Hylton Performing Arts Center Presents Rockapella “A Rockapella Holiday”

Monday, October 25, 2010

 For Immediate Release

Contact: Jill Graziano Laiacona

Phone: (703) 993-8794

E-mail: jgrazia1@gmu.edu

 

 

HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

PRESENTS

ROCKAPELLA

“A ROCKAPELLA HOLIDAY”

Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 at 8 p.m. in Merchant Hall

 

MANASSAS, Va., Oct. 25, 2010 “Some say the best musical instrument of all is the human voice – if you’ve seen Rockapella, you know that’s the truth,” USA Today said of this five-man a cappella powerhouse best known for its “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” theme song. The awesome talent and infectious energy of Rockapella, along with its jazzy “vocal percussion” and catchy blend of soul, rock, R&B and jazz have made the group a favorite among young and old alike. Rockapella makes its first appearance at the Hylton Performing Arts Center with “A Rockapella Holiday” on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 at 8 p.m. This spirited program features classics such as “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” as well as popular new pieces like “Little Mary Snowflake,” a funky new version of “The Dreidel Song” and “Matunda Ya Kwanzaa,” an original composition honoring the celebration of African culture. A pre-performance discussion will be held one hour prior to the performance in the Hylton Center’s Buchanan Partners Art Gallery. Novant Health is the Grand Opening Season Sponsor of Hylton Presents at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

 

                Composed of tenors Scott Leonard, John K. Brown and Steven Dorian, bass George Baldi and vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher, Rockapella was formed in New York City in 1986, and reached its first milestone in 1991 when the group appeared as featured performer on the PBS television special “Do It A Cappella” by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. The program served as the perfect platform to launch the group’s career. Rockapella quickly became a household name when the group wrote, recorded and performed the theme song for the PBS television show “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” Rockapella wrote and performed original music on the show from 1990-95, entertaining 10 million viewers a week with its seamless harmonies and witty lyrics. Following “Carmen Sandiego,” the group was cast alongside Hollywood stars Whoopi Goldberg and Denzel Washington in their entertaining family series, “Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child on HBO,” which led to a performance on Goldberg’s HBO special “Chez Whoopi.”

Described by The New York Times as “one of the most accomplished contemporary a cappella groups, Rockapella has performed extensively on broadcast television, including “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, NBC’s “The Today Show” with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, CBS’s “The Early Show” with Bryant Gumbel, CBS’s Orange Bowl Parade and FOX News. In addition to its concerts and live performances on television and radio, Rockapella is constantly in demand to perform the national anthem at professional sporting events. The group has released eight albums in North America, including the holiday albums “Comfort & Joy” and “Christmas,” and 10 albums in Japan. In October 2010, the group released its long awaited studio album, “Bang,” which features a special bonus track cover of Vampire Weekend’s “A-Punk.” Thacher said, “‘Bang’ successfully shows off our completely human take on contemporary music – everything about it is alive; it’s real and its blood is pumping!”

 

 

 

 

The Hylton Performing Arts Center is pleased to recognize

 

Novant Health as the Grand Opening Season Sponsor of the 2010-11 Hylton Presents season.

 

Tickets for ROCKAPELLA are $44, $36, $28. This performance is Family Friendly and tickets for youth through grade 12 are half price when accompanied by an adult. Visit the box office or charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit hyltoncenter.org. The Hylton Performing Arts Center is located on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus at 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va., 20110. Free parking is available in the lot next to the Hylton Center. For more information, please visit hyltoncenter.org.

 

About the Hylton Performing Arts Center
Dedicated to bringing a world-class performing arts venue to the Prince William region, the Hylton Performing Arts Center was born out of a partnership among Prince William County, George Mason University, the City of Manassas, the Commonwealth of Virginia and individuals and businesses in the private sector. Soaring more than nine stories and boasting a stunning mix of copper, glass and masonry, the 85,000-square foot center is home to two unparalleled performance venues for local arts groups and performers from around the world, as well as university-related activities. Modeled after the intimate European opera houses of the 19th century, Merchant Hall is a 1,140-seat multipurpose proscenium theater, which is encircled by 27 private boxes that rise three levels. The Gregory Family Theater is a flexible, 4,400-square foot space that can be configured for many different types of performances and events. In addition, the Didlake Grand Foyer, with its sweeping staircase, provides an ideal setting for community, corporate and social events. The Hylton Performing Arts Center, the only building of its kind in the area, is sure to quickly become the cultural hub of Prince William County and the surrounding communities and is a shining example of collaboration and commitment to the arts.

 

 

 

 

About George Mason University
Named the #1 national university to watch in the 2009 rankings of U.S. News & World Report, George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country.  Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology, organizational psychology, health care and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University – Where Innovation Is Tradition.

 

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