MARCH 16 UPDATE: Mondavi Center's acoustical canopy all fixed; the 'show goes on' with Ladysmith Black Mambazo tonight

The show will go on. So say officials with the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, as they announced this morning (March 16) that the acoustic canopy in Jackson Hall is all fixed and certified.

The officials said the center will resume its schedule at 8 o'clock tonight with a concert by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the a capella group that has introduced the beauties of Zulu harmony to a wide international audience over the last four decades.

The acoustic canopy became inoperable on March 6, forcing the move of three concerts to other venues and also interrupting the March 13-15 weekend schedule.

Don Roth, the Mondavi Center's executive director, said: “Despite this happening over a 10-day period, only one show and one Forum@MC actually were canceled."

The Academy of Ancient Music, which was to have presented a concert the night of March 14, instead will perform at 8 p.m. March 17. A preperformance lecture by music professor Jessie Ann Owens, dean of the Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, is set for 7 p.m., also in Jackson Hall.

For people who already hold Academy of Ancient Music tickets and parking passes, the Mondavi Center is advising that those tickets and passes should be used for the new date.

"And we are in the final stages of confirming a new date for Grupo Corpo," Roth said. The Brazilian dance troupe was to have performed the night of March 13. Tickets holders are advised to hold on to their tickets and parking passs; they will be used for the rescheduled performance.

If you have tickets for the Academy of Ancient Music and-or Grupo Corpo, and you cannot attend the rescheduled performances, you should contact the Mondavi Center box office for refunds. The telephone numbers: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787.

The Mondavi Center canceled the Vienna Boys Choir concert that was supposed to take place March 15. Ticket holders need take no action, as the box office is processing these refunds.

The 20,000-pound canopy, part of the shell that helps create Jackson Hall’s widely praised acoustics, became stuck in the down position after the stage crew had lowered the canopy to prepare it for a March 8 concert. It its down position, the canopy blocks the view of the stage from many seats in the hall.

Besides being part of the hall's acoustical setup, the shell holds lights and microphones, and, as different performers and troupes come and go, workers lower the canopy so they can install or remove or reposition various pieces of equipment.

Then, if everything works right, the shell goes back up where it belongs. That did not happen on March 6.

By the morning of March 13, workers had successfully raised the canopy to its proper position, but were still making structural adjustments. Workers completed that work the weekend of March 13-15.

With Jackson Hall out of commission, the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus and Alumni Chorus moved to Freeborn Hall for their March 8 production of the Mendelssohn oratorio Elijah.

The Mondavi Center moved March 10’s To Ireland concert (by the bands Danú and Dervish) to Freeborn Hall, and canceled Danú’s school matinee. The Mondavi Center also canceled the free Forum@MC, “Concerning Beer,” which was to have taken place before the evening concert.

The University Concert Band moved its March 11 concert to Main Theatre.

More on the Mondavi Center events.

 

 

Media Resources

Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu

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