Off the Page event explores Western, Eastern music

The Saint Mary’s “Off the Page” series invites audiences to explore the intersection of Western and Eastern music with a visit from the Twin Cities-based new music ensemble Zeitgeist, with guest artist Nirmala Rajasekar on veena.“Summer Rain” is a new production, with music developed and performed by Zeitgeist with composer and veena virtuoso Nirmala Rajasekar. A blend of Indian classical music (Carnatic tradition) and Western classical new music, Summer Rain features five musical compositions interspersed with discussion and interactive opportunities designed to bring audiences a greater understanding of the two traditions.

The event is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, in Figliulo Recital Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the box office, Ext. 1715, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

A Page in History event with these artists is planned for noon on Nov. 14 at the Winona County History Center. Zeitgeist and Nirmala Rajasekar will talk about their collaboration, the instruments they use, and about composing Eastern and Western music together.

SMU hosts DeTemps Antan today at Marine Art Museum

Today, Friday, March 14, DeTemps Antan will perform Celtic-inspired, French-steeped and Canadian-styled music as part of Saint Mary’s Off The Page series.

The trio will take the stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honored melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, these three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music. Former members of famed La Bottine Souriante, this trio presents music that will have you reveling in the music of the past, infused by their original contemporary songs.

Tickets are $18 and $16 and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Page in History event

Join members of De Temps Antan in celebration of their heritage as they discuss how they infuse traditional music with the music of today. The presentation begins at 12:05 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St. The event is free and open to the public.

SMU hosts DeTemps Antan March 14 at Marine Art Museum

On Friday, March 14, DeTemps Antan will perform Celtic-inspired, French-steeped and Canadian-styled music as part of Saint Mary’s Off The Page series.

The trio will take the stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honored melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, these three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music. Former members of famed La Bottine Souriante, this trio presents music that will have you reveling in the music of the past, infused by their original contemporary songs.

Tickets are $18 and $16 and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Page in History event

Join members of De Temps Antan in celebration of their heritage as they discuss how they infuse traditional music with the music of today. The presentation begins at 12:05 p.m. March 14 at the Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St. The event is free and open to the public.

Saint Mary’s hosts Alison Scott performance March 7

Saint Mary’s “Off the Page” series will welcome the strong vocals of Alison Scott 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr.

Scott, a Minneapolis singer-songwriter, delivers her heartfelt lyrics with both grace and style. Her organic style delivers a unique sound which combines soulful vocals and brilliant lyrics with a keen sense of creativity and passion.

She’s also a keyboard talent, whose beautiful harmonies mesh with her skintight backing band that’s made up of four of the Twin Cities’ most accomplished players, all with experience and recognition.

Together, this five-piece unit is as powerful as it is talented; they are a serious force to be reckoned with when they fuse contemporary soul with undercurrents of ’60s Brit-pop, silky jazz, and full-throttle rock.

Scott has opened for several national acts such as Bon Jovi, Chris Isaak, Marc Cohn, Boz Scaggs, and Nanci Griffith. Her CD release, “Chinese Whispers,” has been picked up for national distribution and is creating a lot of buzz around the Midwest. It was named one of the year’s 10 best albums by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Call the SMU Box Office at Ext. 1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or go online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Scott and her band will do a mini live preview of their concert at 4 p.m. March 7 at Mister Groovys record store, located at the corner of Third and Main.

Saint Mary’s hosts Alison Scott performance March 7

Saint Mary’s “Off the Page” series will welcome the strong vocals of Alison Scott 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr.

Scott, a Minneapolis singer-songwriter, delivers her heartfelt lyrics with both grace and style. Her organic style delivers a unique sound which combines soulful vocals and brilliant lyrics with a keen sense of creativity and passion.

A true multi-talented performer, Scott’s voice can soar high one minute and be seductive and fragile the next. She’s also a keyboard talent, whose beautiful harmonies mesh with her skintight backing band that’s made up of four of the Twin Cities’ most accomplished players, all with experience and recognition.

Together, this five-piece unit is as powerful as it is talented; they are a serious force to be reckoned with when they fuse contemporary soul with undercurrents of ’60s Brit-pop, silky jazz, and full-throttle rock.

Scott has opened for several national acts such as Bon Jovi, Chris Isaak, Marc Cohn, Boz Scaggs, and Nanci Griffith. Her CD release, “Chinese Whispers,” has been picked up for national distribution and is creating a lot of buzz around the Midwest. It was named one of the year’s 10 best albums by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Call the SMU Box Office at Ext. 1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or go online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU invites audiences to 2nd performance by Trouble

Due to popular demand, vocalist Vanessa Trouble has added a second performance as part of the Saint Mary’s Off The Page series.

Now there are two opportunities for audiences to take in classic holiday tunes with a jazz twist.

As her original concert on Thursday, Dec. 20, sold out within weeks, a second concert is now planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Both events will be held at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr.

Saint Mary’s is proud to welcome this Winona native home for these special holiday shows. Trouble has been singing and producing shows with numerous artists for over a decade. The New York City artist has honed her vocal and performance skills all over the country and abroad, fronting various jazz ensembles in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, London, Paris, Ireland, Norway and Asia.

Tickets for the Dec. 21 show are $15 for adults or $12 for students and seniors. Call the Performance Center Box Office Monday through Friday at Ext. 1715 or order tickets online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU invites audiences to 2nd performance by Trouble

Due to popular demand, vocalist Vanessa Trouble has added a second performance as part of the Saint Mary’s Off The Page series.

Now there are two opportunities for audiences to take in classic holiday tunes with a jazz twist.

As her original concert on Thursday, Dec. 20, sold out within weeks, a second concert is now planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Both events will be held at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr.

Saint Mary’s is proud to welcome this Winona native home for these special holiday shows. Trouble has been singing and producing shows with numerous artists for over a decade. The New York City artist has honed her vocal and performance skills all over the country and abroad, fronting various jazz ensembles in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, London, Paris, Ireland, Norway and Asia.

Tickets for the Dec. 21 show are $15 for adults or $12 for students and seniors. Call the Performance Center Box Office Monday through Friday at Ext. 1715 or order tickets online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Flamenco dance highlights next ‘Off the Page’ Series

Experience the excitement and beauty of authentic flamenco dance with Deborah Elias Danza Española Friday, Feb. 3, through Saint Mary’s University’s “Off the Page” Series. The show — which energetically blends together dance, guitar and song — will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Lead dancer Deborah Elias’ rhythmic footwork, graceful arm and hand movements, and hand clapping will be accompanied by the powerful strumming and soulful chords of the guitar to express a wide variety of styles, or palos, from the most serious cante jondo, to the light-hearted cante chico.

Elias is a member of the Minnesota State Arts Board’s Juried Arts in Education Roster of Artists. She has taught at Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School, the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, and the University of Minnesota. She also performs and choreographs with Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre. She recently presented, in conjunction with the Winona Public Library, “The Moon’s Desire,” a collaboration that revolved around the work of Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorça.

Special guest singer Vicente Griego “is striking for his deep, sonorous wails that seem to come from a cavern, someplace deep within his soul” (Anna Poplawska, “Chicago Artist’s News”). Coming from New Mexico, Griego has devoted his life to the study of cante flamenco, the art of flamenco singing. He has toured the U.S., Canada and Latin America with the Jose Greco II Flamenco Dance Company.

This is the third Saint Mary’s “Off The Page” event — a showcase of Minnesota artists featured in venues around town.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Individual tickets for Page Series season on sale

The 25th season of the Page Series is once again filled with music, dance, theatre, and family-friendly offerings from around the world! Individual tickets are now on sale, and season subscriptions are on sale through Sept. 9.

To order, go online to www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The 2011-2012 Page Series

• Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Friday Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m.
• Luna Negra Dance Theater, Saturday Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.
• “Letters Home” by Griffin Theatre, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.
• The Good Lovelies, Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.
• Yuval Ron Ensemble, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
• “Duck For President” and other stories by Theatreworks USA, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
• Vishtèn, Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
• “Peter & the Wolf” by Pushcart Players, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 6:30 p.m.

‘Off The Page’

In addition, this year Saint Mary’s is introducing “Off The Page” events, which feature Minnesota artists in venues around town. Individual tickets for “Off The Page” events are also on sale.

• Saturday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m., Masonic Temple
Low, Ben Weaver, and The Morning Foreign
• Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 7:30 p.m., Valéncia Arts Center Danza Española

SMU welcomes Flying Foot Forum

Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum will present an evening of intricately layered percussive footwork for Saint Mary’s first “Off the Page” event Saturday, July 23.

Audiences are invited to watch what the Minneapolis Star Tribune coined as “fierce exhilarating dancemaking” at 8 p.m. in the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 10th and Vila streets.

The Flying Foot Forum is a vibrant and bold percussive dance/theater company that fuses percussion and percussive dances with many other forms of music, dance and theater, telling unusual tales, creating a wild variety of characters, and exploring universal ideas in inventive and exciting new ways.

Chvala has worked as a director, choreographer, writer, composer, performer, and teacher for opera companies, experimental and nonexperimental theatres, concert dance venues, performing arts academies, and universities. Located in Minneapolis since 1990, Chvala previously worked in New York and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Tickets are $15 for adults or $10 for seniors and students and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

In conjunction with their visit, Chvala and the dancers will present a free lecture/demonstration on the history of tap and jazz dance at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Valéncia Arts Center. The artists will also conduct master classes with Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts students July 22-23. For more information, call (507) 453-5500 or go to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org.

Saint Mary’s “Off The Page” events feature Minnesota artists in venues around town throughout the year. Enjoy additional Page Series-quality performances at other convenient, accessible locations in Winona!

Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2011 recipient of an Institutional Presenter Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.