Bill Pullman & Lily Knight Star in Ensemble Galilei's FIRST PERSON: SEEING AMERICA at Three Stages, 10/14

In 2011, the Three Stages' audience delighted to Universe of Dreams, Ensemble Galilei's presentation of poetry, music, and images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The Ensemble returns to Three Stages with actors Bill Pullman (Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping, Too Big To Fail) and Lily Knight (Changeling, Boston Legal) in a stirring examination of America-First Person: Seeing America.

Executive Director Dave Pier noted "this fusion of words, image and music-- once again in collaboration with NPR's Neal Conan-- blends prestigious images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a thoughtful meditation on America. It's an honor, of course, to have artists of the stature of Bill Pullman, Lily Knight and Ensemble Galilei in our Stage One. But maybe even more than that, I think the audience can expect a moving and memorable experience, as only these multi-leveled presentations can provide."

First Person: Seeing America, with Ensemble Galilei, Bill Pullman & Lily Knight will perform in Three Stages today, Oct 14, 2012 at 2 pm. Tickets are $25-$39, Premium $45. ?Students with ID $12; they may be purchased online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

Begin with the strength, diversity and depth of the photography collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art: photographs by Walker Evans, Edward Curtis, Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, Helen Levitt and others. Take those images and accompany them with writings by Jim Harrison, Dexter Filkins, James Agee, Frederick Douglass, Calamity Jane, and more; writings read by actor Bill Pullman and actress Lily Knight, who brilliantly bring people, events and places to life.

The soundtrack is the evocative music of Ensemble Galilei – traditional music from Scotland, Ireland and Sweden; from the Renaissance, Michael Praetorius, and new compositions, featuring fiddles, harp, viola da gamba, percussion, banjo, whistles and oboe.

Transcendent and soulful music winds around the text as high-resolution images are projected on a large screen in the center of the stage.

What people! The haunted faces of rural Americans as they struggle to survive the Dust Bowl, indelible portraits of Native Americans. The events that shaped a nation - the Civil War, the Great Depression, the immigrant experience. And what places – from the sidewalks of New York to the majesty of Yosemite. Great photographers captured it all – hardship, war and despair, and the gritty determination of extraordinary people in a magnificent land. This is what these extraordinary photographers saw – First Person: Seeing America.

Onstage at Three Stages tonight, October 14:

Actor Bill Pullman, whose career includes the blockbuster movies, Independence Day and While You Were Sleeping, numerous independent films, the current TV hit Torchwood: Miracle Day and critically acclaimed work on Broadway.

Actress Lily Knight appears on stage in Los Angeles and New York (Broadway and Off Broadway). Her film work includes roles in Changeling, Around the Bend, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, AI. She has appeared on over 50 television shows, including Big Love, Saving Grace, The Mentalist, Boston Legal, Weeds.

Ensemble Galilei Hailed for its unique blend of Irish, Scottish, Early and Original music, Ensemble Galilei has created an inspired sound on stage and CD. Touring both gorgeous instrumental programs and exciting collaborative projects, the group takes each audience on an exquisitely designed journey. Mixing the colors and styles of early instruments with Celtic traditions, the group is equally at home with Irish Reels, Medieval Cantigas and English Country Dance tunes. Ensemble Galilei is versatile, virtuosic, energetic, and very entertaining. "They play with energy, splendid ensemble, good humor and imagination" (Washington Post).

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supports productions by FLC students and faculty.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is a $50 million performing and visual arts center that opened in February 2011. Located on the campus, Three Stages includes three intimate performance venues (850, 200, 100 seats), an art gallery, a recording studio, ample rehearsal and classroom space, a full service ticket office plus all the amenities of a state-of-the-art performance venue. Parking is free on weekends and for those buying tickets in advance.

A renaming of Three Stages is currently under way. The new name, The Harris Center for the Arts, honors Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the Capital Region, including providing the vision and leadership that lead to the opening of this regional arts center.

First Person: Seeing America presented by Ensemble Galilei and featuring Bill Pullman & Lily Knight with photographs from the Metropolitan Museum of Art plays Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 2 pm.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is located at 10 College Parkway in Folsom, Calif. Tickets: $25-$39, Premium $45; ?Students with ID $12. Tickets are available online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 (Monday through Saturday, 10 am-6 pm, and two hours before show time).

For more information, click HERE.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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