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Arts & Entertainment

Kronos Premieres 'Awakening' in 9/11 Tribute at Jorgensen

Renowned Quartet Performs World Works for 10th Anniversary, Vince Gill Plays Foxwoods, 'Mike and Molly' Star Stands Up at UConn, Renaissance Revisits Hebron

On the 10th anniversary of September 11 this year, the nation and two presidents stared at endless memorial pools at Ground Zero surrounded by stone walls with etched names of the almost 3,000 lost lives. In a moving, artistic tribute on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Jorgensen in Storrs, the renowned Kronos Quartet will perform the Connecticut premiere of “Awakening,” a statement of peace and reconciliation featuring original works by composers who represent a world of cultures.

Who better than Kronos, which has for more than 30 years set new boundaries for the string quartet and commissioned 650 works, to mark a somber time with adventurous new music. In this “musical meditation,” Kronos uses “sonic building blocks” from 12 countries to enter the interior space where we harbor our feelings about the horrific moment in history. As Kronos founder and first violinist David Harrington, wrote, “We hope to create equilibrium in the midst of imbalance: a special covering on an open wound.”

The Mansfield Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Ken Johnson, will sing the Finnish children's piece, “Winter Was Hard.”

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“Awakening,” whose Connecticut premiere is sponsored by New England Public Radio, comprises works by Americans Terry Riley and Michael Gordon (selections from “The Sad Park”) and composers from Uzbekistan, India, Germany, Canada, Argentina, Finland and Russia, with arrangements of traditional works from Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Sweden.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is located on the UConn campus in Storrs. Tickets for “Awakening” are $28 and $30, with some discounts. For information or to buy tickets, call 860-486-4226 or visit Jorgensen's Web site.

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Billy Gardell Does 'Halftime' at UConn

Billy Gardell says when he turned 40 two years ago, he heard the gun go off for halftime in his life. “My life is half over. And I played a sloppy first half, man,” Gardell says in his “Halftime” show, coming to Jorgensen on UConn Family Weekend, Saturday, Sept. 24. But his fans know that, having entered this stage with 20 years of comic experience, the “Mike and Molly” star has done nothing but age well.

Gardell's big-man, blue-collar style delivers touchdown after touchdown as he tells stories about a rough childhood, wild adolescence and adult family life.

Since fall 2010, CBS’s hit show “Mike and Molly,” which stars Gardell as Officer Mike Biggs alongside recent Emmy winner Melissa McCarthy, has drawn in 13 million viewers weekly and has been decorated as the No. 1 new series of the year.

Gardell frequently appeared on “My Name is Earl,” “Yes Dear,” “Judging Amy,” “The Practice,” “Monk” and “Gary the Rat,” and co-starred in the critically acclaimed FX series “Lucky.” In film, he made his debut alongside Anthony Quinn and Sylvester Stallone in “Avenging Angelo,” and played with Billy Bob Thornton in the Coen Brothers’ “Bad Santa” and with Owen Wilson in “You, Me & Dupree.”

The comedy show, co-presented by Jorgensen and the UConn Student Union Board of Governors, starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. Tickets are $32-42, much less for students. For information or to buy, call 860-486-4226 or visit Jorgensen's Web site.

Mansfield Loves a Parade

Mansfield artists, organizations and businesses will strut their stuff this weekend at the 8th Annual Mansfield Festival on the Green, with a kickoff parade at noon Sunday, Sept. 25. The parade, which will depart from the post office and travel down Route 195 to the E.O. Smith High School festival site, will feature the UConn Marching Band, E.O. Smith band, Ballard Institute and Museum puppets, floats, dancers, police and fire vehicles, athletic teams, horses, bicyclists, color guard, politicians and the traditional Tykes on Trikes.

Other weekend highlights, many on Saturday, include a juried art show, guided tour of the Albert E. Moss Forest, Wildflower and Wildlife Sanctuary, an all-town Picnicpalooza, free day at the Mansfield Community Center, a $40 wine tasting at the Altnaveigh Inn and music at the farmer's market.

For more information, call 860-429-2740 or visit the Mansfield Downtown Partnership site.

Vince Gill at Foxwoods These Days

Twenty-time Grammy winner Vince Gill will two-step into Foxwoods' MGM Grand Theater on Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. The Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year (1993 and 1994) and Grand Ole Opry veteran is tied with George Strait for most wins as CMA Male Vocalist and is an inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Oklahoma-born country rock artist is known as a talented duet collaborator, humanitarian and husband of Christian pop vocalist Amy Grant. He plays guitar, mandolin, dobro and banjo.

Tickets to see the singer/songwriter are $30-$50. For information, call 1-800-200-2882 or visit the Foxwoods entertainment site.

Renaissance Reborn in Hebron

For the next four weeks, knights and fair maidens may meet and frolic, within reason, at the 13thannual Connecticut Renaissance Faire in Hebron, starting Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25. Go to the enchanted land at the Lions Fairgrounds and interact with King Arthur himself, Queen Guinevere, Merlin the magician, jousters, jesters and all brands of 16th and 17th century characters.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekend days through Oct. 16, including Columbus Day, Oct. 10, you can be knighted, henna-ed, braided or entertained by fire eaters, combatants, dancers and musicians. You may partake of fair foods and goods from more than 100 artisans selling jewelry, period clothing, artworks, armor and other collectibles.

Tickets are $16 for general admission, $10 for children ages 5-12, free for those 4 and under. Season passes are available for $50. Parking is $3. The fairgrounds are at 347 Gilead St. in Hebron. For tickets, visit the faire box office or the Renaissance Faire Web site.

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