FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2023
Kill Date: September 10, 2023
The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University Announces its 2023-24 Season
Season announcement celebrates 53 years of performing arts at The O’Shaughnessy and a renewed focus
St. Paul, Minn. – The O’Shaughnessy 2023-24 season presents 15 new programs that invite audience members back to The O’Shaughnessy to experience a “renewed commitment to world-class artistic experiences that represent St. Kate’s mission and values,” said The O’Shaughnessy Executive Director Irene Green. “These values include a focus on women’s voices and an exploration of what social justice action could look like – for each of us in the year ahead.”
Additionally, the 2023-24 season includes the inaugural The O’Shaughnessy Dance Cohort. Its organizations include Ananya Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, Contempo Physical Dance and TU Dance. With an eye towards the future, this cohort aims to build partnerships to help accelerate audience development, enhance artistic experiences, and foster mutually beneficial partnerships amongst cohort member organizations and The O’Shaughnessy.
The O’Shaughnessy is pleased to offer a new array of ticket offers, including a subscription option that allows the general public to save more than 50% off the single ticket price if purchased before September 10, 2023. 2023-24 subscriptions and single tickets are on sale as of July 6 for the below events that begin in September 2023.
Tickets can be purchased online at oshag.stkate.edu, by phone at 651-690-6700 or in person at our Ticket Office at 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN.
● Jen Kober (Sept. 9) is a comedian originally from Lake Charles, LA, and has energetically bounded onto the national stage bringing crowds to their feet with her original blend of stand-up, storytelling, and improvised rock-n-roll comedy. Jen was the 2017 Winner of NPR’s Snap Judgement Comedic Performance of the Year.
● Ananya Dance Theatre: Michhil Amra | We Are the Procession. (Sept. 22 & 23) draws on the energetic and experiential interventions of the Uprising provoked by George Floyd’s murder, the pandemic, and nearly 20 years of rigorous choreographic investigation, to embody intersecting energies of interruption: anger, fear, joy, relief, solidarity, and the strength and beauty of mutual liberation.
● Classical Uprising: The [uncertain] Four Seasons (Sept. 30) is an algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” that uses geospatial climate modeling from 2050 to depict the impact of climate change. This project is produced in partnership with Minnesota Opera. Members of the MN Opera Orchestra will join Classical Uprising’s soloist, GRAMMY-nominated violinist Jesse Irons, to perform this piece under Emily Isaacson’s musical direction. Additionally, St. Kate’s students will be performing their poetry.
● Richard Leider: The Power of Purpose (October 10) is a keynote presentation about purpose. Purpose is not just for a special few, but something each one of us is born with and can unlock at any age. Join us for this exciting purpose-filled journey with Richard Leider. This event is produced in partnership with the Edina Innovation Lab.
● James Sewell Ballet: In the Shadows (Oct. 28) is a production where Frankenstein, zombies, and characters of Edgar Allen Poe come to life in this family friendly performance steeped in spooky delight and tragic majesty.
● Kevin Kling and Friends: Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log (December 9) is a holiday show with Kevin Kling, Dan Chouinard and Simone Perrin. Joined again by the ever-popular Brass Messengers, the show has been performed every year since 1995 and has become a holiday tradition for many.
● Second City: She The People (Feb. 3) is an award-winning production created and performed by the fearlessly funny women of The Second City. This high-octane show satirizes the complexities of identifying as female in this wild world while roasting the patriarchy with scorching sketch comedy, hilarious original songs, and whip-smart improv.
● The Love Show: Sweethearts of the Rodeo (Feb. 14) is devoted to lonesome pines, denim and gingham, the rough and rowdy love stories that sprouted from parched plains. A visit to the softer side of hard times, hard people and hard drinkin’.
● Moipei (Feb. 17) is a group of identical triplets from Kenya that create their own vocal arrangements. They interpret some well-known selections from the American Songbook and dazzle with their illuminating take on Broadway. Moipei recently performed at the Kennedy Center and have been recognized by the President of Kenya for their contribution to the music industry and the nation of Kenya.
● Letters Aloud: Thanks, But No Thanks, The Greatest Rejection Letters Ever (Feb. 24) is a spoken word performance that highlights rejection letters. Among the dozens of gems in this program; Andy Warhol is asked to pick up his painting at the front desk before it is hauled away and a young Sidney Poitier tries to borrow $100 from President Franklin Roosevelt (he said no).
● Sarah Hagen: “Perk up, pianist!” (March 1) is a performance where Sarah transformed her award-winning role as “concert pianist” into a stand-up, or rather, sit-down comedy. Pairing anecdotes with music, “Perk up, pianist!” takes audiences deep inside the world of a classical musician as she shares her earnest efforts to keep her spirits up in the midst of troublesome times.
● Contempo Physical Dance: Contempo’s National Choreography Residency (March 9) Contempo has created a Brazilian contemporary dance aesthetic that is constantly evolving. Contempo’s National Choreography Residency welcomes a Latinx choreographer to share exhilarating movement fusions, new movement approaches and a stunning performance with audiences in Minnesota.
● TAKE3: Where ROCK meets BACH (April 6) is a concert where violin, cello, and piano bring together the power and energy of rock music with the sophistication and beauty of classical Bach. Experience a fusion of styles that will leave you breathless and wanting more.
● The Aunties (April 20) The Aunties is a contemporary storytelling series featuring Native American matriarchs, women in Tribal communities who are leaders, culture bearers and who foster the development of young people and community. Follow the journey of three Indigenous matriarchs who will share their wisdom, humor, challenges and reasons for celebration. Join us for an evening of stories that talk about what it means to be Indigenous today.
● TU Dance: THREAT (April 26 & 27) THREAT is a concert dance theater work that aims to provoke an interrogation of the roles we play as individuals and community in hierarchies. The work posits that hierarchies have the power to control our behavior and infiltrate our thoughts, even when no authority is present to enforce the rules.
ABOUT THE O’SHAUGHNESSY
Located on the scenic campus of St. Catherine University, The O’Shaughnessy is one of the Twin Cities’ premiere arts venues. Since opening in 1970, The O’Shaughnessy has presented an array of both local and national performing arts companies. The O’Shaughnessy’s mission is to support St. Catherine University’s mission to educate women to lead and influence. It presents annually a world-class series of artistic offerings that center themes of social justice and women’s voices, produces University Events that invite the general public’s participation and broaden academic engagement, and hosts select community events. The venue is a meeting place between the campus community and larger region, and seeks opportunities to actively engage students in artmaking and broaden the campus dialogue through approachable art. More information can be found at oshag.stkate.edu.
CONTACT:
Allison Secord, Sales & Marketing Manager
Phone: (651) 690-6700
Email: amsecord010@stkate.edu
