HARRIS THEATER ANNOUNCES 2015–2016 EXELON FAMILY SERIES
Saturday Matinees the Whole Family Can Enjoy with 3 Harris Theater Premieres
AXIS Dance Company
Kronos Quartet
C!RCA: Carnival of the Animals
CHICAGO – The Harris Theater today announced the performances of its popular Exelon Family Series for the 2015–2016 season. Established in 2008, Exelon Family Series programs provide unique learning opportunities for families to experience world-class performances at the Harris, at affordable prices. This season’s series includes one of the world’s most celebrated ensembles for performers with and without disabilities, AXIS Dance Company; the Family Series premiere of the world renowned Kronos Quartet; and the Harris Theater debut of the fanciful C!RCA: Carnival of the Animals. These one-hour performances, designed for children ages 4-12, take place on Saturday afternoons at 2pm. Educational materials and discussion questions are provided at each performance to deepen families’ experience at the Theater. This year’s series will explore themes of different abilities, understanding cultures and world music, and the natural world. Special interactions between the audience and the artists will also be featured throughout the series.
“We work very hard to provide the kind of diverse and inspiring repertoire seen in our upcoming Family Series here at the Harris. Providing a shared opportunity for families to experience the arts together is a cornerstone of the Theater’s mission,” said Harris Theater President and Managing Director Michael Tiknis. “Exposure to the arts from a young age is so important in maintaining the vitality and integrity of music and dance here in Chicago, and sharing these creative, artistic experiences with family allows the conversation to continue on at home, in school, and in life.”
The Harris Theater is proud to be a partner with ADA25 Chicago in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by presenting AXIS Dance Company. The Harris also places a strong emphasis on community engagement via unique enrichment activities through the Access Tickets Program. The Harris Theater partners with health and human services agencies and community organizations to provide underwritten performance tickets for individuals facing illness, disability and challenging life circumstances. Since 2009, the Theater has provided over 8,800 tickets to children and families, representing 25 neighborhoods across the city of Chicago. This season, the Harris will engage new organizations servicing individuals with disabilities as an additional initiative of ADA25. The 2015-2016 Family Series is the primary vehicle for providing 1,000 underwritten tickets to more than 30 Access Tickets partners annually.
Subscriptions are available now starting at $30; single performance tickets are $12. To purchase tickets, please visit HarrisTheaterChicago.org or call 312.334.7777.
See a full listing of 2015–2016 Exelon Family Series performances below:
AXIS Dance Company
October 10, 2015, 2PM
AXIS Dance Company has become one of the world’s most acclaimed and innovative ensembles of performers with and without disabilities. Since their founding in 1987, they have won seven Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, acknowledging exceptional creative achievements in the performance and presentation of dance. The Company has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, including two appearances on the nationally broadcast FOX television show So You Think You Can Dance. AXIS collaborates with world-class choreographers and composers to create completely new and innovative performances. This performance will include a Q&A with artists.
Harris Theater is proud to partner with ADA 25 Chicago in recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act for this presentation.
This performance is made possible with support from lead sponsors Sunny and Gery Chico.
Kronos Quartet: Around the World with Kronos
January 30, 2016, 2PM
Through 40 years of collaboration, 45 recordings, and thousands of international appearances, the Kronos Quartet has become one of the most celebrated string quartets of our time. In their Exelon Family Series debut, Around the World with Kronos, the quartet will lead audiences in an exploration of sounds from across the globe, from faraway continents to discoveries right here at home. This performance will include a Meet & Greet and photos with artists.
This performance is made possible with support from lead sponsors Shana and Peter Ellis.
C!RCA: Carnival of the Animals
March 26, 2016, 2PM
The Circa Carnival comes to town with whimsical tales of creatures of land and sea, who tumble, fly, leap and spin their way through the many wondrous worlds of the animal kingdom. Carnival of the Animals whisks you away on a thrilling circus escapade inspired by Camille Saint-Saens’ delightful salute to feathers, fur and fins. Circa’s acrobats bring this classical music suite to life for a whole new generation of circus, music and animal lovers. Acrobats will be partaking in enrichment activities with Harris Theater Access Tickets partners during their time in Chicago – details forthcoming.
This performance is made possible with support from lead sponsors Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols.
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Sponsors
The Harris Theater is proud to have the support of The Northern Trust Company as its 2015–2016 season sponsor. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of the Harris Theater. Hyatt Regency Chicago is the Harris Theater’s season hotel partner. The Theater also gratefully acknowledges the Irving Harris Foundation for its leadership support of the Presenting Fund. The Harris Theater is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. All performances take place on The Elizabeth Morse Genius Stage at the Harris Theater. Exelon is the 2015-2016 Family Series Presenting Sponsor. Additional support around the Family Series performances has been provided by Peter and Shana Ellis and Alexandra and John Nichols.
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The Harris Theater’s mission is to partner with a wide array of Chicago’s performing arts organizations supporting their initiatives for artistic growth and development. Its continuing efforts help build infrastructure and long-term sustainability for many of its resident companies.
Opened on November 8, 2003, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929. Today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city’s world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and international artists and ensembles.
Imagine: The Campaign for Harris Theater, is a $38.8M comprehensive fundraising effort supporting the Theater’s multifaceted mission. The campaign ensures the continued growth and artistic development of the Harris Theater over the next 10 years.
The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust and Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust are the lead underwriters of fundraising for Imagine: The Campaign for Harris Theater.
The Harris maintains a strong emphasis on community engagement through unique enrichment activities and their Access Tickets Program, in which the Harris Theater partners with health and human services agencies and community organizations. View our full list of partners HERE.
To learn more about the Harris Theater, please visit HarrisTheaterChicago.org. Call the Box Office at 312.334.7777 to request a brochure or additional information.
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago’s state-of-the art 1,525-seat performance venue, can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
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