Just in time for the Bicentennial, a threesome of the city’s leading arts organizations – BalletMet, the Jazz Arts Group and WOSU Public Media – have come together for a unique collaborative event to celebrate the city’s past, present and future — Jazz Moves Columbus, playing through February 12 at the Capitol Theatre.
Through music, dance and imagery Jazz Moves Columbus takes audiences on a fun, whirlwind journey through Columbus’ “Cradle of Jazz,” weekend parties, historic neighborhoods, and dance halls while remembering the fragility of life, the civil rights movement, joyous Sunday morning church services, and a celebration of our bright future.
Jazz Moves Columbus is the iconic kickoff to the year-long celebration of 200Columbus. “This project is more than a performance – it is a true ‘community’ celebration,” says Columbus Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director Byron Stripling.
“Audiences are finding this piece to be responsive to them and their thoughts,” said BalletMet Artistic Director Gerard Charles. “A lot of people are coming back to see it again.”
This marks the third major collaboration between the CJO and BalletMet – the original Jazz Moves won the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Artistic Excellence Award and was called “groundbreaking” by the Columbus Dispatch.
Barbara Zuck of the Dispatch called this new Jazz Moves Columbus “An embarrassment of riches” and “A beautiful birthday greeting.”
Six cutting-edge choreographers from Broadway to Columbus have contributed to the success of the event and the richness of its content. They include Randy Duncan (West Side Story, Guys and Dolls), Stella Kane (Sugar, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’), Dan Knechtges (Sondheim on Sondheim, Xanadu, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Harrison McEldowney (The Baton Show Lounge, Billy Sunday); Darrell Grand Moultrie (The Color Purple, Aida, Billy Elliott), and Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Swing!, Chess, Titanic).
Each evening is topped off with an ice cream social that celebrates the “sweet spot” that is our unique city and provides a post-performance gathering where audience members meet one another and the stars of the show. Ice cream has been supplied by Columbus’ very own Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, voted the number one ice cream in the country!
Single tickets for Jazz Moves Columbus are available through the CAPA ticket office and prices start at $20. Student tickets are also available for $15 with valid ID at the door. Advance tickets are available by phone at 614-469-0939 and through all Ticketmaster outlets.
Concert sponsorship for Jazz Moves Columbus is provided by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Columbus Foundation and the State Auto Group.
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.
