Texas Performing Arts Crosses Media for 2024-25 Season
Works by David Byrne, Conspirare, Twyla Tharp, and more
By Richard Whittaker, 1:19PM, Tue. May 14, 2024
The Bass Concert Hall will ring with music, resonate with stories, and echo with the sound of dance – both world class and very much amateur – as Texas Performing Arts has announced its 2024-25 season.
TPA continues to bring some of the greatest and most generally famous artists working today, including household names like jazz legend Branford Marsalis, a cappella choral wonders Sweet Honey in the Rock, Twyla Tharp dance, and an incredible interactive work from David Byrne. But it’s also about bringing some acknowledged geniuses of their chosen field to a broader audience, such as contemporary ballet innovator Huang Yi and Ukrainian folk pioneers DakhaBrakha.
But TPA never forgets that it’s a Texas institution, and so the Lone Star State provides some highlights, such as the return of the Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Conspirare, and a new collaboration between Austin musician Carrie Rodriguez, Brownsville author Oscar Cásares, and El Paso photographer Joel Salcido.
Tickets for most shows are available now for Texas Inner Circle members, and go on sale to the general public 10am, Thursday, May 23. Visit texasperformingarts.org for details.
Twyla Tharp Dance: Diamond Jubilee
Thu., Sept. 26
Bass Concert Hall
The legendary dance troupe returns to Austin with two new works (“Brel,” a solo tribute to Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel, and “The Ballet Master,“ set to a mixture of Simeon ten Holt’s minimalist compositions to Vivaldi’s Baroque intricacies) and a revival of 1975’s “Ocean Motion,” set to the rockin’ tunes of Chuck Berry.
Conspirare: Considering Matthew Shepard
Thu., Oct. 3
Bass Concert Hall
A return home for the musical tribute to Matthew Shepard, the young man whose murder in Wyoming in 1988 opened people’s eyes to the brutality of smalltown homophobia. After composer/conductor Craig Hella Johnson’s work became an international phenomenon, Austin’s Grammy-winning Conspirare mounts a new staging.
Branford Marsalis with the UT Jazz Orchestra
Fri., Oct. 11
Bates Recital Hall
Is there any greater modern practitioner of jazz than Branford Marsalis? Witness the Grammy- and Tony-winning musician in a special performance he is joined by students of UT’s premiere jazz ensemble, the Jazz Orchestra, directed by Diego Rivera. The event is co-presented with ATX Chamber Music and Jazz, which will also host the Branford Marsalis Quarter at the Manson, Sat., October 12 at 6:30pm and 9pm at the Mansion.
Kid Koala: The Storyville Mosquito
Sat., Nov 2, 2pm & 7:30pm
McCullough Theatre
A wild musical and performance fusion from the visionary Kid Koala, a string trio, and an ensemble of 14 performers who bring to life the story of a small-town mosquito with big-town dreams. Presented with Fusebox.
Huang Yi: Ink
Thu., Nov 7, 7:30pm
Bass Concert Hall
Internationally acclaimed Taiwanese dancer Huang Yi has an unusual partner for this performance: an industrial robot. This production, making its Texas premiere, blurs the lines between man and machine, dance and calligraphy, choreography and data sets.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad
Thu., Dec 12 at 7:30pm
McCullough Theatre
Celebrate the holiday season with pianist Oscar Hernández and the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra in a night celebrating the history, legacy, and vibrancy of New York-style salsa.
Carrie Rodriguez & Oscar Cásares: Postcards from the Border
Fri., Jan. 24 & Sat, Jan 25, 7:30pm
McCullough Theatre
The world premiere of this new autobiographical work by author Cásares (Amigoland). It began with him traveling along the Rio Grande with photographer Joel Salcido to document the region and its people for his daughter. It became an article for Texas Monthly, but is now a performance piece, commissioned by Texas Performing Arts, recited by the author, accompanied by Salcido’s visuals, and with original music by Carrie Rodriguez.
Honor, An Artist Lecture
Fri., Jan. 31 & Sat., Feb. 1, 7:30pm
McCullough Theatre
The Texas premiere of Suzanne Bocanegra’s unraveling of the stories behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s tapestry collection, given hilarious and poignant life by the inimitable Lili Taylor.
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Fri., Feb. 14, 7:30pm
Bass Concert Hall
One of those ensembles that needs no introduction, but if you think you know the quartet that kept the acapella flame alive, think again. The Gospel elements are still these, but are complimented and gorgeously complicated by a musical history that melds every vocal form.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company: Rooted Rhythms
Fri., Feb. 28 & Sat., March 1, 7:30pm
McCullough Theatre
Just as Sweet Honey in the Rock celebrates harmonies rooted in Black culture, so LA’s Versa-Style has spent 20 years keeping West Coast Hip Hop and street dance traditions alive. Founders co-artistic directors Jackie ”Miss Funk” Lopez and Leigh “Breeze-lee” Foaad have helped place those traditions in the pantheon of arts dance they belong.
Andrew Schneider: N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars)
Fri., March 14 & Sat., March 22
McCullough Theatre
Less a performance, more an experience, visitors are taken through a trip through the universe in this installation-based roam through an environment and narrative created by OBIE award-winner and Drama Desk nominee Schneider. Texas premiere: recommended for ages 13 and up. Presented with Fusebox.
Les Arts Florissants & Théotime Langlois: Vivaldi's Four Seasons at 300
Thu., March 27, 7:30pm
Bates Recital Hall
Head into the 300th anniversary year of Vivaldi’s undying masterwork, Opus 8, Nos. 1-4, better known as The Four Seasons with this performance by Baroque music supergroup Les Arts Florissants and violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte.
DakhaBrakha
Fri., April 11, 7:30pm
Bass Concert Hall
DakhaBrakha means “give and take” in Ukrainian, and this quartet from Kyiv have taken from both jazz and Ukrainian folk traditions to give the world an extraordinary mélange that also carries the legends and culture of their homeland across the world.
SOCIAL! Dance Club
Thu., April 24 – Sun., April 27
Bass Concert Hall
Texas Premiere
The Texas premiere of the interactive music and dance experiment that brings together Broadway choreographer Steven Hoggett, set designer Christine Jones, and musician, composer, producer David Byrne, and 100 volunteers from the audience – no dance experience required.
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July 12, 2024
July 12, 2024
Texas Performing Arts, Bass Convert Hall, Conspirare, Sweet Honey in the Rock, David Byrne
