Berrie Center Sets Fall 2013 Performance Season

Ramapo College’s Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts’ 2013 fall season is underway. 

In a release from the school outlining the rest of the season's lineup, Ramapo officials say they hope to involve the community in this year's shows, which kicked off at the end of September.

“This is a stellar lineup for the Berrie Center,” Stephanie Chaiken, interim director of the Berrie Center, said in the release. 

“There is something for everyone in the entire family in our calendar of shows ranging from concerts to comedy to theatre and acrobats. Our patrons can experience incredible performances right here in Northern New Jersey with free parking.”

Below is a list of the rest of the Berrie Center Season, as released by Ramapo.

A runner up for “Best Big Band” in the Jazz Times readers’ poll, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra will make its Ramapo debut on Saturday, October 19 in a fabulous evening of pop music. Hailed by The New York Times as having “strikingly executed performances,” WJO performs beautiful and original versions of hits by Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Billy Joel.

On Sunday, October 20, Galumpha will perform a show for all ages audiences, combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography that brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle and merriment. The three performers create a sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, drawn together into a seamless whole, consistently bringing audiences of all ages to their feet.

Are you ready to laugh? Rondell Sheridan, actor and comedian, probably best known as Chef Victor from Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” will headline the Berrie Center stage on October 26. Rondell has appeared multiple times on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the Late, Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and has had several Showtime and Comedy Central specials. His quick-witted timing is second to none, making him a must see!

For more than two decades, HOTEL CALIFORNIA has touched the hearts of fans all over the world, and will bring their dynamic, highly-acclaimed tribute show to the Berrie Center this October 27. This show faithfully and accurately reproduces the Grammy Award-winning sounds of the Eagles by incorporating The Eagles’ mega-hits such as “Take it Easy,” “Heartache Tonight,” and of course “Hotel California,” as well as selected titles from the solo works of Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh.

November begins with an International Vocal Festival on Saturday, November 2. This exciting festival is an exchange of music, ideas and workshops, featuring Canadian a capella sensation Countermeasure plus Professor Lisa Lutter’s acclaimed groups: Skylark, CantaNOVA and Take 12. The festival is rounded out by Ramapo student-directed a capella hipsters 4Gotten SuitCase.

On Saturday, November 9, the Berrie Center presents the Ramapo Faculty Music Concert. This acoustic program in the intimate Adler Theater spans from classical piano and chamber music, to Broadway vocals and Latin Jazz, performed by the Ramapo College faculty. A divine treat!

Next, on Saturday, December 8, Maureen McGovern will headline The Berrie Center with her acclaimed show  “A Long and Winding Road,” celebrating early 1960-70s music by iconic singer/songwriters Carole King, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor, among others. Their classic songs including ‘Fire and Rain,” “Let It Be,” “The Times, They Are A Changing,” “The Circle Game,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” and many more will be performed. The evening will end with a selection of holiday favorites.

The busy season wraps up on December 14, when Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul capture the spirit and magic of the season with two performances of their heartwarming holiday show, “An Irish Christmas – An Nollaig.” Nine time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion and music star of Riverdance, Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin. Hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World Music genres, Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. "... the Jimi Hendrix of the violin." - The New York Times

A world of stellar entertainment…very close to home, the Berrie Center has exceptional seating, affordable ticket prices and free parking. For tickets and more information on these fall 2013 events, plus a description of spring 2014 events, call the Berrie Center Box Office at 201-684-7844, or order online at http://www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter/tickets.html .