PAC Crosses Over into new Territory

Posted OnAugust 2, 2019

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PAC Crosses Over into new Territory: The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College is well know for it’s world-class dance and classical music series. But in recent years they have stealthily compiled programming coups in a cultural space nebulously identified as cross-over territory. For they’re 2019-20 season, they’ve gone full cross-over with this new series they call, (wait for it) Cross Over Events. These are the artists that bridge the gaps between traditional and contemporary culture, fuse influences from many cultures and in other cases create new cultures of their own.

Gina Chavez, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Fri., 11/8: 8pm: Alt-pop sensation Gina Chavez is a nine-time Austin Music Award winner — including 2015 Musician of the Year and Album of the Year. Chavez’s bilingual songs traverse cumbia, bossa nova, vintage pop, reggaeton, and folk. With dynamic vocals and sharp social commentary, she’ll take you on a journey through the Americas, expertly blending sounds with tension and grace. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Chouk Bwa, Performing Art Center Purchase, Sat., 11/16: 8pm: From the countryside of the New World’s first free black republic, Chouk Bwa performs stripped-down Haitian roots music: enthralling percussion, dance, call-and- response singing, work songs, Vodou performances, and Holy Week rara music. Infused with the scent and sensibility of voodoo, it is music that refuses to obscure their homeland’s deep African heritage. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

An Evening with David Sedaris, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Sat, 12/7: 8pm: The master of satire and bestselling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and other satirical gems returns with the acerbic humor, social commentary, and outlandish stories that transfixed the audience at his last Purchase PAC show. Sedaris is one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition, which he details hilariously in his latest book, Calypso, described as beach reading for people who detest beaches and required reading for those who loathe small talk. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Sun., 12/15: 7pm: Renowned for genre-bending versatility and joyous performances, the award-winning Canadian Brass is almost single-handedly responsible for elevating the art of the brass quintet to what it is today. From trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them – from formal classical presentation to music served up with lively dialogue and theatrical effects – they do it all with spontaneity, virtuosity, dedication, exceptional skill, and, most of all, loads of fun. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

It Gets Better, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Fri., 3/6: 8pm: It Gets Better brings the experience and message of the online It Gets Better Project to communities and audiences by blending music, theatre, and multimedia into a work for the stage, produced by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in collaboration with the It Gets Better Project and Speak Theater Arts. A week of educational workshops in the community will culminate in a moving musical theater performance – equal parts wit, whimsy, empowerment, and inspiration – featuring life real stories from gay, lesbian, transgender, and straight allies from around the country. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

A Capella Live, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Sun., 3/15; 3pm: This high-energy musical celebration of contemporary a cappella will shine the spotlight on four group’s greatest and best-known hits, and bring them all together for large-scale production numbers. Including the boy band sounds of Philharmonic, gospel/R&B from Committed, chart-topping beat box artist Blake Lewis and Women of the World. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Black Violin, Impossible Tour, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Fri., 3/27: 8pm: With influences ranging from Shostakovich and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, stereotype-smashing Black Violin breaks the rules, blending classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass to create a sound they call “classical boom.” Their last record, Stereotypes, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. Creative collaborators include Kanye West, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean, Lil Wayne, and Alicia Keys. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Gravity and Other Myths, A Simple Space, Performing Arts Center Purchase, Sat., 5/2: 7pm: Gravity & Other Myths is an internationally renowned circus company from Australia that is pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus. A Simple Space sets audiences alight with non-stop feats of unbelievable acrobatic ability and human physicality. No make-up, no theatrical lighting, just seven acrobats and live percussion. The audience is brought in close, seated on stage so that you can feel the heat, hear every breath, and be immersed in every moment. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)