PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
September 17, 2015
Media Contact
Jane Gendron
(435) 640-3315
jgendron@jgendron.com
Park City Institute
Announces
The Eccles Center’s
2015-2016 Season
PARK CITY, UT – Entertain. Illuminate. Educate. As Park City Performing Arts Foundation has
transitioned into Park City Institute, its mission has broadened. This season at The Eccles Center
illustrates PCI’s efforts to not just entertain, but also to educate and to illuminate. PCI sets the tone
for a “thinky” Eccles Center season with Edward Snowden opening the line-up on December 5 (via
closed video feed). As always, the season includes an eclectic mix of live dance, music, authors,
speakers, family shows, spectacles, up-and-comers and well-established legends.
The 19th season fills The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts from
December through April. Tickets and season punch cards go on sale October 1 (early bird ticket
purchase is available to PCI members Sept. 24). Tickets are available by calling 435-655-3114 or
online at EcclesCenter.org.
“We started out in 1994 with the goal of bringing ‘cutting edge’ acts to Utah. And we did. But now
we’re pushing the envelope, reaching for performers, thinkers and doers, who are on the forefront of
art, education and beyond,” says PCI executive director Teri Orr. “This line-up represents some of
the most illuminating acts we’ve ever presented. As they entertain, they will also feed our curiosity
and – we hope – create meaningful conversation.”
THE 2015-2016 LINE-UP:
An Evening with Edward Snowden – Live From Russia (Dec. 5, 2015) ∙ Eileen Ivers (Dec. 12,
2015) ∙ The Ann Wilson Thing (Dec. 31, 2015) ∙ DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion (Dec. 28 &
29, 2015) ∙ An Evening with the Creators of “Invisible Thread” (Jan. 9, 2016) ∙ An Evening with
Dr. BJ Miller (Jan. 16, 2016) ∙ Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass (Feb. 6, 2016) ∙
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (Feb. 13, 2016) ∙ Railroad Earth (Feb. 20, 2016) ∙ Allen
Toussaint (Feb. 27, 2016) ∙ Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (Mar. 5, 2016) ∙ Grupo
Corpo (Mar. 19, 2016) ∙ Sarah Kay with Phil Kaye (Mar. 26, 2016) ∙ Ruthie Foster (Apr. 2,
2016) ∙ Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Co. (Apr. 9, 2016) ∙ Imagination Movers (Apr. 16, 2016)
THE DETAILS:
The 2015-2016 Season officially kicks off on December 5 with An Evening with Edward
Snowden. The former CIA, NSA and DIA intelligence officer and contractor, who leaked classified
documents to expose illegal government surveillance,* comes to Park City – live from Russia – in an
exclusive conversation. KUER’s Doug Fabrizio moderates the interactive evening with cybersecurity
genius Snowden; special guest Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology
Project, will contribute to the discussion. Let the ethics debate begin.
*Of note: In 2014, The Washington Post and The Guardian shared a Pulitzer for their coverage of
government surveillance based on Snowden’s information.
“The Jimi Hendrix of the violin” (The New York Times), Eileen Ivers wields her fiery bow with
breath-taking – and foot-stomping – wizardry on December 12. An original musical star of
Riverdance, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle champion (and
collaborator with artists ranging from Sting to the Chieftains), the Grammy-winning Ivers and her
band unleash a show with unstoppable energy and exhilarating sound – a mix of traditional Celtic
and pop-jazz-Afro-Latin influences wrapped up in a holiday show.
PCI’s New Year’s tradition continues with The Ann Wilson Thing on December 31. Best known as
the lead singer for the sister rock band Heart, Ann Wilson is doing her own thing. The lyricist and
songwriter behind hits such as “Crazy on You,” “Barracuda,” and “Mistral Wind,” dedicates her solo
mini tour to what she calls blues with a rock edge. Fans of chart-toppers (“These Dreams” and
“Alone”) and blues aficionados share the love – with a different side of Heart – in an intimate New
Year’s Eve show.
Visceral, organic and awe-inspiring, DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion soars onto the stage on
December 28 & 29. Under the artistic direction of Jacques Heim, this “seriously athletic…high-risk
performance style” (San Diego Union-Tribune) balances choreographic precision, daredevil dancers
and massive, pin-wheeling and soaring stage props. The troupe’s works reveal how we are affected
emotionally, physically and socially by the spaces we inhabit. The result is hyper-physical, worldclass, elegant dance phenomenon.
Park City knows Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews as the creators of the Broadway-bound musical
“Witness Uganda” – now renamed “Invisible Thread.” This tale of triumph and tragedy set in
Uganda (where Matthews traveled on a humanitarian mission in 2005 while grappling with his NYC
church’s lack of acceptance of his homosexuality), combines Afro-pop music and heart-wrenching
narratives as it tackles the question: Is changing the world even possible? The powerful Evening
with the Creators of “Invisible Thread” on January 9 is part concert, part storytelling, part call to
action.
An Evening with Dr. BJ Miller continues the thought-provoking theme on January 16. In Dr.
Miller’s TED Talk he left his audience with the following challenge: “Let death be what takes us, not
lack of imagination.” The palliative care physician and director of San Francisco’s Zen Hospice
Project proposes rethinking and redesigning how we die; creating a dignified system that allows life
to play out as a “crescendo.” A triple-amputee, Dr. Miller knows suffering on both a personal and
professional level and he dedicates his career to a human-centered approach to end-of-life care. Join
the conversation.
NPR’s “This American Life” – created and hosted by Glass – has transformed journalism by pushing
the limits of how a story is told (and won five Peabody awards along the way). In his February 6
live appearance entitled “Reinventing Radio,” Ira Glass weaves memorable radio moments into a
behind-the-scenes narrative about finding and telling compelling stories. As The New York Times
puts it, “…[Glass] filters his interviews and impressions through a distinctive literary imagination, an
eccentric intelligence, and a sympathetic heart.”
Community. Activism. Compassion. Since 1978, San Francisco’s Gay Men’s Chorus* has brought
harmony – and endearing playfulness – to the gay rights movement. The musically impeccable
outfit’s first impromptu concert on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall accompanied the vigil for
the assassinated Harvey Milk and George Moscone. And the men have proudly waived the flag of
inclusiveness, enlightenment, healing and unity ever since, from the historic Castro Theater to
Carnegie Hall. The first openly gay chorus in the nation has persevered through the struggles of the
LGBT movement, including the devastating AIDS crisis. Now under the baton of Dr. Timothy
Seelig, SFGMC keeps the soundtrack of civil rights going strong. A 30-member touring chorus
performs in Park City on February 13.
Newgrass-bluegrass-Americana – amplified. Railroad Earth is back on February 20 (an encore to
their 2013 Deer Valley opening appearance for Bruce Hornsby), providing their “tightly crafted
music that tells a story,” (Glide) and refusing to be shelved solely in the string band category.
Fronted by songwriter and guitar player Todd Sheaffer, RRE delivers rootsy rock n’ roll while
harkening back to simpler times. Fire-in-the-belly passion, gritty guitars, mandolin and songs with
Woodie Guthrie-esque themes traverse this band’s unplugged and plugged-in landscape.
Virtually every cool, R&B standard bears the imprint of prolific singer, songwriter, pianist and
producer Allen Toussaint. A man “immersed in the rolling blues, ragtime jangles and funky
polyrhythms of New Orleans music” (Financial Times), Toussaint has worked with everyone from
Etta James to The Rolling Stones. His chart-toppers, “Working in the Coalmine” and “Lady
Marmalade,” exude the Crescent City sound of an unrelentingly talented Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer. Toussaint performs February 27.
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company perform “Analogy/Dora: Tramontane” on March 5.
According to The Huffington Post, “Bill T. has constantly pushed the envelope of what dance can
be.” And his groundbreaking artistry seeps into the movement of his lithe performers. The
MacArthur “Genius” choreographer and his nine-member company tell the story of holocaust
survivor, Dora Amelan (Jones’ 95 year-old, mother-in-law) through dance and spoken word. This
unconventional dance-theater piece is the latest installment in a career marked by “works of art that
reflect the turmoil at the center of our society” (The Patriot Ledger).
Undulating limbs bridge the space between traditional Brazilian dance and modern western styles in
a troupe The New York Times calls “spectacular.” Under the direction of choreographer Rodrigo
Pederneiras, sensual athleticism intersects with vibrant color, music and rhythm as Grupo Corpo
takes the stage, March 19. Combining “the precision of ballet with the laid-back allure of all things
Latin American” (The Evening Standard), these rippling dancers deliver a sizzling concoction of
suppleness, athleticism and sass.
“Poetry is a house with enough rooms for all.” Poet and founder of Project VOICE (a non-profit
promoting empowerment through literacy), Sarah Kay speaks across generations. At age 27, the
award-winning poet has been performing for 14 years. Best known for her 2011 TED Talk (which
garnered two standing ovations and more than 7 million views), she has published two books and
inspired new voices. Co-director of Project VOICE, fellow Brown grad and two-time recipient of the
National College Poetry Slam (CUPSI) award for “Pushing the Art Forward,” Phil Kaye contributes
his poetry to the evening, March 26.
.
Winner of both the Best Contemporary and Best Traditional Female Artist of the Year Blues Music
Awards, this “dusky-voiced,” (Paste) blues singer and songwriter, Ruthie Foster, brings high
voltage performance to the stage on April 2. She traverses blues, soul, rock, folk and gospel as she
draws from her past – rural Texas church choir beginnings, a tour with the U.S. Navy Band and, most
recently, time spent in the industry’s limelight as a Grammy nominee. The New York Times calls her
sound “long-suffering, forthright, resilient and thoroughly at home.”
Under the artistic direction of Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker since 1996, the eleven
dancers of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet gracefully delve into contemporary dance without abandoning the
elegance of classical ballet training. Known for its “joy and verve” (The News and Observer), the
troupe returns to Park City with a fresh, mixed repertory performance on April 9, promising edgy
choreography and exquisite artistry.
The season wraps up with Disney’s Imagination Movers on April 16. The Emmy-winning
foursome – Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott “Smitty” Smith – makes music that
speaks to kids and tackles every pint-sized conundrum, from bedtime fears to eating healthy foods.
Parenting magazine praises the band’s “dash of rebellion” and calls their hit tunes “fresh and treaclefree.” Positive and bursting with energy, Disney’s Movers stick by their motto onstage and in life:
Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun!
Of Note: Prior to the season’s official kick-off, PCI presents a special concert just for people who
purchased naming rights to Eccles Center seats during the “Seat Campaign.” This Private “Seat
Campaign” Concert features Perla Batalla on November 28, 2015. With a “voice full of color and
nuance” (Cosmopolitan), Perla Batalla delivers a unique blend of folk, Latin, pop, jazz and rock. A
Leonard Cohen protégé, the Grammy-nominated composer-singer has earned critical acclaim for her
startling vocals and culture-merging compositions. In an encore Park City performance (she graced
the Deer Valley stage this summer), Batalla casts an enchanting spell.
EDUCTIONAL OUTRREACH
Providing free outreach to students and members of the community has been a key part of PCI’s
mission since the organization’s inception. This season’s highlights will include student workshops,
master classes and lecture-demonstrations, including (but not limited to) the ACLU’s Ben Wisner
(Mr. Snowden’s lead attorney), poet and Project VOICE founder Sarah Kay, writers-actors-producers
Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews and choreographer-dancer Bill T. Jones.
Ongoing student programs will also run through the season. PCI opens the free, after-school tutoring
side of the Mega-Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ on Oct. 5 through the school year. The Alan
Tucker After-School Technical Theater Program continues to groom back-stage theater technicians
from the Park City High School ranks.
PCI will also host TEDx events, Curiosities Evenings and the Park City Institute / Strategic News
Service Future in Review Speaker Series during the 2015-2016 Season.
More details on student outreach and programs will be included in show specific press releases.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION
Tickets and Season Punch Cards** go on sales to Park City Institute members on September
24 and to the general public on October 1. Tickets may be purchased by calling 435-655-3114,
online at www.EcclesCenter.org or at the box office, which is located within The Eccles Center
(1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; the
Box Office is open from noon through show time on the day of a performance.
Individual tickets range from $25 to $75* for regular season performances (the season opener
with Edward Snowden, New Year’s Eve, children’s shows and benefits have different pricing);
Season punch cards are also available.**
Show time: The majority of PCI Main Stage performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
*Discounts are available for children (16 and under), seniors and Summit County students (K-12).
**Season punch cards of 10 (redeemable for all regular season shows, but not eligible for Special
Events, including New Year’s Eve) are available for $350(bronze) $450 (silver), $550 (gold) and
$650 (platinum).
* Please contact Jane Gendron for interview requests, review tickets and press information,
jgendron@jgendron.com or 435-640-3315.
ENTERTAINING, EDUCATING AND ILLUMINATING SINCE 1998
Park City Institute is a non-profit organization, dedicated to bringing world-class performances and
new ideas to the community. Since 1998, PCI has presented internationally renowned and cutting
edge musicians, actors, authors, comedians, dancers, speakers and film at The George S. and
Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (a joint-use facility with the Park City School
District). The organization will embark on its 13th season of headliner concerts at Deer Valley Resort
next summer. PCI is dedicated to introducing young people to the arts through free student outreach
workshops, shows and demonstrations. They proudly launched the Mega-Genius Supply Store and IQ
HQ - an after school literacy program and very thinky retail store - in January 2010 and recently
opened a second Mega-Genius retail shop in New Park this past spring. And the organization
continues to illuminate with TEDx events, Curiosities evenings and the Park City Institute / Strategic
News Service Future in Review Speaker Series.
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