Change comes to convocations

Staff Writer

The 2000—2001 Purdue Convocations series will feature many changes and additions thanks to new management.

Tood Wetzel, president of Purdue Convocations since October, has worked to extend and enrich the season with a series of changes implemented over the last seven months.

Wetzel said the new perspective he brings to the organization, "comes from my experience as an audience member."

In addition to his own experience as an audience member, Wetzel had other audience members surveyed for their thoughts and suggestions.

Wetzel said that these surveys were the basis for much of the season and many of the changes he implemented.

The changes include extra performances of two of the Broadway shows and additional performances in both the Lively Arts Package and Loeb Music Collection. Wetzel said that the addition of extra performances comes from wanting to have twice as many good seats for audience members and twice as many opportunities for them to see performances. "Everyone wants to be close to what's going on stage and feel full power of the piece," Wetzel said.

Another addition is One, the new Family Adventures Series. The series is composed of three shows that are designed to entertain the entire family while remaining appropriate for younger viewers.

"It's no secret that our community has a lot of families in it," Wetzel said. He said that the series came from wanting to bring high—quality performances to younger viewers. The series features Faustwork Mask Theatre, "Lyle the Crocodile," and "Gold Rush!" Tickets to the shows can be purchased individually or in a $21 three—show package. The package also provides a coupon good for a free child's price admission to one of the later shows with purchase of an adult ticket.

Another change from previous years is in the Big Deal Card. The card allows students to pay only $50 to see five shows in the Convocation season. Previously the card was available only as a special offer at the very beginning of the season, but now the card will be available year—round.

The season will include a wide variety of performances ranging from Broadway to ballet. "Showboat," "Chicago," and "Jekyll and Hyde" are three touring Broadway musicals scheduled for next season. These musicals are in addition to Strauss' opera "Die Fledermaus" and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's performance of "Dracula."

Students can also look forward to performances by the Ukranian Dance Company, The Jose Greco II Flamenco Dance Company, and AEROS, a dance company made up of15 Olympic medallist gymnasts.

There will also be a wide variety of musical performances to round out the season. From the bluegrass of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, to the jazz of the Dave Holland Quintet and classical music of the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, the performances are many and varied.

Ticket prices show a small increase from the previous season, but Wetzel said that prices are still much lower when compared to other theaters in the area.

"I want to reduce the barriers to seeing performances," Wetzel said, "and price should never be one of those barriers."