The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, welcomes acclaimed modern dance company AILEY II: The Next Generation of Dance on Oct. 4 at 7:30pm. The company, known as the younger version of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrates 50 years of creativity, artistry and choreography at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts to open the SCP fall season. Tickets range from $25-$45, with $15 tickets available for all students.Purchase tickets at TheSchaeferCenter.org, in person at the Schaefer Center box office (733 Rivers Street), or by calling 828-262-4046.
Ailey II has been praised by The New Yorker for their “off-the-charts energy,” called “second to none” by Dance Magazine, and recognized by the Herald Scotland for having “wow factor aplenty.” The Boone performance will feature the beloved “Revelations,” the best-known work of choreographer Alvin Ailey. Set to a suite of traditional spirituals — “Wade in the Water,” “Sinner Man,” “I Wanna Be Ready,” “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham,” among others — this rapturous work explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition, from the soul’s deepest of griefs to its holiest joy, a perfect blend of reverent grace and spiritual elation.
The evening’s program also includes “Luminous” — which chronicles the company’s storied history and dedication to breaking boundaries and advocating for social change — and “John 4:20” — an expansion of a duet created in 2018 that captures relationships, friends, and siblings in a group of new bodies struggling to show the reality of violence and the necessity for empathy.
About Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance
This year, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – marks its 50th anniversary of merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.
COMING SOON
GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS
Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:30pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
$60 Tier 1, $50 Tier 2, $40 Tier 3, $25 App State Students
Gillian Welch’s rich and remarkable career spans over 25 years, and she and her musical partner David Rawlings are a pillar of the modern acoustic music world. They have been hailed by Pitchfork as “modern masters of American folk” and “protectors of the American folk song” by Rolling Stone. For her work as executive producer as well as a performer and songwriter on the eight-times platinum O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, Welch was awarded the Album of the Year Grammy, and was simultaneously nominated for her own Time (The Revelator), which Rolling Stone called one of the best albums of the 2000s and is widely considered by critics to be one of the best albums of all time. This release was Welch-Rawlings’ first on their own record label, Acony Records, helping to establish the duo’s fierce commitment to independent music. Welch and Rawlings recently released their 10th studio album, Woodland. The new 10-song collection mingles full band tracks with intricate duet performances all tied together with the duo’s signature sound and lyricism and cements the pair’s iconoclastic position at the forefront of acoustic music.
BLACK VIOLIN — BV20: THEN & NOW
Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
$45 Tier 1, $35 Tier 2, $25 Tier 3, $15 All Students
Get ready for an unforgettable evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of Black Violin, the groundbreaking duo that has captivated audiences around the globe, harmoniously merging the sophistication of classical melodies with the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop. Experience the evolution of Black Violin from their humble beginnings to widespread acclaim with a show that promises to leave you feeling inspired, energized, and uplifted. Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste take the stage — along with Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on the turntable, and Liston Gregory on the keys — blending classical strings with hip-hop beats through a performance that defies expectations and redefines genres.
Kev and Wil illustrate the journey of their 20-year career, highlighting the moments that shaped them into the musical trailblazers they are today — from high school orchestra classmates to triumphant winners at Showtime at the Apollo to captivating headline performers and music education advocates. With new music that pushes boundaries and revitalized classics that have stood the test of time, this show is a testament to the duo’s growth, passion, and dedication to their craft.
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: CREOLE CHRISTMAS
Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
$45 Tier 1, $35 Tier 2, $25 Tier 3, $15 All Students
Celebrate the season as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band returns with the Creole Christmas concert series, which features New Orleans classics as well as some of the band’s best-loved holiday selections with a twist.
At a moment when musical streams are crossing with unprecedented frequency, it’s crucial to remember that throughout its history, New Orleans has been the point at which sounds and cultures from around the world converge, mingle, and resurface, transformed by the Crescent City’s inimitable spirit and joie de vivre. Nowhere is that idea more vividly embodied than in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 60 years, all the while carrying it enthusiastically forward as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly livinghistory.
Tickets
Seating is tiered at three levels. A $15 ticket is available for all students for most shows, and App State students receive specially priced tickets for Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. App State Faculty/Staff can call the box office about exclusive ticket discounts. Buy tickets at TheSchaeferCenter.org, in person at the Schaefer (733 Rivers St), or by calling 828.262.4046.
About The Schaefer Center Presents
“The Schaefer Center Presents” is a series offering campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the Appalachian State University campus and surrounding area. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international, and popular artists. Theatre productions run the gamut from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world. For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org.
Thank You to Our Schaefer Center Presents Sponsors
App State Campus Store, Explore Boone, Courtyard by Marriott, Graystone Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites, Our State Magazine, PBS North Carolina, High Country Radio (WZJS and WATA), WDAV 89.9 FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WKSK The Farm, and WASU 90.5FM.
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APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series
APPlause!, now in its 12th year, is an educational companion series to The Schaefer Center Presents, drawing thousands of students and teachers from across the region each year to experience the magic of live theatre. APPlause! presents a variety of world-class music, theatre, and dance tailored specifically for young audiences and educators. Most events run 60 minutes, with certain events also featured in full on the evening mainstage series. Registration for teachers and homeschoolers opens on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7am. Registration and information at https://theschaefercenter.org/applause/.
AILEY II: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE
Friday, October 4 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for all grades
$5/person*
Dance Magazine calls Ailey II “second to none,” and The New York Times declares, “There’s nothing like an evening spent with Ailey II, the younger version of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.” Ailey II, founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, embodies Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Ailey II is one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs.
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S STEELY PAN STEEL BAND
Friday, October 25 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for Grades K-5
$1/person*
Experience the Steel Pan drumming of Trinidad and Tobago with our very own Mountaineers! The ensemble — who performs a variety of music from traditional soca/calypsos and classical, to rock & roll and traditional Appalachian Mountain music — showcases the variety of music that can be performed on the pans as they teach the history, science and sounds of the steel drum.
BLACK VIOLIN — BV20: THEN & NOW
Friday, November 8 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for Grades 3-12
$5/person*
Black Violin was an instant APPlause! Series favorite upon their debut at the Schaefer Center in 2018. Prepare for an unforgettable evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of Black Violin, the groundbreaking duo that has captivated audiences around the globe — harmoniously merging the sophistication of classical melodies with the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop. Don’t miss this sensational school performance, followed by a show-stopping evening performance featuring local young musicians!
BALLET HISPANICO: PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Friday, February 7 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for Grades 2-6
$3/person*
Performances for Young People take audiences on a guided journey through Latinx dance and culture. This interactive, fun-filled exploration features excerpts of the Ballet Hispánico repertoire narrated by the company’s artistic leadership. Music, cultural connections, choreography insights, and history come together to deepen the audience’s experience of dance. Students are exposed to world-class choreographers and cultural contexts while learning about Latinx icons such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. The audience will have the opportunity to interact with teaching artists and educators through a live dance session and Q&A.
LAURA BOOSINGER AND JOSH GOFORTH: STORYTELLING AND BALLADS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS
Friday, February 7 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for Grades 4-12
$3/person*
PLUS… Educator Workshop March 17 at 4:30pm
Laura Boosinger has won glowing reviews wherever she appears and is blessed with an “essence of the mountains” spirit that can take you back to the good old days when folks used to huddle around the radio. It’s said that people who haven’t seen her live should prepare themselves for a “goose pimples experience.” Josh Goforth is an outstanding musician, acclaimed fiddler, guitar picker, mandolin player and storyteller, from Madison County, NC. Josh has already garnered a Grammy Award nomination and has established himself as a great producer as well as stunning instrumentalist. Sing Out magazine called Josh and Laura’s latest CD, Most of All, “Simple, direct and as good as it gets.”
Wednesday, April 9 at 10am
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Recommended for Grades K-3
$3/person*
PLUS… Educator Workshop April 9 at 4:30pm
Throw out the rules when the Billy Jonas Band hits the stage. It’s a musical conversation… a sonic celebration … a splendiferous gathering of old and young, because at a Billy Jonas Band show, the ensemble is… everyone! Billy Jonas — performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator — has perfected the art of the neo-tribal hootenanny around the globe: original songs performed with a generous dose of audience participation. Jonas uses his voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion (homemade creations of buckets and barrels, keys and cans, bells and body percussion) to create a soul-spelunking, heart-healing, joy-filled journey of spirited music that is accessible to anyone and everyone, regardless of age or cultural background.
*Homeschool groups and small groups pay $5 per person for all shows
Registration and more information at TheSchaeferCenter.org/Applause.
About APPlause!
Every season, affordable music, dance, film and theatre events are offered to students and their teachers from K-12 classrooms across the region. A variety of in-person and virtual events enable students to experience everything from high-energy acrobatics and Appalachian music to international dance and literary classics brought to life through theatrical productions. Featuring local, regional and world-renowned professional artists, the mission of the program is to share university arts resources with the public, private and home school network across our region. Study guide materials connect every performance to the classroom curriculum.
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