April 2-10, 2021
Are you ready for a dose of joy?
For healing, connection and community?
For music, art and dance?
Yeah, we are too.
Our UCF artists have spent the last year making theatre in front of web cams, blowing horns in parking garages and dancing in kitchens. We’ve been hosting poetry readings over Zoom and painting alone in empty studios. And now we are ready to come out of solitude and – following every safety protocol – to experience the arts together.
At UCF, we find a way. By partnering with Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and making use of the health and safety protocols they have successfully implemented, we will safely get our UCF artists back to doing what they love doing: sharing their creativity with you. Join us outside, virtually or safely distanced in the Walt Disney Theatre. Be with us, however you feel comfortable and whatever way brings you happiness.
The arts are built on community, and together, we will Celebrate the Arts 2021. Join us April 2-10, 2021.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
UCF Celebrates the Arts 2021 will feature both in-person and virtual events to ensure everyone can celebrate UCF artists in whatever setting they are most comfortable.
UCF will host most events in the new, 2,000-seat outdoor venue on Dr. Phillips Center’s front lawn in partnership with the arts center’s Frontyard Festival™. For those interested in sitting indoors, limited seats are available for “A Knight of Dance” in the Walt Disney Theater on April 8. Along with in-person events, UCF Celebrates the Arts will feature several virtual events that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.
Tickets are on sale starting March 8 at noon. Tickets for in-person events will be sold through Dr. Phillips Center’s website; prices range from free to $50 (with the exception of Orlando Ballet’s Peter Pan.) Reservations for virtual events are required and can be made through the UCF School of Performing Arts box office; the events are “Pay What you Want” pricing starting at free. Each event listed in the schedule has a direct link to its ticketing platform; two transactions will be needed for people reserving tickets for in-person and virtual events.
The health and safety of our community and artists is our highest priority. Attendees at all in-person events are expected to abide by Dr. Phillips Center’s health and safety protocols.
Schedule
UCF is committed to providing universal access. Closed captioning will be provided for virtual events. Please contact [email protected] or 407-823-1500 to request any other disability accommodations no later than March 29.
Live & Local Lunches
Enjoy daily chamber music from UCF ensembles during the lunch hour, in partnership with Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™.
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Friday, April 2, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Live & Local Lunch: Flute Quartet and Brass Ensemble
In partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, UCF Celebrates the Arts will be hosting ensembles daily for the lunch hour. Today’s performance features the UCF Flute Quartet and Brass Ensemble.
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Saturday, April 3, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Live & Local Lunch: Trumpet and Horn Ensembles
In partnership with Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, UCF Celebrates the Arts will be hosting ensembles daily for the lunch hour. Today’s performance features the UCF Trumpet Ensemble and Horn Ensemble.
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Tuesday, April 6, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Live & Local Lunch: Trombone Choir and Pegasus String Quartet
In partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, UCF Celebrates the Arts will be hosting ensembles daily for the lunch hour. Today’s performance features the UCF Pegasus String Quartet.
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Thursday, April 8, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Live & Local Lunch: Chamber Wind Ensemble and New Music Ensemble
In partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, UCF Celebrates the Arts will be hosting ensembles daily for the lunch hour. Today’s performance features the Chamber Wind Ensemble and New Music Ensemble.
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Friday, April 9, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Live & Local Lunch: Musical Theatre and Saxophone Quartet
In partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival™, UCF Celebrates the Arts will be hosting ensembles daily for the lunch hour. Today’s performance features selections from Theatre UCF's "Songs of Inspiration," a musical theatre revue, and the UCF Saxophone Quartet.
Virtual & Ongoing Events
Throughout the week, there will be a selection of virtual events for those who prefer to watch from home. Advance registration is required, and patrons can “pay what they want” to watch, starting at free.
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Friday, April 2, 2021, 7:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Artful Moments: Creative Highlights from the School of Visual Arts and Design
Explore a selection of curated clips, interviews, photos, exhibitions, events and more from the School of Visual Arts and Design. Each feature will showcase facets of SVAD and the exceptional work that students and alumni are creating.
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Friday, April 2, 2021, 7:30 a.m. • Online
Project Spotlight: 10-Minute Virtual Play Festival
Project Spotlight brings their 10-minute play festival to UCF Celebrates the Arts! Watch virtually throughout the week and vote for your favorites.
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Tuesday, April 6, 2021, 6:00 p.m. • Online
Arts On! A virtual showcase of creativity at UCF
Experience performances, explore the gallery, chat with UCF alumni and go behind-the-scenes of how the arts come alive at UCF during this online showcase of creativity at UCF.
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Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 4:00 p.m. • Online
Letters of Love, Life and Longing in PRINT: A Hands-On Transcription Workshop
Trace the communication networks of early America through the lens of hand-written letters and learn about the University of Central Florida’s PRINT or People, Religion, Information Networks, and Travel project.
Main Stage
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Friday, April 2, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
A Knight of Opera: Carmenella and Opera Scenes
Opera students perform the children’s opera Carmenella followed by scenes from famous operas.
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Monday, April 5, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
A Knight to Shine 2021: A Musical Theatre Showcase
Join Senior BFA Musical Theatre students as they present an evening of cabaret style performance featuring songs from popular Broadway musicals including Waitress, Chicago, Wicked, West Side Story and many more.
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Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
UCF Percussion presents Inuksuit by John Luther Adams
Designed to be performed outdoors, "Inuksuit" is a unique experience for both the performers and the audience. The musicians start at the stage and move to surround the audience for an immersive sound experience.
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Thursday, April 8, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
UCF Bands presents Dances and Celebrations: A Celebration of Diversity
The UCF Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will present an exciting and colorful program of music by composers representing the great diversity of our community and nation.
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Thursday, April 8, 2021, 8:00 p.m. • Walt Disney Theater
A Knight of Dance
This evening of dance showcases the incredible talents of student, alumni and faculty choreographers and dancers. The concert features 17 original dances, from across genres such as tap, ballet, Pointe, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. Four of the dances were choreographed by UCF faculty members, Five by UCF alumni and eight by current UCF students.
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Friday, April 9, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Flying Horse Big Band
The chart-topping Flying Horse Big Band is composed of students in UCF’s jazz studies program. Under the direction of saxophonist and American jazz musician, Jeff Rupert, the Flying Horse Big Band performs at festivals and concert halls regionally and nationally.
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Saturday, April 10, 2021, 11:30 a.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Theatre for Young Audiences: The Grumpiest Boy in the World
Wanting to be more than the average seven-year-old boy, grumpy Zachary sets out to find a land of giants, flying things, and anything else that will help him standout from the being average kid.
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Saturday, April 10, 2021, 12:30 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Creative Clash
Artists armed with black markers race against the clock to create large-format artwork. The theme will be announced seconds before the start of the event, so come cheer on the artists and help choose a winner at the end of the competition.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
UCF Celebrates the Arts, a festival showcasing creativity, innovation and collaboration from Orlando’s hometown university, occurs annually at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in April. The event is hosted by the UCF College of Arts and Humanities and features the faculty and students from the School of Performing Arts and the School of Visual Arts and Design, as well as work from the humanities departments and other units from around the university. Partnership, one of UCF’s long-standing values, is brought front-and-center at UCF Celebrates the Arts, with many events showcasing the collaborative nature of the university and demonstrating how UCF is both in and of the Central Florida community.
Steering Committee
- Michael Wainstein, chair
- Gary Brown
- Hannah Estes
- Heather Gibson
- Thomas Harrison
- Paul Lartonoix
- Julia Listengarten
- Scott Lubaroff
- Claudia Lynch
- Rudy McDaniel
- Joe Muley
- Bridget Parry
- Steven Risko
- Jeffrey Rupert
- Azela Santana
- Bert Scott
- Keri Watson
Production Supervision
Provided by SenovvA
- James E. Cleveland
- Amy Hadley
- Bobby Malke
Stage, Production and Company Managers
- Claudia Lynch, advisor
- Emma Carbone*
- Sarah Simone*
- Jennifer Balestra*
- Elana Treiser*
- Lauren Koval*
- Leah Klayman*
- Lizett Echevarria*
- Christina Samanie*
- Sabrina Boudreaux
- Allyson Futch*
- Naiya Barsallo*
- Sarah Nicholson*
- Valarie Kutemeier*
- Morgan Polodna*
- Yesenia Ginzo*
- Thomasa Hagney*
- Magdalena Tronina*
- Sydney Whittaker*
- Lauran Conran*
- Ayana Yokie*
- Cameron Sparks*
- Gabriella Scott*
- Megan Ianero*
- Cassandra McKay
- Jordan Simon
- Kathleen Wilkinson*
Crew
- Justin Lalk*
- Jonanthony Rodriguez-Olivero*
- David Goll*
- Hailey Osborn*
- Robert Goldstein*
- Taylor Coffman*
Marketing & Front-of-House
- Quwade Bretch*
- Jennifer Chocolate*
- Matthew Dunn
- Myrand Elkin*
- Hannah Estes
- Heather Gibson
- Heaven Keller*
- Bella Martinez*
- Bridget Parry
- Steven Risko
- Brittany Ryder*
- Rachel Tran*
- Aubree Williams*
- Nicole Wills
Festival Design
- Jordan Stewart*
*denotes UCF student