The Buffalo State College Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall is excited to highlight some if its upcoming spring events.
National concert promoter Emporium Presents brings legendary Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson to the PAC on Tuesday, February 1, at 7:30 p.m. Aside from his high-octane performances with Iron Maiden, Dickinson’s accomplishments include pilot and airline captain, motivational speaker, podcaster, New York Times Top 10 best-selling author, and actor. Join one of the world’s most storied musicians as he entertains with some of his fascinating tales, delivered with enthusiasm and wit, and have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A with this music icon.
Buffalo Opera Unlimited presents Spotlight on Black Composers for two shows, Friday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 27, at 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the distinctive music of William Grant Still (“Weeping Angel” [“Grief”], “Golden Days” from Costaso, “Mother and Child,” “Ennanga,” “Poem for Orchestra,” and “Sahdji,” a work for singers, dancers, and orchestra); Margaret Bonds (“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”); Ulysses Kay (“Pieta”); and Adolphus Hailstork (Symphony No. 2). This performance will include singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, conducted by Jamon Dunn. Performances by Buffalo Opera Unlimited require proof of vaccination for admittance.
On Tuesday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m., the Performing Arts Center welcomes Mae Jemison as the 2022 Buffalo State Diversity Speaker. Jemison was the first woman of color to go into space and served six years as a NASA astronaut. In September 1992, she performed experiments in material science, life sciences, and human adaptation to weightlessness aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, STS-47 Spacelab J mission. Educated at Stanford University as a chemical engineer and at Cornell University as a medical doctor, Jemison also served as a medical officer in the Peace Corps and taught environmental studies at Dartmouth College. A member of the National Academy of Medicine and an inductee of the International Space Hall of Fame, the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame, and the Texas Science Hall of Fame, she has received numerous awards, including the National Organization for Women’s Intrepid Award and the Kilby International Award. She’s the author of Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life, an inspirational memoir written for young adults, and was the first real astronaut to appear on the Star Trek television series. Listen to Jemison speak about her life, breaking gender barriers, and overcoming bias, followed by a Q&A with the audience.
On Saturday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m., the Performing Arts Center presents Grammy Award–winning contemporary jazz and R&B superstar Norman Brown, presented by M&T Bank. Brown has sold over 2 million albums and is a constant at the top of the Billboard contemporary jazz charts. His smooth jazz guitar sounds uniquely fuse the best elements of jazz, R&B, blues, and pop. Brown has collaborated with countless legendary musicians including Brian McKnight, Stevie Wonder, Rick Braun, Boney James, Gerald Albright, and Boyz II Men. JazzTimes magazine touts him as “a culmination of Jimi Hendrix and George Benson with some of Wes Montgomery thrown in,” and Udiscover Music named him one of the top “50 Best Jazz Guitarists of All Time.”
And, rescheduled from its original date in April 2020, the Performing Arts Center is excited to finally welcome smooth jazz, R&B, funk multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Brian Culbertson on Saturday, April 9, at 8:00 p.m., presented by M&T Bank. Over the course of 20 albums, Culbertson has created more than 30 Billboard No. 1 singles. His recent album, XX, is unlike any of his others because of its diversity. “There’s a lot of funk instrumentals, some pop-sounding tracks, a couple of slow jams, some straight-ahead jazz, gospel, some vocals, lots of horns, and some straight-up funk,” said the Chicago-based Culbertson. Tickets to this rescheduled date are extremely limited.
Tickets to all shows are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center Box Office in Rockwell Hall, by phone at (716) 878-3005 during Box Office hours, or online anytime. Check the website for Box Office hours of operation updates.
In accordance with Buffalo State COVID-19 protocols, until further notice, all event attendees at the Performing Arts Center will be required to wear a mask while inside the building at all times regardless of vaccination status. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the building, and Buffalo State follows guidelines from the NYS Department of Health and the CDC regarding mechanical ventilation and air filtration. The campus has installed and maintains high-performance MERV-13 filters in the Performing Arts Center. Ventilation systems will continue to operate for longer hours, with increased outdoor air being supplied to indoor spaces where possible.
For any updates to upcoming events or COVID protocols for event attendance, please check the PAC website, follow the Performing Arts Center on Facebook, or join the PAC email list.
Media Contact:
Buffalo State College Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
Andrew D. Binder, Director of Operations | (716) 878-3032 | binderad@buffalostate.edu
