December 7, 2009

Los Lobos January 22. Download image.

Jan. 15-17

Battleworks Dance Company, 7:30 p.m. each night Jan. 15-16 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $55, $45, $35; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Presented as part of the 2010 Alabama Dance Festival. Juilliard graduate and Parsons Dance Company alum Robert Battle's dance company, founded in 2001, shows off his strong repertoire with vigor and technical virtuosity. Battleworks premiered at the World Dance Alliance's Global Assembly in Germany and was selected as the American representatives to the festival for its unique outlook on the future of modern dance. Since then the company has performed extensively, including at American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Dance Theater Workshop and the Joyce Theater. Part of the Movement & Magic Series. Sponsored by Jemison Investment Co., Alabama Dance Council, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

Soweto Gospel Choir February 13. Download image.

Jan. 16

Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $60, $47, $37; $15 for the 30 and Under Classical Pass. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. With Music Director and Conductor Alexei Kornienko and violinist Nadezda Tokareva. Free pre-concert Prelude discussion of the music at 7 p.m. Concertgoers will experience the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky performed by this renowned 160-member Russian orchestra founded in 1978 so the symphonic repertoire of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries could be broadcast nationwide for the benefit of its citizens. This show is part of the Birmingham Music Club Classically Inclined Series. This program has been made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Sponsored by the Birmingham Music Club Guild, Alabama State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Jan. 17

Reflect and Rejoice: A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 3 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $20, $15, $10; student tickets are $10. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. With Michael Morgan conducting. The Alys Stephens Center continues its tradition of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through music and spoken word. For this community event, the ASC partners with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Alabama Symphony Orchestra in a joyous program of music to remember the past and imagine the future. Sponsored by The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Jan. 22

Los Lobos, acoustic, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $52, $42, $32; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. During their 25 years together, Los Lobos has combined rock, folk, blues, R& B, country and Tex-Mex with traditional Mexican music to form an original sound. The band has won three Grammys, sold millions of records, notched a No. 1 single and shared the stage with acts as varied as Bob Dylan, The Clash and U2, receiving tremendous critical acclaim. Seeing Los Lobos perform in a special acoustic format should be one of the ASC's most memorable evenings. Part of the Global Rhythm Series. Sponsored by Southern Arts Federation, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Jan. 24

Jeffrey Solow, Cello, with Elise Auerbach, Piano, 4 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $35; $20 for students. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Cellist Jeffrey Solow maintains a busy schedule as a recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and teacher. During his 10 years with the Amadeus Trio he recorded and toured extensively. Elise Auerbach has performed as a soloist with the Temple University and Delaware symphonies and in recital at Carnegie Hall. The afternoon program includes Beethoven's "Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano in A Major" and Aaron Minsky's "Dead Cello," songs by the Grateful Dead arranged for solo cello. Part of the Birmingham Chamber Music Society Series. Sponsored by the Birmingham Chamber Music Society, Jeanne Hutchison, Burr & Forman, Ben and Jessica Johnson, Alabama State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Jan. 29

McCoy Tyner Trio with Special Guest Savion Glover, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $65, $55, $45; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and five-time Grammy-winning pianist McCoy Tyner is joined by Tony Award-winning tap dancing genius Savion Glover for a unique jazz exploration that showcases both artists at the top of their game. Modern jazz has been shaped by the music of Tyner, known for his groundbreaking collaborations and recordings with John Coltrane. Glover delivered one of the best performances in ASC history during his 2007 visit. The two teamed up this past year for six nights at the legendary Blue Note to celebrate Tyner's 70th birthday, performances hailed as "brilliant" and "art at its best." Part of the Red Hot & Jazz Series. Sponsored by The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Feb. 12

Three Dog Night, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $65, $55, $40; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Come early for a pre-show Baby Boomers-themed bash in the lobby. This beloved group has sold more records and concert tickets and achieved more Top 40 hits - 21 - than almost any other act around. Their hits wind through the fabric of pop culture - on the radio, in television commercials or in Hollywood movies - with songs like "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)," "Joy to the World," "Shambala," and "One." Part of the Legends & Icon Series. Sponsored by The Birmingham News, Davis Architects and Viva Health.

Feb. 13

ASC Kids' Club Presents a Celebration of Black History Month with "Extraordinary Americans Who Happen to Be. . ." at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $8. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. This past season Alicia Johnson-Reed and Quinton Cockrell directed the ASC Youth Ensemble in a production that brought the audience to their collective feet with a performance of song, dance and original monologues. This remarkable troupe will take to the stage again with a brand new performance sure to move and inspire. Sponsored by Jane Stephens Comer, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

Feb. 13

Soweto Gospel Choir, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $45, $35, $25; $20 for students and $10 kid-friendly tickets. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Come early for a live performance by the Magic City Boys Choir in the ASC Grand Lobby. The musical celebration of Soweto Gospel Choir transcends barriers of race, culture and language. Direct from South Africa, the Grammy-winning, 26-member choir, accompanied by a stellar band and percussion ensemble, is known for its powerful live performances that combine African gospel and modern Western spirituals. Soweto has performed for Nelson Mandela at the famous Cape Town concert and alongside musical greats like Bono, Queen, Jimmy Cliff and the Eurythmics. Many moviegoers enjoyed their recent performance with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack of the animated blockbuster flick "WALL-E." Part of the Global Rhythm Series. Sponsored by The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

Feb. 28

Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, featuring Kenny Barron Trio, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling and Russell Malone, 3 p.m., at UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $55, $45, $35; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Come at 2 p.m. for live music in the lobby. Celebrate 52 years of the most successful jazz festival in the world with this star-studded show featuring today's top jazz performers: pianist Barron, violinist Carter, seven-time Grammy nominee vocalist Elling and guitarist Malone. Part of the Red Hot & Jazz Series. Sponsored by The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

March 4

Borealis String Quartet with Guest Pianist Yakov Kasman, 7 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $35; $20 for students. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. The Borealis String Quartet is an audience favorite at the ASC. The quartet teamed up with Van Cliburn Competition winner and UAB artist-in-residence and associate professor of piano Yakov Kasman in 2007 for a sold-out performance, which The Birmingham News called "chamber music at its most visceral." Kasman will join the Borealis - Patricia Shih, violin, Yuel Yawney, violin, Nikita Pogrebnoy, viola and Shih-Lin Chen, cello - for a performance of the Medtner Piano Quintet. Part of the Birmingham Chamber Music Society Series. Sponsored by the Birmingham Chamber Music Society, Jeanne Hutchison, Burr & Forman, Ben and Jessica Johnson, Alabama State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

March 5

An Evening with Shawn Colvin, 8 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $45, $35, $25; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Her latest release, "These Four Walls," is perhaps her most assured and compelling work to date. Colvin is one of those rare performers, like Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris or the idol of her youth, Joni Mitchell, who has been able to grow up alongside her audience and mature into her role as singer and songwriter. She was rewarded with a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk for her 1989 debut disc "Steady On" and reached mainstream audiences when her story of a housewife's fiery revenge, "Sunny Came Home," became a Top 10 hit years later. Part of the Eclectic Palate Series. Sponsored by Protective Life Corp., The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

March 21

Boston Brass, 3 p.m., at UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $50, $42, $32; $15 for the 30 & Under Classical Pass. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Free pre-concert Prelude discussion of the music at 2 p.m. From exciting classical arrangements and burning jazz standards to breathtaking vocal harmony, Boston Brass achieves new levels in brass performance while treating audiences to a unique musical experience that captivates all ages. The ensemble performs more than 100 shows annually, has several acclaimed recordings to their credit and can often be heard on National Public Radio's "Performance Today." Their latest release, "Latin Nights," showcases the immense talent and range of capabilities of all five players. Part of the Birmingham Music Club Classically Inclined Series. This program has been made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Sponsored by the Birmingham Music Club Guild, National Endowment for the Arts, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

March 27

ASC Kids' Club Presents "Down the Yellow Brick Road," an ASC Original Theatrical Production, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $8. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Bring a camera and take pictures with the show characters after the performance. Will Dorothy find her way through the Land of Oz and home again? The audience is invited to help Dorothy and other familiar characters from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" find their way down the yellow brick road. In this fun and interactive performance the narrator will invite audience members to participate in the story. This production will enchant children ages 3 to 103. Sponsored by Jane Stephens Comer, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

March 28

Peking Acrobats, 3 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $45, $35, $25; $20 for students and $10 kid-friendly tickets. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. The Peking Acrobats are cultural diplomats who perform spectacular feats of talent and imagination. Since 1958, this elite group has toured the world, leaving audiences spellbound by their grace and athleticism. Carefully selected from the finest acrobat schools in China, these gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists and tumblers transform 2,000-year-old athletic disciplines into an all-ages kaleidoscope of entertainment and wonder. Part of the Movement & Magic Series. Sponsored by Mrs. Albert L. Fairley, Jr., IMS-Integrated Medical Systems, Jemison Investment Co., The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

April 15

Parisii Quartet, 7 p.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $35; $20 for students. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Formed in 1984 by four prize-winning graduates of the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris, the Parisii won early acclaim with its triumphs at major competitions including Banff (1986) and Munich (1987). Noted for its performances of distinctive repertoire of the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, the quartet has distinguished itself with award-winning recordings of intriguing works by such French composers as Menu, Pierné and Tailleferre. Of recent note are recordings of the 16 string quartets of Darius Milhaud, which won the Grand Prix Charles Cros. Part of the Birmingham Chamber Music Society Series. Sponsored by Birmingham Chamber Music Society, Jeanne Hutchison, Burr & Forman, Ben and Jessica Johnson, Alabama State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

April 17

ASC Kids' Club Presents "The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll" with Ron Bourdages, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $8. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Come dressed as a favorite rock 'n' roll performer for a costume contest after each show. Join ASC Kids' Club artist Ron Bourdages as he guides kids and adults on a musical journey through time to discover the sounds that inspired musicians to create what everyone knows as rock 'n' roll. This fun and educational performance is sure to have everyone singing along. Sponsored by Jane Stephens Comer, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

[New Date!]

April 24

UAB's Alys Stephens Center's Viva Health Starlight Gala, at the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Gala artist announcement coming soon! For the past 11 seasons, the Viva Health Starlight Gala has been Birmingham's premier black-tie event and the most elegant celebration benefiting the arts. The evening combines a live performance from one of the world's most talented artists with festivities that include a pre-performance reception, music and entertainment, and a post-performance dinner for patrons. The list of past gala performers reads like a who's who of the arts, including artists Diana Krall, Itzhak Perlman, Queen Latifah, Mandy Patinkin, Natalie Cole, Willie Nelson, Bobby McFerrin and Frederica von Stade. Sponsored by Viva Health, The Birmingham News and WBHM.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.