Rozsa Center schedule includes ballet, comedy, ‘Aida’
Rozsa Center schedule includes ballet, comedy, ‘Aida’
By KELLY FOSNESS, DMG Writer
HOUGHTON — From quirky interactive games between the audience and the performers to Tony Award winning musicals, this year’s Great Events lineup for the Rozsa Center is sure to keep both young and old coming back for more.
And one of the biggest shows kicking off the season, which Rozsa Center Director Valerie Pegg says she’s “really excited about,” is the Ballet Folklorico set for Sept. 28.
“They’re a company of 60 with music on stage,” Pegg explained, citing the members will bring folk dances from different regions of Mexico to the campus of Michigan Tech University. “I have known about them for many years and I’ve always wanted to bring them in. It’s going to be a big, flashy show.”
During family weekend Oct. 14, Pegg continued, there are two funny, family shows by Aga-Boom, a troop of Russian clowns.
Some have said this show is to be one of the most fun performances to take place on the Rozsa stage.
“It’s going to be an absolutely wonderful show,” Pegg said. “They’re so clever they could make you laugh by blinking one eye.”
From the previews she got to catch on video, Pegg said the audience “was screaming with laughter.”
“This show appeals to all ages. And those shows are difficult to come by,” she added.
Other feature events include the Tony Award winning musical “Aida,” created by duo Elton John and Tim Rice, which tells the story of love between a soldier and an enslaved princess.
“It’s a sad love story, but it’s a great show with a lot of Elton John’s wonderful music,” Pegg continued.
During the annual Christmas show, the Rozsa Center is bringing in a band from New Orleans. Of the five or six members, Pegg said, two or three of them had lost their homes in the disaster, while the others were living in areas untouched by Katrina.
“The drummer, who I’ve been talking to, lost his house completely,” Pegg said. “And he lost his entire collection of instruments. It was a 25-year collection of instruments.”
So this year, along with the Christmas Tree Silent Auction, Pegg said, they’re going with a New Orleans theme.
Returning for a second time is The Second City Touring Company known for getting alumni Dan Aykroyd, Alan Alda, John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley and many other famous comedians’ careers off the ground. Pegg said they will be doing sketch comedy, some improvisation, and much more.
“We do a variety of performances because it is a small community,” Pegg added. “We try to please some of the people some of the time and a lot of the people all of the time. But we vary it from year to year.”
For a complete schedule of events or more information on these and many other events visit the MTU Rozsa Center for Performing Arts at www.rozsa.mtu.edu or call 487-3200.
Kelly Fosness can be reached at kfosness@mininggazette.com
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