Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) announces its 2008 Spring Season featuring ten theater, music, dance, and opera engagements BAM 2008 Spring Season is sponsored by Bloomberg International theater productions: The return of director Deborah Warner and actress Fiona Shaw with the National Theatre of Great Britain’s lauded production of Samuel Beckett's Happy Days..........................................................................................................page 5 Shakespeare's Macbeth, starring Patrick Stewart—the acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production, in its U.S. premiere, directed by Rupert Goold...................page 7 The groundbreaking 1972 South African drama Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, by Athol Fugard and Tony Award-winning actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona—directed by Aubrey Sekhabi—featuring the play's original cast......................................page 12 Dynamic music events: The legendary rhythm & blues/gospel singer Mavis Staples, in a one-night-only performance..........................................................................................................page 6 Brooklyn Next, in its second year, showcases the borough's diverse music scene with BAM performances by Soulive, Citizen Cope, and The National, as well as family shows featuring Dan Zanes and Friends, and two weekends of music at BAMcafé and Brooklyn clubs..............................................................................................page 9 Singular dance engagements: The New York premiere of the State Ballet of Georgia, led by celebrated ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, in two programs featuring new work by renowned choreographers Alexei Ratmansky and Yuri Possokhov....................................page10 2 Acclaimed Brazilian dance troupe Grupo Corpo in a program that includes two New York premieres by choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras..................................................................................................page 11 DanceAfrica—in its 31st year under the direction of Chuck Davis—featuring The Gambia's Ceesay Kujabi and the Bachinab, Atlanta's Giwayen Mata, Harlem's LaRocque Bey School of Dance Theatre, Inc., and Bed-Stuy’s BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble......................................................page 13 The Joyce Theater presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at BAM, in two exhilarating programs—Classic Ailey; and a repertory program, Best Of— including a new work by choreographer Camille A. Brown..............................................................................................................................page 15 An enchanting comic opera: Director Jonathan Miller’s staging of Cimarosa's delightful opera buffa, Il matrimonio segreto, features the Brooklyn Philharmonic led by conductor Paul Goodwin............................................................page 14 Complemented by film, humanities, music, and visual arts events Brooklyn, NY/Oct 24, 2007—Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, today announced programming for the 2008 Spring Season, which runs from Jan 8–June 8, 2008. The Season comprises ten theater, music, dance, and opera engagements—supplemented by BAMcinématek series, BAMcafé Live weekend music performances, humanities and family programming, visual art events, the return of the Sundance Institute at BAM, and BAM’s participation in the Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD performance transmissions. Spring Season subscription and Friends of BAM tickets are on sale Oct 29. Subscription tickets for the general public are on sale Nov 5. Single tickets for Happy Days, Mavis Staples, and Brooklyn Next are on sale for Friends of BAM on Nov 26 and for the general public on Dec 3. All remaining single tickets are on sale for Friends of BAM on Dec 17 and for the general public on Jan 2. For ticket information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or order tickets online at BAM.org. BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo commented, “The Spring Season’s offerings are as rich as they are diverse, with notable artistic achievers and innovators joining us for the first time: we welcome acclaimed British director Rupert Goold and the incomparable Patrick Stewart; the State Ballet of Georgia and its artistic director, renowned ballerina Nina Ananiashvili; premiere BAM appearances by pop music’s The National, Soulive, Citizen Cope, and the legendary vocalist Mavis Staples. This season will also mark the first BAM presentation by our colleagues at The Joyce Theater—with the long-awaited return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to our stages. “We also celebrate the return of esteemed artistic colleagues this spring: director Deborah Warner and actress Fiona Shaw—who last mesmerized BAM audiences with Medea; actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona, reprising their 1972 roles in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead—a powerful anti-apartheid drama they created with playwright Athol Fugard; Brazil’s renowned contemporary dance ensemble Grupo Corpo will return to delight our audiences once again; and director Jonathan Miller returns to BAM with his engaging production of the comic opera Il matrimonio segreto. DanceAfrica, the BAM performance series now in its 31st year, will feature a visiting troupe from The Gambia and a weekend of popular annual festivities. “Our mainstage productions will be complemented by informative humanities events, acclaimed BAMcinématek series, free weekend music performances, and visual art exhibitions and partnerships. We look forward to seeing you here at BAM this spring.” BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins added, “BAM would like to thank Bloomberg L.P. for sponsoring our Spring Season for the third time. We appreciate their generosity—and that of our Spring Season donors—as well as their commitment and enthusiasm for the range and diversity of BAM’s programs.” Bloomberg L.P. is a leading financial information services, news and media company, serving customers around the world through the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® service and media services. Bloomberg's media services include 3 the global BLOOMBERG NEWS® service, the 24-hour business and financial BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, BLOOMBERG RADIOSM services, BLOOMBERG MARKETS® magazine and BLOOMBERG PRESS® books for investment professionals. BAMcinématek The highlights of BAMcinématek spring programming include a comprehensive survey of Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira’s work in celebration of his centennial. Oliveira is still actively directing and our survey will cover works from his first film in 1931 to his current renaissance, starting with I’m Going Home (2001). In addition, BAMcinématek programs include The Best of Youth, highlighting debut features from Italy—many as New York premieres; Edward Lachman, films shot by cinematographer Edward Lachman who worked with directors such as Wim Wenders, Todd Haynes, Steven Soderbergh, Robert Altman, and Nicholas Ray; and 30 Years: J. Hoberman, a celebration of this Village Voice film critic’s 30 years at the alternative weekly. Hoberman will be curating the selection of films. Leadership support for BAMcinématek is provided by Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Charitable Trust. Major sponsors for BAMcinématek are HIP & Freelancers Union. BAMcafé Live The BAMcafé Live series on Friday and Saturday nights presents performances by stylistically diverse artists—both established and up-and-coming. For the second year in a row, BAMcafé Live participates in Brooklyn Next (Feb 16, 22, and 23), BAM’s borough-wide celebration of new music and art. Additional BAMcafé Live highlights include a musical celebration of Arabic culture as part of the Brooklyn MaQam Festival curated by the Brooklyn Arts Council’s Folk Arts Program (Mar 7) and the New Genius Music Gallery series (Apr 18, 19, and 25), showcasing debut work by three emerging composers. BAMcafé Live events have no cover charge and no drink minimum, making these eclectic events completely free of charge. The recently refurbished BAMcafé (30 Lafayette Ave) now features comfortable and attractive lounge furniture provided by west elm. ConEdison is the BAMcafé Live sponsor. Additional support is provided by Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. BAMcafé piano provided by Deutsche Bank. Programming in BAM Lepercq Space is supported by The Lepercq Foundation. BAMart This spring, BAMart will present a series of exhibitions highlighting local artists as well as collaborations with local arts organizations—including Brooklyn Next Art, featuring photographs by Fran Kaufman, curated by Brooklyn artist Danny Simmons. Also taking place this spring is the 4th annual BAMart Silent Auction—featuring works from emerging artists and modern masters—as well as the release of BAM Photo Portfolio III in partnership with Serge Sorokko Gallery, San Francisco. All proceeds support BAM programming. For complete information visit BAM.org/BAMart. Humanities BAMdialogues are an informal series of discussions with BAM’s innovative theater, dance, and music artists. Cultural commentators, scholars, and critics interview the artists, providing provocative and spirited discourse. Six sessions with Spring Season artists are scheduled. Post-show dialogues are free for same-day ticket holders and take place in the performance venue. Pre-show dialogues are $8 ($4 for Friends of BAM). Fiona Shaw (Happy Days), January 10, post-show Rupert Goold (Macbeth), Feb 15 at 6pm, Hillman Attic Studio Patrick Stewart (Macbeth), Feb 17, post-show