#93: Adelphi University's Performing Arts Center

At least it’s getting warmer out and spring has officially begun. So maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to travel into Manhattan and catch a Broadway show or a concert at Lincoln Center.

But why would you want to when we have Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center (AU PAC) right here? Garden City residents are able to forgo the 20 or so mile hike by car or train into Manhattan with the convenience of the new AU PAC in our backyard.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Talent abounds with regional and national performers who visit AU PAC and within Adelphi University’s professors and students. All can be had for a fraction of Broadway’s prices. Heck, you can go out to dinner in downtown Garden City first, pay for a show at AU PAC and still come out ahead.

So what does AU PAC have? 

“Adelphi University's Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2008, offers a variety of professional and departmental concerts and productions throughout the year in its superb performance spaces: the Concert Hall and Recital Hall, the Olmsted Theatre and Black Box Theatre, and the Dance Theatre,” musical director Michael Hume said.

All have creative acoustic engineering, flexibility of performances and a unique visitor experience and all halls and theaters are available for rental:

• The Concert Hall has been crafted for all vocal and instrumental concerts of any size, as well as lectures and other public events. There is a seating capacity of 500.
• The Recital Hall is a smaller area for ensembles and solos with seating for 80.
• The Olmsted Theatre has been renovated after its initial opening in 1974, with the new AU PAC creatively built around it, with seating for 315.
• The Black Box Theatre has a lot of artistic flexibility for designers and performers with seating for 100.
• The fifth area is the Dance Theatre with space that can be made into one or two areas and a comfortable floor for dancing. It seats about 180.

Several upcoming musical events include Heidi Grant Murphy in Concert on March 25 and the Faculty Recital with Alexander Abayev on violin April 2.

Scheduled theater events include “The Vagina Monologues” March 29 and “The Triangle Fire Project” production April 7-22.

Dance shows this spring include The Yah-oh-Weh Thunderbird American Indian Dancers and Workshop April 9 and Dance Adelphi with “The Who’s Tommy: A Rock Ballet” April 14-17.

The season schedule of all music, theater and dance events may be obtained by visiting aupac.adelphi.edu or by calling 516-877-4000.

Come back next Tuesday at 10 a.m. for suggestion #92. Click here if you missed suggestion #94.

Category:  The arts

Price:  Varies

Season:  Mostly during the school year

Note:  Free parking