What we especially love about the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut is that there is always a program to appeal to everyone, and their Upside Down Inside Out Season Gala was an exciting, exhilarating, and engaging evening of exceptional artistry that was a combination of contemporary dance by Frédérick Gravel, cocktail party, and rock concert by Betty Bonifassi with dancing. Cutting edge performances and a stylish ambience helped create an evening that will be talked about for quite some time.

Teresa Sauer, Debra Argen, Moses Ballapati
On
Friday, October 13, 2017, the Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield, Connecticut
turned itself Upside Down Inside Out
for their 2-nights only, Season Gala, that began outside when we were greeted
by students, Teresa Sauer and Moses Ballapati wearing black suits
worn backwards with silver masks on the backs of their heads, and we knew then that
we were in for a very different kind of evening.

Nina Bentley and Edward F. Nesta
An
upside-down table set for tea designed by artist Nina Bentley (www.NinaBentley.com) hung from the ceiling in the entrance, and the world
of upside down inside out continued with tables, chairs, and art works hung
contrary to the norm throughout to intrigue and engage conversations between
patrons over glasses of champagne before the performances began. Quick Center's
team, Executive Director Peter Van
Heerden, Lori N. Jones -
Director of Programming and Audience Development, Marni Smith Katz - Manager of Business Development, and Melissa Matuska - Events and Sales
Manager, were on hand to host the festivities and to mingle with the guests.
Peter Van Heerden, Lori N. Jones, and Marni Smith Katz
The
evening continued in the Black Box (Wein Experimental Theatre) with the
contemporary dance performance entitled Tout se pète la guile, chérie (All Hell is
Breaking Loose, Honey) by Frédérick Gravel who created the concept, direction, and
performed in, along with Nicolas Cantin,
Dany Desjardins, and Tomas Fuey. A concept piece that combined avant-garde contemporary
dance, performance art, rock music, song, and spoken word, Frédérick Gravel and
the Montreal, Quebec, Canada troupe, pushed the envelope of extremes with the
physicality of contemporary dance and succeeded in delivering an exciting
performance. The talented ensemble not only danced, they also provided musical
accompaniment playing electric guitar and piano, and sang.

Frédérick Gravel, Nicolas Cantin, Dany Desjardins, Tomas Fuey
The
intermezzo, was the cocktail party, held in the Scene Shop, normally used as a workshop,
where the inspired theme décor continued with a plethora of balloons hung
upside down from the ceiling and other topsy-turvy art, complemented by a
selection of delectable passed hors d'oeuvres, a well-stocked open bar, and an
outdoor s'mores bar, that allowed patrons to mingle as well as provide them with
the opportunity to speak with the creative dance team of Frédérick Gravel, Nicolas
Cantin, Dany Desjardins, and Tomas Fuey.

Peter Van Heerden, Debra C. Argen and
Nicolas Cantin, Dany Desjardins
For
"act three" we moved to the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Theatre where well-known Montreal,
Quebec vocalist Betty Bonifassi dazzled
with her powerful, husky voice that was made to sing rock, accompanied by her
band. Dancing, an open bar, more hors d'oeuvres, and projected club images on a
wall helped to create a lounge ambience. Dancing until late in the evening, we
thoroughly enjoyed the Upside Down Inside Out Season Gala experience, and look
forward to another wonderful season of cultural opportunities at the Quick
Center for the Arts.

Betty Bonifassi performing at
Upside Down Inside Out Season Gala
Watch a video clip of
Betty Bonifassi performing an a cappella number - https://youtu.be/90868ravgAI.
Conveniently
located in Fairfield, Connecticut, the Quick Center for the Arts
is a 30-minute drive from Greenwich and New Haven, a 60-minute drive from
Hartford, and a 90-minute drive from New York City.
The
Quick Center for the Arts has an extensive program of theatre, dance, opera,
classic, and jazz series, as well as family productions throughout the year.
A sampling of the
many exciting upcoming programs at the Quick Center for the Arts:
Compagnie
Hervé Koubi
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October
19, 2017
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All
in the Family: Orin, Jerry, and Korliss Uecker
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October
29, 2017
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Global
Theatre: Feminism & Greek Tragedy Roundtable
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November
2, 2017
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Eddie
Palmieri
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November
5, 2017
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Habib
Koité & Bamada
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November
10, 2017
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John
Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey
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December
3, 2017
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Paul
Taylor Dance Company
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January
26, 2018
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The
Metropolitan Opera - Tosca (Puccini)
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January
27, 2018
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Octavia
E. Butler's Parable of the Sower
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February
2-3, 2018
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Berlin
Philharmonic Piano Quartet
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February
11, 2018
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Camille
A. Brown & Dancers: Black Girl: Linguistic Play
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February
16, 2018
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The
Metropolitan Opera La Bohème (Puccini)
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February
24, 2018
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Family
Fun Series: Go, Dog, Go!
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February
25, 2018
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Ultima
Vez In Spite of Wishing and Wanting
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March
2 - 3, 2018
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The
Young Artists Series
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March
4, 2018
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The
Young Artists Series
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March
25, 2018
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Moscow
Festival Ballet in Giselle
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April
6, 2018
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The
Metropolitan Opera Luisa Miller (Verdi)
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April
14, 2018
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Family
Fun Series - TheatreWorksUSA in The Lightning Thief
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April
15, 2018
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Giselle
By Dada Masilo
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April
18, 2018
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Machine
de Cirque
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April
20 - 21, 2018
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DBR
En Masse
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April
29, 2018
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The
Young Artists Series
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March
25, 2018
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The
Young Artists Series
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May
6, 2018
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For information and
the complete list of upcoming programs and events, please visit the website, www.QuickCenter.com.
For
tickets or information, please call: +1-203-254-4010 or toll-free:
1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396).
Quick
Center for the Arts
Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
United States
Telephone: +1-203-254-4010
Toll-Free: +1-877-ARTS-396
Email:
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Website: www.QuickCenter.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FairfieldQuickCenter
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October 2017. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
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