Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts to conduct 'Nutcracker’ auditions Aug. 30

MCA students Amanda Whalen and Keegan Eide in a former production.

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold auditions Saturday, Aug. 30, for its holiday production of The Nutcracker, to be performed at Saint Mary’s University Dec. 4-7. Auditions will begin at noon at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

The Nutcracker tells the timeless tale of Clara as she is taken into a magical world filled with dancing candy, daring sword fights, and beautiful fairies.

There are numerous opportunities to become involved in this production, from performing in the spotlight to assisting behind the scenes. Roles are available for actors, dancers and community members ages 5 and older (including adults) at all levels of experience.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is a nonprofit arts organization, which offers programming in dance, music, visual art and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for youth ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center.

For more information, go to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500. Auditions are free and open to the public.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

MCA presents 2014 Summer Dance Intensive Showcase

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Summer Dance Intensive showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre, 1164 West 10th St.

The showcase, which is free and open to the public, features works that the students participating in the Summer Dance Intensive have learned in their two-week dance camp.  A variety of dance forms will be presented, including classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, musical theatre dance, and modern dance. The works were choreographed by MCA guest artists Dustyn Martincich, Allan Kinzie, Jen TeBeest and Tammy Schmidt.

In addition to learning showcase pieces, students have been participating in comprehensive dance training including technique and theory classes throughout the two-week process. Class studies have included ballet, pointe, variations, pas de deux, repertory, jazz, hip hop, rhythm tap, modern, musical theatre dance, piyo, choreography and improvisation.

The students are from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa; range in age from 11 to 16; and were selected for the program by audition.

For more information about the Summer Dance Intensive showcase or future MCA program offerings, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500.

Conservatory for the Arts’ Tap Showcase is May 22

WINONA, Minn. — In honor of National Tap Dance Day, students from the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present a Tap Showcase Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Mary’s University’s Figliulo Recital Hall.

The showcase will highlight the talents of students who range in age from 8 to 20. They will be performing rhythm tap pieces they learned in workshops this month as well as a demonstration of Irish step dancing. The evening will also include a special tap history presentation featuring the “Shim Sham Shimmy,” a dance known as the national anthem of tap. The showcase is open to the public, and freewill donations will be accepted.

Students performing in the Winona showcase will include: Rory Briggs, Carter Briggs, Megan Costello, Hannah Graff, Nathan Graff, Viva Graff, Ariana Jacobs, Hannah Schwarze, Max Uribe, and Lucy Wilfarht. The showcase is choreographed by MCA tap instructor Christine Martin.

For more information about MCA’s National Tap Dance Day Showcase or other arts programming, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, email MCA@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500.

Dance Repertory Company to present spring 40th anniversary concert April 25-26

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts’ Dance Repertory Company will present a special Spring Dance Concert this year in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the dance division. The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Page Theatre.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the SMU Box Office at (507) 457-1715 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For four decades, the Dance Repertory Company (DRC) has delighted the Winona community with quality dance productions featuring local dancers in classical and contemporary works. This year the DRC presents a production of restaged works from past shows as well as some new works, paying homage to history of the organization and its founder, Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin. The DRC is the pre-professional performance group of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes and stage performances.

The production will feature pieces from numerous genres of dance including hip hop, modern, jazz, tap, ballet, and pointe. Performed by the dancers who currently train at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Saint Mary’s University, and Winona State University, the 40th anniversary celebration concert showcases their effervescent spirit, vibrant energy, and technical and artistic abilities that continue to inspire audiences year after year. In addition to the production, alumni events are scheduled throughout the weekend to commemorate the history of the organization.

For more information about The Dance Repertory Company and other arts programming at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

River North Dance Chicago takes the stage Nov. 20 at SMU

WINONA, Minn. — Celebrated for creating vital connections between dancer and audience as well as presenting gutsy and entertaining repertoire, River North Dance Chicago will combine athletic prowess and artistic perspective with bold, theatrical flair during their show Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Saint Mary’s University.

The Page Series presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Under the artistic direction of Frank Chaves, River North Dance Chicago demonstrates depth and sophistication with a commitment to creating an accessible, enriching experience for audiences. Chaves aims for audiences to feel the complete spectrum of human emotions in a single evening. He wants them to leave feeling joyful and exhilarated at the end of each program.

Founded in 1989, the company is recognized as one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, receiving critical acclaim both on a national and international level. The dancers will present a mixed repertoire including “Simply Miles,” featuring the music of Miles Davis, and “SUPER STRAIGHT is Coming Down,” as well as other pieces from their 20-year repertoire.

Tickets are 
$27 for adults and $24 for seniors and students and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pre-show talk


Join Tammy Schmidt, SMU assistant professor of dance, for a conversation with the River North Dance Chicago company manager about the process of setting dances, training, and the history of the dance company, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. The conversation will end in plenty of time for the show.

MCA presents 2013 Summer Dance Intensive Showcase

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Summer Dance Intensive showcase at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre, 1164 West 10th St.

The showcase, which is free and open to the public, features works that the students participating in the Summer Dance Intensive have learned in their two-week dance camp.  A variety of dance forms will be presented, including classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, musical theatre dance, and modern dance. The works were choreographed by MCA guest artists Dustyn Martincich, Allan Kinzie, Jen TeBeest and Tammy Schmidt.

In addition to learning showcase pieces, students have been participating in comprehensive dance training including technique and theory classes throughout the two- week process. Class studies have included ballet, pointe, variations, pas de deux, repertory, jazz, hip hop, rhythm tap, modern, musical theatre dance, piyo, choreography and improvisation.

The students are from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Iowa; rangein age from 12 to 18; and were selected for the program by audition.

For more information about the Summer Dance Intensive showcase or future MCA program offerings, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500.

Saint Mary’s announces next Page Series season

WINONA, Minn. — The 27th season of the Saint Mary’s University Page Series is once again filled with music, dance, theatre and family-friendly offerings from around the world! You don’t have to travel far for world-class entertainment. Season subscriptions go on sale June 19. Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 20.

Purchase tickets to three or more events to receive a 10 percent discount for new subscribers; returning 2012-13 subscribers receive 25 percent off the total order. Subscribers also have exchange privileges and guaranteed seating choice.

To order after June 19, go online to www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, (507) 457-1715, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The 2013-2014 Page Series

• Thursday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Second City Comedy: On Tour
Improv from America’s best
Tickets: $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students
America’s famed comedy troupe, The Second City, is coming to town with "Happily Ever Laughter." From the company that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and more, comes the next generation of the comedy world’s best and brightest in an evening of hilarious sketch comedy and Second City’s trademark improvisation.

The Second City celebrates more than 50 years of cutting edge satiric revues and continues to deliver the leading voices in comedy while touring the globe. With scripted and improvisational elements, audiences always enjoy being part of the show and playing along with the next generation of comic legends. Whether it's ripped from the morning headlines or a classic gem from their 50-year archives, The Second City is always a laugh out loud hit.

• Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Christopher O’Riley
NPR’s most famous pianist
Tickets: $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students
From his groundbreaking transcriptions of Radiohead, Elliott Smith and Nick Drake to his unforgettably sublime interpretations of the classical canon, pianist Christopher O’Riley has stretched the piano beyond conventional boundaries.  For his visit to Winona he will interpret contemporary popular music including the Cocteau Twins, R.E.M. and Pink Floyd.

O’Riley has taken his unique vision to both traditional classical music venues and symphonic settings, as well as to entirely new audiences on the radio, at universities and even clubs. As host of the popular classical music radio show, National Public Radio’s From The Top, O’Riley works and performs with the next generation of brilliant young musicians, demonstrating to audiences that these young artists are as interesting and diverse in their personal lives as they are in their music-making.

O’Riley has toured the U.S. with the world-famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared with the philharmonic orchestras of Los Angeles, New York, Moscow and the Royal Philharmonic in London, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the symphonies of Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

• Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Stinky Cheese Man and Other Stories
A fun twist on family favorites
Tickets: $14 for adults, $6 for seniors and students
Jack has a problem. He’s successfully grown an enormous beanstalk, scaled to the top, and stolen a golden harp and gold-laying goose from the sleeping giant. However, the giant has now awoken and Jack has scurried back down the beanstalk in the hopes of chopping it down before the giant can catch him. Jack could possibly even make a clean escape if only the Little Red Hen would quit harping on and on about all the lazy animals who refuse to help her with her wheat. He devises a method to keep the giant somewhat diverted, by offering to tell him stories. The stories are all based upon other classic fairy tales with some fairly “stupid” twists.

Over the past 22 years the Griffin Theatre Company of Chicago has provided a wide range of work including world and mid-west premieres of acclaimed scripts, critically lauded productions of Shakespeare and original adaptations of novels. Each year the main-stage offers three full-length productions and one children’s production. Many of the Griffin’s 100-plus productions have appeared on Chicago area critics “Best of the Year” lists.

Last seen on the Page stage with the moving Letters Home production in 2011, the Page Series is pleased to present the Griffin Theatre Company in an entirely different light this time around.

• Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Susan Werner
Folksinger’s Hayseed Project
Tickets: $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students
Born in Manchester, Iowa, Werner grew up on her family’s hog farm, but she took to singing rather than farming. When she was 3, she grabbed attention at a family party with her rendition of a beer commercial jingle. “That was it. My life direction was fixed,” Werner told Paul McKay of the Ottawa Citizen. She began making a name for herself in the folk scene of the early 1990s in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. She recorded five albums from 1993 to 2001 in the folk genre. Her next recording in 2004, I Can't Be New, was a departure encompassing Tin Pan Alley, early torch, and jazz standards. Now based in Chicago, Warner's most recent music is infused with the rustic roots of American folk, blues and country music. Her 11th recording, Kicking the Beehive, includes guest appearances by Vince Gill, Mo'Keb, Paul Franklin.

Werner’s newest project Hayseed, contains 12 songs on the subject matter of farming, rural America, locavores, food safety, and the comic potential of herbicides. Werner grew up on a family farm in eastern Iowa, where her parents still farm—and in Hayseed, she returns to the language and characters she knows best. Supporting three organizations she believes in this tour will help out Practical Farmers of Iowa, Ames, Iowa, Midwest Organic and Sustainability Education Service (M.O.S.E.S.), Spring Valley, Wis., and The Land Institute, Salina, Kan.

• Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Peter Pan by Theatreworks USA
Neverland by our favorite company
Tickets: $14 for adults, $6 for seniors and students
This version of Peter Pan is an adapted version of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale created by John Caird and Trevor Nunn. This touring production by Theatreworks USA explores the journey of a group of children in turn-of-the-century London who use their imaginations to reenact the story of Peter Pan. This story empowers children to create their own world of make-believe. As the children fly to Neverland and escape the evil Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, they recognize the importance of friendship as well as the value of being part of a family.

Theatreworks USA often visits the Page stage; last season they performed Bunnicula. Since their founding in 1961, they have presented to more than 90 million children and their families, with opportunities to enjoy their theatrical productions in 49 states and Canada.


• Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m.
River North Dance Chicago
One of Chicago’s most physical dance ensembles
Tickets: $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students
    Founded in 1989, the company is recognized as one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, receiving critical acclaim both on a national and international level. Under the direction of Artistic Director Frank Chaves, the jazz-based contemporary company embodies a true flavor of “Americana” in its dynamic repertoire.

They will present a mixed repertoire including “Simply Miles, Simply Us” featuring the music of Miles Davis; “Train,” an abstract ritual in three parts set to a percussive live recording; and “Super Straight Is Coming Down,” a fiercely physical, urban meltdown of epic proportions; as well as other pieces from their 20-year repertoire. A pre-show talk with company manager will be offered as well.

“Not only did the troupe’s bravura dancers pull out all the stops from first move to last, inspiring rapturous applause at every turn, but they demonstrated that River North is one of this city’s most accomplished ensembles.” Chicago Sun Times


• Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Doktor Kaboom
Mad science
Tickets: $14 for adults, $6 for seniors and students
Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration, Doktor Kaboom keeps his crowds riveted with interest and rolling with laughter. Join him for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular — and often successful — experiments and demonstrations. Using masterful improvisational skills, the artist takes his audience on a sidesplitting tour of the modern scientific method while demonstrating spectacular applications of the physical sciences.

Doktor Kaboom is the creation of actor/comedian David Epley, who has been fortunate enough to discover two passions in his life. His first, science, took him to studies at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. His second, performing, became his career, and for 20 years he has made his living writing, performing, and directing original interactive comedy across the U.S. and Canada. He now brings his passions together with an explosive style that refuses to allow his audiences time to catch a breath.


• Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
The Travelin’ McCourys
Bluegrass’ legendary sons
Tickets: $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students
Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle, and Alan Bartram on bass, comprise the latest incarnation of the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass – The Del McCoury Band. No other band today has the same credentials for playing traditional and progressive acoustic music. As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie and Rob continue their father’s work – a lifelong dedication to the power of bluegrass music to bring joy into people’s lives. Based in tradition, the ensemble is loved and respected by the bluegrass faithful, but they also bring something fresh and rejuvenating to the stage. Recently the McCourys debuted the widely successful festival on wheels called The Bluegrass Ball, bringing spontaneous live collaborations, the hallmark of the McCourys, to clubs across the country. The band has a confidence that comes with having paid their dues with 20 years on the bluegrass road. They are known not only for their individual prowess on their instruments but also the tight rhythm, the soulful material and the confidence in taking bluegrass from the safety of the shore into uncharted waters.

The Travelin’ McCourys are quickly becoming known amongst fans and musical icons alike collaborating with the likes of Vince Gill, The Allman Brothers, Phish, Warren Haynes, Steve Earle, Dierks Bentley, Yonder Mountain String Band and many more.

• Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Stories
Theatreworks USA Production
Tickets: $14 for adults, $6 for seniors and students
This is an exciting new musical revue based on favorite contemporary children’s books including: Teacher From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee, Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey, Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard, I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, Love Splat, Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton, and The Grasshopper and the Ant.
Some of Theatreworks USA’s most famous alumni include actor Henry Winkler, four-time Tony-winning director Jerry Zaks, two time-Tony Award winner Robert Lopez, and well-known actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Glover and many more.


• Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
South African a capella legends
Tickets: $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students
Nominated 16 times for the Grammy awards, South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, led by founder and leader Joseph Shabalala, celebrates more than 50 years of joyous and uplifting music that marries the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music.

Assembled in the early 1960s in South Africa by Shabalala – then a young farmboy turned factory worker – the group took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Ladysmith is the name of Shabalala’s rural hometown; Black is a reference to oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo which is the Zulu word for axe, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them.

Paul Simon visited South Africa in the 1980s and incorporated Black Mambazo’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his Graceland album – a landmark 1986 recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences.

Since that time they have maintained a respect and a reverence for their past. The centuries-old story of their homeland – sometimes joyous, sometimes troubled, but always rich and exhilarating – has been at the very foundation of this vocal group since its very beginning. But alongside the South African history witnessed by an entire world, there’s a quieter, more personal past shared by the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – a time of youth and innocence, when the world consisted of nothing more than the hills and open fields of their parents’ farms in Zulu country.

The Page Series is pleased to welcome the most widely known a cappella group in the world back to the SMU stage since they first visited Winona in 2006.



Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2012 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.

* PLEASE NOTE: Online orders will incur additional fees.

Student price includes ages 4 and older. $10 student rush tickets may be available for some events 20 minutes before curtain.

A limited number of $6 tickets will be available for 5- to 14-year-olds for the following shows: Christopher O'Riley, Susan Werner, River North Chicago Dance Company, The Travelin' McCourys, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. 

Dance Repertory Company to present annual spring concert

WINONA, Minn. — The Dance Repertory Company’s annual spring concert, “Juxtapose,” will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre.

For close to four decades, the Dance Repertory Company has delighted the Winona community with quality dance productions, featuring local dancers in classical and contemporary works. This year the DRC presents a production centered on collaboration with the arts. The DRC is the pre-professional performance group of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes, and stage performances.

This production will feature pieces from numerous genres of dance including hip hop, modern, jazz, tap, contemporary ballet and pointe. The theme is “collaboration” — with each piece incorporating another aspect of the arts … from live music to multi-media, and much more!

These dancers currently train at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Saint Mary’s University, and Winona State University. “Juxtapose” showcases the effervescent spirit, vibrant energy, and technical and artistic abilities that continue to inspire audiences year after year.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the SMU box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (507) 457-1715.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

MCA announces auditions for Summer Dance Intensive

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts Summer Dance Intensive offers comprehensive dance training for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 11 to 22. Auditions are required for acceptance. Boarding and non-boarding camp options are available.

Summer Dance Intensive students participate in technique and theory courses as well as a final showcase performance. The auditions will include a full ballet class. Students with pointe experience should bring pointe shoes to the audition class. Following the ballet class students may choose to show a prepared jazz, modern, tap, or character dance center combination of at least 64 counts or 16 bars. Showing a prepared piece is optional.

Audition information:

• Allegro School of Dance and Music, 2342 Superior Drive Northwest, Rochester, Minn.; (507) 288-0125; Saturday, Feb. 16, 2 to 4 p.m.

• La Crosse Dance Centre, 2716 Commerce St., La Crosse, Wis.; (608) 783-5155; Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m. to noon

• Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, 1164 W. 10th Street, Winona; (507) 453-5501; Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Talent-based scholarships are awarded on a case-by-case basis. For a brochure, registration form, and more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for children (age 3) through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

MCA announces 2013 DRC spring concert auditions

WINONA, Minn. — Auditions for the Dance Repertory Company of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will be Saturday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. 10th St.

The DRC will present its annual Spring Dance Concert April 25-27 at Saint Mary’s University Page Theatre. Roles for male and female intermediate and advanced dancers in rhythm, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and classical/contemporary ballet and pointe are available for youth ages 12 and older through adults. Younger students can participate by invitation only. Students under the age of 21 who are cast are required to be enrolled in at least one dance class at MCA, Saint Mary’s, or Winona State. A $75 performance fee is required.

This spring’s production will be a collaborative process, the focus being the incorporation of the visual and performing arts into all aspects of choreography.

For more information, contact MCA director of dance Tammy Schmidt at tschmidt@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for youth ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center.

Class days, times and tuition vary.  Financial need-based scholarships are available. For a brochure and a complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” the MCA on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500.  Interested students may registration online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Dance Repertory Company presents 'The Nutcracker'

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) will present the Dance Repertory Company in The Nutcracker, Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 28 through Dec. 2.

The production will take place in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

This year marks the company’s seventh biennial production of the piece and features a special choral performance by MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers at the conclusion of Act I in the Land of Snow.

The cast includes more than 90 members, comprised of students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, MCA and children and community members from Winona and the surrounding areas.

Through this ballet, the beauty of the pure, young heart shines bright in a world of dancing dolls, angels, and of course, the wonderful magical Nutcracker Prince. In the dreams of a child named Clara, a battle wages between a band of mice and a company of toy soldiers. With Clara’s assistance, the toy soldiers are victorious and grateful. A Nutcracker Prince welcomes her to the Land of Snow, where they dance with the angels, and to the Kingdom of the Sweets hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where she sees a beautiful array of ethnic dances such as Spanish Coffee, Chinese Tea and Russian Baba.

The Nutcracker will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 1, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

A special matinee for families with younger children will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. This matinee features selections from the full ballet and lasts about one hour. This is especially suited for families with young children who may not enjoy a full evening performance. The cost for this afternoon matinee is $4 for everyone.

To order tickets, call the Saint Mary’s University Box Office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at (507) 457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts to host Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party fundraiser

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is hosting its seventh biennial Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party, Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

This year’s Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party will feature two tea sittings (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.), with specialty teas and exquisite finger foods. The Land of the Sweets Gift Boutique, featuring holiday gifts and crafts, is available to the public from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for children and $18 for adults. All children attending the tea party will receive a complimentary photo with their favorite live character from the “Nutcracker” ballet. Tea attendees will enjoy the sounds of MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers, as well musical performances by MCA’s Music Division instructors.

The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea party is the first big event of the “Nutcracker” production season for MCA and its performing group, the Dance Repertory Company. The company will present the full-length ballet, Nov. 28 – Dec. 2 at the Saint Mary’s University Page Theatre.   This year’s cast of more than 90 includes students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, and children and community members from the Winona and surrounding areas.  For tickets to the production, call (507) 457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Proceeds from The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party go toward the MCA student scholarship fund and “Nutcracker” production costs.

To reserve seats or a full table of six for either the 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. tea sittings, please call (507) 453-5500. The Valéncia Arts Center is handicapped accessible.

‘Let Us Remember’ Centennial performance

WINONA, Minn. — In honor of Saint Mary’s University’s Centennial, a special program celebrating the history, mission and legacy of Saint Mary’s will be presented. “Let Us Remember” — a performed narrative that includes many of the voices from Saint Mary’s rich history — will incorporate theatre, music, visual art and dance into one inspiring program.

Experience SMU’s 100-year journey through word, music and photographs during performances scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 4-6. A matinee will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 6.  “Let Us Remember” was written and will be directed by 1979 Saint Mary’s alumnus and Dean of the School of the Arts Michael Charron.

The program features newly commissioned music scores by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, director of choirs, and Eric Heukeshoven, director of jazz, as performed by the SMU Concert Band and SMU Choirs.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

MCA to hold auditions for ‘The Nutcracker’

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold auditions for its holiday production of “The Nutcracker” on Thursday, Sept. 6, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. 10th St.

“The Nutcracker” will be performed at Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. “The Nutcracker” tells the timeless tale of Clara as she is taken into a magical world filled with dancing candy, daring sword fights, and beautiful fairies.

There are numerous ways to be involved in this production, from under the spotlight to behind the scenes. Roles are available for actors, dancers, and community members. Children older than 5 and adults with all levels of experience are welcome. MCA’s WAYS youth choir will be featured in this production as well.

 For more information, go online to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500. Auditions are free and open to the public!

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

MCA announces fall schedule

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for youth age 3 to adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

The new Semester I catalog is now available. Registrations are now being accepted. Offerings run from Sept 10-Nov 17, 2012 and include:

· NEW! Art in Motion Workshops: Drawing a Powerful Still Life — (for those ages 16 and older) Drawings will be exhibited in December during the “Nutcracker” performance in the Ben Miller Lobby of Saint Mary’s University’s Performance Center.

· Creative Music and Movement — Enroll your child in this class and take Nia class yourself at the same time for only $10!

· NEW! Jazz Combos with Dave Gudmastad from Cotter High School

· Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) — In addition to learning a wide range of pieces from musical theatre to choral music, this group of young singers will participate in the “Nutcracker” as well as the winter concert!

· Dance Technique for Boys — For only $10, male students ages 8-12 are invited to enroll in this class, which focuses on the development of dance technique used in classical and contemporary disciplines while increasing flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina.

· NEW! Advanced Ballet Packages — For those serious about ballet training!

· Adult Wellness Classes — (Including Nia, Power Piyo, clogging, ballet, and tap and jazz). Parents who have a child enrolled in a MCA class can take an adult wellness class for only $10!

Class days, times, and tuition vary. Financial need-based scholarship are available. For a brochure and a complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org , e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” us on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500. Interested students may register online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

MCA announces Chamber Music Camp 2012

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Community classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for ages 3 to adult at the Valéncia Arts Center located at 1164 West 10th St.

MCA will be holding its annual Chamber Music Camp for instrumentalists entering grades 6-10 this fall. The camp will be held at the Valencia Arts Center Monday, July 23, through Friday, July 27, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. with a free informal recital concluding the week.

This camp is the perfect opportunity for young musicians to meet new friends with the same musical interest, develop musicianship and leadership skills, as well as build self-confidence in a fun, positive environment. Students will develop the skills required to play in small group setting while exploring a wide variety of musical genres, including everything from Bach to pop! Class days, times, and tuition vary. Financial need based scholarship are available.

For a brochure and a complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500. Interested students may registration online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

MCA presents the 2012 Summer Dance Intensive Showcase

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present a dance showcase 7 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre, 1164 West 10th St.

The showcase, which is free and open to the public, features works that the students from the MCA 2012 Summer Dance Intensive have learned in the two-week dance camp. A variety of dance forms will be presented, including classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, flamenco, and modern dance.

The works were choreographed by MCA guest artists Dustyn Martincich, Stephanie Milling, Jeffrey Peterson, and Tammy Schmidt. In addition to learning showcase pieces, students have been participating in comprehensive dance training, including technique and theory classes. Class studies have included ballet, pointe, variations, pas de deux, repertory, jazz, hip hop, rhythm tap, modern, musical theatre dance, piyo, choreography, and improvisation.

Intermediate and advanced students from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin, ranging in ages from 12 to 18, were selected for the program by audition.

 For more information about the Summer Intensive Showcase or future MCA program offerings, call (507) 453-5500 or visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org.

MCA announces Summer 2012 June programming

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in Dance, Music, Visual Art, and Theatre, year-round.  Community classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered to children as young as 3 years old and adults of any age at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

With the 2012 Summer Session in full swing, a variety of classes are available for children and adults, ranging from recreation classes to pre-professional training. Most of the June offerings conclude with free performance showcases!

Theatre division offerings include:

Theatre Day Camp I – Destination Imagination
•    June 18-22, 9 to 11:30 a.m., for young people entering grades 2-4; Tuition: $100
•    Students are led through a series of theatre games and exercises designed to encourage and develop their imagination. Music and movement will be incorporated as the students learn acting techniques for the stage.

Theatre Day Camp II – Broadway Bound!
•    June 18-22, 1 to 4:30 p.m., for young people entering grades 5-8; Tuition: $150
•    Students will learn how actors bring unique characters to life using their voice, body, and creativity. Students will learn improvisation, acting technique for the stage, and theatrical numbers from popular Broadway musicals.

Music division offerings include:

NEW! Ukulele Direct
•    June 18-22, 10 a.m. to noon, for students entering grades 6-10; Tuition: $80  (Half price for MCA private lesson students)
•    Students will be introduced to the musical world of the ukulele, starting with the basics of learning chords and strumming patterns to accompany themselves and others. Ukuleles are great for beginners and the skills students will learn are transferrable to guitar and banjo!

Private Music Lessons: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Violin, Cello, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Piano, Voice
•    Arranged, for students ages 5 to adults
•    Tuition: $75 for 5 lessons, $140 for 10 lessons

Dance division offerings include:

June Ballet V, VI, VII Workshops
•    June 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 5:30 to 8 p.m.; Tuition: $120 (Half price for MCA Summer Dance Intensive participants)
•    Fast intermediate and advanced level of classical ballet, pointe (optional), and variations. These workshops are ideal for the student maintaining their training before attending a summer intensive program.

Dance Camp I: Dance Me a Story!
•    June 25-29, 9 to 11:30 a.m., for young people entering grades kindergarten through 3; Tuition: $100
•    Students will participate in daily technique classes (ballet, creative movement, jazz). Additionally, students will learn the story and choreography of a classical ballet, fairy tale, or fable, which will be performed in a showcase for family and friends at the conclusion of the camp.

Dance Camp II: Dance the Day Away
•    June 25-29, 1 to 4:30 p.m., for young people entering grades 4-8; Tuition: $150
•    Students will participate in daily technique classes (ballet, modern, jazz), theory classes (make-up and costuming, program design, dance vocabulary, dance history and traditions), as well as learn choreography for a final showcase performance.


Class days, times, and tuition vary. Financial need based scholarship are available. For a brochure and a complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500. Interested students may registration online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

MCA spring classes begin May 7

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts spring dance, music, and visual art classes begin Monday, May 7, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

A variety of classes are available for children and adults, ranging from recreation classes to pre-professional training. The MCA Visual Art division offers Drawing the Still Life, a class for teen and adults to explore the art of drawing still life using versatile charcoal techniques.

Dance division spring offerings include: Creative Movement, Modern I-II, Contemporary Dance Workshops, Nia, Tap and Jazz for Kids, National Tap and Dance Workshops for Tap II and Tap III-IV, Junior Hip Hop, Hip Hop I-II, Boys Dance Technique, Pre Ballet, Pre Ballet I, Ballet II, Ballet III-IV, Classical Package for Ballet V, VI, VII and a new Dance for Skaters class.

Music division offerings include: Creative Music and Movement, Music Explorers, Musicman Junior, Flute Choir I, Flute Choir II as well as private lesson instruction in flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and voice.

Creative Music and Movement, an introduction to the music and dance class setting through voice, song, rhythm, and dance for 3- and 4-years-olds is offered in collaboration with the MCA dance and music divisions. This class is offered opposite of the adult fitness class Nia. Nia offers a dynamic blend of dance arts, martial arts and healing arts using music, movement, and self-expression to help students discover optimum health of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Parents can enjoy a great workout while their child enjoys Creative Music and Movement, Tuesdays, May 8, 15, 22, June 5, 12, and 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Adults who have a child enrolled in an MCA spring or summer class or camp can participate in a class of their own tuition-free through the MCA Adult Arts Wellness program. Adult classes choices for spring include: Nia, Teen and Adult Tap and Jazz, Flute Choir I, Flute Choir II, and Drawing the Still Life. Additional summer course offers for adults include Guitar Class I, Guitar Class II, Nia, Power Piyo, Clogging I, Clogging II, Teen and Adult Ballet, and Teen and Adult Irish Dance. Class days, times, and tuition vary. Financial need-based scholarships are available.

For a brochure and complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org or call (507) 453-5500. Interested students may registration online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center. MCA, a non-profit organization, exists to provide quality arts education and performance by nurturing and encouraging artistic expression in children and adults.

 The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

Saint Mary’s announces next Page Series season

WINONA, Minn. — The 26th season of the Saint Mary’s University Page Series is once again filled with music, dance, theatre, and family-friendly offerings from around the world!

You don’t have to travel far for world-class performances. Season subscriptions go on sale May 15. Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 21.

As part of the yearlong celebration of Saint Mary’s University Centennial, the Page Series is pleased to include artists with connections to Saint Mary’s and to Winona in this year’s programming.

Purchase tickets to three or more events to receive a 10 percent discount for new subscribers; returning 2011-12 subscribers receive 25 percent off the total order. Subscribers also have exchange privileges and guaranteed seating choice.

To order, go online to www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer box office hours, May 16-July 29, are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 The 2012-2013 Page Series 

• Thursday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. 
Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery
Sacred dance, music and sand mandala painting
Tickets: $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and students 
The Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery in India have toured North America for more than 20 years to support their monastery and to preserve and demonstrate their Tibetan cultural traditions. Their performance features multi-phonic singing, wherein the monks simultaneously intone three notes of a chord. They also utilize traditional instruments (such as 10-foot long dung-chen horns, drums, bells, cymbals and gyaling trumpets), wear rich brocade costumes and perform masked dances, such as the “Dance of the Sacred Snow Lion” and “Dance of the Skeleton Lords.” In addition, the monks will create elaborate sand mandala paintings, using colored sands and the traditional chakpur (metal funnel). Before the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy, the mandalas were created in private, sacred sites; the Dalai Lama, considered the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, suggested that the mandalas be created publicly as a way of healing. Several lecture and informal conversations opportunities will also be a part of their five-day residency.

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m. 
“Bunnicula” with TheatreworksUSA 
A Bunny-Tale of Mystery 
Tickets: $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students
 Lock up your lettuce! Protect your parsley! Rescue your rutabaga! A floppy-eared bunny with mysterious habits is staking out its place in TheatreworksUSA’s spine-tingling new musical, co-written by Tony-nominated playwright Charles Busch and based on the best-selling books by James & Deborah Howe, “Bunnicula!” Chester the cat and Harold the dog get along like ... well ... cats and dogs, even though underneath their furry exteriors, they’re really the best of pals. But one dark and stormy night, the Monroe family comes home from the movies with an orphaned rabbit they found under their seats. He’s a very strange baby rabbit who has sharp fangs instead of buckteeth, and who sleeps all day and prowls around his cage all night. Meanwhile, all the vegetables in the house are drained of their color and turn white. Could this possibly be a coincidence, or could Bunnicula be a vampire? Chester thinks so, and he’ll stop at nothing until he vanquishes the new arrival, even if it means the end of his friendship with Harold. Will Harold and Chester remain friends? Will Bunnicula find his mother before it’s too late? Will the nocturnal assault on all that is good and green continue? Find out in TheatreworksUSA’s “Bunnicula.”

 
 • Friday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. 
Simone Perrin and Dan Chouinard 
Sweet singing, accordion playing 
Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students 
Simone Perrin is a Minneapolis-based theater artist, accordionista and chanteuse. She's also an artist and composer. She has appeared on “A Prairie Home Companion” and premiered two shows at the 2006 Minnesota Fringe Festival, her one–woman show, “Tall Tale of a Broken Heart,” and “In Hopes of Claudia” with Kevin Kling. She grew up on the banks of the mighty Mississippi in Winona, where she learned that singing for your supper is OK, houseboats are the best way to enjoy a lazy river, and family is the most important. But … as it goes with the learning, those revelations didn’t occur until she went away. After school in Ohio and years in New York, she came back to the Midwest. Settling in the Twin Cities, she has collaborated with storyteller Kevin Kling on numerous projects, as well as performed with everyone from Prudence Johnson to Dan Chouinard to The Brass Messengers. Perrin is inviting musician friend Dan Chouinard to join her for an evening of new songs, stories and fun.

 
 • Thursday, Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m. 
The Accidental Hero World War II 
Czech-American story 
Tickets: $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students 
Where do heroes come from? Lightning strikes and destiny awaits. A farm boy thinks he’s “only” fighting in World War II. Then a risky assignment miraculously brings him face-to-face with his long-lost tribe. Improbable coincidence? Fate? When you run away from your identity, it often finds you anyway. Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving, this unforgettable one-man show has wowed audiences across the country. The Czechs called him “liberator,” but they liberated him.  A unique mix of narration with multi-media enhancements provides a way to tell the story of a grandfather’s role in World War II, unknown to all until the grandson dug into the past. The show includes WWII film footage shot with a home movie camera of the liberation of a Czech town. Actor/creator Patrick Dewane is an alumnus of Saint Mary’s University.

 • Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m. 
The Hornheads w/John Paulson’s Big Band Project
 Jazz and more jazz 
Tickets: $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students 
The Hornheads, an extraordinarily talented group of horn players, has been gathering international acclaim from artists and critics alike, since 1991. On tour with Prince and the New Power Generation from 1991-1994, the Hornheads performed for more than 2 million concert-goers in 20 countries. Q Magazine, London, described them as “a peerless horn section ... playing in bare brilliant syncopation, punching with a staccato precision beyond the grasp of science or Synclavier. Prince splashes their insouciant versatility all over the set list.” Performing on more than 60 CD projects, the Hornheads have recorded with national and international artists such as Prince, Chaka Kahn, The Jonas Brothers, Mavis Staples, Phil Upchurch, Ricky Peterson, Jimmy Jam, Mandy Moore, Pedro Abrunhosa, Yumi Matsutoya, Babyface, Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, France Gal, Tevin Campbell, Rosie Gaines, Larry Graham, Sétimo Céu, Carmen Electra, Gegé Telesforo and Ben Jor. Opening this special evening of jazz will be John Paulson’s Big Band Project. Long-time SMU jazz faculty member Paulson has assembled a big band that will perform a number of his original charts. It promises to be a full-length evening of jazz and more jazz.

 
 • Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2012, 6:30 p.m. 
“The Gruffalo” by Tall Stories 
One scary forest monster 
Tickets: $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students 
Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the Blue Peter award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined? Guaranteed songs, laughs and scary fun for children ages 3 and older, and their adults … Let your imagination run wild! Tall Stories, from London, England, was founded in 1996 by joint artistic directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell. The company has grown to become a highly acclaimed, internationally touring, not-for-profit organization. They present old, new and timeless stories in fresh and exciting ways and their productions tour to theatres, community venues and schools in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Tall Stories aims to tell stories in a physical, visual style, and their performances link original music with movement and a lot of laughs.

• Saturday, March 16, 2013, 7:30 p.m. 
Eileen Ivers 
Irish-American Celtic music 
Tickets: $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and students 

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the culturally diverse neighborhood of Bronx, New York. Rooted in traditional Irish music scene since the age of 8, Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland Fiddle Championships, as well as numerous other awards. In 1999, she established Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, a compelling mix of African and Latin percussion and bass, traditional Irish instruments, and soulful American vocals. Ivers' recording credits include more than 80 contemporary and traditional recordings, as well as numerous film scores. She is the founding member of Cherish the Ladies and an original musical star of “Riverdance.” She has appeared with London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, the Boston Pops, as well as The Chieftains, Sting, Hall and Oates, Randy Brecker, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola and Steve Gadd. A Grammy winner, her music has been heard on numerous movie soundtracks including “Gangs of New York,” and she has performed for Presidents and royalty worldwide. In short, Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.

 ‘Off The Page’ 

 “Off The Page” events, feature individually priced events that take place in venues around town. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 21. This year’s “Off the Page” performances take place at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

• Thursday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. 
Vanessa Trouble
 Jazz with a holiday twist 
Tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students 
Vanessa Trouble has been singing and producing shows with numerous artists for over a decade. Residing in New York City, she 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. Vanessa attended Saint Mary’s University, but graduated from Carleton College before making her way to the New York City jazz scene. She performs constantly in New York, including standing engagements at Pierre’s in Bridgehampton, N.Y., and at Opia Lounge in Manhattan. Past engagements have included such New York-area jazz showcases as Tavern on the Green, The Bubble Lounge, The Screening Room, Café Deville, Torch, The Grand Havana Room, Cibar, Metronome, and The Mansfield Hotel “M” Bar. This intimate evening will feature Vanessa singing holiday songs with a jazz beat, backed up by some of the region’s best musicians. Her holiday-themed recording will be available.

 • Thursday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. 
Alison Scott 
Dynamite vocals 
Tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students 
The strongest new voice to come out of the Minneapolis music scene in years, Alison Scott delivers a unique sound, which combines soulful vocals and brilliant lyrics with a keen sense of creativity and passion. With a gorgeous voice that combines the confident swagger of Cassandra Wilson, the electrifying emotion of Aretha, and the sweeping emotion of Eva Cassidy, Scott’s brilliant songwriting paints pictures that dance in your head long after she’s left the stage. 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. Along with local superstar and triple platinum songwriter, Kevin Bowe on guitar, Alison’s band includes veteran keyboardist James Tyler O’Neill, rock solid bassist Steve Price, and drum sensation Pete Anderson. Together, 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 latest 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.

Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2012 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.

* PLEASE NOTE: All tickets (individual & subscription) are subject to a $1 processing fee.

* Student price includes ages 4 and older. $10 student rush tickets may be available for some events 20 minutes before curtain.