Aug. 8, 2008 — Round after round of cheering and applause greeted the Thursday evening unveiling of the Reichhold Center for the Arts 2008-2009 season.
The balmy evening was alive with expectation as folks ate, drank, chatted, and nudged each other as one after another artist flashed across the stage in videos clips.
"Al Green, wow I can't believe it," said one 40-something, while "Mario, wow, Mario," said one teenager to another, "Can you believe it? Mario!"
The evening, celebrating the center's 30th season, was sponsored by St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.
Before revealing what's in store for the season, the Caribbean Heritage Dancers, in shades of pink and orange, put on a lively show which set the tone for the evening.
The performances run the gamut from dance and a magical carnival from south of the border, to French jazz, to Verdi and Handel, with reggae and lots of Caribbean music.
The season opens Oct. 4 with Cirque Le Masque, a family series offering. The group is known for its whimsy and magical adventure, a European style circus performance featuring fantasy, daring acts and dazzling costumes. There are two performances, one at 4 p.m, and one at 7 p.m.
Next is Strings Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The group merges traditional Haitian folk music with Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms and sounds from the Dominican Republic. It's an encore performance following the group's highly popular 2005-2006 season performance.
The great Al Green appears Oct. 11 mixing soul with neo-soul. Green, who was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, is still in top form. Leaving his gospel days behind for now, Green has returned to the soul circuit with all-time classics like "Let's Stay Together."
On Oct. 25, it's Cook, Dixon & Young: The Original Three Mo' Tenors. They are considered to be the Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras of the African-American community. The trio has legions of worldwide fans for their unique vocal blend, whether it's the classical sounds of Handel or Verdi or soul-stirring gospel and spirituals. The performance is co-produced with The Forum.
Branford Marsalis appears on Nov. 15. A member of the multi-talented New Orleans Marsalis family, saxophonist Marsalis covers the jazz landscape from traditional to modern to innovative. He became famous playing in his brother Wynton's quintet and as musical director for the Jay Leno Tonight Show on television.
On Nov. 29, the Pilobolus troupe will perform extravagant contortionist feats, which have landed them on "Oprah" and the Academy Awards telecast. Somehow, the troupe gracefully transforms their bodies into a penguin, a car, or any letter of the alphabet. It's called 'jaw-dropping." No wonder.
That's it for 2008.
The 2009 performances start Jan. 17 with Les Nubians, international recording stars, who just this week performed in Kigali, Rwanda, according to a St. Thomian who just returned from Kigali.
Their hit single, "Madeda," in 1999 went to the top of the charts. Since then, the French/Cameroonian sister duo has won several awards for its jazzy music, with hard hitting drum and bass lines.
On Jan. 31, it's Playing Ring, a Reichhold Center production favorite. It features performances by well-loved local entertainers including Milo's Kings, Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Nights and the Lashing Dogs of Tortola.
The teenagers' delight, Mario, will sing his r&b in the Family Series. He hits all the high notes with his sultry voice and smooth lyrics. He made all the right moves in a "Dancing With the Stars" TV performance this year. The tune that really sends at least one teenager into a tizzy is "Just a Friend," according to audience comments Thursday evening.
On March 14 it's Dance Brazil — sexy, athletic and colorful. The company fuses Afro-Brazilian movements of capeoria, candoble and samba with modern dance. They will perform "The Ritual," paying homage to the Bahia region of Brazil.
Reggae musicians Gregory Isaacs with Tarrus Riley hit the stage March 28. This year marks 35 years of music-making for Isaacs. Riley's hit single, "She's Royal," is a staple on Caribbean radio stations.
April 11 is another Family Series entry, "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley." Stanley Lambchop is an ordinary 10-year-old until one night he wakes up in the morning, flat. However, the circumstance turns into fun as he puts himself in an envelope and travels the world as a letter.
There are two performances, one at 4 p.m. and one at 7 p.m.
The season winds up on May 16 with Billy Ocean. The Trinidadian native and Grammy Award winning artist is best known for "Caribbean Queen," Get Out of My Dreams and Get Into My Car," and "Lover Boy." He left the audiences crying for more this year at the 2008 St. Kitts Musicfest.
All performances are at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Tickets may be purchased online, as well as through other outlets. All ticket information, prices and seating, along with additional information on the season is available at the Reichhold website.
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