25 TH JUBILEE PLATINUM LEVEL
DIAMOND LEVEL
HERB & MARY JERVIS
GOLD LEVEL
FSU License Plate
LEE HINKLE
SILVER LEVEL
MIKEY BESTEBREURTJE & WILSON BAKER
BRONZE LEVEL
KEN KATO & NAN NAGY BERNADETTE & ROGER LUCA
ERIC & ANDREA FRIALL
RON SACHS & GAY WEBSTER-SACHS
SALLY KARIOTH
CHRIS & BETH CORUM KIMBERLY CRISER
BETH & LAWTON
IN-KIND SPONSORS & ENDOWMENTS
JIM
CHARLES & SUSAN STRATTON
KELLY & LAURIE DOZIER ENDOWMENT FUND
IRELAND HUMPHREY EXCELLENCE FUND BETH & LAWTON LANGFORD ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
on behalf of Opening Nights, we are thrilled to share the second half of our 25th Anniversary Season with you! We’ve saved the best for last this spring with so many incredible performances coming your way. In February, we kick off the vibrant lineup with:
The Other Mozart by Sylvia Milo at Turner Auditorium on February 4. This captivating one-woman show tells the story of Mozart’s forgotten sister, Nannerl, a piano virtuoso in her own right. Television, stage and film star Katharine McPhee will perform live at the home of the FSU President on February 6.
A month-long celebration of Black History Month kicks off with Step Afrika! on February 7 and is sure to delight all ages with an exciting blend of percussive dance styles that integrate songs, storytelling and humor. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Colson Whitehead will speak on February 9 about his writings and engage the audience with insightful discussion.
The Queens of Soul, Morgan James and Erica Gabriel take center stage with our very own Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra on February 11 for a celebration of the music of Motown, R&B and soul; celebrate Valentine’s Day with a breathtaking performance by contemporary dance company MOMIX and their visually stunning repertoire entitled Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland; and Ethiopian jazz singer, Meklit, will perform on February 28.
French-based Zodiac Trio will perform Benny Rides Again, a celebration of the songs of Benny Goodman on March 3; country and folk music legend Emmylou Harris takes the Ruby Diamond stage on March 4 for an unforgettable evening of the music that has thrived for more than 50 years; theatre fans get ready for New York Gilbert & Sullivan Player’s The Mikado on March 11 for a matinee performance; and families won’t want to miss
Legendary late-night comedian and television host Jay Leno will pack Ruby Diamond for a memorable evening of laughs on March 29; Opening Nights continues its collaboration with the Chain of Parks Arts Festival with digital media artist John Ensor Parker on April 13; FSU’s PRISM is back with its traditional spring performance on April 16; and the season concludes with Piano Battle, a rollicking good time, on April 25.
Sponsorships and memberships make each season possible, and we are very grateful to the many people who have generously supported us this season. As we continue to celebrate the Opening Nights 25-year legacy into the next season, we invite you to renew or become a member or a sponsor of our 2023–24 Season. From town to gown, Opening Nights is a vital university and community performing arts program with a mission worthy of supporting and celebrating! These performances create a thriving cultural life in our community and create priceless educational experiences on campus and throughout the community. Ask any Opening Nights associate about these philanthropic opportunities. We hope you join us!
Thank you again for your support of the Opening Nights 25th Anniversary Season at Florida State University. Please enjoy these outstanding performances!
Jennifer Wright Director, Opening Nights at Florida State University
Florida State University
Richard McCullough President
Opening Nights Staff
Jennifer Wright Director
Grace Atkins Program & Operations Manager
Brad Lister
Business & Patron Services Manager
Calla MacNamara Education & Engagement Manager
Nick DiChiara Patron Services Coordinator
Noelle Enright Marketing Associate
Amanda Cole Graphic Designer University Communications, Creative Services
Rodney Johnson Assistant Director of Creative Services University Communications, Creative Services
Opening Nights Development Council
Eric Friall, Chair
Gus Corbella, Immediate-Past Chair
Susan Stratton, Secretary
Kathleen Daly
Brooke Hallock
John Marks
David Mica, Jr.
Heather Mitchell
Nan Nagy
Tom Nelson
Ron Sachs
Florida State University
Office of the President
College of Fine Arts
College of Motion Picture Arts
College of Music
College of Social Sciences & Public Policy
FSU Panama City University Communications
University Relations
april 25 Piano Battle
classical, instrumental, comedy Sponsored by Herb & Mary Jervis
june 12 2023–24 Season Announcement
Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine. com
Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine. com
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For more information and to become a member, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/support/membership
✽ Member for 5 years or more
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Congratulations Opening Nights for fostering the Arts in Tallahassee for the past 25 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 25 years will bring.
Two Pianists, Six Rounds, Chopin vs. Liszt, Debussy vs. Schubert, Black vs. White. Who will be the first to cross the finishing line? The audience will decide! Welcome to PIANO BATTLE – Andreas vs. Paul. Who is the better pianist? That is the very theme of this battle. The answer is not so obvious, as the two opponents are markedly different in many ways and yet are equally strong and competent. In this one-of-a-kind battle, the antagonistic styles of the two pianists are pit against each other. Many norms and conventions of classical concerts are broken along the way, as the two artists, armed with charm and chutzpah, push the limits and chart new territories, presenting what you don’t normally get in other classical concerts without taking away the very beauty of classical music.
Continued on pg. 23
Continued from pg. 19
True to their roots, the pianists tackle their challenge with a virtuosic and energetic approach. Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Scriabin? No problem. Just let the fingers fly around the keyboard and the audience will see what the two artists are capable of. But power and speed are not everything—tone, phrasing and fine nuances are also important as ingredients for a convincing performance. Will Schubert, Brahms or Debussy work, or are they too safe a choice? Being experimental, bold, contemporary and sporty is the order of the day. Who can play the piano and ping pong at the same time? And who can improvise better? The audience may know better. This 90-minute show is not only about piano playing; but is also about words, ideas and individual style. Who can deliver the best punchlines? Who is the innovative and witty one? As the audience will see, the right attitude, effective communication and good timing are the keys to success. A competition wouldn’t be a competition without a jury. In this show, you will be the judge! All members of the audience are invited to vote on the pianists’ performances and eventually crown the winner. And your involvement in the concert may not stop here… In traditional classical concerts, the audience is in a passive position—they watch the performance and listen to the music without interacting with the performers. At PIANO BATTLE, however, audience members play can play an active part in a way that enhances both the musical and entertainment experience. From the word 'go,' one thing is clear: when the two pianists fight, the audience watches with delight. pianobattle.com
I regard the
as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.
- - Thornton Wilder
