Summer Series Brings History, Music, Theater to Area Residents
The College of Southern Maryland's (CSM) Twilight Performance Series returns for its 10th season this summer to offer free, family-friendly entertainment to area residents on the La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses. Guests can expect to be entertained by national and local jazz, rock and military bands and CSM's Children?s Theatre as well as by Chautauqua's historical portrayals.
Performances by local and nationally recognized musicians will take place on Tuesdays, July 12, 19 and 26 at the Leonardtown Campus; with Chautauqua performers at the La Plata Campus July 12, 13 and 14 and a musical concert on July 20; and musical performances on Thursdays, July 21 and 28 at the Prince Frederick Campus.
CSM's Children's Theatre's performance of “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales,“ produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., will take place indoors on all three campuses, with performances at the Leonardtown Campus Aug. 2, the La Plata Campus Aug. 3, and the Prince Frederick Campus Aug. 4.
In the event of rain, performances will move indoors. On the La Plata Campus, performances will be in the Fine Arts Center; on the Leonardtown Campus, Building A, Auditorium; and on the Prince Frederick Campus, Building B, Multipurpose Room. Performances are subject to change. For schedules, visit http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
The Twilight series will take place outdoors on the La Plata Campus Fine Arts (FA) Building lawn, the Leonardtown Campus great lawn, and the Prince Frederick Campus patio. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket as well as food or beverages (no alcohol permitted).
Chautauqua 2016, Masters of Their Craft, La Plata Campus
The annual Chautauqua program includes interactive, family-friendly presentations and is an educational program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with CSM. This year's theme, “Masters of Their Craft,” celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize by featuring three Pulitzer Prize winners. Featured will be 20th century composer Duke Ellington July 12, poet Gwendolyn Brooks July 13 and novelist Ernest Hemingway July 14.
Regarded as one of America's greatest composers, Ellington was an incomparable showman with a career which spanned more than 50 years. His talent and skill earned him several awards and allowed him to collaborate with legendary musicians including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. After dropping out of high school in 1927, Ellington pursued music full time and through his efforts and hard work, he won a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and posthumously a Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1999. On May 24 1974, at the age of 75, Ellington died in New York City. Ellington will be portrayed by Tevin Brown, a vocalist, pianist and actor from Baltimore and graduate of Berklee College of Music.
Brooks is best known as the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for her anthology “Annie Allen.” From her native Chicago, Brooks was influenced to write about the black experience simply by looking out her window. In addition to her Pulitzer, Brooks earned numerous honors throughout her life. She succeeded Carl Sandburg as the Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968; from 1985-86, she served as Consultant in Poetry for the Library of Congress; and in 1995, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. On December 3, 2000, at the age of 83, Gwendolyn Brooks died at her home in Chicago. Brooks will be portrayed by Dorothy Mains Prince, the founder of Sojourns, an educational enterprise designed to bridge the lives of outstanding African-American women to community groups nationwide.
Hemingway, an accomplished athlete in his youth, excelled in his English classes and was employed as a journalist following high school. After volunteering for the Red Cross as an ambulance driver in World War I in Europe, Hemingway left the Red Cross and returned to the United States after sustaining injuries to his legs. He took a job at “The Toronto Star” and was subsequently sent to Paris as a correspondent for the newspaper. It was there he meet and collaborated with several writers and artists including Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Ezra Pound and James Joyce while working on his own novels and poems. For “The Old Man and the Sea,” Hemingway earned the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. On July 2, 1961, at the age of 61, Hemingway died in Ketchum, Idaho. Hemingway will be portrayed by Brian Gordon Sinclair, author of “Hemingway On Stage” and a graduate of The National Theater School of Canada.
Each evening will open with music, followed by presentations by the Chautauquans with an opportunity for questions and answers. For information on Chautauqua, visit http://www.mdhumanities.org/programs/chautauqua/.
Leonardtown Campus Twilight Performances
The Leonardtown Campus Twilight Performances will include concerts by the Dave Chappell Band July 12, Afro Bop Alliance July 19, and Coastline July 26. All performances begin at 6:45 p.m.
Dave Chappell, a Washington, D.C. native, has won Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) for Musician of the Year, Rock Instrumentalist of the Year and Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year. He has performed with legends Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Johnny Johnson and Danny Gatton. For more information, visit http://www.guitardavechappell.com/home.
Afro Bop Alliance was founded by Grammy Award winning drummer/percussionist, Joe McCarty. Along with holding a Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, McCarty won the 2008 Latin Grammy for Latin Jazz Album of the Year with his band, and they were nominated in the same category for the 51st Grammy Awards. McCarty has published a music workbook which has been used in the curriculum at his alma mater. He has recently completed a 20-year tour as Chief Petty Officer with The United States Naval Academy Band. For more information, visit http://joemccarthymusic.com/.
Coastline is a local acoustical band that formed in November 2013. Coastline has two focuses: good music that is performed with a high degree of quality. They cover a wide variety of music that includes modern country, rock, pop, reggae and more. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/coastlinemd/.
Prince Frederick Campus Twilight Performances
The Prince Frederick Campus' Twilight Performances will feature Jennifer Cooper and Groovespan July 21 and U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters July 28. All performances will begin at 6:45 p.m.
GrooveSpan, an ensemble Cooper created to satiate her desire to sing classic tunes from a variety of genres, decades, styles and grooves of popular music, offers repertoire that includes everything from vintage jazz standards to classic rock, from Duke Ellington to Doobie Brothers, from Antonio Jobim to Adele, from Bill Withers to Blondie. Founded in 2010, GrooveSpan has performed at the Blue Dog Saloon, the Running Hare Vineyard and the Port of Leonardtown Winery. The group appeals to all age groups from young adults to senior citizens. For information, visit http://go-diva.webs.com/aboutgroovespan.htm.
As the United States Navy's official chorus, The Sea Chanters are often found at the center of our nation's most important national events such as the 2009 presidential inauguration and memorials mourning the loss of astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia and victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Founded in 1956 by Lt. Harold Fultz, the group includes both men and women who perform everything from Brahms to Broadway. For more information, visit http://www.navyband.navy.mil/sea_chanters.html.
La Plata Campus Twilight Performances
In addition to Chautauqua performances, the La Plata Campus Twilight Performance will include the U. S. Navy Band Commodores July 20 at 6:45 p.m.
For more than 40 years, these 18-member bands of musically talented men and women have brought jazz to the ears of millions. Led by Senior Chief Musician William C. Mulligan, The Commodores, the Navy's official jazz ensemble, has collaborated with several popular jazz musicians including Ray Charles, Branford Marsalis, Clark Terry, Grover Washington Jr., Chris Potter, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Daniels and James Moody. Their mission is to provide public concerts and promote jazz education. For more information, visit http://www.navyband.navy.mil/commodores.html.
Children's Theatre Performances
Closing the 2016 Twilight Performance Series at the three campuses will be the Children's Theatre performances of “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales,” a play by Jules Tasca. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., the play features five short plays that explore Latin-American mythology. Performances will be at the Leonardtown Campus Aug. 2, the La Plata Campus Aug. 3, and the Prince Frederick Campus Aug. 4, with all performances beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Chautauqua is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland. The Maryland Humanities Council, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization which receives support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Maryland Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, corporations, foundations and individuals.
Twilight Performances Series are funded in part by a grant from the St. Mary's County Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council. For more information on sponsorships, call 301-934-7647 or visit http://csmd.edu/Foundation.
For information on the Twilight Performance Series, visit http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM's campuses are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Audio description for the visually impaired and sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired are available with a minimum two-week advanced notice. Contact the academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614.
Calendar Listings
Calvert County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Jennifer Cooper and GrooveSpan. 6:45 p.m., July 21, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, 115 J. W. Williams Rd., Prince Frederick. GrooveSpan is the ensemble gathered by Southern Maryland native Jennifer Cooper to satiate her desire to sing classic tunes from a wide variety of genres, decades, styles and grooves of popular music. The performance will be presented as part of CSM's Twilight Performance Series. Each week the series features a different performance on each campus. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight performance Series: U. S. Navy Band Sea Chanters. 6:45 p.m., July 28. College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, 115 J.W. Williams Rd., Prince Frederick. The official chorus of the U. S. Navy performs a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including sea chanteys and patriotic fare, to opera, Broadway, and contemporary music. Under the direction of Chief Musician Adam Tyler, the ensembles is well known in the Washington, D.C. area for playing for the president, vice president and other dignitaries. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales.” 6:45 p.m., Aug. 4. College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Building B, Multipurpose Room, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. The College of Southern Maryland's Children's Theatre will perform “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales” by Jules Tasca. The performance features five short plays that explore Latin-American mythology. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
Charles County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Duke Ellington. 6:45 p.m., July 12. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSM's Twilight Performance Series kicks off with Duke Ellington, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century and one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Council's annual Chautauqua program. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Gwendolyn Brooks. 6:45 p.m., July 13. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSM's Twilight Performance Series continues with Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize and one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Council's annual Chautauqua program. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Ernest Hemingway. 6:45 p.m., July 14. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSM's Twilight Performance Series continues with Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American literary figures of the 20th century and one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Council's annual Chautauqua program. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: U.S. Navy Band Commodores. 6:45 p.m., July 20. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Rd., La Plata. As the U.S. Navy's premier jazz ensemble for more than 40 years, the U.S. Navy Band Commodores will perform an eclectic mix of traditional big band and jazz. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales.” 6:45 p.m. Aug. 3 College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Rd., La Plata. Children's Theatre performance of “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales” by Jules Tasca features five short plays that explore Latin-American mythology. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight..
St. Mary's County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: The Dave Chappell Band. 6:45 p.m., July 12, College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, 22950 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown. A native of Washington, D.C., Dave Chappell is one of the most sought-after and respected blues, rockabilly, country and rock composers in the area. The performance will be presented as part of CSM's Twilight Performance Series. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828. http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Afro Bop Alliance. 6:45 p.m., July 19. College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, 22950 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. This band, founded by Grammy Award winning percussionist Joe McCarty, will perform Afro-Cuban music as part of the CSM Twilight Performance Series. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Coastline. 6:45 p.m., July 26. College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, 22950 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. Live band will perform modern country, rock, pop and reggae as part of the CSM Twilight Performance Series. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales”. 6:45 p.m., Aug. 2. College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, 22950 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. The Children's Theatre performance of “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales” by Jules Tasca features five short plays that explore Latin-American mythology. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Performers subject to change. Free. 301-934-7828; http://www.csmd.edu/twilight.
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