MIAC LIVE PERFORMERS EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE SELLOUT CROWDS By Joe Cuneo
After selling out every performance of last season’s Live series, the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture is hoping for a similar encore this year.
A week later, Jane Lynch: A Swingin’ Little Christmas will treat patrons to a throwback to old WWII USO canteen and 1960s variety specials.
Starting with Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine taking the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center stage on Sept. 20, the 2018-19 MIAC Live series, presented by Scott Enterprises, boasts a star-studded roster of nine performers across a wide variety of disciplines. It includes an Emmy Award-winning actress, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a genre-busting musical collective and perhaps the best- known boys choir in the world among other premier talents.
The 2019 portion of the season will start with a familiar act when Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox returns to Mercyhurst on Tuesday, Jan. 29. The rotating collective of musicians sold out the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center a season ago. Following Love, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Golden Dragon Acrobats (Saturday, March 23) and Pigpen Theatre Co. (Thursday, April 4), an Appalachian folk ensemble, will make their respective MIAC debuts. Lupone will conclude the season by performing an assortment of Broadway favorites. With the exception of Pigpen Theatre Co., which will perform in the Walker Recital Hall, all performances will take place at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Tickets for adults will range from $20-35, and Mercyhurst students will again receive free admission to each performance.
Such diversity of talent refects the organization’s mission of making varied performances available, MIAC director Brett D. Johnson, Ph.D., said.
“It’s really all over the map for who people are interested in,” Johnson said. “That says to me that we’ve been successful in what we’ve been doing in terms of our mission.” Johnson, who begins his second full season as director, said MIAC retooled its programming strategy prior to last season by aiming to deliver acts appealing to a wider cross section of audiences. The new approach resulted in MIAC ofering fewer performances but more recognizable artists at lower admission prices. “I think one thing I realized was that there was so much happening on campus and in the community,” Johnson said. “We determined that if we cut back, that would give us some fexibility to bring in bigger names.” In addition to MacLaine, Jane Lynch: A Swingin Little Christmas (Monday, Dec. 4), Darlene Love (Saturday, Feb. 16) and Patti Lupone: Don’t Monkey with Broadway (Thursday, May 2) complete a powerful lineup of female talent.
When creating the season schedule, Johnson said MIAC made an efort to account for the preferences and tastes of all patrons.
“It was important to me and the president that we make this available to the broadest possible audience,” he said.
For his part, Mercyhurst President Michael Victor said MIAC represents an important part of Mercyhurst to the Erie community.
“Mercyhurst has long appreciated the value of arts and culture, recognizing its intrinsic value in enriching our lives. We also understand its impact on our economy, health and wellbeing, and education. That we can give this gift to the people of our community is something we cherish.” In addition to the MIAC Live lineup, an assortment of other performing arts events will take place, including student performances and broadcasts from the Met Opera and National Theatre in London. For more information, patrons can call 814-824-3000 or visit miac.mercyhurst.edu .
“It’s a variety of programming anchored by very strong women,” Johnson said.
Following MacLaine, the MIAC season will continue with a pair of internationally known musical acts. Portland-based Pink Martini will put their cosmopolitan spin on a blend of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop on Thursday, Oct. 4, before the Vienna Boys Choir evokes the joy and magic of the season on Monday, Nov. 26.
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