(Joplin, MO) – Connect2Culture (C2C) announced its highly anticipated 2022-2023 performance season on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. With its move to the new Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex (212 West 7th Street, Joplin, MO 64801), C2C will be expanding its role as a performing arts presenter, offering two new performing arts series in addition to its annual Curtains Up Series.
“We are thrilled to open the doors to our new home, the Cornell Complex, and help welcome guests into this facility with 16 performances across three series,” said Emily Frankoski, Executive Director of C2C. “Along with our fifth annual Curtains Up Series, we will be offering a series that promotes area and regional artists, a series for children and families, and even a piano spotlight performance.”
All performances will utilize either the 435-seat Beshore Performance Hall or the 1,500-person, outdoor Leggett & Platt Green at the Cornell Complex.
The Curtains Up Series
The Curtains Up Series, first established in 2016, remains Connect2Culture’s flagship series, offering performances featuring high-quality, nationally touring bands, musicians, and groups. This series knows no bounds and includes a great variety of performance types. The 2022-2023 Curtains Up Series will include:
Christmas with the Annie Moses Band
Saturday, December 17, 2022 | 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
The Annie Moses Band is an ensemble of Juilliard-trained siblings whose genre-defying performances have thrilled audiences for more than a decade. Drawn together by family, faith, and a love for their audience, these exceptional musicians apply their talent to a cornucopia of iconic melodies through innovative arrangements and original songwriting. Celebrate Christmas with the Annie Moses Band as they masterfully present the season’s favorites alongside original, holiday compositions!
Aquila Theatre in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
Published in 1813, Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy, Pride and Prejudice, has stood the test of time. As the Bennet sisters try to navigate their way toward love and marriage, Austen humorously skewers the hypocrisies and absurdities of the English class system, and puts the thoughts and feelings of her female characters front and center. Filled with unforgettable characters, this sharp social satire has it all: wit, romance, and lots of dancing!
Danú
Thursday, March 9, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
Known for its high-energy performances, this outstanding Irish ensemble fuses a glorious mix of ancient Celtic music and new repertoire for lively concerts. For more than two decades, Danú’s virtuosi musicians on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals have taken audiences around the globe on a musical journey to the emerald hills of Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience.
The Second City Swipes Right: The Incomplete Guide to the Ultimate Date Night
Friday, March 24, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
It’s love at first laugh with The Second City! Bring your partner, lover, significant other, spouse, friend with benefits, platonic BFF, or your spectacularly single self to The Second City Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to The Ultimate Date Night. Spend a naughty 90 minutes with The Second City’s caliente cast of comedians as they (consensually) annihilate everything that turns us on—and off—about love, dating, relationships, and everything else in-between the sheets
Jessica Vosk
Saturday, March 25, 2023 @ 7:00 pm | Sunday, March 26, 2023 @ 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
One of Broadway’s biggest voices comes to the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex! A celebrated singer and actress, Jessica Vosk is no stranger to musical theater and the concert stage. Best known for her role as Elphaba in Wicked, Vosk performs beloved repertoire from Broadway and the Great American Songbook for a stunning performance that echoes in the minds of audiences long after the curtain closes.
The Reminders
Friday, April 7, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
The Reminders are a remarkable musical duo that seamlessly blends soulful sounds and roots music with insightful messages and thoughtful lyrics. With a unique mashup of razor-sharp rhymes, raw vocals, reggae-tinged hip-hop beats, and inspiring themes, these musicians present high-energy shows that uplift audiences and leave them wanting more.
Piano Battle
Saturday, April 29, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
The brainchild of internationally accomplished pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, the Piano Battle pins the duo head-to-head on stage. The two artists, with distinctly different
performance styles, take turns performing pieces by famous composers or improvise based on requested tunes. At the end of each round, audience members cast their votes to decide the winner. Part serious classical recital, part tongue-in-cheek performance, the Piano Battle is a unique concert that pleases both the ear and the eye!
BritBeat – A Tribute to the Beatles
Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 8:00 pm | Leggett & Platt Green
Take a trip back in time through the days of Beatlemania with BritBeat, a journey through Beatles music history! Depicting the styles and sounds of The Beatles from their inception to their breakup, this nationally acclaimed show recreates the Fab Four with six dazzling costumes, exquisite musicianship, powerful vocals, and a spectacular, immersive backdrop. Together, these elements create an electrifying experience that explores the iconic music catalog of the band of the century, The Beatles.
The Ignite Series
The aptly named Ignite Series seeks to ignite a passion for arts and culture outside of the classroom by providing performances that engage, educate, and inspire area students and their families. This series features special performances, masterclasses, talkbacks, and more. The 2022-2023 Ignite Series includes:
Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition
Saturday, January 21, 2023 | 2:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall | Ages 9+
Jack London’s classic tale brought to life on stage! This multimedia adventure mixes traditional storytelling with projected illustrations to recount the thrilling tale of Buck, a dog who is kidnapped from his lavish life and forced to work as a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. Buck’s strength and courage not only help him survive in the northland, but uncover the wild, primal call of his ancestors.
Mad River Theatre Works Presents Freedom Flight
Saturday, January 28, 2023 | 2:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall | Ages 8+
Freedom Flight transports audiences back to the turbulent time of the Underground Railroad. Here, one of the most famous incidents of the Railroad unfolds: the story of escaped slave Addison White and his rescue by the citizens of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. With original songs and an array of characters, this one-act play illustrates the tension, drama, and prevailing sense of hope experienced during an extraordinary chapter in our nation’s history.
The Secret Agency
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 | 6:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall | Ages 7–14
The Secret Agency is on a mission to find intelligence in all forms. From linguistic intelligence to emotional intelligence and from fine art to street smarts, The Secret Agency understands the value of bringing hidden intelligence to light. Their interactive hip-hop performances combine music, storytelling, dance, and imagination to encourage kids to value their unique individuality and remind adults how exciting, scary, and beautiful it is to be young
The Okee Dokee Brothers
Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 7:30 pm | Leggett & Platt Green | Ages 5–10
Childhood friends Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing have always loved exploring the outdoors. Now, as The Grammy Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers, they put this passion for nature at the heart of their musical collaborations. With witty lyrics, strong musicianship, and unique folk style, The Okee Dokee Brothers perform for families across the nation, inspiring them to step outside and develop a deeper respect for the natural world, their communities, and themselves.
The Cornell Series
The Cornell Series honors the late Harry M. Cornell, a local businessman and champion of the arts. Mr. Cornell’s passion for local artists endures through this series of performances from local and regional artists. Its first year highlights artists from Joplin, St. Louis, and even Texas! The 2022-2023 Cornell Series includes:
Glenda Austin
Saturday, December 10, 2023 | 6:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
Glenda Austin is a life-long pianist, church musician, and educator who is playing her way through life, one song at a time! From well-loved hymns and light classical music to original compositions and classic oldies, Austin’s compelling and lively style makes each performance an extraordinary experience. This Joplin native’s holiday performances reimagine and breathe new life into enduring Christmas classics, ushering audiences into the holiday season with festive cheer!
Miss Jubilee & The Yas Yas Boys
Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
Miss Jubilee & the Yas Yas Boys are a St. Louis blues and jazz band that pay homage to the female blues singers of the 1920s and 30s, and to the rich musical heritage of their hometown. Back then, so much great music blurred the lines between “jazz” and “blues,” and these are the sounds that most inspire Miss Jubilee & the Yas Yas Boys. Performed with joy, precision, and an infectious energy, they prove that this wonderful, old music isn’t quite ready for a museu
Me Like Bees
Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 7:30 pm | Leggett & Platt Green
Me Like Bees emerged on the music scene in 2013 with the release of their first full-length album, The Ides, and their winning performance in the Ernie Ball Music Man Battle of the Bands. Today, the Joplin-based band is extremely popular for their distinctive blend of catchy indie rock and meticulously crafted lyrics, which capture the existential weight of the world.
A’lante Flamenco
Saturday, June 24, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
Based out of Austin, Texas, A’lante Flamenco strives to present flamenco music and dance to audiences in a new and exciting way. Blending traditional and contemporary flamenco, the group produces popular flamenco shows as well as innovative, multimedia flamenco theatre works that address relevant social issues and surpass cultural and linguistic boundaries. With thundering footwork, chattering castanets, soaring vocals, and blazing guitars, it’s no wonder A’lante Flamenco continues to garner praise from audiences and critics alike!
The Corley Spotlight
The Corley Spotlight, generously funded by the W. R. Corley Memorial Trust, consists of a free performance and educational outreach opportunity. This season’s Corley Spotlight showcases the Complex’s 1949 Steinway Concert Grand Piano and an award-winning pianist.
Steven Spooner
Friday, February 10, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Beshore Performance Hall
At the very forefront of American pianists, critics and audiences have unanimously praised the distinctive and compelling performances of Steven Spooner. An award-winning pianist and a professor at the Peabody Conservatory, Spooner has been featured in prestigious venues across the globe. His reimagined solo recitals allow audiences to vote for the program they want to hear, and feature virtuoso transcriptions alongside his own exhilarating compositions.
“We’re looking forward to an amazing, expanded performance season in our new home,” says Frankoski. “And, of course, none of it would be possible without our generous sponsors, including our returning Top Billing Sponsor, Freeman Health System.”
Season tickets go on sale to the public November 12, 2022. Season ticket packages allow you to attend multiple performances within a season at discounted prices. Receive 20% off when you buy tickets to all performances included in a series. Single ticket sales begin December 1, 2022.
Visit connect2culture.org/all-performances to learn more about each artist in our 2022–2023 season. Tickets to all C2C performances are sold exclusively through connect2culture.org, over the phone at 417.501.5550, or at the box office inside the Cornell Complex. Avoid overpaying through ticket resellers by buying direct from C2C!
About Connect2Culture:
Connect2Culture (C2C) is a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 2009 to enhance community through culture. Unlike any organization in the Joplin area, C2C is a respected community arts agency, a champion of the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, and a performing arts presenter. C2C strives to expand audience and resources needed to “ignite a passion for the arts, culture, and entertainment” in the Joplin area.
Reference:
Emily Frankoski
Connect2Culture
417.501.5550
emily@connect2culture.org
Very excited for this robust series of different styles and genres. A little bit of something for everyone. And in the new Cornell Complex!