Join us for a night of Celebrating Black Excellence. This formal event will celebrate the accomplishments of the Black Student Union and honor students, staff, and alumni for their contributions and support this academic year. Ticket will include admission to the event, entertainment, and a buffet-style meal. Dress to Impress!
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A Bronx Tale: The One Man Show starring Chazz Palminteri
Bronx-born and raised Chazz Palminteri wrote A Bronx Tale in 1988. The powerful one-man stage play depicted his bruising childhood which included witnessing a gangland killing when he was nine years old.
Palminteri played 18 characters and brought them all to life in his autobiographical play. His friends, enemies and family came alive on stage. Hollywood Studios went crazy after seeing it and offered him millions of dollars to turn it into a major movie. There was one catch. They wanted to put a star in the role of Sonny and someone else to write the screenplay. With $200 dollars in the bank…Palminteri said No… he would hold out and wait. He wanted to play Sonny and write the screenplay. Then one night Palminteri walked into his dressing room and sitting there was Robert De Niro who just saw the show. Robert DeNiro gave Palminteri the chance he was waiting for; and as they say in Hollywood the rest is history.
Palminteri wrote the screenplay for the film A Bronx Tale and then most recently wrote the book for the Broadway Musical. It was the first time in history that the same actor wrote the one-man play, the movie, and the Broadway Musical and starred in each one.
In the past 35 years, Chazz has appeared in over 60 films. To name a few – The Usual Suspects, Analyze This, Mulholland Falls, Jade, Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Legend, and Bullets over Broadway, which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He has starred in over 20 television series and has won 3 Emmy’s. Chazz is most recently seen in Modern Family, Godfather of Harlem, Law & Order and Gravesend.
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HAIR – 50th Anniversary!
November 10-12 &
15-19
All
shows 8 PM except Sun. matinees at 3 PMHAIR celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. To an infectiously energetic rock beat, the show wows audiences with songs like “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Hair,” “I Got Life,” and “Let The Sun Shine.” Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, HAIR remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world. Directed by Sheri Anderson.
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Roxey Ballet’s Journey Back to the 80s
Roxey Ballet’s Journey Back to 80s is a pop/rock music and dance extravaganza featuring top hits from the 80s like: features songs including Flashdance, Jenny Jenny, Tainted Love, Walk Like an Egyptian, Billy Jean, Like A Prayer, Footloose, and many more! Phenomenal choreography and dancing by Roxey Ballet will take the audience back to the era of rock ‘n roll, shoulder pads and iconic music and have them to on their feet, singing and dancing in the aisles!
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Cherish the Ladies
Celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2025, this Grammy-nominated, all-female ensemble will dazzle audiences of all ages with a rousing program of traditional Irish melodies and original arrangements. Enjoy virtuoso instrumentation, beautiful vocals, and spirited step dancing that has earned them recognition as the BBC’s “Best Musical Group of the Year” and the Irish Music Awards’ “Top North American Celtic Group.”
Led by Bronx-native Joanie Madden, a 2021 NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award winner and All-Ireland flute and whistle champion, Cherish the Ladies captivates with their “passionate, tender, and rambunctious” (Washington Post) performances. Known for their heart, humor, and “heaps of music in their fingers and toes” (Glasgow Herald), this concert promises to be an afternoon filled with traditional Irish music and dance—bursting with energy, wit, and spirit. Don’t miss this electrifying performance that will have everyone tapping their feet and clapping along!
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The Mind and Music of Leonard Bernstein with Dr. Richard Kogan
Leonard Bernstein, renowned for his dynamic conducting and compositions like “West Side Story,” remains a towering figure in 20th-century music. Explore the fascinating intersection of Bernstein’s genius and the mind with Dr. Richard Kogan in a TED-like lecture and piano performance. Trained at Juilliard in piano and Harvard Medical School in psychiatry, Dr. Kogan, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Artistic Director of the Music and Medicine program at Weill Cornell Medical Center, offers a unique perspective.
Richard Kogan’s concert lecture audiences hear him recount Bernstein’s life “from his first cigarette to his last dying day”, interspersing oral history and anecdote with performances of “Somewhere”, “Maria”, “Tonight”, “One Hand, One Heart”, “America” and more. Dr. Kogan offers a psychiatric perspective on Bernstein’s complex personality in this program as well. He identifies Bernstein as a man of voracious appetites, the satisfaction of which caused enormous guilt. Still, Dr. Kogan points to Bernstein’s remarkable capacity to sustain contradictions. He cites Bernstein’s balancing of the tensions between elite and mass appeal, between emotions and the intellect and between tradition and innovation. Dr. Kogan contrasts these with Bernstein’s irreconcilable bisexual conflicts and his struggles to balance the life of a composer and the life of a performer.
photo: Paul de Hueck, courtesy the Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.
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Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea
Embrace the joy and warmth of the season at the annual holiday concert with Father Alphonse Stevenson and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea! This cherished tradition brings a 42-piece orchestra and exceptional soloists to Pollak Theatre with beloved carols and festive melodies. Be part of this heartwarming celebration and let the spirit of the season come alive through the power of music.
New this year — Please note the 7 PM start time!
Limited tickets remain! Once the event is SOLD OUT please call the box office to be added to the waitlist, in case last minute tickets become available.
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An Evening with Rickie Lee Jones
Tickets from the 10/12 concert will be valid for this NEW date.
Rickie Lee Jones is an American musician, storyteller and two-time Grammy winner who has been inspiring pop culture for decades, beginning with her star-making self-titled debut, followed by the seminal Pirates. Named the “premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation” by The New Yorker, and “The Duchess of Coolsville” by Time magazine, Jones released her Grammy-nominated album Pieces of Treasure in 2023, a reunion with Russ Titelman, who produced her first two records. Jones’ celebrated memoir Last Chance Texaco was named Book of the Year by MOJO and a Best Book of the Year at Pitchfork and NPR. The Independent writes, “There has always been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones . . . a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
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The Wailin’ Jennys
Join us for a night of unforgettable folk music as The Wailin’ Jennys grace the stage at Pollak Theatre. From their humble beginnings in a tiny guitar shop to becoming one of today’s most beloved international folk acts, The Wailin’ Jennys have captured hearts around the world. Founding members Moody, Mehta, and Masse continue to impress with each critically acclaimed recording, elevating their music to new heights while thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.
Their journey began with the release of their debut album “40 Days” in 2004, which garnered them a Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. Since then, they’ve mesmerized audiences across Canada, the U.S., and beyond, earning accolades and nominations along the way. With hits like “Firecracker” and “Bright Morning Stars,” The Jennys have transcended genres, blending folk, alt-country, pop, and rock into their unique sound.
Their live album “Live at Mauch Chunk Opera House” captured the essence of their electrifying performances, showcasing their show-stopping harmonies and impressive instrumental prowess. In 2017, The Jennys celebrated their 15th anniversary with the release of “Fifteen,” a collection of their favorite songs recorded true to their live sound. This album, steeped in artistry and elegance, highlights their heartfelt vocals, otherworldly harmonies, and sophisticated arrangements.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience The Wailin’ Jennys live at Pollak Theatre!
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Don McLean – Starry Starry Night Tour 2024
Experience an unforgettable night of music as the legendary Don McLean takes center stage for the Starry Starry Night Tour. Born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1945, Don McLean’s musical journey began at a young age. Overcoming childhood asthma, McLean’s passion for music flourished as he explored folk music, recorded his first studio sessions, and eventually rose to international stardom with hits like “American Pie” and “Vincent.”
In the 1970s, McLean became a major concert attraction, captivating audiences worldwide. His iconic song “American Pie” became a cultural phenomenon, ranking among the top songs of the 20th century. The Starry Starry Night Tour promises an evening filled with McLean’s classic hits, showcasing his extensive repertoire that spans folk, rock & roll, and timeless American classics. Don’t miss the chance to witness a music icon live on stage, celebrating over five decades of a remarkable career.