It’s official:  The High Country LOVED our presentation of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday!  Musical theater lovers flocked to the Hayes Performing Arts Center in record numbers to cheer on the wonderful cast.  In fact, we hated to see the ILYYPNC cast head home to Charlotte on Sunday afternoon!  But who knows?  Maybe someday soon we can talk them into hiking back up the mountain to pay us a visit.  Charlotte’s not that far away, really…

No time to get all sentimental, though.  Not when we’ve got so many exciting performances coming up this month!  This weekend brings modern dance favorites Taylor 2, a branch of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.

(Haven’t heard of the Paul Taylor Dance Company?  Take a moment – or an hour and a half’s worth of moments – to learn about one of America’s first modern dance touring companies by checking out Dancemaker, Matthew Diamond’s Oscar-nominated documentary about Paul Taylor and his ground-breaking company.  Whether you are a modern dance fan or not, Dancemaker is a fascinating look into the creative process, and is a definite “must-see”.)

Paul Taylor formed Taylor 2 in 1993 to ensure that his works could be seen by audiences all over the world, unhindered by economic or technical limitations.  They were literally Taylor-made to perform in smaller venues like ours.  Taylor 2 has toured extensively throughout the United States and the world, and dance critics from miles around sing their praises:

“If modern dance is – well – too modern for you, catch a performance by Taylor 2. Their performance…was ballet let loose – undeniably beautiful and incredibly romantic, but danced with a joyful abandon.” – Kay McLain, The Herald-Sun Durham, NC

“It’s small, travels light, and packs some of the best modern dance around.” – Valerie Sudol, The Sunday Star Ledger

“The joy in watching the six-member Taylor 2 dance company perform…wasn’t just from the performances themselves. There was also the realization that, with Taylor 2, the works of Paul Taylor – one of the modern dance world’s leading choreographers – can now be shared with audiences in even the smallest venues. These fine performances showed that, in many respects, the dancers of Taylor 2 are No. 2 in name only.” – Karyn D. Collins, Asbury Park Press

Taylor 2 brings their exciting brand of modern dance to the Hayes Performing Arts Center this Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 PM, and this Sunday, September 11 at 2:00 PM.  Tickets are $25 and $30, and may be purchased online, by calling us at 828-295-9627 during normal operating hours, or by visiting our Box Office Monday – Friday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  The Box Office will also be open this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM until show time.

Don’t miss this very special dance event!

It’s not too late to get your tickets to this weekend’s big show, the Off-Broadway musical hit:  I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, direct from Charlotte, NC!

Show times are Friday Sept. 2 and Saturday Sept. 3 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday Sept. 4 at 2:00 PM.

To purchase tickets, call the Hayes Performing Arts Center Box Office at 828-295-9627 during normal Box Office hours, or simply CLICK HERE to buy your tickets online anytime!

See you at The Center!

Sounds like the title to an undiscovered Dr. Seuss book!

Thanks to big last-minute sales, Saturday’s Isaacs concert  was packed!  In fact, it was the Hayes Center’s biggest seller since The Kingston Trio earlier this season.  That’s the kind of crowd we like to see in the Hayes Performing Arts Center!  If you were at the concert on Saturday (or Sunday, when Julian Garguilo showed our piano who’s boss ), you witnessed first-hand the kind of world-class entertainment we bring you week end and week out.   We think we’re doing a pretty good job.  But who cares what we think?  The question is:  What do YOU think?   Comment, and let us know.  Better yet, if you liked what you saw (and heard), tell your friends!  We want the house to be packed EVERY weekend!

And why not keep the trend going?  Brooklyn-born Daniel Rodriguez (aka “The Singing Policeman”) pays tribute to Mario Lanza – one of America’s greatest tenors – here at the HPAC on Friday August 26 and Saturday August 27.  Both performances begin at 7:30 PM.  Daniel, a veteran of New York City’s police force and a protege of Placido Domingo, came into prominence in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  During that time of great national suffering, Daniel “put his arms around America and dried its tears with his voice“, performing standards like “God Bless America” and “The Lord’s Prayer” at memorials and on television.  He has since become a performer of world-renown, releasing several albums and working with artists such as Tony-award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth.  Yet in spite his recent fame, he has remained a humble servant, performing on behalf of several children’s charities, police and firefighter support events, and the USO.

To purchase tickets to Daniel’s performance at the HPAC this weekend, click here!

Now then, we’ve covered last week and this week.  Where does that leave us?  Oh yeah…NEXT week!  CPCC‘s production of the Off-Broadway hit musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” makes it’s way from the Queen City to the High Country on Friday September 2 and 3 at 7:30 PM, and on Sunday September4 at 2:00 PM.  The cast includes several well-known Charlotte-area performers, including Appalachian State grad and Lees-McRae Summer Theatre alum Lisa Smith Bradley.  So come out and support some homegrown talent:  Buy your tickets to HPAC’s presentation of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” NOW!

Remember to spread the word about the Hayes Performing Arts Center, your High Country Home for World Class Entertainment.  See you this weekend!