Back for a landmark 10th anniversary season, Seven Days of Opening Nights promises audiences a thrilling panorama of the arts, Feb. 10-28, 2008.
Headliners for Florida State University's annual festival of the fine and performing arts include pop-music icon Art Garfunkel, internationally acclaimed author Salman Rushdie, renowned jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, actor-comedian Martin Short, and Grammy Award-winning musicians Chick Corea and Bela Fleck.
The cultural celebration features performances and exhibits by the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet; Grammy-nominated wind-quintet Imani Winds; AXIS Dance Company; folk trio The Wailin' Jennys; Actors from the London Stage in Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew"; contemporary blues soloist and guitarist Keb' Mo'; 10-member, world music troupe Barrage; and Geoffrey Gilmore, director of the Sundance Film Festival.
Also among the festival's rich offerings: A special Prism concert featuring FSU's student musical groups; art exhibitions, including the return of Mexican surrealist Enrique Chavarria's work to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science and "Full and Spare: Ceramics in the 21st Century" at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts; the free Saturday Matinee of the Arts—an annual favorite—which showcases cultural organizations from the Big Bend region; and a vibrant fringe festival with an eclectic mix of artistry.
Full schedule information can be found at www.sevendaysfestival.org.
In partnership with dozens of generous sponsors and countless members, Florida State University annually presents Seven Days of Opening Nights, bringing world-class performers to the region—enriching not only general audiences but also providing students access to artists through master classes, lectures, readings, exhibits and other discipline-specific experiences.
Festival organizers offer exclusive benefits to Seven Days Members, including the opportunity to order tickets in October—well before they go on sale to the general public. Priority Ticket Sales Periods permit Members to order tickets and select seats starting as early as October 1, depending on Membership level.
Information about Membership levels and benefits and an application form can be found by following this link.
General ticket sales begin Nov. 5, 2007, through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office, (850) 644-6500, or online at www.tickets.fsu.edu.
The complete schedule:
| Feb. 10 | Prism: Special Edition IV, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 11 | Art Garfunkel, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 13 | Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 14 | Chris Botti, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 15 | Full and Spare: Ceramics in the 21st Century, Museum of Fine Arts, FSU | |
| Feb. 15 | Enrique Chavarria: Journey Into the Subconscious, Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science | |
| Feb. 15 | Barrage, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 16 | Martin Short, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 17 | Imani Winds, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 18-19 | AXIS Dance Company, Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, FSU | |
| Feb. 20 | Chick Corea and Bela Fleck, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 22 | Salman Rushdie, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 23 | Saturday Matinee of the Arts, Tallahassee Museum | |
| Feb. 23 | Keb' Mo', Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 25-26 | Actors from the London Stage, Turner Auditorium, TCC | |
| Feb. 27 | The Wailin' Jennys, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU | |
| Feb. 28 | Sundance Film Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, FSU |
Introduced in 1999 by Florida State University, Seven Days of Opening Nights has brought world-renowned artists and performers to Tallahassee, including Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winners, dance companies and musical ensembles, musical theater and film premiers. The festival has showcased world-class performers and artists such as The Boston Pops, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Violinist Joshua Bell, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, Willie Nelson, actors Olympia Dukakis and Hal Holbrook, pianist Marian McPartland, Garrison Keillor, authors Amy Tan and John Updike, and numerous other internationally known musicians, and respected stage and screen actors.
Seven Days of Opening Nights is made possible through the efforts of community volunteers and generous corporate, media and in-kind sponsors.
For more information, call (850) 644-7670 or visit www.sevendaysfestival.org.