Tilles Center

Best of 2009? It’s Your Call!

2009-12-28T12:39:00.002-05:00

On behalf of all of us at Tilles Center, and all the guest artists who have appeared here this year, let me thank you for being with us for some great performances in 2009. What were your favorites ? For you classical music lovers, was it GUSTAVO DUDAMEL conducting the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC in January, or YO-YO MA’S performance of the Bach Cello Suites in May? For Broadway show fans, has any Tilles engagement generated as much heat as our spring run of the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp hit musical MOVIN’ OUT? Great headliners packed a one-two-three punch in the fall: BERNADETTE PETERS on opening night, LINDA EDER and BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL at the October Gala, and singer-songwriter JACKSON BROWNE in a solo acoustic performance in November. Or was your pop favorite a standout at our “Club T” Cabaret? The long-awaited return of KEITH LOCKHART AND THE BOSTON POPS, performing their Christmas show in early December, will be a highlight of the year for many (and, we hope, will become an annual tradition at Tilles Center). How about you dance fans? Family audiences? Add your personal “best list” to this blog, as well as your suggestions for future programming. Our staff and designers are hard at work planning the 2010 – 2011 season, which begins next fall. In the meantime, you’ll soon be receiving your Spring ’10 ONSTAGE brochure (if not, call or write to add your address to our records). Join us often in 2010, and let’s make it another great year for the arts and entertainment on Long Island!

Something to Cheer About

2009-12-01T15:02:00.002-05:00

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Tilles Center wishes you and your family all the best, and we have lined up some blockbuster holiday events for you beginning this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday will feature family-friendly matinees at 2 pm.

On Saturday, Lincoln Center’s perennial Christmas favorite will make its Long Island debut when Dino Anagnost leads THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY in their version of Victor Herbert’s beloved “Babes in Toyland.” Toys will come to life on our stage, and magical melodies will fill the Concert Hall.

On Sunday, KEITH LOCKHART will lead THE BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA in their traditional “Christmas with the Pops.” The Pops will be making their first Long Island appearance in more than a decade (and yes, it was here at Tilles, for our 1996 Gala). No one plays the holiday classics better than the Pops, and special guests THE SWINGLE SINGERS will share their own jazzy arrangements of Christmas favorites. The program ends with “A Merry Little Sing Along,” so you will have the chance to join America’s most spirited orchestra to ring in the season.

While we expect a full house for the Pops, we know that some families are cutting back on holiday shows in this recessionary time. If you haven’t seen it, the New York Times is running an editorial blog on the subject (click here to view the article). Feel free to share your comments with us, or of course, comment on the Times’ website. We like to know how you’re doing and what you’re thinking, and we hope to be a part of your holiday here at Tilles Center.

Happy Holidays!

2009-11-24T10:29:00.003-05:00

As we begin the holiday season, we want to thank all of our patrons for sharing so many great evenings with us this fall. Many of you have already bought tickets for one or more of our holiday shows, and we look forward to seeing you here. If you haven’t yet made plans with family and friends, check out the wide array of performances coming up in December. The very first weekend, we offer two of the biggest Christmas franchises in entertainment: New York’s Little Orchestra Society in “Babes in Toyland” and Christmas with the Boston Pops (both matinees, on December 5 and 6 respectively). Our own Long Island University ensembles perform December 8 (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band) and December 13 (Chorus and Chamber Singers). Our longtime resident company The Eglevsky Ballet presents their annual “Nutcracker” December 19 – 21, and the Long Island Philharmonic rounds out the holiday season with their New Year’s Eve spectacular, this year featuring the cast of “Forbidden Broadway.” From our house to yours, happy holidays! We are hard at work on planning next year’s programming, so let us know how you feel about our current offerings, and about new holiday traditions you’d like to see us bring to our stages.

Remember Me

2009-11-19T15:45:00.001-05:00

If you’re up for something totally different, check out PARSONS DANCE at Tilles this Saturday in their red-hot collaboration with the lead vocalists of the EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY (EVOC). Titled “Remember Me,” this exciting new work was one of the biggest hits of the New York dance season last year, where I saw it at the Joyce Theater. It proved so popular that the Joyce will bring it back this winter. Thanks to Tilles Center—and our series sponsor the Pall Corporation—Long Islanders won’t be forced to wait until February (or fight the traffic into Manhattan). Since last year’s debut, the work has continued to evolve through additional performances and a taping for PBS. “Remember Me” can only be described as a rock/opera/ballet, fabulously rich in color, spectacle, and raw emotion. Some of the best loved operatic arias—from “Nessun Dorma” to the Habanera from “Carmen”—are brought into a contemporary rock idiom, sung live on stage, and woven into an intense melodrama rivaling anything Verdi and his collaborators ever put on the stage! The dancing is full-throttle. “Remember Me” will leave you breathless. Check it out, and let us know what you think of this new work by one of our favorite choreographers.

Songs for Everyman

2009-11-10T11:12:00.001-05:00

Every seat in Tilles Center was filled when singer-songwriter JACKSON BROWNE appeared for the first time on our stage on Saturday, November 7. Long Island fans, accustomed to seeing him at Jones Beach, savored a solo acoustic show in a more intimate setting. The fine acoustics and comfortable ambience of our Concert Hall provided the perfect venue for an evening of songs and stories spanning Jackson’s songwriting career. We got an up-close-and-personal view of his life and of the people, causes and issues that have motivated his creative work. And the songs! Delivered with simple eloquence, they cast a spell that deepened as the evening progressed. Undistracted by the trappings of a band, or of elaborate staging and lighting, we felt the direct impact of words and music from the heart. It was a magical, unforgettable evening. We’d like to hear from those of you that attended, with your suggestions as to other popular performers you’d like to see us showcase. We have our own wish list, but we’d like to compare notes with you.

This weekend, we return to classical music with the SHANGHAI SYMPHONY on Friday, November 13. An important component of Carnegie Hall’s “Ancient Paths, Modern Voices” festival celebrating Chinese culture, the Shanghai Symphony is that nation’s oldest and most acclaimed symphony orchestra. In a tribute to the music of both East and West, they will perform Bao Yuan-Kai’s “China Air Suite” as well as Tchaikovsky’s Overture to “Romeo and Juliet” and Rachmaninoff’s spectacular Piano Concerto No. 2. The featured soloist is Yuja Wang, a rising superstar of the keyboard, taking the classical world by storm at the age of 22! The Asian theme of our weekend will be rounded out Sunday when the sensational YAMATO DRUMMERS OF JAPAN return for a high-energy performance.

On Saturday, we salute our resident orchestra, the LONG ISLAND PHILHARMONIC, as they open their 30th Anniversary Season. Music Director David Stewart Wiley will lead the orchestra in a program to include Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished’. The distinguished guest artist Seymour Lipkin will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, as well as Beethoven’s Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, featuring the Long Island Philharmonic Chorus under the direction of Frances Roberts.

Some Enchanted Evening!

2009-10-26T13:10:00.000-04:00

Tilles Center’s 29th annual Gala lived up to its theme, “Some Enchanted Evening,” when Brian Stokes Mitchell and Linda Eder wowed a sold-out audience on Saturday evening. Despite the wet and dreary weather outside, from the moment Brian Stokes Mitchell took the stage (in his Tilles Center debut), the mood inside was warm and bright.

The upbeat show lasted nearly two hours without intermission, and the spirit of the evening was one of appreciation and generosity. Stokes thanked the audience for their continuing support of the arts, artists and Tilles Center. As expected, he opened with a spirited rendition of “Some Enchanted Evening,” from “South Pacific.” His thrilling baritone rang out over a topnotch orchestra of 39 hand-picked Broadway musicians led by legendary music director John Oddo.

After a whirlwind tour of his signature showstoppers, Stokes closed with a dramatic performance of “The Impossible Dream” which brought the crowd to its feet. The excitement and warmth in the hall was palpable as he thanked the audience and graciously introduced his co-star. Linda Eder, a Tilles Center favorite, joined Stokes in a duet version of “What a Wonderful World,” the song most famously recorded by Louis Armstrong.

In her solo set, Eder’s own vocal mastery and versatility was thrilling, as she honored those singers who most influenced her career, from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand. Yet for all the Broadway magic it was her own popular hit “Vienna” which earned Eder her standing ovation. With a laugh and a gleam in her eye, she closed her set with a swashbuckling rendition of “Man of La Mancha” before bringing Stokes—the star of the 2002 revival of that classic show—back for a closing duet. Their choice: “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” by Michel Legrand (lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman). This great romantic duet (sung for the 1982 film “Best Friends” by James Ingram and Patti Austin) put the finishing touch on a magical evening.

Bernadette Peters Opens the New Season

2009-10-05T16:29:00.000-04:00

Our official 2009-10 season Opening Night took place on Saturday, October 3, as Broadway legend Bernadette Peters returned to our stage for the first time since her sold-out appearance at Gala 25 in 2005. Once again the hall was filled with fans, and the stage was packed with some of the best theater musicians in New York, conducted by Bernadette’s longtime music director Marvin Laird.

Throughout the concert Peters introduced members of the orchestra, many of whom she had worked with on Broadway in such hit shows as “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Gypsy.” The Queens native was clearly happy to be on Long Island again. She fondly recalled her 2005 appearance, and the Tilles Center audience was equally thrilled to be welcoming her back.

Not surprisingly, Peters devoted much of her program to the music of Stephen Sondheim. “Gypsy” provided the evening’s framework, with “Let me Entertain You” as her opening number, and “Rose’s Turn” among her encores. As in many of her concerts appearances, “Being Alive” from “Company” was a showstopper, but she added a new song from that show to her set, performing “Another Hundred People” for the first time on Saturday night. The jazzy number perfectly captured the pace of the City that never sleeps.

As a final encore, Peters performed “Kramer’s Song,” a touching lullaby she composed herself, for her children’s book “Broadway Barks.” Written in response to the plight of stray animals, this song caught the emotions of everyone in the hall, who could easily imagine singing it to a beloved pet (or child!). After all the evening’s fireworks, it was this quiet musical moment which brought the Tilles audience to its feet.

Experience Art on the Fringe

2009-09-25T11:38:00.003-04:00

Where can you see clowning, glassblowing, off-off-off-Broadway theater, cutting edge dance, three poets laureate and a Pakistani ear-lifter ranked in the Guinness Book of World Records? And what exactly is an ear lifter?

As you may have read in feature articles in Newsday and the New York Times, this afternoon marks the opening of Long Island’s first fringe arts festival. Under the banner “EXPERIENCE LONG ISLAND 2009,” 50 performances of innovative music, dance, theater, film, and poetry/spoken word will be staged in 16 different venues on the beautiful C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Visual art and family-friendly entertainment are also a part of the mix. Tilles Center is proud to be hosting this new showcase for regional artists--and some special off-Island guests--produced by The Artists Group.

An Art Walk starts this afternoon at 3, followed by an opening ceremony and reception in the Tilles Atrium at 5. Tonight and tomorrow featured Festival performers appear in the Concert Hall at 7. Simultaneous performances and exhibitions will be taking place all day on Saturday and Sunday. Some events are free; daytime events are priced from $5 - $10. Tickets for the evening shows start at $20. While you’re here, make sure to vote for your favorite act at the Mall of the Imagination.

For tickets and information click here, or visit www.debbydoll.com for even more details about performances and exhibits. Come to C.W. Post this weekend to share in the fun, post your comments on this blog, and join ongoing discussions with the artists and your neighbors on Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace.

Remembering Rose Tilles

2009-09-18T10:00:00.011-04:00

Dr. Rose Tilles

Just as our 29th Season is set to begin, the Tilles Center family has been saddened by the passing of our naming benefactor Rose Tilles, who died last week at the age of 91. I write today in tribute to this remarkable woman, whose impact on the arts and culture on Long Island has been—and will continue to be—enormous.

In 1985 Rose and her husband Gilbert made the first of what would be several major gifts to Long Island University to enhance and endow professional arts programming on the C. W. Post Campus. By the time of Gilbert’s death in 1990—just weeks after the historic pairing of Van Cliburn and the Leningrad Philharmonic at the Center’s 10th anniversary Gala—Tilles Center had clearly established itself as Long Island’s premier performing arts venue.

Dr. Rose Tilles, Dr. Elliott Sroka
and Dr. Billy Taylor

Over the two decades that followed, Rose served as Honorary Chairman of Tilles Center's Council of Overseers, focusing her energies on arts education. As a wife, former teacher and mother, she encouraged her family’s interests in the arts, and she felt that reaching young people was central to Tilles Center’s mission. She was delighted to see the expansion of family entertainment at the Center, and of outreach to area schools, now serving more than 10,000 students each year.

C.W. Post Theater Department students
with actor Lynn Redgrave.

In 1998, the family created a Rose Tilles Professorship in the Performing Arts, which was initially filled by the distinguished jazz musician Dr. Billy Taylor. Over time, the program became more diversified, with a range of visiting Artists-in-Residence, including Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Lynn Redgrave, Edward Villella, and the Shanghai String Quartet. Master classes, workshops, lectures, school performances, and scholarship assistance have provided inestimable benefits to both collegiate and K-12 students. Further gifts from the Tilles family led to the creation in 2008 of a special fund, the Gilbert and Rose Tilles Endowment for Arts Education, ensuring that Rose’s legacy will continue for future generations of Long Islanders.

We invite you to join us in remembering Rose, and in committing ourselves to carrying on the work which was so important to her—and to Long Island.

Tilles Center 2009-10 Season

2009-09-10T15:14:00.001-04:00

What do JACKSON BROWNE, VLADIMIR JUROWSKI, and JUNGLE JACK HANNA have in common? Some might miss the connection between the beloved singer-songwriter, the Wunderkind conductor of the London Philharmonic, and the popular figure from children’s television. But if you’re navigating this website, you may already know the answer: all three are appearing at Long Island’s Tilles Center this season, for the first time. Furthermore, seats are only now available to the general public for these and many more great Tilles shows.

As of 1 PM on Friday, September 11, single tickets will be on sale for all events in our 29th Season, 2009 – 2010. This is a very special moment in the year for us, and it seems only fitting to use this occasion as the debut for our newest website addition, the DIRECTOR’S BLOG. We see the blog as a great new way to share an inside view of Tilles Center. It will be filled with background information, news, backstage happenings, and ideas for future programming and better customer service. We invite your response to what you read here, and to the new season as it unfolds in the coming weeks and months.

If you’re a Tilles Center subscriber, we thank you for your enthusiasm and support. Thanks to you, advance sales for the new season have already topped $1 million. If you are a single-ticket buyer who has been waiting for months to buy seats to one of our most popular shows, you may not need me to recommend our opening night with BERNADETTE PETERS or our Gala 2009 with LINDA EDER and BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL. Bernadette’s 2005 performance at Tilles was a sellout, and summer appearances by Linda (in Boston with the Pops) and Stokes (at the Hollywood Bowl) suggest that tickets for their fall appearances at Tilles will go quickly. If you love great classical music, you’ll want to take advantage of the recent addition of the LONDON PHILHARMONIC in March 2010; great seats at popular prices are now available for what is sure to be a highlight of the music season.

I hope that both renewing subscribers and new friends of Tilles Center will also choose to sample some of the exciting new programs we offer this fall. For two good examples, take a look at EXPERIENCE LONG ISLAND, the region’s first fringe-style arts festival, or at “REMEMBER ME,” the spectacular collaboration between PARSONS DANCE and the EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY which was the hit of last years’s dance season in New York. In the coming weeks, the Blog will cover these and many other new events coming your way at Tilles Center. In the meantime, we hope to hear from you!