Damn Tall Buildings - Opening Nights

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

DAMN TALL BUILDINGS

CHANGING THE LIVES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

Carlos

PLATINUM

GOLD

ERIC

SILVER

MIKEY

BRONZE

WELCOME FROM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR

Greetings and welcome to the continuation of the 2023–24 Opening Nights at Florida State University Season Offerings. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to monitor the remaining programs for this season while wrapping up the curation of those events that will welcome you in 2024–25.

The Opening Nights staff is solid and working diligently to make certain that your expectations from our performances are met with the highest quality of deliverance.

Recently, Opening Nights sponsored Pink Martini with China Forbes. To say that it was a high energy evening would be a gross understatement. Gus Corbella, the former Chair of the Opening Nights Development Council received a hand-written note from an audience member lauding the concert from the opening notes to the finale which led to a conga line through the aisles of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. In fact, the line was so long that once it had made its initial loop, it met the end of the line coming towards it. A “head-on conga collision” if you will. The

note indicated that the gentleman had been waiting years to see Pink Martini live, to the point that he drove from Central Florida for the evening. Gus, appropriately sent the note to the entirety of the Development Council with the header “Why We Do What We Do!”

The above couldn’t be better summarized. In essence, why we do what we do is that it’s part of both our personal and professional DNA.

My hope is that why we’re doing what we’re doing is satisfying your value in the live performing arts as a means of communicating cultural riches and offerings in a world that so desperately needs them now.

From my heart, it’s an honor to be back with you.

Warmly,

Michael Blachly Interim Director, Opening Nights

THEATRE TCC! 2023-24 SEASON COME JOURNEY WITH US!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

By Ray Bradbury

When the carnival comes to town, two boys unearth the terrifying and horrible secrets that lurk within Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show and learn the consequences of wishes, as a sinister and evil force is at work in Green Town, Illinois.

October 12-14 at 8 p.m.

October 20 & 21 at 8 p.m.

October 22 at 2 p.m.

The Shape of Things

By Neil Labute

A young student drifts into an ever-changing relationship with an art major while his best friend’s engagement crumbles, unleashing a drama that peels back the skin of two modern-day relationships.

November 16-18 at 8 p.m.

December 1 & 2 at 8 p.m.

December 3 at 2 p.m.

Legally Blonde

Book by Heather Hach

Music and Lyrics By Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin

The ultimate tribute to girl power, Legally Blonde will take you from the UCLA sorority house to the Harvard halls of justice with the timely coming-of-age story of Broadway’s brightest heroine.

April 4-6 at 8 p.m.

April 12 & 13 at 8 p.m.

April 14 at 2 p.m.

Florida State University

Richard McCullough President

Opening Nights Staff

Michael Blachly Interim Director

Allison Jordan Development Director

Grace Atkins Program & Operations Manager

Brad Lister Business & Patron Services Manager

Calla MacNamara Education & Engagement Manager

Noelle Enright Marketing & Communications Associate

Amanda Cole

Senior Marketing Designer, University Marketing

Rodney H. Johnson Director of Digital Design & UX, University Marketing

Opening Nights Development Council

Eric Friall, Chair

Ron Sachs, Vice Chair

Gus Corbella, Immediate-Past Chair

Susan Stratton, Secretary

Kathleen Daly

Brooke Hallock

Heather Mitchell

Nan Nagy

Tom Nelson

Florida State University Partners

Office of the President

College of Fine Arts

College of Music

English Department

Challenger Learning Center

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

University Relations

University Communications

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

MARCH

21 Damn Tall Buildings Bluegrass

APRIL

5 Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective & Turtle Island Quartet Jazz

6 Dinosaur World Live! Family, Educational

18 Chain of Parks Art Festival Presenting Artist Dean Mitchell Visual Art

27 Rising Appalachia Rock, Blues

MAY

1 Indigo Girls Rock

Opening Nights, Opening Doors is a partner program of Prime Meridian Bank, FSU Opening Nights, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend. Now in its third year, the program provides on-campus experiences for Club members to inspire a vision of future opportunities in the areas of engineering, nursing, hospitality, and (coming soon) media and the arts.

Herb & Mary Jervis

Congratulations Opening Nights for fostering the Arts in Tallahassee for the past 26 years.

The students, faculty, and staff of FSU and the citizens of north Florida have been enriched by your efforts.

We eagerly await what the next 26 years will bring.

2023–24 MEMBERS

Producer’s Circle

Bart & Tamara Aitken ✽

David Altmaier u

Jann & Ray Bellamy H

Phillip & Betty Brown ✽

Kathleen Daly & Reinhart Lerch ON

Janet & Craig Dennis ✽

Liz Dudek ✽

Geof Mansfield & Jennifer Fitzwater u

Sharon & John Harris ✽

Jimmie Crowder Excavating & Land Clearing, Inc u

Paull & Nita Kirkpatrick

Stacey Lampkin ✽

Jim & Sharon Lowe ✽

Dr. Jayne M. Standley H

Kathy Villacorta & Carol Lees Gregg ON

David Waters

Partner Level

Mark & Stacy Alexander

American Endowment Foundation

Anonymous

Kathleen Brennan & Claude Hendon

Brandi & Steve Brown ✽

Berneice Cox u

Susan Crawford & Joseph Travis

Mike & Jeri Damasiewicz ✽

William Donnellan H

Grossman Furlow & Bayo H

ON Member for 15+ years

H Member for 10+ years

✽ Member for 5+ years

u First year members

Rhonda Harris & Ivelisse Muller u

Brenda & Tracy Hatch ON

William Hunter ✽

Susan & Al Kaempfer

In Memory of Helen Keaton

Ken & Lisa LeGette ✽

Dan & Jessica McGrew

Rhonda & Raymond Merritt ✽

Sam & Amber Nunnally

Kristine & Tom Parker

Gregory Schaberg & Rex Abert

Barbara Shapiro ✽

Angie & Marty Sipple u

Del Suggs & Denice Jones ON

Warren W. & Paula E. Sutton H

The Three Sisters ✽

Trydent Consulting, LLC u

Drs. Timothy & Hannah Walker u

Jason & Brenda Watts u

Bernie & Lisa Waxman

C. Gary & Wendy Williams H

Friend Level

Bonnie Basham & Warren Woodward

Ellen Berler & Bob Contreras ✽

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Davis ✽

Marcy P. Driscoll

The Hon. Stephen Everett & Meghan Everett ✽

Bill Graham & Shelley Hill ✽

Ken & Debbie Hodges ✽

Igler and Pearlman, P.A. u

John & Linda Kilgore H

Bob & Gail Knight H

David & Linda Knopf

Dorothy Lee H

AS OF 2/20/24

Jimmy Martin & Carlos Fernandez

Randi & Chris New ✽

Evan & Heather Rosenberg u

Eleanore Rosenberg & Larry Sack H

Lynda Roser & Marilyn Yon

April Salter & Christopher Fagiano u

Sharon Slaten

Gary & Patricia Smith H

Nicole Taylor & Scott Cumbie u

John & Kendra Viele

David & Mary Jean Yon H

Associate Level

Dr. & Mrs. John Bailey, Dr. Sanddra Schoenfisch u

Eileen & Don Bourassa H

Jennifer & Scott Boyles ✽

Cathy Bracher

Pete & Bonnie Chamlis H

Karen & Bob Cohen ✽

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta u

Barbara Davidson & Anne Davis

Joseph & Alison DeBelder u

Pamala J. Doffek H

Colonel & Ms. Dunn ✽

Marilynn Evert

Keith & Vangie Fields ✽

Archie F. Gardner & Giles C. Toole, III

Carole Goodyear

Barbara Hamby & David Kirby H

Linda Harkey H

Myron Hayden

Amy M. Jones ON

Lew & Patsy Killian

Raoul A. Lavin & Greg T. Burke ✽

Thomas Lawhorn

James Lee & Gordon Bedwell ✽

Brian R. Lockwood ✽

Dr. Lynne Y. Lummel & Dr. John W. Lee u

Shawn McCauley & Suzanne Smith

Susan McConnell H

McNeal/Dunn Family ✽

Ed & Linda Oaksford ✽

Stephen & Patricia C. Peters ✽

Tom & Dianne Phillips H

Piekarewicz Family H

Susan Potts & Michael Mesler

Michael & Sandra Radulski u

Stephen & Barbara Roberts ✽

Sarah & Terry Sherraden

Dawn & Greg Springs

Bruce Campbell & Susan Stephens ✽

Johanna Van Lierop Plummer

Ann & Jeff VanderMeer

David & Jane Watson

Debut Level

Francisco Alarcon & Kathleen Kearney

Dave & Lisa Alcorn

James & Marsha Antista

Drs. Charles & Sharon Aronovitch H

Dan & Ash Barrow u

Gary & Kathy Bartlett u

Keith Baxter & Wendy Hollady u

Jeff & Dede Berglund u

Heather & Sonny Bishop

Greg & Karen Boebinger

Bono Communications & Marketing, LLC

Adrienne J. Bowen ✽

Nell & Anita Bowers u

Ann Brattain ✽

Dr. & Mrs. A.J. Brickler III u

Robert & Carmella BugBee u

Morgan W. Bunch u

Keith & Julie Campbell u

Cynthia Cavallaro u

Robert & Linda Clickner ✽

Sue Colombo u

Andra Scott Cornelius & David E. Hatcher, Jr.

Katharine Etchen & Brandon Couillard u

Perry & Marilyn Crowell

Yvonne Cyphers u

Dorothy David u

Robert Deyle

Lori Elliott & Doug Hall ✽

Rick & Joyce Fausone ✽

Rosemary Ferguson

Mark Fontaine ✽

Belinda Takach France

William Gammon

Katherine Garner u

Richard Gordon ✽

David and Kathy Hale ✽

Karen Hawkins ✽

Lynn Heacock

Maura & William Heebink ✽

Gary Hudson u

Wade Johnson & Laura Rosner

Deborah Justice & Ross Obley H

Christine M. Keller ✽

Steve & Beth Kelly ✽

Wayne & Paula Kiger u

King & Wood, P.A. u

Bruce Lamont ✽

William Lampkin u

Marissa Langston u

Benjamin Lawson ✽

John Leach u

Terry & Fran Lewis ✽

Chris Livaudais u

Clay & Bree Lovel u

Dr. Christopher & Heather Lowery

Julie Lovelace & Burt Davy

Signature Art Gallery

Jeffrey Mandel u

David Joel Marsh

Simone Marstiller u

Thomas McCullion ✽

Tricia & Randy Merchant

Dr. Marion Merzer & Martin Merzer ✽

Lee Metcalf ✽

Alison & Burke Mewborne u

Mike & Karen Mobley

Jason & Vivian Moore

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Moyle Jr.

Lee & Lisa Nichols

Dustin & Helen Paulson u

William B. Porter u

Karalee Poschman u

Leslie Powell-Boudreaux u

Nikki Pritchett & Stephen Fox

Melissa Proctor u

Mark E. Reichert

LaShawn Riggans, Esq.

Kelly Russell

Rose Salinas u

Vincent Salters & Nancy Sampson u

Joann Sapolsky

Anne & Tim Selvey u

Charles & Pamela Shields ✽

Rabbi Paul & Wendy Sidlofsky, Temple Israel u

Larry & Linda Simpson

Sandy Sims & Rhoda Kibler

Smithsonian Management

Joanna Snyder

Ron

2023–24 members, cont.

Nicholas Stratis

Lily & Marty Swanbrow Becker u

Dan Taylor & Tony Archer ✽

Phyllis Thomson

Meredith Trammell u

Barbara Aguirre Trust

Steven & Christine Vancore u

Kurt Van Etten & Peggy Cheng

Kevin & Donna Watson u

David & Christy West u

Teresa & Tim White

Derek & Courtney Whitis u

Jodi Wilkof & Greg Munson

Nancy Wright MD H

Solo Level

Anonymous

Dillon B. u

Kathleen Barnett & Dr. Lonnie Draper

Lindsey Begue u

Stuart Bell u

Megan & Alan Benson

Shirley & Jerry Boland u

Cyndy Brantley u

Robbie & Sara Brunger u

Helen Burke & Jim O’Rourke

John & Petra Burns u

Martha Carmody u

Anthony & Janet Carro

Kitte & James Carter u

Kerry Conner u

Julie Decker

Hon. Angela C. Dempsey u

ON Member for 15+ years

H Member for 10+ years

✽ Member for 5+ years

u First year members

Vanessa Dennen & George Williamson u

Nancy Dufoe & Jennifer Ray u

Kiki Dunton

Suzanne Ferrell-Locke & Bob Lutz u

Robin & Beth Eskin u

CJ & Luke Flynt u

Debbie Frost u

David Gaboardi u

JoAnne Graf u

Tori Greer u

July Gaby u

Vincent Kuntz u

Donna H. Heald

Hillary Hodges

Mike & Susan Hugunin u

Rachel S. Hunter & Tim Brown u

Susan & Bill Hurlbut

Consuelo Ingledue u

Kent Johnson u

Masoud & Amy Karimipour u

Robert & Cathy Kendall u

Jeanne Kimball u

Jo Anne Koch-Owens u

Dian & Chas LaTour H

Mark & Jan LeBar ✽

Jane LeGette u

Buck Lehman u

Tom Long

Andrew L. Maurey u

Laura & Mace Maxwell

Eileen McCann

Jerry McClure u

Greg & Robin u

Brent & Ashley McNeal u

Dr. & Mrs. John Meis u

María Morales u

Beth Mueller u

Garo & Stephanie Nargiz u

Ernie Paine & Ramona Abernathy-Paine u

Mollie Glover Palmer u

Joe Picklesimer ✽

Rachel & David Pienta

Amy Ray Ride or Die u

Kristin & Terry Roberts u

Marie A. Roberts

Nan Schultz u

Scott A. Shamp u

Leah R. Sherman

Bob Smith u

Patricia Gudis Smith

David & Samantha Spore u

Vickie Spray & Mary Waller

Lawrence P. Stevenson

Laurie Svec

David & Susan Tassinari u

Kurt Teets u

Michael & Ressa Tomkiewicz

Tina Torrance & Debo Groover u

Marianna Tutwiler ✽

Tom & Chris Waits u

Marianne Warhol u

Shane & Nia Wellendorf u

Joyce Murray & Pam Whitworth u

Glenn Woodsum, DJ Wright

Carole Wright Brogdon

For more information & to become a member, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/support/ membership or contact Allison Jordan, Director of Development at 850.778.7139 or allison. jordan@fsu.edu.

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Sally Karioth & Amanda Karioth Thompson thank Opening Nights for their commitment to the arts in our community

Ken Kato & Nan Nagy

Proud Supporters of Opening Nights

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Goodwood Museum & Gardens • 7:30 PM

Damn Tall Buildings

Witty and engaging, Damn Tall Buildings’ energizing music finds beauty and glory in the mundane workaday struggle of everyday life: time keeps passing and the seasons come and go, you scroll too much, you smoke too much, you lose yourself, only to sit with yourself and find yourself again, you laugh with your friends, and you look out the window and dream about what else might be out there. It all keeps coming around. You carry on, intent on flourishing and thriving. This is what Damn Tall Buildings sings about, what they seek to share with their audience.

Continued on pg. 19

“Sounds not like something from the heart of the city, but something from deep in the heartland.”

PopMatters

Damn Tall Buildings

Continued from pg. 17

In their early days, Damn Tall Buildings didn’t rehearse—they busked. Now, whether live or on record, the trio still radiates the energy of a crew of best friends playing bluegrass on the street. Anchoring that energy is their instrumental chops, their strong songwriting, and their varied influences that stretch beyond bluegrass, even beyond American roots music altogether. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into high-spirited harmony, Damn Tall Buildings is a tight unit that contains more than the sum of its parts.

Primary vocalist and lyricist Max Capistran’s singing recalls old blues and The Bandstyle roots-rock, whereas Sasha Dubyk’s time studying musical theater is evident in her rich vocal tone and soulful flair. Avery Ballotta’s fiddle brings stratospheric dimension to the churning rhythm section of Capistran’s guitar and Dubyk’s bass. The band’s harmony singing is tight without being too slick—they sound like three individual voices joined together in celebration, not a perfectly polished machine. Their choruses are the kind you sing along to with a glass raised into the air.

In 2013, then students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, the band took their

instruments to nearby street corners and jammed for hours on old bluegrass and blues songs, traditional fiddle tunes, and eventually their own original music. Busking, a continuous test of one’s ability to command an audience’s attention, cemented their closeness and fostered their infectious, captivating performance style. It’s how they learned half of their repertoire, and it’s where Dubyk first picked up the bass.

Since their busking days, Damn Tall Buildings have grown to new heights over the course of their decade of creating together. They’ve made four albums: 2014’s Cure-All, 2015’s self-titled, 2019’s Don’t Look Down and 2022’s Sleeping Dogs. The band has also relocated to Brooklyn, New York and toured widely, appearing at festivals like Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Freshgrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Festival, Walnut Valley Festival, Blissfest and Merlefest. Now based in Brooklyn, New York, they have begun to travel the globe playing bigger and bigger stages, making lots of friends wherever they go. They carry with them a connective spirit, welcoming audiences to join in the moment with the band as they take us on a journey through a well-crafted show. The trio has a knack for making any room feel a little more like home.

PERINATAL

Dr. Adanna Amanze

Jonathan Brantley

Janet R. Thornton

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

APRIL

5 Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet Jazz

6 Dinosaur World Live! Family, Educational

18 Chain of Parks Art Festival Presenting Artist Dean Mitchell Visual Art

27 Rising Appalachia Rock, Blues

MAY

1 Indigo Girls Rock

Dinosaur World Live!

Dean Mitchell

Rising Appalachia

Indigo Girls

Terence Blanchard

Law Office of Linda P. Bailey, P.A.

Gus

Berger Singerman proudly supports Florida State University's Opening Nights and its efforts in bolstering arts education within the Tallahassee community