Lafayette’s newest performing arts presenter, UpStage, is out of the gate with its inaugural season and its a doozy: Sirius XM wunderkind Seth Rudetsky, Dance Theatre of Harlem and jazz violinist Regina Carter.
Broadway fans’ ears probably pricked up reading Rudetsky’s name. Host of Sirius XM’s Broadway channel, Rudetsky will bring his funny and popular “Deconstructing Broadway” to Angelle Hall’s Ducret Auditorium on Oct. 4. With a blend of live performance and video clips, the show goes behind Broadway’s footlights and below the orchestra pit to explore what makes great Broadway great. Rudetsky will be joined on stage by the winner of UpStage’s online audition.
Dance Theatre of Harlem will make its third appearance in Lafayette — an appearance that will include four days of activities and outreach culminating in a Nov. 17 performance at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. The company was founded by Arthur Mitchell, the first black principal dancer for the New York City Ballet. It has been hailed worldwide for its innovative blend of classical and modern dance.
Regina Carter’s March 10 performance will feature selections from her acclaimed recording, Southern Comfort, which explores the folk music of the South. In bestowing its $500,000 “genius grant” on Carter in 2006, the MacArthur Foundation noted that Carter “is a master of improvisational jazz violin. Though her work draws upon a wide range of musical influences — including Motown, Afro-Cuban, Swing, Bebop, Folk, and World — she has crafted a signature voice and style.”
UpStage might be new the Lafayette’s performing arts scene, but it’s no upstart. It was founded this year by a group of folks long dedicated to bringing top-flight performing arts to the Hub City.
“Our acronym is US for a reason,” says Wiltz, the organization’s president who is also an actor and philanthropist. “We want people to join US, as ticket buyers, idea contributors, thought-provokers, donors and doers.”
Other founders include Jacqueline Lyle, a performing arts consultant and founder of the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana, and Renee Ventroy, a long-time community volunteer and arts supporter.
“Our community has enjoyed decades of great dance, vocal performance, opera, musical theater, comedy, drama, jazz and other forms of live entertainment,” adds Lyle. “We want to be a part of that continuum, of course. We also know that there’s a local audience for site-specific productions and immersive theater, and we know that our local artists are capable of producing that sort of work.”
Before incorporating and booking their inaugural season, Lyle and other UpStage members took a close look at the performing arts landscape in Acadiana. Among their conclusions was that great performances shouldn’t break the bank. Tickets to individual UpStage performances begin at $10 and season packages start at $70.
“We hope people will log on to our website and sign up or our email blasts,” says Ventroy. “Visitors to UpStageLive.org can connect to artists, volunteer for one of the many areas of support that we will need, and contribute ideas.”
Tickets for individual performances go on sale Sept. 1.
UpStage 2015-16 Season
Oct. 4 (7:30 p.m.): Seth Rudetsky’s Deconstructing Broadway @ Angelle Hall on the UL campus
Nov. 17 (7:30 p.m.) and 18 (10:30 a.m.): Dance Theatre of Harlem @ Heymann
March 10, 2016 (7:30 p.m.): Regina Carter @ Heymann
For information log on to www.UpStageLive.org or call the Heymann box office at 291-5555. To volunteer with UpStage send an email to [email protected].