WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Blending the classical dance forms of India with contemporary dance concepts, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble will perform at Purdue Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse at 8 p.m. March 27.

The performance is presented by Purdue Convocations as part of its World Stage series.

A talk titled “Why Indian dance is new and old,” by Joan Erdman, professor of anthropology and cultural studies at Columbia College in Chicago, will precede the performance. Erdman will discuss innovation and creativity in India’s dance traditions. The talk will begin at 7 p.m. March 27 in Purdue Stewart Center, Room 311.

Regarded as one of the foremost dance companies of India, Nrityagram (NRIT-yuh-grahm) is based in a Bangalore gurukul – an artist colony where dancers devote themselves to a holistic, self-sufficient lifestyle that incorporates dance training and interdisciplinary courses in literature, philosophy and the arts as well as yoga, mime and meditation. These workshops inspire an understanding of the inter-relatedness of all arts and physical traditions, not only of India, but also of other countries, said Abby Eddy, director of marketing for Purdue Convocations.

The ensemble pursues many dance forms of India. Perhaps best known is the classical form Odissi, which is based upon the elaborate human forms carved on the walls of ancient temples and gives the illusion of sculpture coming to life, Eddy said.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $19 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright, and Karl Scully celebrate the music of the Emerald Isle with sparkling voices and Irish charm, performing traditional Gaelic folk songs, ballads, and medleys with lush accompaniment by our very own Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Since their debut in 1998, The Irish Tenors have performed to enthusiastic audiences in the finest venues around the world. Their eight chart-topping albums include legendary Irish standards like “Danny Boy” and “Molly Malone,” as well as stirring interpretations of pop hits, folk tunes, and sacred hymns. Their worldwide success has spawned many imitators, but there is only one trio with the impeccable harmonies, sweeping orchestration, and international following of The Irish Tenors.

“The luck of the Irish may be legendary, but there’s a lot to say for the skill of the Irish, as demonstrated by The Irish Tenors’ blending of traditional and modern songs.”
–The Washington Post

The Irish Tenors
Friday, March 6th at 8:00p
Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

This performance is a collaboration between Purdue Convocations and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Call 765-494-3933 for tickets. LSO patrons with questions about ticket purchase options should call 765-494-9712.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Acting Company and the Guthrie Theater will present “Henry V,” a Shakespearean epic about the power of courage and the price of glory, at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Loeb Playhouse of Purdue’s Stewart Center.

The production is presented by Purdue Convocations as part of its World Stage series.

When the young, ambitious Henry V inherits a troubled crown, he seeks to unite his kingdom and inspire patriotism by launching a hasty invasion of France. The action follows the king and his ragtag band as they confront heavy opposition – and their own destinies. Directed by Davis McCallum, the play balances the heroics of battle with the reactions of men who are sometimes unsure of the justice of their cause, said Abby Eddy, director of marketing for Purdue Convocations.

The cast of 12 actors includes Acting Company alumni as well as graduates of Guthrie’s bachelor of fine arts program and Guthrie Experience students.

Since its founding in 1972 by John Houseman and Margot Harley, The Acting Company has performed 131 productions in 48 states and 10 foreign countries.

The Guthrie Theater, founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963, is one of America’s leading regional theaters and is recognized as an American center for theater performance, production and professional training, Eddy said.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $19 for those 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Acting Company and the Guthrie Theater will present the world premiere stage adaptation of an 1821 novel by James Fenimore Cooper, “The Spy,” at 8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Purdue Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse.

The performance, which is a thriller with romance, adventure, disguises and double crosses, is presented by Purdue Convocations as part of its Catalyst series.

Cooper set the standard for the spy novel with “The Spy,” the first-ever book in the genre. As Washington’s army fights the king’s redcoats for control of the wilderness north of New York City, allegiances constantly shift among loyalists, revolutionaries and marauders, while the murderous talents of violent men and women are offered up to the highest bidder.

“The Spy” is part of a double bill of sorts at Purdue University by The Acting Company and the Guthrie Theater, which also will be presenting William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” on Feb. 5, said Abby Eddy, director of marketing for Purdue Convocations. The productions are part of a joint national tour.

Honored by Tony Awards for Excellence in Theater, The Acting Company promotes theater and literacy in communities across America by staging classical works and commissioned literary adaptations.

Founded in 1963, Minneapolis’s renowned Guthrie Theater is dedicated to theater performance, production, education, and professional training, presenting both classical literature and new work from diverse cultures.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $19 for those 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling Christian music artists Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman will join forces for the “The United Tour” at 7 p.m. March 29 in Purdue University’s Elliott Hall of Music. Purdue Convocations is presenting the concert.

This tour showcases two of Christian music’s most recognized and popular artists. Together, Chapman and Smith have garnered eight Grammy Awards, 96 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, 77 No. 1 singles and more than 30 gold and platinum albums. The idea for the tour came shortly after Chapman and Smith spent time together in the United Kingdom working on the CompassionArt project, which brought more than 10 Christian music singers, songwriters and worship leaders together to write and record a collection of songs for charity.

Chapman has sold more than 10 million records, including two platinum albums and seven gold albums. Along with his Grammy Awards, he has won an American Music Award, has recorded 44 No. 1 U.S. radio hits and been awarded 54 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, he has recorded 16 projects with Sparrow Records.

Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Smith has amassed a catalog of achievements, including an American Music Award, three Grammy Awards and 13 nominations, 42 Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 gold and five platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million.

Premium tickets are $55 and regular tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students and children under 18. Bargain tickets also are available for $20. All prices include a facilities fee.

Tickets will go on sale to Purdue and Ivy Tech Lafayette students, and Purdue faculty, staff and retirees with a current identification card at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Elliott Hall of Music and Stewart Center box offices or at (765) 494-3933. Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 14 through Ticketmaster at (765) 743-5151 and http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Friends of Convocations may order advance tickets through noon Feb. 9 by calling (765) 494-9712. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. The deadline to reserve group seats is noon Feb. 9. For information, call (765) 496-1977.