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Concert Series Feature
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Queens Courier, Concert Series Feature >>
Queens residents will be given unique opportunity to see performers of various genres and backgrounds through the Performance Planet series at the LaGuardia Community .College Performing Arts Center. This marks the second year of Performance Planet, which was created as a way to reflect the college itself.
"The concept of Performance Planet was basically originated when the president of the college, Gail Mellow, decided to work and make the college visible for what it is, which is one of the most diverse colleges in the country," said Claudia Norman, the Artistic Director of Performance Planet.
According to Jeff Rosenstock, Visiting Artistic Director of the LaGuardia Community College Performing Arts Center, this is also an important program for area residents.
Based on the demographics of the student population, international artists were recruited to form Performance Planet. Along with the shows, Norman said that there will be conversations with the performers.
"The approach that we wanted to take is not only as performance on the, stage but we want to make this an educational experience," Norman said.
The series kicked off on April 29th with Joseito Mateo who, along with being a singer, also arranges and composes music.
Things will take a different tone on Saturday, May 6th during the second part of Performance Planet, which is the Asian Rock Festival. It will include sets from Johnny Hi- Fi, a group that has been described as "Asian Brit-pop" singer/songwriter Kevin So and Vudoo Soul, a singer and piano player.
So, who currently resides in Brooklyn, took part in the series last year, saying that he was impressed by how professional the set-up was at LaGuardia.
According to So, the Asian Rock Festival provides community members with a chance to see something that has potential to become a big cultural movement. He said that people should come out to the show "if they want to see something different and something that is son of revolutionary."
"It's something that's pioneering, I think," So said. "It's ahead of its time."
On Friday, May 19, members of the college will become a part of Performance Planet during the First Annual Music Festival. Students and faculty members sent in press materials, with four being selected to perform during the show. Rosenstock, who is also the Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park, said they wanted to give the emerging artists an opportunity to show their talent.
The Performance Planet concerts will conclude on June 3rd with Salman Ahmad, a Pakistani who performs hard rock.
The LaGuardia Community College theatre is located at 47th and Van Dam Street in Long Island City. Each show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
For more information, call (718) 482-5151 or visit www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac. 05/04/06
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