Nearly two dozen performances are being presented by the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of the Arts this spring. Whether interests lie in visual art, dance, music or theatre, there’s surely a show for everyone. From historical to modern works and light-hearted pieces to upbeat and entertaining shows, artists from all media will provide audiences with culture and entertainment all season long. Many performances offer in-person and virtual options, as well as paid and free choices. Visit the School of the Arts webpage for more information.
“We have a variety of performances lined up this spring,” School of the Arts Director Tamara Scronce said. “I’m really excited to experience all of them, and I know audiences will find something they’ll love.”
The Department of Theatre and Dance in the School of the Arts opens up the spring season on March 4 with "A Shero's Journey Or What Anacaona and Yemayá Taught Me..." The theatrical performance starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Redfield Proscenium Theatre in the Church Fine Arts building at the University. Written by Guadalís Del Carmen and directed by Assistant Professor in Theatre, Yasmine Jahanmir, the show is about risking your life, leaving the past behind and questioning everything you ever knew.
On March 8 at 7:30 p.m., student dancers will open for the Martha Graham Dance Company at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Under the direction of Teaching Assistant Professor of Dance Eve Allen Garza, students spent long, grueling hours rehearsing with a regisseur from the company to perform a special restaging of one of Martha Graham’s first modernist masterpieces, “Heretic,” from 1929.
The Performing Arts Series is back on-stage March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Nightingale Concert Hall with Sweet Honey In The Rock®. Sweet Honey will celebrate the intersection of music, African American culture and exceptional artistry with its internationally renowned a cappella vocal ensemble, as it raises our roofs and collective conscience.
The award-winning Irish quintet Goitse will perform at 7:30 p.m. on March 15 in Nightingale Concert Hall. With nearly back-to-back performances, the Performing Arts Series will introduce a vibrant mix of Irish classic jigs and tunes with Goitse’s own original compositions for an irrepressible Irish musical experience that opens your mind and moves your feet. Their name Goitse is an informal Gaelic Irish greeting meaning “come here” and is pronounced, “go-wit-cha.”
“We’ve been planning for Goitse’s visit for two years now and are thrilled to welcome them to the United States,” Shoshana Zeldner, program manager with the Performing Arts Series, said. “Last year, Goitse put together a phenomenal virtual performance for us and ever since then, I have been looking forward to their in-person performance with full anticipation. If they could be that engaging on a screen, I know that they will knock our socks off during the in-person performance on March 15.”
On March 31, a musical will come to life for its debut on stage at 7:30 p.m. in the Redfield Studio Theatre. “Working,” directed by Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre Sandra Neace, is based off the book by Studs Terkl and adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso. A musical exploration of 26 people from all walks of life will explore how relationships to employment ultimately reveal essential aspects of humanity.
The Spring Dance Concert opening on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. once again will bring student dancers to the stage to feature Martha Graham’s work. Under the direction of Associate Professor of Dance Rosie Trump and featuring special guest artist, Rosie Herrera, the Redfield Proscenium Theatre will come to life with old and new work.
On April 28 the Performing Arts Series is back on campus at 7:30 p.m. inside Nightingale Concert Hall with Michael Mayo + The Collective. Gifted with perfect pitch and impressive improvisational chops, Mayo will deliver an extraordinary and never before seen performance alongside the University’s faculty ensemble, The Collective, featuring pianist Adam Benjamin, saxophonist Peter Epstein, bassist Hans Halt, drummer Andrew Heglund and trumpeter Josh Reed.
Mayo’s April performance is also part of the Reno Jazz Festival which also kicks off on April 28. Celebrating 60 years of jazz appreciation and education, the festival has three full-days of workshops, sessions and performances. On April 29, the Miguel Zenón Quartet will mesmerize spectators with its unique sounds and compositions. Miguel Zenón, a groundbreaking and influential alto saxophonist of his generation, masterfully balances and blends innovation and tradition. He has developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, mixing jazz and Latin American folkloric music. His longtime bandmates, with whom he’ll perform, are drummer Henry Cole, Hans Glawischnig and pianist Luis Perdomo.
The festival concludes on April 30 with the Festival Showcase. The virtual, on-demand, Festival Showcase will include a curated line-up of hand-selected performances from performance video submissions that are submitted by registrants and evaluated by participating artist educators and festival directors.
The second annual Great Basin National Park Foundation Artist in Residence commences this summer between June 1 and September 30. The selected artist in residence is yet to be announced but will complete a three-week camping residency inside Great Basin National Park near Ely, Nevada, to work on their visual or performing arts craft. The resident will also host an arts workshop, lecture or event inside the park during their stay. The 2021 artist in residence was Nevada artist, Austin Pratt.
Finally, the arts season concludes this summer with the Lake Tahoe Music Camp June 25– July 2. Lake Tahoe Music Camp is a sleep away camp committed to providing a memorable and exceptional musical education experience for music students completing 6th – 12th grades. Situated on its own private beach, Lake Tahoe Music Camp offers jazz and classical music workshops, clinics, performances, one-on-one mentoring and instruction with award-winning University faculty, guest conductors and professional chamber and jazz musicians. Camp concludes with a final concert for family and friends.
For more information on any of these performances or events, or for tickets, visit the School of the Arts webpage.
