The Spinners Highlight Hemmens’ Performing Arts Season

The legendary Soul Group Appears For One Show On Saturday, February 14 at 8:00

The Hemmens Cultural Center continues its 39th year, offering a great lineup of entertainment in its Performing Arts Season and Performing Arts for Young People Season.

Winter Dance Party   Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Don't miss this tribute to three legendary artists on the 50th anniversary of February 3, 1959, the fateful day the music died. "The Winter Dance Party" is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper's final tour and the only show endorsed by both the Holly and Valens estates.  Each live concert performance includes over two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50's era.

The Spinners Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 8:00 pm
"The Spinners," released in 1973, was not only a bold statement of a new beginning for the group, it became one of the most important soul albums ever.  Boasting four top 10 hits, I'll Be Around, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, One of a Kind and Ghetto Child, the disc immediately moved the Spinners to the upper echelon of soul music and established the Philadelphia Sound as the definitive sound of the early '70s.  The Spinners, among others, shifted the soul music world's attention from Detroit to Philadelphia, and kept it there for most of the decade.

Glenn Miller Orchestra Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 8:00 pm
The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and '40s. Currently led by trombonist Larry O'Brien, the Miller Estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn's disappearance in 1944. The 19-member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while.

BARRAGE!  Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 pm
This international, multi-talented cast of six violinists/vocalists, one drummer, one bass player and a guitarist deliver a high-octane fiddle-fest with an eclectic mix of music, song and dance. Since its creation in 1996, Barrage has been featured many times at events worldwide having played for Presidents, Prime Ministers and Princes. Their second decade will be launched with a world tour featuring their new show "High Strung". The music of Barrage continues to evolve-combining contemporary world music influences, layered vocal arrangements and pulsating modern beats and rhythms. The cast delivers the new show with amazing energy and musical virtuosity that will take your breath away.

Roger McGuinn Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Jim McGuinn, later known as Roger, was already a veteran of the New York and Los Angeles music scene when he co-founded the group that would become the Byrds with Gene Clark and David Crosby in 1964. McGuinn, prior to forming the Byrds, toured and performed folk music with the Limeliters, Chad Mitchell Trio and Bobby Darin as a guitarist and banjo player. A Chicago native, he studied at the Old Town School of Folk Music and was active on Chicago's folk scene, where he was strongly influenced as a teenager by Bob Gibson. Today, Roger is all about traditional music.

One Night of Queen Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:00 pm
When Gary Mullen won the British television show "Stars In Their Eyes" Grand Final in 2000 as Freddie Mercury, he began a fantastic journey which has so far taken him to virtually every theatre and concert hall in the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland and New Zealand.  Now Gary continues his amazing adventure with his first tour of the USA. His sold-out shows together with his band 'The Works' are receiving rave reviews from audiences of all ages including legendary Queen guitarist Brian May!

The Hemmens' 2008-2009 Performing Arts Season brochures are available at Elgin City Hall, the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureaus, The Centre of Elgin, and in The Hemmens' lobby.  Patrons may request a brochure by calling the Box Office at 847-931-5900.  Orders will be taken via phone on the 24-hour charge it line (847-931-5900), fax (847-931-6007), on-line at www.hemmens.org, or through the Box Office located in the Hemmens lobby at 45 Symphony Way. Ticket orders for 3 or 4 shows will receive a 10% discount and ticket orders for 5 or more shows will receive a 15% discount. Discounts are not applicable for on-line orders.
 

During the Performing Arts Season, The Hemmens also presents a daytime Performing Arts for Young People Series by professional touring performing arts companies.  The performances are both entertaining and educational.  Each presentation in the series is geared to specific age groups of young people and is accompanied by comprehensive teacher and student guides.  The Hemmens is pleased to be working with our region's school districts that bus their young people to the theatre for arts education programming.  The Performing Arts for Young People Series is open to the general public.