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Nov
14
Parsons Dance7:30pm
Parsons Dance
Thursday, November 14th, 2019
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Storrs Campus Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
Post Performance Q&A
David Parsons fuses the discipline and precision of classical dance with the gesture and movement of the modern dance vocabulary to create contemporary dance that is at once sexy, athletic, exuberant and joyous! Stunning works, like the iconic Caught, exemplify this company’s innovation and huge audience appeal.
This internationally renowned company was founded in 1985 by Artistic Director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, and has toured to more than 445 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents and has performed at such notable venues as The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sydney Opera House, Maison de la Danse, Teatro La Fenice, and Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro.
Heralded by The New York Times as “one of the great movers of modern dance,” David Parsons has received many accolades throughout his career, including three Choreography Fellowship Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the American Choreography Award; the Dance Magazine Award; a Howard Gilman Fellowship; the Dance Masters of America Annual Award, and the Capezio ACE Award. He has collaborated with iconic artists across all disciplines, including Dr. Billy Taylor, John Mackey, Kenji Bunch, Stephen Schwartz, Milton Nascimento, Allen Toussaint, William Ivey Long, Donna Karan, Annie Leibovitz, Ellsworth Kelly, and Alex Katz.
TICKETS: https://jorgensen.uconn.edu -
Nov
16
An Evening with Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Morrison8:00pm
An Evening with Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Morrison
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
08:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Storrs Campus Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
A CABARET EVENT
Doors Open at 7pm
Cabaret fare, dessert & cash bar
A cabaret of all cabarets, the evening will reunite The Light in the Piazza co-stars, Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Morrison and Emmy and Grammy nominee and Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara. They will join the NH Symphony Orchestra for an evening of songs from the Great White Way. O’Hara, currently starring in the Broadway revival of Kiss Me Kate, captured a Tony for her role as Anna Leonowens in the 2015 revival of The King and I. Morrison is well known for his roles on Glee and The Good Wife, as well as Broadway’s Hairspray and Finding Neverland.
Media Sponsor: Lite 100.5 WRCH
TICKETS: https://jorgensen.uconn.edu -
Nov
22
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine7:00pm
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Friday, November 22nd, 2019
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Storrs Campus Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
with violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv & cellist Sophie Shao
Concert Talk 6:15 pm
One of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe, the Grammy-nominated National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (NSOU) will perform American Rhapsody, composed by UConn 2019 Grammy Award-winner Kenneth Fuchs, the Brahms Double Concerto and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6. Joining the over 100 musician-ensemble will be UConn soloists Solomiya Ivakhiv on violin and Sophie Shao on cello. The audience will delight in this celebratory showcase of UConn music faculty.
Founded in 1949, the NSOU has performed in concert tours throughout Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, England, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Volodymyr Sirenko has served as the orchestra’s Artistic Director and Chief Conductor since April of 1999, and Alexander Hornostai has been its Managing Director and Producer since 2006.
Media Sponsor: WFCR/NEPR
TICKETS: https://jorgensen.uconn.edu -
Dec
14
Boston Pops Holiday Concert8:00pm
Boston Pops Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 14th, 2019
08:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Storrs Campus Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
Boston Pops on Tour
Keith Lockhart, Conductor
Celebrate the magic of the season with “America’s orchestra,” the most recorded and arguably the most beloved orchestra in the country. Perfect for music lovers of all ages, treat yourself to this beloved annual tradition at Jorgensen, bursting with holiday music favorites and a surprise visit by jolly old St. Nick.
Media Sponsors: CPBN cptv | wnpr & 100.9 K-Hits -
Jan
23
We Shall Overcome7:30pm
We Shall Overcome
Thursday, January 23rd, 2020
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Storrs Campus Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Featuring Damien Sneed
Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., We Shall Overcome showcases repertoire from across the African American music traditions that electrified generations of civil rights activists with interwoven spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches. Producer and Musical Director Damien Sneed ties together a living lineage of music and culture that includes traditional and modern gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals. From Duke Ellington to Stevie Wonder; Aretha Franklin to Wynton Marsalis; Nina Simone to Donny Hathaway; and traditional spirituals and music from The Wiz, Sneed covers a lot of musical ground in one evening.
Sponsored by the UConn Office for Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living Legacy Convocation
Media Sponsor: WFCR/NEPR
TICKETS: https://jorgensen.uconn.edu
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Nov
16
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater11:00am
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Holiday Punch!" by Modern Times Theater on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Punch and Judy are almost ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. They’ve got the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, and the cranberry sauce. The only thing they are missing is the turkey. Audiences will split their sides laughing as Mr. Punch tries to catch the main dish, while avoiding crocodiles, his badly-behaved baby and his dog Toby (who looks suspiciously like a skunk). The skillfully-operated hand puppets are chock-full of surprises and tricks, as is the elaborate stage. The show is rounded out with live music played on a variety of instruments, from the ukulele to the bicycle pump. This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
Modern Times Theater has been adapting and updating Punch and Judy shows for over a decade. Co-founders Rose Friedman and Justin Lander are a husband and wife duo, and alumni of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Parents themselves, they strive to present quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Nov
16
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater2:00pm
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Holiday Punch!" by Modern Times Theater on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Punch and Judy are almost ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. They’ve got the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, and the cranberry sauce. The only thing they are missing is the turkey. Audiences will split their sides laughing as Mr. Punch tries to catch the main dish, while avoiding crocodiles, his badly-behaved baby and his dog Toby (who looks suspiciously like a skunk). The skillfully-operated hand puppets are chock-full of surprises and tricks, as is the elaborate stage. The show is rounded out with live music played on a variety of instruments, from the ukulele to the bicycle pump. This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
Modern Times Theater has been adapting and updating Punch and Judy shows for over a decade. Co-founders Rose Friedman and Justin Lander are a husband and wife duo, and alumni of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Parents themselves, they strive to present quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Dec
5
Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China with Annie Rollins7:00pm
Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China with Annie Rollins
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
For its last installment of the "2019 Fall Puppet Forum Series", and in conjunction with the exhibit "Immaterial Remains: Can You Preserve a Shadow?" curated by Annie Rollins, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will host "Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China" with Dr. Rollins on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Dr. Annie Rollins embarked on an initial research trip to China in 2008 to reconnect with her Chinese heritage, to gain unique shadow puppetry skills and techniques, and to eat some incredible food for the duration of that summer apprenticeship. What she left with at the end of the summer was an insatiable need to understand how this material performance form had been passed down for over a thousand years and what it means to steward transmitted heritage through performance and shadows. This talk reflects on over a decade of apprenticeship and research with the traditional shadow puppeteers of China and the importance and (im)possibilities of chasing our own ghosts. Co-sponsored by UConn's Asian and Asian American Studies Institute and the Asian-American Cultural Center.
Annie Rollins is a researcher, theatre artist, and practitioner of Chinese shadow puppetry, studying as a traditional apprentice since 2008. Rollins has received a Fulbright Fellowship, the Confucius Institute Joint PhD Research Fellowship and a Canadian SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship for her research. She wrote her dissertation in Concordia University's Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program on the transmission of traditional Chinese shadow puppet making methods. Recent venues for exhibitions, lectures and performances include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, the Linden Center in Yunnan, China, and the Rietveld Academie in the Netherlands. Annie has published articles in Puppetry International, Asian Theatre Journal and Anthropology Now. Rollins recently launched the first English language comprehensive Chinese shadow puppetry site at http://www.chineseshadowpuppetry.com.
Admission to this event is free (donations greatly appreciated!), and refreshments will be served. Come early, and experience our puppet exhibitions, as well as the video resources in our library nook. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. For more information or if you require an accommodation to attend a forum, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860.486.8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Dec
7
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre11:00am
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre
Saturday, December 7th, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Peter and the Wolf" by National Marionette Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. This performance will be a part of Downtown Storrs’ 7th-annual Winter Welcome celebration.
Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf" has enchanted audiences since its premier in 1936. Based on the original Russian folktale, National Marionette Theatre’s version of the story features the beautiful music from Prokofiev’s orchestral score combined with stunning scenery and hand-crafted marionettes. Set in turn-of-the-century Russia, the production tells the story of how Peter—along with his animal friends—captures the wolf. This show is 50 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
National Marionette Theatre is one of the oldest continually running touring marionette theaters in the United States. Founded in 1967, this award-winning company has been entertaining and amazing audiences around the world for over forty years. The company specializes in adaptations of popular stories using marionettes as the performance medium. They travel with a fully self-contained theater complete with its own lighting and sound systems. The shows are suitable for family audiences of all ages.
David J. Syrotiak (Maestro Flat, Grandfather and Ivan the Hunter) has been building and performing with the company since his teenage years. As the son of artistic director David Syrotiak Sr., he has been around puppetry all his life. Professionally, David is celebrating his 33rd year as a touring puppeteer. He is dedicated to keeping the tradition of professional puppetry alive in the United States.
Mariana Palade Syrotiak’s (Peter) relationship with puppetry began in 1987 in her native Romania. She entered the field professionally in 1990 when she was admitted to the Theatre and Film Academy in Bucharest, Romania, from which she graduated in 1994 with a BA in Performing Arts specializing in puppetry. In 1994 she met David Jr. in Charleville-Mézières, France at an international puppetry festival where they both were performing. In 1995 she met David Sr. in Saarbrucken, Germany under the same circumstances. In 1996 she joined both the National Marionette Theatre as well as the Syrotiak family. Currently Mariana is director of the English as a Second Language program at Gannon University. Mariana is equally passionate and committed to the arts, culture, and education.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performa -
Dec
7
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre2:00pm
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre
Saturday, December 7th, 2019
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Peter and the Wolf" by National Marionette Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. This performance will be a part of Downtown Storrs’ 7th-annual Winter Welcome celebration.
Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf" has enchanted audiences since its premier in 1936. Based on the original Russian folktale, National Marionette Theatre’s version of the story features the beautiful music from Prokofiev’s orchestral score combined with stunning scenery and hand-crafted marionettes. Set in turn-of-the-century Russia, the production tells the story of how Peter—along with his animal friends—captures the wolf. This show is 50 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
National Marionette Theatre is one of the oldest continually running touring marionette theaters in the United States. Founded in 1967, this award-winning company has been entertaining and amazing audiences around the world for over forty years. The company specializes in adaptations of popular stories using marionettes as the performance medium. They travel with a fully self-contained theater complete with its own lighting and sound systems. The shows are suitable for family audiences of all ages.
David J. Syrotiak (Maestro Flat, Grandfather and Ivan the Hunter) has been building and performing with the company since his teenage years. As the son of artistic director David Syrotiak Sr., he has been around puppetry all his life. Professionally, David is celebrating his 33rd year as a touring puppeteer. He is dedicated to keeping the tradition of professional puppetry alive in the United States.
Mariana Palade Syrotiak’s (Peter) relationship with puppetry began in 1987 in her native Romania. She entered the field professionally in 1990 when she was admitted to the Theatre and Film Academy in Bucharest, Romania, from which she graduated in 1994 with a BA in Performing Arts specializing in puppetry. In 1994 she met David Jr. in Charleville-Mézières, France at an international puppetry festival where they both were performing. In 1995 she met David Sr. in Saarbrucken, Germany under the same circumstances. In 1996 she joined both the National Marionette Theatre as well as the Syrotiak family. Currently Mariana is director of the English as a Second Language program at Gannon University. Mariana is equally passionate and committed to the arts, culture, and education.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performa
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Nov
15
Critical Looking: A Gallery Dialogue12:15pm
Critical Looking: A Gallery Dialogue
Friday, November 15th, 2019
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Storrs Campus The William Benton Museum of Art
Tap your powers of observation and learn how to investigate a single work of art through close looking and discussion with Amanda Douberley, Assistant Curator/Academic Liaison.
The focus of this month's subject is a print by Mieczysław Wejman in the Democracy of Print exhibition.
Develop your critical thinking skills by learning to look at objects with a critical eye. This skill can be transferred to navigating everyday life, your job or studies. -
Nov
18
Meditation Monday in the Galleries 4:30pm
Meditation Monday in the Galleries
Monday, November 18th, 2019
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Storrs Campus The William Benton Museum of Art
Join us on Meditation Mondays in the Benton Museum galleries for a guided meditation. All levels are welcome to foster your wellbeing and enjoy meditating among the art.
This program is open to students, staff, faculty, and the community.
First come, first serve with a maximum of 30 participants. Please arrive between 4:15 and 4:30pm to check in at the front desk. Late arrivals will not be granted access.
Please note that all beverages, food, and bags will be stowed at the reception desk. -
Dec
2
Meditation Mondays with SHaW - UConn Students only4:00pm
Meditation Mondays with SHaW - UConn Students only
Monday, December 2nd, 2019
04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Storrs Campus The William Benton Museum of Art
Students only. Join us for Meditation Mondays with Nishelli Ahmed of Student Health and Wellness Services in the Benton Museum galleries for a guided meditation.
All levels are welcome to foster your wellbeing and enjoy meditating among the art.
This program is open to students only. First come, first serve with a maximum of 30 participants.
Please arrive between 3:45 and 4pm to check in at the front desk. Late arrivals will not be granted access. **Please note that all beverages, food, and bags will be stowed at the reception desk.
This event is In collaboration with Student Health and Wellness.
Doors open at 3:45pm. Come early because this event is limited to the first 30 people. -
Dec
5
De-Stress FIRST THURSDAY AT THE BENTON4:30pm
De-Stress FIRST THURSDAY AT THE BENTON
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Storrs Campus The William Benton Museum of Art
DJ's, Dogs & Doh. Free and Fun for everyone!
Open house in partnership with the Beanery, WHUS & SHaW. The Museum will be open until 8pm.
5:00–8:00
WHUS "DJ Kalabi Yau" and "DJ Ley" live in the galleries
5:00-7:30
Visit with cute Therapy Dogs
4:30–8:00 in the Museum Galleries
• Play-doh
• Legos
• Board Games
• Scavenger Hunts
• Cards
• Giveaways
• Hands-on activities
• Enjoy Live DJ music
4:30–8:00 in the Beanery
• 25% off coffee espresso drinks
• Open MicFUN and FREE for all ages!
Bring your dorm mates, friends, co-workers, or family. -
Dec
16
Meditation Mondays in the Galleries4:30pm
Meditation Mondays in the Galleries
Monday, December 16th, 2019
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Storrs Campus The William Benton Museum of Art
Join us on Meditation Mondays in the Benton Museum galleries for a guided meditation. All levels are welcome to foster your wellbeing and enjoy meditating among the art.
This program is open to students, staff, faculty, and the community.
First come, first serve with a maximum of 30 participants. Please arrive between 4:15 and 4:30pm to check in at the front desk. Late arrivals will not be granted access.
Please note that all beverages, food, and bags will be stowed at the reception desk.
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Nov
16
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater11:00am
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Holiday Punch!" by Modern Times Theater on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Punch and Judy are almost ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. They’ve got the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, and the cranberry sauce. The only thing they are missing is the turkey. Audiences will split their sides laughing as Mr. Punch tries to catch the main dish, while avoiding crocodiles, his badly-behaved baby and his dog Toby (who looks suspiciously like a skunk). The skillfully-operated hand puppets are chock-full of surprises and tricks, as is the elaborate stage. The show is rounded out with live music played on a variety of instruments, from the ukulele to the bicycle pump. This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
Modern Times Theater has been adapting and updating Punch and Judy shows for over a decade. Co-founders Rose Friedman and Justin Lander are a husband and wife duo, and alumni of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Parents themselves, they strive to present quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Nov
16
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater2:00pm
Holiday Punch! by Modern Times Theater
Saturday, November 16th, 2019
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Holiday Punch!" by Modern Times Theater on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Punch and Judy are almost ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. They’ve got the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, and the cranberry sauce. The only thing they are missing is the turkey. Audiences will split their sides laughing as Mr. Punch tries to catch the main dish, while avoiding crocodiles, his badly-behaved baby and his dog Toby (who looks suspiciously like a skunk). The skillfully-operated hand puppets are chock-full of surprises and tricks, as is the elaborate stage. The show is rounded out with live music played on a variety of instruments, from the ukulele to the bicycle pump. This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
Modern Times Theater has been adapting and updating Punch and Judy shows for over a decade. Co-founders Rose Friedman and Justin Lander are a husband and wife duo, and alumni of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Parents themselves, they strive to present quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Nov
21
Macy's, Tony Sarg, and the Invention of Inflatable Puppets7:00pm
Macy's, Tony Sarg, and the Invention of Inflatable Puppets
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
For its third installment of the 2019 Fall Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will host “Macy's, Tony Sarg, and the Invention of Inflatable Puppets” with Robert Grippo, Christopher Hoskins, and John Bell, moderated by UConn School of Engineering Professor Mehdi Anwar on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Robert Grippo and Christopher Hoskins, authors of "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" will join UConn School of Engineering Professor Mehdi Anwar and Ballard Institute Director John Bell in a discussion of the ground-breaking invention of inflatable puppets for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades by puppeteer Tony Sarg and engineers from the Goodyear Rubber Company in the 1920s. This event is co-sponsored by the UConn School of Engineering.
Robert M. Grippo, a frequent participant in the parade, has been researching the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for many years. Driven by his passion for the event, he compiled this work with the help of Christopher Hoskins, a professional photographer, and the special assistance of Macy's Annual Events, the "New York Daily News," the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and the University of Akron.
Admission to this event is free (donations greatly appreciated!), and refreshments will be served. Come early, and experience our puppet exhibitions, as well as the video resources in our library nook. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. For more information or if you require an accommodation to attend a forum, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860.486.8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Dec
5
Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China with Annie Rollins7:00pm
Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China with Annie Rollins
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
For its last installment of the "2019 Fall Puppet Forum Series", and in conjunction with the exhibit "Immaterial Remains: Can You Preserve a Shadow?" curated by Annie Rollins, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will host "Chasing Ghosts: Ten Years with the Shadow Puppeteers of China" with Dr. Rollins on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.
Dr. Annie Rollins embarked on an initial research trip to China in 2008 to reconnect with her Chinese heritage, to gain unique shadow puppetry skills and techniques, and to eat some incredible food for the duration of that summer apprenticeship. What she left with at the end of the summer was an insatiable need to understand how this material performance form had been passed down for over a thousand years and what it means to steward transmitted heritage through performance and shadows. This talk reflects on over a decade of apprenticeship and research with the traditional shadow puppeteers of China and the importance and (im)possibilities of chasing our own ghosts. Co-sponsored by UConn's Asian and Asian American Studies Institute and the Asian-American Cultural Center.
Annie Rollins is a researcher, theatre artist, and practitioner of Chinese shadow puppetry, studying as a traditional apprentice since 2008. Rollins has received a Fulbright Fellowship, the Confucius Institute Joint PhD Research Fellowship and a Canadian SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship for her research. She wrote her dissertation in Concordia University's Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program on the transmission of traditional Chinese shadow puppet making methods. Recent venues for exhibitions, lectures and performances include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, the Linden Center in Yunnan, China, and the Rietveld Academie in the Netherlands. Annie has published articles in Puppetry International, Asian Theatre Journal and Anthropology Now. Rollins recently launched the first English language comprehensive Chinese shadow puppetry site at http://www.chineseshadowpuppetry.com.
Admission to this event is free (donations greatly appreciated!), and refreshments will be served. Come early, and experience our puppet exhibitions, as well as the video resources in our library nook. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. For more information or if you require an accommodation to attend a forum, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860.486.8580 or bimp@uconn.edu. -
Dec
7
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre11:00am
Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre
Saturday, December 7th, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Storrs Campus Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Downtown Storrs
As part of its "2019 Fall Puppet Performance Series", the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present "Peter and the Wolf" by National Marionette Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. This performance will be a part of Downtown Storrs’ 7th-annual Winter Welcome celebration.
Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf" has enchanted audiences since its premier in 1936. Based on the original Russian folktale, National Marionette Theatre’s version of the story features the beautiful music from Prokofiev’s orchestral score combined with stunning scenery and hand-crafted marionettes. Set in turn-of-the-century Russia, the production tells the story of how Peter—along with his animal friends—captures the wolf. This show is 50 minutes long and is recommended for all ages.
National Marionette Theatre is one of the oldest continually running touring marionette theaters in the United States. Founded in 1967, this award-winning company has been entertaining and amazing audiences around the world for over forty years. The company specializes in adaptations of popular stories using marionettes as the performance medium. They travel with a fully self-contained theater complete with its own lighting and sound systems. The shows are suitable for family audiences of all ages.
David J. Syrotiak (Maestro Flat, Grandfather and Ivan the Hunter) has been building and performing with the company since his teenage years. As the son of artistic director David Syrotiak Sr., he has been around puppetry all his life. Professionally, David is celebrating his 33rd year as a touring puppeteer. He is dedicated to keeping the tradition of professional puppetry alive in the United States.
Mariana Palade Syrotiak’s (Peter) relationship with puppetry began in 1987 in her native Romania. She entered the field professionally in 1990 when she was admitted to the Theatre and Film Academy in Bucharest, Romania, from which she graduated in 1994 with a BA in Performing Arts specializing in puppetry. In 1994 she met David Jr. in Charleville-Mézières, France at an international puppetry festival where they both were performing. In 1995 she met David Sr. in Saarbrucken, Germany under the same circumstances. In 1996 she joined both the National Marionette Theatre as well as the Syrotiak family. Currently Mariana is director of the English as a Second Language program at Gannon University. Mariana is equally passionate and committed to the arts, culture, and education.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at http://bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performa
