Convos excited for upcoming
events
By Megan Finnerty
Features
Editor
For the 2001-2002 Purdue Convocations season, Greenwitch
Villagers will try to pay the "Rent," a "Cabaret" will open, radio announcers
will wage a "War of the Worlds" and "Ragtime" will ring through the
air.
Members of Purdue Convocations are excited to present
this year's season of events and the changes they've made, making the
shows more individualized, more enjoyable and more defined.
The Patron's Choice series is gone and in its place
are two new ones, Music & Motion and Center Stage. Music & Motion
focuses on dance- and movement-oriented acts such as Ballet Hispanico
and The National Acrobats of China. Center Stage focuses on theatrical
performances such as "Copenhagen" and "Frank Lloyd Wright."
Director of Convocations, Todd Wetzel, has said
that by breaking apart Patron's Choice he was able to better meet the
artistic needs of the community.
"Our intent is to make intelligent combinations
that are grouped in ways that make sense to audiences," he said of the
new series. "With a strictly theatrical series, we're able to present
the whole array of theatrical experiences; I can bring in "Stomp" and
a one-man show on Frank Lloyd Wright in the same series because now
we're programming by content and not by slot."
Marketing director for Purdue Convocations Larry
Sommers said he thinks Convos was especially successful in meeting the
entertainment needs of students this year with racy and popular shows
such as "Cabaret" and "Rent."
Another show Sommers thinks will appeal to students
is "All Over Blues," a Muddy Waters tribute by several of
his old bandmates and country-blues artist Chris Thomas King, one of
the leads in "O’ Brother Where Art Thou?"
Convos has already sold several thousand tickets
for the Blue Collar Comedy Tour featuring comedians Jeff Foxworthy and
Bill Engvall, and organizers are hoping that the 8 p.m. Sept. 14 show
in the Elliott Hall of Music sells out.
"It's just a block-buster tour," said Sommers.
"It was kind of a coup for us to get it. It played in Indy last year
and then sold out Verizon Wireless Music Center."
The tour also showcases the talents of comedians
Ron White and Dan Whitney, aka "Larry, the Cable Guy." Tickets are $37.50.
Convos' Family Adventure Series has been expanded
from three shows to five, including "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" and
a performance from Tom Chapin. Also for families, there is a new price
for children in grades K-12 for all Convos performances.
"Tom Chapin was doing shows when I was a kid, "Sommers
said. "Some kids might have his records from when they were little and
it would be a kick for them to go see him now. They may even have their
own kids to bring."
If members of the Purdue community know what shows
they want to see, they can buy all their tickets now and have a better
chance at getting good seats. People can buy individual tickets at this
time or they can chose to participate in the discount programs Convos
offers.
The Pick Five option offers buyers savings of up
to 47 percent and has been expanded from just Patron's Choice last year
to Music & Motion, Center Stage, Loeb Music Collection or the Jazz
Set series. Buyers just have to pick a total of five shows from the
above categories to receive the discount.
Convos offers the Big Deal Card just for Purdue
students. The card costs $55 and can be redeemed for any five performances
as long as they are not special events such as the Blue Collar Comedy
Tour or other events that get added as the season progresses.
"The Big Deal card has been selling 200 percent
better than this time last year," said Sommers. He attributes the leap
in sales to the student-friendly lineup."
Tickets can be purchased at Purdue box offices
or charged by phone at 494-3933.
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