Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Oak Yearbook / INSTANO Yearbook (Indiana, PA)

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Wynton Marsa- lis thrills the Fisher Audito- rium crowd with his talent. Series Gives Big Name Entertainment Doug Mdcek Every year the Ai ' ist ' s Series brings great entertainment to JUP. This year was no exception. Here are the high- lights of the shows: Ben Vereen came in Septem- ber. Live audiences are Vereen ' s first love, and the magic he creat- ed on Broadway has provided the perfect springboard for his caba- ret act. The consummate entertainei ' , Ben Veieen has left his mari on the Broadway stage, the concert stage and the screen, pleasing au- diences throughout the world. It is rare for- a performer to influ- ence an ar-ray of mediums with the brilliance of Ben Vereen. The first time a major Chinese orchestra played in the U.S., they played at IL ' P. We were the first visit in the Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra ' s tour in October-. The audience was enthralled with the performance and especially the solos of the 18-year ' -old Wang Xiao Dong, who played violin. Zuohuang Chen was the conduc- tor of the group, and at the end of the performance, the orchestra received two standing ovations. Sophisticated Ladies opened in December with the announce- ment Ladies and gentlemen, the music of Duke Ellington! Over 20 of Ellington ' s most famous songs were featured. The dancing was fantastic, from its kick-lines to its dramatic gymnastics, in- cluding back-flips and cart- wheels. The cast proved again and again that it meant business from the ver ' y first song. The spring semester started with Big River, an adaptation from Mark Twain ' s Huckleberry Finn. The crowd was kept antici- pating the show, which started an hour- and a half late. Some considered it one of the best trav- eling shows ever- seen. The performer playing Huck Finn was vital, as he narrated the story and sang. He kept the audience in touch with what was going on. A pulley system pulled the raft along the stage, making the audience feel as though it was following it down the river-. Those who stayed for- the perfor- mance enjoyed themselves. On March 18, Fisher Auditori- um was entr-anced by Waves, a Philadelphia-based dance compa- ny. Waves presented music in mo- tion, or what choreographer and director Shimon Braun called a celebration of music, of bodies, of rhythms, of connections, of life and for life. Waves displayed a variety of styles throughout the show: Break-dance and gymnastics wer ' e prevalent, with one fea- tured r-oller-skating routine. April br-()ught Wynton Marsalis to Fisher- Auditorium. Marsalis led his jazz quintet through two and one-half hours of the hottest jazz Indiana has seen inyears. After- playing such favorites as George Gershwin ' s Embraceable You, John Coltr-ane ' s Miles Mode, and ll ' P ' s fight song Cher-okee, .Mar-salis accented the night with his own J Mood (the title track from his latest album, Blac-k Codes fr-om The I ' ndergr-ound ), drum feature Down Home with Homey, and the 1940s showtune Autumn Leaves. As usual, the entertainment provided this year- was outstand- ing. Those who had season passes know their money was well- spent. —Compiled by Jim Lewis, Gayle Schmidt, and Amy Thewes . . . the en- tertainment provided this year was out- standing. r- itii Lifestyles

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Doug Macek Above: Ben Vereen is energy in motion. Joy Koob Top: Soptiisticated Ladies put on a fantastic show. Above: Zuohuang Chen, conductor of the Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra, intently listens for perfect harmony. 24 Lifestyles