DUBUQUE, IOWA (August 9, 2023) — The University of Dubuque Heritage Center’s 11th annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series will be a superlative season sure to inspire audiences of all ages with world-class performances including the Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh — Homecoming at UD; The Velveteen Rabbit, performed by Virginia Rep; Blood Done Sign My Name featuring Mike Wiley; An Evening with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives; Git Hoan Dancers: People of the Salmon, Tsimshian — Representing Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest; and many more.
The 2023-2024 Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series will open with James Kealey, Organist — John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series on Sunday, October 15, 2023, and close with Beauty and The Beast, performed by the Panto Company USA, on Sunday, April 21, 2024. The season will include large ensemble spectacles to a small, one-person show.
Tickets may be purchased now by visiting the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by calling 563.585.7469, or by visiting dbq.edu/heritagecenter. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online for reduced ticket handling fees.
The Farber Box Office is open 11AM-2PM, Monday through Friday, and ninety minutes prior to events.
In its second year, the Heritage Performing Arts Loyalty System (H-PALS) continues to allow patrons to earn rewards with most ticket purchases. For every $200 spent on eligible events, patrons will receive one free ticket (valued up to $50) to their choice of eligible event. Reward points are redeemable for Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series events only. Please visit dbq.edu/heritagecenter and click on “PURCHASE TICKETS” for more details.
Patrons are encouraged to visit dbq.edu/heritagecenter for more information on event offerings.
PERFORMING ARTS SERIES SCHEDULE
James Kealey, Organist — John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series
3PM, Sunday, October 15, 2023, John and Alice Butler Hall
James Kealey, a prize-winning young artist of great distinction who is a native of Great Britain, has appeared in recitals in England, the USA, and Europe. In 2021, he was named one of The Diapason magazine’s “20 under 30.” Kealey is also the first prize and audience prize winner of the 2022 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance, the premier organ competition of the American Guild of Organists. Kealey serves as the full-time associate director of music/organist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York, and is a candidate for the doctor of music arts degree at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. His superb technique and complex rhythm will appeal to audiences of all ages.
The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh — Homecoming at UD
8PM, Saturday, October 21, 2023, John and Alice Butler Hall
Grammy- and Tony-nominated vocalist and pianist Michael Cavanaugh is a charismatic performer and musician famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. With the closing of Movin’ Out and after appearing in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances, Cavanaugh began touring in his own right by creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. His interpretation led to Billboard calling him “The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook,” and he was recognized by Reuters as “Entertainer of the Year” for the private events market. This will be a rocking evening with all your favorite Billy Joel and Sir Elton John hits including “Piano Man,” “Crocodile Rock,” “New York State of Mind,” and more.
Christmas at Heritage Center “All the Souls on Earth Shall Sing!”
7:30PM, Friday, December 1, 2023, John and Alice Butler Hall
This UD tradition will bring spiritual meaning to your Christmas season. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts celebrates with you the birth of Christ through a concert presentation featuring the John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ, UD choirs, and UD Concert Band with live narration. Complimentary holiday refreshments and live music from UD’s Jazz Band will immediately follow the concert.
Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas
7:30PM, Tuesday, December 5, 2023, John and Alice Butler Hall
Take a welcome break from the hectic rush of the holidays and experience the Church Basement Ladies’ hilarious antics and subtle charm. Troupe America Inc, the producer of the nationally-acclaimed musical comedy Church Basement Ladies series, celebrates the holiday season with a musical comedy bringing good tidings, great humor, and joy. In Troupe America’s 25-year history, the Church Basement Ladies has grown to be their most successful show produced both locally and nationally. This festive and merry show is perfect for the whole family and will be a performance you shouldn’t miss this Christmas season.
The Velveteen Rabbit, Performed by Virginia Rep
1PM, Sunday, December 10, 2023, John and Alice Butler Hall
This captivating story illuminates a faithful rendering of Margery Williams’ 1922 classic tale of The Velveteen Rabbit and displays the power of friendship and the inevitable passing of time. Through a lovely score, unique puppetry, detailed period costumes, and outstanding cast, the incredible acting and profound attention to detail will keep you engaged and transport you out of the theater and into a surreal and special performance. Reminisce about your childhood and bring your own children along to experience the power of play and childhood fantasy in this beautiful production.
Blood Done Sign My Name Featuring Mike Wiley
7:30PM, Monday, January 22, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
In Blood Done Sign My Name, Mike Wiley brings to life the recollections of Tim Tyson’s award-winning memoir surrounding the 1970 murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in Oxford, North Carolina, and the events that followed. Tyson, who was ten at the time, recounts how the conflagration of events shaped his life and offers an opportunity to examine our own roles in the complex and often confusing racial fabric of America. An acclaimed actor and playwright, Wiley has spent the last decade fulfilling his mission to bring educational theater to young audiences and communities across the country. His one-man show is a compelling dramatization of the true-life account of this 1970 racial murder that feels frighteningly familiar, and all too current.
An Evening with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
8PM, Saturday, January 27, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
The Heritage Center welcomes country music hall of famer, five-time Grammy Award winner, and AMA Lifetime Achievement honoree Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives to Dubuque. Over the course of 40-plus years as a country and bluegrass solo artist, Marty Stuart has released more than 20 major label albums and scored platinum sales, hit singles, and just about every honor the industry could bestow along the way. Known for his traditional style and eclectic combination of rockabilly, honky-tonk, and traditional country music, Marty Stuart is considered one of the genre’s most historically minded “new” traditionalists. Join us for an intimate, one-night-only experience.
Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra
7:30PM, Friday, February 9, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
Alumni from the 1956 to 1978 Stan Kenton Orchestras, along with new members, come together to carry on the esteemed Stan Kenton’s traditions of dedication to creative music and jazz education. The orchestra honors and amplifies Kenton's legacy by nimbly blending themes from the Kenton book with sparkling new compositions as they perform for festivals, clinics, concerts, cruises, and dances around the United States. The goals of the band are to perform meaningful music, talk about the importance of jazz heritage in America, bring jazz music to young people, and offer audiences a relaxed, entertaining atmosphere. Sit back and enjoy the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra’s lush, textural, and intelligent sound demonstrated through ballads and up-tempo pieces.
Gareth Johnson and His Evolution Band, Presented by the Dubuque Arts Council
7:30PM, Saturday, February 17, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
Gareth Johnson, a talented savant with the violin, has turned his over two decades long classical training into a sound that is totally new to the hip-hop, R&B, and pop music genre. He is a world-renowned violinist, master string teacher, and composer whose extraordinary talent crosses all musical genres from Rick Ross to Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars, as well as from Johnny Cash to Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, right into Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito.” Be prepared to be dazzled with Johnson’s intense attitude, nimble fingers, and perfect intonation with clear high notes, all accompanied by a five-piece band. This once-in-a-lifetime performance shows that the violin can have a starring role in an unexpected but popular place: Hip-hop.
Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass with Guest Organist Alan Morrison and Special Guests the UD Concert and Jazz Bands — John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series
7:30PM, Wednesday, February 21, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
Internationally-known trumpeter Rodney Marsalis effortlessly mixes classical, big band swing, New Orleans jazz, and straight-ahead jazz with his spectacular group. A group that reflects the diverse makeup of the American culture, the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is dedicated to the notion that music is a gift to be enjoyed by everyone. Joining the group is the talented Alan Morrison. Since beginning studying piano at the young age of four and earning degrees in both organ and collaborative piano at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Morrison has become one of the finest organ players in the world. With Marsalis’s strikingly-beautiful trumpet playing, the ensembles’ charisma, and Morrison’s precision on the organ, you are sure to be wowed by their unimaginable abilities.
Git Hoan Dancers: People of the Salmon, Tsimshian — Representing Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest
7:30PM, Friday, April 19, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
“Git Hoan Dancers: People of the Salmon, Tsimshian — Representing Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest” showcases the culture of the Tsimshian Tribe from Metlakatla, Alaska. Formed in the efforts to revive, practice, and share the Tsimshian way of life that was once forbidden, the Git Hoan Dancers showcase the magnificence of Tsimshian art, resurrect the practice of the culture, and work to educate the world. The performance is filled with stunning, hand-carved masks, authentic skin and wood drums, and colorful, hand-made regalia emblazoned with symbols of the culture. This remarkable group has a reputation of high energy, enthusiastic, and spirit-filled entertainment that thrills and educates thousands of audiences on the rich culture of Tsimshian people throughout the world.
Beauty and The Beast, Performed by The Panto Company USA
1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024, John and Alice Butler Hall
A talking teapot, an enchanted rose, and a talking clock… it could only be Beauty and the Beast! The Panto Company USA brings the beloved musical to life with flawless comic banter and lavish dance routines, providing impressive festive entertainment for all ages. As Belle is held captive in the castle, families will love finding out if she falls in love with the Beast before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose. Will the Beast’s selfishness cost him the world he once knew and the hand of the beauty that has captured his heart? Join all your favorite characters to find out in this unforgettable and magical adventure.
