as award-winning performers from contemporary dance, jazz, folk music and children’s theatre. Making return visits to the performing arts center are two groups that packed the venue last time they were here: dance troupe Pilobolus and Irish ensemble Danú. Danú’s Christmas concert on Dec. 6 will also feature the Mercyhurst Concert Choir and guest dancers. The season concludes in April with a performance by Grammy Award- winning folk artist Judy Collins. While they’re the most prominent, the eight MIAC Live events represent only a fraction of the 40 or so performances that the institute presents each year. Mercyhurst also plays host to high-defnition broadcasts from New York’s Metropolitan Opera and London’s National Theatre Live throughout the year. Even more exciting are the performances dubbed the Emerging Artists Series. “We have phenomenal academic programs in music, dance and theatre,” Johnson said, “and the title ‘Emerging Artists’ truly refects the caliber of work our audiences will see.” Oferings this year range from a D’Angelo Department of Music production of Verdi’s Rigoletto to a staging of the classic musical comedy Guys and Dolls , a joint efort by Mercyhurst’s dance and theatre programs. Besides ofering top-notch entertainment, the institute reaches out into the community in many ways. Visiting artists stage workshops, mini-performances and master classes both on campus and in the community.
For the ffth year in a row, the institute will ofer an artist-in-residence program. Before Grammy Award-winning jazz ensemble Turtle Island Quartet performs at Mercyhurst, the musicians will spend three days in the Erie community, visiting organizations like the Barber National Institute, the ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum and the Mercy Center of the Arts. In a new twist this season, each MIAC Live performance will also welcome a community partner chosen to complement the star’s interests. For Bernadette Peters, the Humane Society of NWPA will be on hand to provide information to concertgoers about adoption of shelter animals. It’s a cause close to the heart of Peters, an animal activist who teamed up with Mary Tyler Moore to found “Broadway Barks.” To help keep tickets as afordable as possible, the institute relies on many funding sources, including corporate sponsorships and grants from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority. To encourage contributions by individuals, Johnson this year launched The 501 (a nod to Mercyhurst’s address on East 38 th Street). Donors who contribute $501 receive premium seats at several events, plus invitations to pre- show receptions. For more information about MIAC’s 2017-2018 season or to reserve tickets, visit miac.mercyhurst.edu . If you’d like to be added to the institute’s mailing list, email box ofce manager Annette Gardner, agardner@mercyhurst.edu .
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