Schimmel Center Presents IMMORTAL CHI 5/5 & 6 and STORM LARGE 5/12

The Schimmel Center at Pace University presents two performances of Immortal Chi: A Warrior's Quest for Balance-a fusion of Chinese martial arts and acrobatics, accompanied by an all-female percussion ensemble-on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The production, directed by Érick Villeneuve (Era, Intersection of Time, Kaleido, Eqi), is full of stunts, traditional weaponry, and feats of human endurance, and tells the story about a Tai-Chi master and his challenge to re-gain his inner energy and life force, casting a new perspective on Chinese theatrical history.

On Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m., the Schimmel Center presents acclaimed vocalist Storm Large in her solo show, Stormy Love: Songs of Seduction and Obsession, together with her band Le Bonheur. The performance features standards such as Cole Porter's "Under My Skin," Rodgers and Hart's "Lady is a Tramp," and Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas," together with Storm's own "Angels in Gas Stations," and selections by Tom Waits and Randy Newman.

The Schimmel Center, located in the heart of downtown Manhattan at Pace University, presents a unique and diverse array of internationally acclaimed artists, encompassing genres including dance, cabaret, music, comedy, world music, and family programming, in an intimate setting with affordable ticket prices. For more information, visit SchimmelCenter.org.

About the Artists

Érick Villeneuve (Creator & Director, Immortal Chi) is a highly sought-after director, multimedia artistic director and visual designer. For the last 25 years, he has created spectacular large-scale productions all over the globe with his company Multimedia Novalux. Era, Intersection of Time marked the first international permanent show ever staged in China, and has been running in Shanghai since its creation in 2005. Kaleido, an acrobatic multimedia show, had a two-year run in the Gong Theatre in Shanghai. During summer 2015, he directed a new equestrian show in France, Eqi. In addition to these directing credits, he played a key role in the visual conception of numerous international events such as the Winter Olympics closing ceremonies in Torino (2006) and was creative consultant at Vancouver Olympic Games (2010), the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, the Biennale di Firenzi, Arturo Brachetti's World Tour, the inauguration of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, as well as the staging of the operas Aida and Nabucco in Europe.

Storm Large shot to national prominence in 2006 as a finalist on the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova, where despite having been eliminated in the week before the finale, Storm built a fanbase that follows her around the world to this day.

Highlights of Storm's 16-17 season include debuts with the Atlanta, Baltimore, and BBC Symphony Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, as well as return engagements with National Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Recent highlights include engagements with the New York Pops, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, RTÉ Dublin, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Knights, as well as performances at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. She also joined Michael Feinstein as special guest on the Jazz at Lincoln Center Popular Song series.

Storm made her debut as guest vocalist with the band Pink Martini in April 2011, singing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She continues to perform with the band, touring nationally and internationally, and she was featured on their CD, Get Happy. Storm has also sung with Grammy winner k.d. lang, pianist Kirill Gerstein, punk rocker John Doe, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton.

Storm debuted with the Oregon Symphony in 2010, and has returned for sold out performances each year thereafter. Storm made her Carnegie Hall debut in May 2013, singing Weill's Seven Deadly Sins with the Detroit Symphony as part of the Spring for Music festival.

Event Information

Schimmel Center
3 Spruce Street
New York, NY 10038

Immortal Chi: A Warrior's Quest for Balance
Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Created and Directed by Érick Villeneuve
Musical Direction by Luc Boivin
Costume Design by Mireille Vachon
Set Design by Josh Zangen
Special Effects by Louis-Pierre Morin
Lighting by Jacques Lévesque
Video Content by Jean Francois Robichaud
Performers Include: Zhang Xueshan, Qin Liangheng, Lu Xiaofei, Wang Teng, Lei Jian, Shi Baoyu, Wu Yang, Chen Zhihao, Bai Jinquan, Li Hao, Li Guowei, Xin Chun, Zhang Qingsheng, Jin Haoxuan, Zhu Ting, Han Yahui, Xie Xiaotian, Zhou Qianfei, Yang Lijuan

The Schimmel Center 2016-17 dance series is sponsored by SHS Foundation.

Stormy Love: Songs of Seduction and Obsession
Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Storm Large and Le Bonheur

Songs to include:

Cole Porter "Under My Skin"
Rodgers & Hart "Lady is a Tramp"
Jacques Brel "Ne Me Quitte Pas"
Storm Large "Angels in Gas Stations"
Additional selections by Tom Waits and Randy Newman

Ticket Information

Tickets for Immortal Chi, priced from $29 to $49, and tickets for Stormy Love, priced at $29 and $39, are available online at www.schimmelcenter.org, by calling 212-346-1715 or by visiting the box office located at 3 Spruce Street. The Schimmel Center box office is open Mondays through Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and three hours prior to all performances. $10 student tickets for Immortal Chi and Stormy Love are also available with student ID.