The fall lineup for the Performing Arts and Concert Series features comedy acts, rock concerts, musicals and more
From ‘90s rock to comedy to a string trio, 16 acts are filling up Ohio University’s Performing Arts and Concert Series during the Fall Semester.
“It’s going to be busy,” Andrew Holzaepfel, senior associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said with a laugh.
The entertainment starts earlier than usual as ‘90s rock band Third Eye Blind will perform at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Aug. 28.
“We generally don’t do things as early as that, but we’re trying to ... give our students opportunities to do things earlier on in the semester,” Holzaepfel said. “We want them to be excited about being at OU so we want things right out of the gate, the first weekend.”
Holzaepfel added that many tickets have already been sold and the first concert should be “huge.”
The second show in the “concert” part of the overall series will feature Nate Ruess of indie pop band fun., though he will be doing a solo performance. Ruess is touring with the Campus Consciousness Tour, which mixes a music tour with an environmental campaign.
Ruess is no stranger to the tour and to Athens. When Janelle Monáe headlined in 2011, fun. was also featured in the concert that played at MemAud — one year before its smash hit “We Are Young” debuted.
A Parents Weekend tradition will continue this year as comedy troupe The Second City will make its fourth annual stop in Athens Sept. 19. The cast members seem equally as eager as Holzaepfel said he is for the show to return
“I remember it being a really fun show. We hung out in town afterwards until four in the morning,” said Alan Linic, a Second City touring company actor who performed at the 2014 show. “There was something kind of welcoming about it. … As a performer, there’s no better compliment … than having a venue … inviting us back to do another show.”
Another well-known comedic act can also be found on the lineup: The Daily Show. Jordan Klepper and John Hodgman will take their correspondent skills to the MemAud stage during Dads Weekend (Nov. 7)
Typically only one theatrical work is brought in per semester. This year, a holiday performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (Dec. 8) has been added, as well as the touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Oct. 8).
Making its 10th stop in Athens, Mountain Stage will be recording its West Virginia-based radio program on the MemAud stage Oct. 18.
“We always have great crowds in Athens,” Adam Harris, executive producer of Mountain Stage, said. “The audience’s reaction, when we tape in Athens, will be heard on (the) 150 stations across nation (that carry the show).”
As far as the shows Holzaepfel said he is personally looking forward to, those honors are reserved for string trio Time for Three (Oct. 19) and dance company Anna and The Annadroids (Oct. 27).
Closing out October is N*W*C, which Holzaepfel described as an “accessible comedic approach to racism.” The Performing Arts and Concert Series is partnering with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion to bring the 95-minute show that includes slam poetry, comedy, hip-hop and real life stories to MemAud.
“It’s an opportunity to start a dialogue,” Holzaepfel said.
Country music fans will get their fix when Tyler Farr returns to Athens and performs at MemAud Nov. 13.
With these 16 acts, Holzaepfel said he hopes there is something for everyone. He said there might even be more shows added.
“I think there’s something for every taste,” he said. “I feel like we’ve made a real conscious attempt to do something from so many different genres. We hope that anyone who looks at the Fall Semester can find something that appeals to them.”
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