Paul Rubens (February 15), Claude Monet (February 22) and Georgia O’Keefe (February 29), all featuring the combination of information and entertainment that audiences have come to expect from Dr. Benton’s sold-out talks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the past 23 years. Once again, each talk will be followed by an optional, informal luncheon at which attendees may continue the conversation with Dr. Benton.

According to Pace University President Stephen J. Friedman, “Pace has become a nationally known incubator for performing arts talent in the past several years. Our quickly growing theatre and performing arts department, the legendary Actor’s Studio Drama School, and now Pace Presents solidify our position as the premier cultural venue in Lower Manhattan,” he says. “We look forward to creating a culturally vibrant and accessible arts community for our students, downtown neighbors and for all of New York City.”

At 672 seats, the Schimmel Theatre is large enough to serve as Lower Manhattan’s premier performing arts center, yet small enough to boast flawless sightlines and intimate performances. Ticket prices top out at $55 with $25 seats available to the public and $5 student tickets available for all performances.

See below for full season details.

PROGRAM DETAILS FOR PACE PRESENTS WINTER/SPRING 2012:

DANCE
Taylor 2 Festival
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 7:30 P.M.
Program: Airs / Runes / Piazzolla Caldera
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 7:30 P.M.
Program: Images / Funny Papers / Esplanade
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $55
Orchestra & Balcony Center $40
Balcony $30

Taylor 2 presents two separate evenings of programming at the Schimmel Theatre featuring their finest numbers including Airs, Images, Funny Papers, and Piazzolla Caldera.

LECTURE
ENCORE! Great Painters and Their Masterpieces with Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton: Michelangelo
Wednesday, February 8, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
All Seats $25
Optional Luncheon with Dr. Benton $20

Long known for her sold-out lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Distinguished Pace University Professor Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton brought her fact-filled, fast-paced multimedia presentations to Pace this fall in a series created specifically for Pace Presents. Back by popular demand, Benton kicks off an encore four-event series with this entertaining and informative exploration of the art world’s quintessential “Renaissance Man.”

MUSIC
Ana Moura
Friday, February 10 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25

Portuguese vocalist Ana Moura’s soulful interpretation of her country’s expressive fado musical tradition has led not only to stardom at home, but also to worldwide recognition for her powerful performances. Hailed by the New York Times for her ability to express in her music the subtlest “glimmers of hope, hints of sensuality, passes of melancholy, glints of determination,” Moura is also known to U.S. audiences for her collaborations with Mick Jagger and Prince.

MUSIC
Mariachi Los Camperos
Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25

Under the direction of visionary musician Natividad “Nati” Cano, the Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos has been entertaining audiences around the world for over 50 years. Based in Los Angeles and made up of musicians from the United States and Mexico, the group has recorded nine albums and is also known for its collaborations with Linda Rondstadt on her albums Canciones de Mi Padre and Mas Canciones.

LECTURE
ENCORE! Great Painters and Their Masterpieces with Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton:
Peter Paul Rubens
Wednesday, February 15, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
All Seats $25
Optional Luncheon with Dr. Benton $20

Long known for her sold-out lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Distinguished Pace University Professor Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton brought her fact-filled, fast-paced multimedia presentations to Pace this fall in a series created specifically for Pace Presents. Back by popular demand for an encore four-event series, this talk will explore Rubens’ dramatic, theatrical style and give a glimpse of his palatial home and his ties to European royalty.

MUSIC
Yasmin Levy with Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25

Recognized as one of the most romantic musical traditions of all time, Judeo-Spanish Ladino dates back to 15th-century Spain. Beloved for her rich and haunting voice, international star Yasmin Levy was introduced to Ladino at a young age by her father, a leading figure in the research of Judeo-Spanish culture. Levy is particularly unique in her weaving of traditional Ladino music with flamenco influences, creating a hypnotic tapestry of sounds. For this special evening she will be joined by the great Turkish multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek.

LECTURE
ENCORE! Great Painters and Their Masterpieces with Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton:
Claude Monet
Wednesday, February 22, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
All Seats $25
Optional Luncheon with Dr. Benton $20

Long known for her sold-out lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Distinguished Pace University Professor Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton brought her fact-filled, fast-paced multimedia presentations to Pace this fall in a series created specifically for Pace Presents. Back by popular demand for an encore four-event series, this talk will delve into Monet’s iconic explorations of natural light and the effects of atmosphere, time of day and weather conditions and will include a virtual tour of the artist’s Giverny home and the lush gardens where he painted his Water Lilies.

LECTURE
ENCORE! Great Painters and Their Masterpieces with Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton: Georgia O’Keefe
Wednesday, February 29, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
All Seats $25
Optional Luncheon with Dr. Benton $20

Long known for her sold-out lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Distinguished Pace University Professor Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton brought her fact-filled, fast-paced multimedia presentations to Pace this fall in a series created specifically for Pace Presents. Back by popular demand for an encore four-event series, this talk focuses on O’Keefe’s sumptuous technique and striking subjects and color harmonies.

MUSIC
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Friday, March 2 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25

Rooted in the tradition of old-time African American string bands from the old South, the Carolina Chocolate Drops present one of their signature evenings of what Rolling Stone calls “dirt-floor-dance electricity.” Formed in 2005, the Grammy-winning quartet continues to build bridges between the musical past, present and future exemplifying their philosophy that “tradition is a guide, not a jailer.” The show will serve as the New York celebration of their upcoming Buddy Miller-produced Nonesuch Records release.

MUSIC
Laurie Anderson: Delusion
Friday & Saturday, March 9 & 10 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $55
Orchestra & Balcony Center $40
Balcony $30

Combining violin, electronic puppetry, music and visuals, Delusion tells a complex story about longing, memory and identity in the colorful and poetic language that has become Anderson’s trademark. At the heart of the piece is both the pleasure of language and a terror that the world is made entirely of words. Inspired by the breadth of Balzac, Ozu and Laurence Sterne, and employing a series of altered voices and imaginary guests, Anderson conceived Delusion as a series of short mystery plays that jump-cuts between the everyday and the mythic.

CABARET
Patricia Racette: An Evening of Cabaret
Sunday, March 11 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $55
Orchestra & Balcony Center $40
Balcony $30

Following star turns this season in Metropolitan Opera productions of Tosca and Madama Butterfly, soprano Patricia Racette comes to the Schimmel Theatre for a cabaret evening of songs by the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Edith Piaf. This rare, intimate performance is a notable return to the singer’s roots, having cultivated an early passion for jazz and cabaret prior to shifting her focus to operatic repertoire.

DANCE
Tango Connection: The Mariela Franganillo Company
Friday & Saturday, April 13 & 14 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $55
Orchestra & Balcony Center $40
Balcony $30

Mariela Franganillo’s Tango Connection brings to the Schimmel Theatre a program that presents tango from its earliest roots to its most modern expressions in pieces ranging in tone from passionate to comical, tender to tormented. The company is composed of eight dancers, four musicians and a vocalist—all from Argentina and all at the forefront of the tango world today. Dancer, choreographer, teacher and producer Mariela Franganillo featured in Forever Tango on Broadway, and has produced the influential hit shows Swango and Tango Noir.

DANCE
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
Friday, May 4 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $55
Orchestra & Balcony Center $40
Balcony $30

American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, formerly ABT II, is a classical ensemble made up of 12 dancers of outstanding potential. The mission of ABT Studio Company is to train young dancers (ages 16-20) in preparation for entering American Ballet Theatre’s main Company or other leading national and international professional ballet companies. The program serves as a bridge between ballet training and professional performance.

MUSIC
New York Choral Society
Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 P.M.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25

With 85 performances at Carnegie Hall and 35 at Avery Fisher Hall under its belt, the New York Choral Society kicks off its summer tour of Italy at the Schimmel Theatre with a program of Italian and American choral music accompanied by piano.

TICKETS & VENUE INFORMATION
All tickets are available to purchase online at schimmel.pace.edu or over the phone by calling the Ovationtix Call Center at (866) 811-4111. Patrons may also stop by the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts Box Office, which is open Monday–Friday from 1pm–6pm (212-346-1715) or two hours before curtain on show days.

The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts is located at 3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold Street, in Lower Manhattan.

By Subway
2/3 TO PARK PLACE/BROADWAY or R/W TO CITY HALL—Exit subway and walk south on Park Place, turn left onto Park Row, follow Park Row north up the side of City Hall Park to Spruce Street, turn right on Spruce. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.

J/M/Z TO FULTON STREET—Exit subway and walk north on Nassau Street, past Ann St and Beekman St, turn right on Spruce. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.

4/5/6 TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE/CITY HALL—Exit subway and walk south on Park Row, along the side of City Hall Park, turn left onto Spruce Street. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.

By Bus
For up-to-date scheduling and maps, please contact the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

M1—Take the M1 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk east across City Hall Park to campus), the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop (walk south down Park Row to campus), or the Broadway-Nassau St./Fulton St. stop (walk two blocks north on Nassau St. to campus).

M6—Take the M6 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above) or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).

M9—Take the M9 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above) or the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop (walk as directed above).

M15—Take the M15 Bus to Pearl and Frankfort St. (at campus), to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above), the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop, the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above) or the Fulton/William St. stop.

M22—Take the M22 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above), the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop, or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).

M103—Take the M103 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above), the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop, or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).

B51—Take the B51 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above).

About the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, located within the University’s downtown campus, has been an integral part of the Lower Manhattan community for almost 35 years. Located one block east of City Hall and at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, its 672-seat theatre is just a few blocks from the cobblestoned “Theatre Alley” that ran along the stage doors of some of the earliest theatres in Manhattan.

In addition to hosting academic and community events, the Schimmel Theatre presents an active season of international theatre, dance and music. It was also a founding venue for the River-to-River Festival. In the aftermath of 9/11, the theatre hosted both the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Theatre Festival. From 2002 to 2004, the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts was the home of the National Actors Theatre. Television broadcast highlights include the only Democratic Presidential Debate to present all ten 2002 candidates and James Lipton’s award-winning series Inside the Actors Studio, which has been taped on the Schimmel Theatre’s stage since 2005.

About Pace University
For more than 100 years, Pace University has been preparing students to become leaders in their fields by providing an education that combines exceptional academics with professional experience and the New York advantage. Pace has three campuses in New York City, Westchester and White Plains. A private metropolitan university, Pace enrolls approximately 13,500 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, with its rapidly growing Performing Arts Department, Lienhard School of Nursing, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and School of Law.

http://schimmel.pace.edu

For more information, please contact Chris Schimpf, Krista Williams or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.