Peter Cincotti, David Wong & High Strung, THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD and More Set for TPAC's 2014-15 Season, Launching Today

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, presents Peter Cincotti, performing tonight, October 25 at 8PM, the first of four major concerts in the 2014-2015 Main Event Series, which also includes the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (November 21 at 8PM, $45 - $35) and The Hit Men (December 13 at 8PM, $45 - $35). Also featured are Alexis P. Suter (January 9 at 8PM, $45 - $35), and Ruthie Foster (May 8 at 8PM, $45 - $35), among others.

Other exciting Tribeca Spotlight and Special events will include the New York premiere of the Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir (October 17), David Wong & High Strung (November 14), and comedian Calisa Hawkins (February 6).

We also continue to present a diverse slate of Family programming, free film retrospectives, and a variety of dance, comedy, and more! All 2014-2015 events are listed below with more information.

Tickets are $35-45 for Peter Cincotti (and other Main Event artists) and on sale now. To purchase tickets, call 212-220-1460 and/or visit www.tribecapac.org.

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Tribeca Spotlight: Main Event Series

Peter Cincotti - TONIGHT, October 25 at 8PM; $45, $35

Peter Cincotti, singer-songwriter-pianist and native New Yorker, began playing piano at the age of three. By the age of 18 he was being called "one of the most promising singer-pianists of the next generation" by the New York Times. In 2003, Peter's debut album reached #1 on the Billboard jazz charts, making Cincotti the youngest artist ever to do so. Hailed as "the rebirth of cool" by Elle Magazine, Peter explores musical styles that blend pop, rock, blues and jazz, infusing each new song he writes with originality and startling energy.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Friday, November 21 at 8PM; $45, $35

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the two-time Grammy winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band with four albums, sets the standard for excellence for authentic, New York style, hard core salsa. Live or recorded, it doesn't get any better. Thirteen world-class musicians and vocalists led by Oscar Hernández come together to create an unparalleled musical experience. Now in its fourteenth year, SHO, as they are known to fans, is dedicated to the sounds of the barrio. Their music is characterized by the raw, organic and vintage sound defined by the genre. Grounded in the past, while focused on the future, they strive to keep the music relevant, while creating a unique and fresh approach.

The Hit Men - Saturday, December 13 at 8PM; $45, $35

The Hit Men are hit makers of the 60's, 70's and 80's, performing and/or recording members of mega-star acts including Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Critters, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Barry Manilow, Elton John, and more. When The Hit Men take the stage, it's easy to see why their music has transcended generations. The notes are sharp, the vocals spot-on, the energy is high, and these guys are having the time of their lives sharing their Musical Legacy with audiences across the country! With Lee Shapiro (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons), Gerry Polci (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons), Jimmy Ryan (Carly Simon, Elton John), Larry Gates (Carole King) and Russ Velazquez (Sting, The Ramones).

Ruthie Foster - Friday, May 8 at 8PM; $45, $35

Ruthie Foster's combustible blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel has earned her many achievements including three "Best Female Vocalist" awards from the Austin Music Awards, two Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album, a Living Blues Music Award Critic's Poll for "Female Blues Artist of the Year," to name a few. Ruthie's latest and Grammy-nominated CD, "Let It Burn," is a deeply intimate recording featuring a smoky mix of original songs coupled with inventive interpretations of an unexpected collection of covers. Ruthie is supported along the way by some very special guests - gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama and Stax Records soul man William Bell.

Tribeca Spotlight: Next Voice You Hear

David Wong & High Strung - Friday, November 14 at 8PM; $15

David Wong has been called a "Rock Star" in the violin world. Using both electric and acoustic violins, and sometimes his voice, he arranges rock, pop, and other top 40 hits into improvisation filled orchestrations. He has appeared on "Good Morning America" and "America's Got Talent."

Alexis P. Suter - Friday, January 9 at 8PM; $15

Alexis P. Suter, along with her band, is a rising star on the roots, blues and soul scene. Her powerful bass/baritone voice, seasoned with raw emotion and a wide streak of attitude, has won the praise of greats from B.B. King to Levon Helm (The Band). "It's a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady," raves B.B. King. Alexis was nominated for Best Soul Blues Female Artist at the 33rd Annual Blues Music Awards and "All Over Again" from her release "Two Sides" was recently named NPR's "Song Of The Day". Featured in the Alexis P. Suter Band are drummer Ray Grappone, guitarist Jimmy Bennett, bassist Peter Bennett, and backing vocalist Vicki Bell.

Night of Standup Comedy featuring African American Comics - Friday, February 6 at 8PM; $15

Calise Hawkins is the headliner. Additional comics to be announced at a later date.

Calise Hawkins is one of the most memorable acts on the comedy circuit. She first gained exposure as a featured guest on Lewis Black's Root of All Evil on Comedy Central. Calise has appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing series. Recently, Calise made her late-night television debut with a stand up spot on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Special Event

Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir - Friday, October 17 at 8PM; $35, $25

New York City premiere! After being in existence for 40 years in their native Senegal and having become one of the most important cultural ensembles of the country, the Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir is coming to North America for the very first time in their history. The Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir is a company of 15 singers and four traditional Senegalese drummers, founded in 1950. The Senegal St. Joseph Gospel Choir is led by Music Director Ambroise N'Diong, and is composed of the Cathedral's chorale, that of St. Joseph's of Medina, who each Sunday, in the heart of Dakar's most working-class neighborhood, interprets Gospel/Negro Spirituals, traditional African Songs, and the magnificent masses that Julien Jouga composed in his country's four languages. Mr. Jouga interpreted and combined both the Catholic liturgy and the indigenous Muslim songs of Senegal to create an extraordinary harmony between the two cultures that comprise the nation of Senegal.

Lost Jazz Shrines

Lost Jazz Shrines Celebrates the Royal Roost / Miles Davis - Friday, April 10 at 8:30PM Concert; $25

7PM TBD Panel Discussion; Free

The Royal Roost was a jazz club located at 1580 Broadway in New York City. Royal Roost was one of the key venues in the development of bebop and modern jazz. Musical Director Bob Belden (saxophonist) is a multi-Grammy Award-winning composer and arranger, who has orchestrated jazz treatments of Puccini's opera Turandot as well as the music of The Beatles, Sting and Prince. He produced and arranged a pair of tributes to trumpeter Miles Davis-Miles from India and Miles Español: New Sketches From Spain.

Scenes Through the Cinema Lens - A free film retrospective curated by Krin Gabbard, Professor of Comparative Literature at SUNY Stony Brook

Alfred Hitchcock Looks at You - Tuesday, Oct 21 at 7:30PM; Free

Most people think of Alfred Hitchcock as the "Master of Suspense," but the director was concerned with much more than just keeping you on the edge of your seat. What do we make, for example, of all the films in which he made a personal appearance? Sometimes he even looks directly at the audience. Hitchcock had his own personal take on what it means to look, especially at something that we are not supposed to be looking at. We will watch crucial scenes from several films in which Hitchcock invites us to join him in his own special brand of voyeurism.

The Craft of the Choreographer - Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30PM; Free

As the Hollywood cinema came of age in the 1930s, choreographers became increasingly essential when the screen was filled with dancers. Most of the great choreographers worked behind the scenes and were seldom recognized. We will celebrate Busby Berkeley, Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, and Agnes de Mille, all of whom deserve their celebrity. But we will also take a look at great dances staged by artists who are not as well known, including Hermes Pan, Michael Kidd, and Katherine Dunham. Featured films include Silk Stockings, Stormy Weather, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, All That Jazz, West Side Story, and Oklahoma.

Kubrick's Music - Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30PM; Free

Few filmmakers have been as sensitive to the power of music as Stanley Kubrick. He changed cinema forever when he rejected the music that film composer Alex North had written for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and used pre-existing recordings of classical music. He continued to make striking use of new and specially commissioned music in A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut. We will go back to earlier films such as Paths of Glory and Dr. Strangelove to hear how he was already taking chances with music, even before he made 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Art of the Jazz Singer - Tuesday, Apr 7 at 7:30PM; Free

Even when jazz singers were pop stars, there were still artists. Now that jazz has lost the huge audience it had in the 1930s and 1940s, jazz singing is taught in conservatories and widely recognized as an important element in "American's Classical Music." We will watch several of the most eminent jazz singers performing at the peak of their powers. Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Kurt Elling will be featured. If you wish simply to sit back and enjoy the lovely sounds and the sensuous rhythms, you may. But you are also invited to contemplate exactly what these artists are doing that distinguishes them from pop singers.

Monk-in-Motion: The Next Face of Jazz

Monk-in-Motion: The Next Face of Jazz presents the top three winners of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. The dates are: First Place Winner - Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 7:30PM; First Runner-Up - Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 7:30PM; Second Runner-Up - Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 7:30PM. The instrument of this year's Thelonious Monk Competition is the TRUMPET. The performances are here, at Tribeca PAC, but the competition will take place in Los Angeles on Nov. 8 & 9, 2014. Tickets are $25 per concert.

Writers-in-Performance

Final Presentation - Friday & Saturday, December 5 & 6 at 7:30PM; Suggested Donation $10

A workshop-training program and performance that features writers and poets in showcasing original writing in an ensemble-based theatre piece celebrating their diverse voices. (Auditions to be held in September 2014 TBA.)

Tribeca Dance

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theater - Friday & Saturday, March 13 & 14 at 7:30PM

Sunday, March 15 at 3PM; $25

"Amanda Selwyn is a master at illustrating the symbiosis of sound and movement, the romance of motion and emotion - she had me laughing, crying, cringing and gasping," raves Inside New York. "Amanda Selwyn's work is masterly and emotionally expressive; she is truly gifted in the art of dance making," extols NYC Dance Stuff. Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre engages audiences in original and dynamic dance theatre that raises questions, challenges social norms and values, and magnifies humanity through dance.

Family Series

10Club Tickets Now On Sale: The regular ticket price for most Tribeca Family events during the 2014/15 season are $25, but 10Club members enjoy 10 tickets for only $12 each. Call (212) 220-1460, click to www.tribecapac.org/family or visit Ticketing Services at 199 Chambers Street to purchase.

Some of the Family events are also available a day earlier for teachers and their classes. Go to www.tribecapac.org/school-time for more information if you are a teacher.

Treehouse Shakers Presents "Hatched"- Saturday, October 25 at 1:30PM; $15

Hatched is an interactive play for babies, toddlers, preschoolers & their siblings. Hatched is the beautiful tale of a newborn chick emerging from her shell at sunrise to a strange and busy world, told through live music, dance, theater and puppets, and written and directed by Mara McEwin. "Just Perfect!" raves NYC Parent. Treehouse Shakers is a dance-theater company committed to creating work that encourages people to experience their feelings and their connection to the greater community. Appropriate for BABIES & Up. (Ages 2 and under free if sitting with adult)

Judy Blume's Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great - Saturday, November 15 at 1:30PM; $25

Being a 10 year-old kid is kind of a pain. Having an older sister is really a pain. Being afraid of everything is ... well, just plain painful! Sheila Tubman, otherwise known as Sheila the Great, comes of age in ArtsPower's lively and poignant musical about discovering the person within. Ages 5 & Up.

A Christmas Carol - Sunday, November 23 at 1:30PM; $25

Start the holiday spirit with Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and all the rest in our heartwarming musical based on the Dickens classic. "Inspired, funny and intimate," raves the New York Times. A Christmas Carol, produced by Theatreworks USA, captures both the humorous and touching moments of the classic story with witty dialogue and fresh new songs, conveying Dickens' original message that the holiday season should be a "kind, forgiving, charitable time," a sentiment which still rings true today. Ages 5 & Up.

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! - Saturday, December 20 at 1:30PM; $25

It's holiday time, and everyone's favorite first grader is back to celebrate! All of the students in Room One are happily creating the perfect holiday party. Except how is Junie B. supposed to enjoy anything when she has drawn the name of her arch nemesis, Tattletale May, for her Secret Santa Gift!! But wait -- the Secret Santa gift is the perfect opportunity to give May exactly what she deserves...Maybe. Holiday fun with a lesson about giving is a perfect treat for the holiday season! Casa Mañana Theater. Ages 4 & Up.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carl Favorites - Saturday, February 28 at 1:30PM; $25

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by award-winning children's book illustrator and writer, Eric Carle, retold on stage in black light. The tale follows the wonderful adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar that progresses through an amazing variety of foods towards his metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. Children will delight in the antics of Little Cloud. High up in a beautiful sky, Little Cloud slips away from the rest and transforms itself into various shapes-a sheep, an airplane, a shark and more. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Ages 3 & Up.

The Gruffalo's Child - Saturday, March 14 at 1:30PM; $25

The Gruffalo said that no gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood. But one wild and windy night the Gruffalo's child ignores her father's warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist... does he? A Tall Stories production adapted from the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Ages 4 & Up.

Hot Peas 'N Butter - Saturday April 11 at 1:30PM; $15

Winners of the 2006, 2008, 2009 AND the 2012,"Parent's Choice Awards," Hot Peas-N-Butter is a unique children's musical group that incorporates elements of traditional Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk, and rock. By combining an interactive, invigorating approach to performance with mature, multicultural music, Hot Peas-N-Butter has developed a distinct way of inspiring care and creativity in kids and adults alike. All Ages.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley - Saturday, May 16 at 1:30PM; $25

Stanley Lambchop is just like everyone else. That's the problem. For Stanley, life is TOO normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one's ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley's bed comes loose and falls - right on top of Stanley! The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat...really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley -- the ultimate exchange student -- explores the globe and learns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Ages 5 & Up

Curious George - Saturday, May 30 at 1:30PM; $25

Join the inquisitive, lovable little monkey Curious George, star of books, movies and the award winning PBS television show in this delightful new musical. George enters the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest in Rome. With every swing and flip, George takes the audience through a fun-filled adventure. A Theatreworks USA production. Ages 4 & Up.

BMCC Tribeca PAC is Downtown Manhattan's premier presenter of the arts, reaching audiences from the college community, downtown residential and business communities, local schools, families, and audiences of all ages. BMCC Tribeca PAC strives to present a broad global perspective through the presentation of high-quality artistic work in music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts. BMCC Tribeca PAC is located on the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus, 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich Avenue & West Street) and is convenient to the 2/3, A/C/E and R/W subway lines and the New Jersey Path Train. For more information, visit www.tribecapac.org.

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