About Us
"Movin' Out" Moves In on Feb. 11
(Posted: January 12, 2009) (Printable Version)
Sing along to some of the best known Billy Joel hits when “Movin’ Out” moves in on Feb. 11 as part of Season of Entertainment 28 sponsored by the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. at the Arkansas Best Corp. Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Admission is by Season ticket, or individual tickets are $37, $40 and $45.
Told through the choreography of Twyla Tharp and more than two dozen of Joel’s songs, “Movin’ Out” follows the story of lifelong friends through two turbulent decades that change them and the world around them forever. The songs and dance tell a poignant narrative comprised of post-World War II idealism, the Vietnam War and its subsequent unrest and finally, survival.
Many will recognize the main characters, as they come straight from Joel’s lyrics. Some familiar names include Brenda and Eddie from “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” Tony and Sgt. O’Leary from “Movin’ Out,” Judy from “Why, Judy, Why?” and the title character of “James.” The characters tell their story completely through dance with absolutely no dialogue, relying on action and motion rather than language to convey their experiences and emotions.
Tharp has choreographed more than 135 dances and five Hollywood movies and directed and choreographed three Broadway shows. She is the winner of a Tony Award, an Astaire Award and the Drama League Award for Sustained Achievement in Musical Theater, among others. In addition to her own company, she has also choreographed for such world-renowned companies as the American Ballet Theatre, the Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet and the Martha Graham Dance Company.
Joel has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972. In 1990, he was presented with a Grammy Legend Award and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. “Movin’ Out” includes many of Joel’s most popular works, including “Just the Way You Are,” “The Longest Time,” “Uptown Girl,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Only the Good Die Young,” along with an overture of “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”
UA Fort Smith packages touring productions and on-campus concerts and productions into the Season of Entertainment schedule each year. Remaining touring shows on the Season 28 schedule are “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” on March 16 and “Birdhouse Factory on April 1.
Tickets are available online at www.uafortsmith.edu or by calling the UA Fort Smith Box Office at 788-7300.
| Article by: Jessica Martin, Public Relations Assistant |
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