Take a Musical Journey to Ireland
February 20, 2012
Photo by Colm Henry
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early with an authentic Irish experience at Johnson County Community College.
Irish band Danú will host the festivities when it appears at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, in the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall.
You won’t be able to resist tapping your feet and clapping along as Danú mixes ancient Irish music with contemporary works to create an unforgettable evening.
The band plays traditional instruments – flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion and bouzouki.
The music is clever and fun, and the proof is in this video clip from the Late Late Show.
The group, which hails from historic County Waterford, is one of today’s leading traditional Irish ensembles. It has been performing around the globe for more than a decade and has recorded seven albums.
A reviewer for Irish Music Magazine said that Danú “stirs the blood and lifts the heart.” And The Washington Post called its music “a vibrant mix of virtuosity, energy and empathy.”
Tickets to the performance, which are $80, $45 and $35, are available online and through the college box office at 913-469-4445.
Make the evening complete with a pre-show dinner of Guinness braised beef Shepard’s pie, Irish soda bread and butter and Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake with chocolate sauce. For reservations, call 913-469-4445 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Reservations must be received by noon, Wednesday, Feb. 29. Dinner will be held on the campus in the Regnier Center’s Capitol Federal Suite at JCCC. Please arrive by 6:15 p.m. The first course is served at 6:30 p.m. sharp.
Download the full menu and more information (PDF).
Jim Henson Puppets + Uncensored Improv=A Great Show
February 16, 2012
by guest blogger Anne Rubeck
Combine the inimitable creativity of The Jim Henson Company and unpredictability of improv comedy and you have a must-see performance at JCCC. “Stuffed and Unstrung – Henson Alternative” is Saturday at 8 p.m. in Yardley Hall. If you love spontaneous, hilarious comedy – this is a wonderful chance to indulge in fun!
Not only do you get puppets and humor, but you get to see how the magic works. The show features a cast of six puppeteers who engage in improv games with input from the audience. The puppet action is projected on large screens flanking the stage while the puppeteers display their talents below, all in full view of the audience. (But don’t bring the kids – it’s for adults – have a date night instead!)
One of the best things about improv is that anything can happen at any time. It’s never the same show twice (kinda like snowflakes), so if you miss this, you miss a unique opportunity. And I have proof!
So, get your happy on and join me at Yardley Hall this Saturday – I promise you won’t regret it.
Buy your tickets. Now.
Broadway Production ‘The Color Purple’ Coming to JCCC Stage
February 8, 2012
“The Color Purple” – Alice Walker’s inspiring family saga – comes to life on stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College.
The Color Purple
“The Color Purple,” which is on a national tour, is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg.
Tickets, which are $50 and $40, are available through the college box office at 913-469-4445 or online.
Dr. Paul Laird, professor of musicology at the School of Music, University of Kansas, will provide a pre-performance talk at 7 p.m. in Polsky Theatre.
Preview the sights and sounds of performance in the show’s online photo and video gallery.
