Chattanooga Pulse

Back in the ’70s, not much was going on in the performing arts scene in Chattanooga.  There was the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, the Little Theatre, and the Hunter Museum, of course, but neither the Tivoli nor Memorial Auditorium had yet been renovated. All of that changed with the opening of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Fine Arts Center—and, simultaneously, the opening of the Dorothy Patten Fine Arts Series—in the fall of 1980.

“The opening of the UTC Fine Arts Center not only gave UTC students new arts facilities and classroom space, but I would argue that the UTC FAC may have been one of the earliest catalysts for revitalizing the arts in Chattanooga,” says Bob Boyer, Patten Series Director. “In fact, the Patten series was the first and most visible contribution of the FAC to the Chattanooga arts scene.”

The series was named after Dorothy Patten, Chattanooga’s most influential and important performing artist. Its proposed vision was “to present an eclectic series of performers of national reputation and superior talents which will augment the artistic presentations of Chattanooga’s professional symphony, opera and theater…it will serve to broaden and deepen the artistic life of our community.” From its first season of performances, featuring such renowned international artists as Marcel Marceau and The Vienna Boys Choir, to this 30th anniversary season, featuring Classical Theatre of Harlem and Red Priest, the Patten Series has continued to forward its mission, presenting exciting performances by artists of all genres unlikely to be seen elsewhere in Chattanooga.

The following is a brief description of the 30th anniversary season:

Nagata Shachu
Friday, October 2 at 8 p.m.
For more than 10 years, this Japanese drum (taiko) ensemble has toured the world, entertaining audiences with an ancient art form by producing a wide spectrum of sound, from thunderous and primal to subtle and intricate.

Waiting for Godot
Tuesday, October 27 at  7:30 p.m.
Classical Theatre of Harlem rocked the U.S. with their revival of the Samuel Beckett classic when they reinterpreted it for New Orleans after the nation’s lack of response to Hurricane Katrina.

Urban Bush Women
Monday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m.
This award-winning African American dance ensemble has taken its message of female experience and cultural/social responsibility all over the world for 25 years.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Founded in 1994 by two Alvin Ailey virtuosos, the company has been invited to appear in all of the major European dance festivals with their thought-provoking work.

The Holly Hofmann/Mike Wofford Quartet
Sunday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Holly Hofmann is the premiere jazz flutist in the country. Together with pianist Mike Wofford’s quartet, they produce some of the finest jazz heard anywhere.

Romeo & Juliet
Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 3 p.m. and Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
One of America’s most acclaimed touring repertory theater groups, The Acting Company, returns to Chattanooga to present Shakespeare’s most recognized play.

Red Priest
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
This acoustic foursome is the only early-music group in the world to have been compared in the press to the Rolling Stones, Jackson Pollock, the Marx Brothers, and Cirque du Soleil.

UTC Fine Arts Center Patten Series
$22 individual tickets
All performances in Fine Arts Center, Vine & Palmetto Streets.
(423) 425-4269. www.tickettracks.com
For more information, visit www.utc.edu and search for “Patten Series”