August 12, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Listen, watch and feel as MASS Ensemble creates a week-long massive arts experiment, performance and party at UAB's Alys Stephens Center Sept. 20-24, 2010.

Watch as the Alys Stephens Center and the Jemison Concert Hall on UAB's campus are transformed into a giant musical instrument called an Earth Harp. The artists, musicians, composers and choreographers of MASS fuse music, architecture, sculpture and sound and bring to life original musical instrument creations including drum orbs, wing harps and sun sitars to produce an unforgettable theatrical experience. Each performance by MASS is unique to the location.

The Alys Stephens Center will present the MASS Ensemble residency as part of its 11-Day Opening Festival, kicking off the 2010-2011 new season of performances. The residency will include a free yoga event, free daily performances on their giant outdoor Earth Harp as well as a free, fun lunchtime demonstration/discussion.

Download image.

The week will culminate with a one-night-only stage performance by MASS Ensemble, when live music, sculpture, dance, video, light and rigging come together to create a multi-sensory rock opera at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Come early at 6:30 p.m. for live music from the Blue Galaxy Project in the courtyard to celebrate the center's new season. Tickets are $53, $43, $33; $20 student tickets. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

The residency will begin with a MASS Yoga Workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20. In this truly unique experience, participants will practice yoga postures to the sounds of MASS Ensemble's extraordinary Earth Harp. The event is free; attendees must sign up in advance at www.AlysStephens.org.

At noon, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day Tuesday, Sept. 21 through Thursday, Sept. 23, see 20-minute performances of the Earth Harp outside. All daily demonstrations are free and open to the public. Earth harps have been constructed at the Seattle Space Needle, Kennedy Center, Coliseum in Rome, temples across Vietnam and other unique locations.

Enjoy a lunchtime performance and discussion at noon Thursday, Sept. 23 with The Dish: MASS Ensemble, "The Fusion of Music, Architecture and Sculpture," at the center. The event is free and open to the public; boxed lunches will be available for purchase. Later that day, come for a free MASS Happy Hour performance with cash bar, 5:30 p.m.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 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.