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BEN CARROLL PRESENTS A MUSIC NIGHT ON

TUESDAY, AUGUST 10

 

Musician Ben Carroll will present an All Ages concert on Tuesday, August 10 at the Black Box Theatre 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 at the door. Reservations can be made in advance by calling the theatre at (575) 523-1223.

 

Ben Carroll's soulful, powerful voice lives somewhere at the crossroads of Stevie Wonder and James Taylor--he's captivating, distinctive, mesmerizing. With the help of his accomplished acoustic guitar playing, Carroll moves his audiences with his plaintive songwriting, written from the heart and with a thoughtful, sometimes keen eye, while exploring the endless themes of love, of a search for a place and meaning in the world. A soul and folk artist at once, Carroll has steadily toured North America and Europe as a solo act since 2004. He released his debut solo album Lover Undercover in 2005 and his followup Real Thing in 2007 (on UK label Blue Cloud Records), which was #1 for five weeks on AAA FM Radio in Ohio and was played on over fifty radio stations in the US and Europe. His songs have also been featured in television and film, most recently in Pier's End Productions' 2008 release "Wake", which premiered at the Tribeca Cinema in New York City (home of the Tribeca Film Festival). Amore Magazine's reader poll voted Carroll a top solo artist, and his songwriting and performances have been celebrated by the New York Songwriters Circle and BMI New York. Coming from a musical family as the son of Grammy-winning Starland Vocal Band members ("Afternoon Delight", 1976), Carroll enjoyed a rich musical exposure in his childhood, chiefly in the veins of harmony-laden folk and pop of the 70s, and the R&B/Soul/Roots sounds of the deep  south. These influences have been naturally integrated into his music, lustrously evoked by his poetic delivery and his voice of startling honesty and beauty.

 

Highlights

 

Spent several years before 2005 as a member of pop/rock/soul band The Minors, based in New York City, and of world folk band Baraka, out of Philadelphia; these collaborations produced one full-length album and two EPs, while keeping an international touring schedule

 

Released second solo studio release "Real Thing" in 2007 on British indie label Blue Cloud Records; went #1 for five weeks on AAA FM Radio in Ohio and was played on over fifty radio stations in the US and Europe

 

Released first solo studio release "Lover Undercover" on US indie Luckytone Records in 2005; was described as "bare and revealing...Carroll's lyrics are poetic yet tangible, and his vocals are reminiscent of James Taylor and John Legend."

 

Performed live on American FM radio stations WXPN (Philadelphia), WVIA (another NPR station, in Pittston, PA), WRNR (Annapolis/Baltimore) and WAMC (Albany) Songs have been used in numerous programs on MTV, Country Music Television and other television programs internationally

 

Composed and performed original music for the New York Off-Broadway production of "The Good Thief", by Irish playwright Conor McPherson

 

Wrote and performed original music for the soundtrack of the short film "Jason's Song", by writer/director Shane Tilston, in which he also appeared on-screen

 

Selected artist to participate in the New York Songwriters Circle showcases in 2008, at the Bitter End

 

Invited by BMI to participate in their 2007 and 2008 Contemporary Professional/Advanced Songwriting Workshops

 

Lyrics to original song "Dola Rosa" were selected for publication in American Songwriter Magazine (Nashville) as part of their August, 2005 edition

 

Voted a top male solo artist of 2005 in Amore Magazine's Readers' Poll (Portland, ME)

 

Invited to sit as a panel judge for Mountain Stage's New Song Contest (NE Regional Round), a national singer-songwriter competition of high esteem

 

More information about Ben Carroll at www.myspace.com/bencarrollmusic

 

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The Peers                                                                              Iolanthe & The Peris

 

"IOLANTHE" COMES TO THE BLACK BOX THEATRE

SATURDAY AUGUST 21 AND SUNDAY AUGUST 22

 

The Gilbert & Sullivan Company of El Paso proudly presents, "Iolanthe; or, the Peer and the Peri" for its summer 2010 season.  The two performances are Saturday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. This fanciful comedy is considered by many to combine Sullivan's finest opera compositions with another of Gilbert's comic plots and his witty and waggish dialogue. "Iolanthe" presents a topsy-turvy love story involving fairies and members of the House of Lords ­ a political fairy tale that only Gilbert & Sullivan could conceive, and which will delight audiences of all ages.

 

First performed in 1882, Iolanthe is one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s fourteen musicals, (including "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Mikado," and "HMS Pinafore") and is universally regarded as one of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s most beautiful scores - a high water mark in terms of music, wit, cleverness, and color ­ with incredible choruses, wonderful solos and orchestration beyond compare. Peers, British noblemen and honorable members of Parliament, encounter Peris, lovelorn fairies from a golden glen ­ a collision of powerful mortals with feet of clay and immortal beings wielding magic wands. The result - havoc is wreaked in the House of Lords!

 

Stephanie J. Conwell makes her debut as Artistic Director. The cast includes: Ceci Schlesinger/Alicia A. Williamson (Iolanthe), John Wiebe/J. Mitchell Wilson (The Lord Chancellor),  Irene Rivas (The Queen of the Fairies),  Alfonso D. Johnson/Tristan Chavez-Poeschel (Strephon), Jessica McKay/Laura Sambrano (Phyllis), Carlos Orona/Abraham Villa (Earl of Mountararat), David Castro/Tom Davis (Earl Tolloller),  Jedediah Leachman/Henry Castro, Jr. (Private Willis), Christy Terrazas/Lumea “Lou” Brady (Celia), Andrea Vick/Donna Jones (Leila), and Desiree Long/Stephanie Jones (Fleta).

 

When a young shepherd falls in love with a Ward of Chancery, will he have the “chance” for a lifetime of happiness? Yes ­ after all, his mother is a fairy! After 25 years of banishment for committing the capital offense of marrying a mortal, Iolanthe, a fairy, finds herself pardoned by the Queen of the Fairies. With her new found freedom, she and her fairy brood set out to help her son Strephon in winning the hand of Phyllis, the girl of his dreams. But being half mortal, half fairy, Strephon soon finds himself in a pickle with Phyllis when he is seen with his mother, Iolanthe (who still looks seventeen ­ fairies never age!), and whom Phyllis mistakes as another young girl. Strephon struggles to win Phyllis back for he not only has to convince her of his fidelity, but must also compete with every member of the House of Lords, and the Lord Chancellor himself, who have all fallen in love with her. With the aid of the fairies’ powers of persuasion, Strephon becomes a member of Parliament and takes a stand for the love of his life (and meanwhile carries every bill he chooses!). The clash of mortal and immortal, peer and peri, make for another topsy-turvy ending in this fantastic musical comedy of all’s-well-that-ends-well in the madcap world of Gilbert & Sullivan.

 

The Gilbert & Sullivan Company of El Paso was founded by Joan Quarm in 1969 with the purpose of education by preserving and presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. The company is funded and supported in part by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department and  the Texas Commission on the Arts.

 

Tickets for "Iolanthe" are $10.00 regular admission and $9.00 for students and seniors over 65. Reservations are recommended as space is limited and may be made by calling the theatre at (575) 523-1223.

 

Amazing Magical Musical Adventures

"GREEN EGGS AND HAM" AT THE BLACK BOX

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25

 

"Green Eggs and Ham," one of the most beloved Dr. Seuss books, is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. And we're planning a celebration, too! Reserve your spot to enjoy this fun-filled program, which will include this spunky story, silly games, sing-a-long music, and even a surprising snack!  Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the Black Box Theater, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. In addition to the usual 2:00 p.m. show, there will be a special encore at 4:00 p.m.. All tickets are just $5.00; reservations recommended by calling (575) 523-1223. Come join us as we read and rhyme, we'll have a thoroughly rollicking time! (Amazing Magical Musical Adventures, entertaining arts programming for the entire family, is presented by Mesilla Valley Musical Arts in partnership with No Strings Theatre Company at the Black Box Theater.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To go to the online reservation form, click here

 

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