Monday, September 21, 2009

TCA Awards Grants to FACE


Texas Commission on the Arts recently announced that Cypress Creek FACE would receive two grants this cycle: Arts Create and Arts Performance Support. The Arts Create is a grant designed to advance the creative economy of Texas by investing in the operations of this arts organization. The 2009-2010 Arts Create award amount to FACE is $11,500. The Arts Performance Support Grant is an artistic fee subsidy for Dance of Asian America to perform in Spring on October 13, 2009. The grant amount for this performance is $1376.

Cypress Creek FACE is very honored to be receiving these grant from TCA.

Patricia Harless, our District 126 House Representative, sent the letter below congratulating our organization. Thank you Representative Harless for supporting the arts in Texas.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Jungle Book Swings into The Centrum

Theatre IV, the nation’s second largest touring theatre for young audiences, will present The Jungle Book at The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Dr., on Saturday, October 3, 2009. There will be two performances at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Join young Mowgli as he learns the ‘Laws’ of the jungle in this time-honored adventure. With the help of friends like the black panther, Bagheera, and Baloo the lovable bear, Mowgli learns about friendship and survival. Cheer as Mowgli faces his fear and foils his nemesis the tiger Shere Khan. This musical version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic will delight both the young and the young at heart.

Theatre IV, founded in 1975, has been internationally acclaimed for excellence as a theatre for young audiences. The company performs live for nearly 2 million students, parents and teachers each year throughout 33 states and the District of Columbia.

For tickets and more information call the FACE Box Office at 281-440-4850 or order online at www.cypresscreekface.org. Additional Family Series concerts this season are Trout Fishing in America on February 20, 2010, and Thaddeus Rex on April 10, 2010

Cypress Creek FACE, a non-profit performing arts foundation, brings a variety of performances to The Centrum, a world-class, 885-seat facility on the campus of the Cypress Creek Christian Community Center on Cypresswood Drive in Spring.

FACT SHEET
Who: Theatre IV presents Jungle Book
What: Musical Theater – Live Performance
When: 6 p.m., Saturday, October 3, 2009
Where: The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring
How: Presented by Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts & Community Enrichment
Tickets: $8 student/child, $12 senior, $15 adult, $10 group rate
Contact: For tickets, call the FACE Box Office at 281-440-4850 or order online at www.cypresscreekface.org

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Klein Collins Choir joins Dons & Divas

The Klein Collins Treble Vocal Ensemble joins Cypress Creek FACE in presenting Dons & Divas: Carmen in Concert at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. In narration and song, the famous opera by Georges Bizet comes to life on The Centrum stage. The story that shocked Paris at its premiere is now the world’s most favorite opera. Georges Bizet’s Carmen, opera’s ultimate femme fatal, is a woman not afraid to pursue her heart’s desires – whatever the consequences. A handsome soldier wins her affection and a glamorous bullfighter turns her head, but neither can tame her defiant spirit. Performances by: Stephanie Northcutt, soprano; Ashly Evans, mezzo soprano; James D. Rodriguez, baritone; John Stevens, tenor; Jay Whatley, accompanist; Clara Lewis, narrator; and the Klein Collins Treble Vocal Ensemble.

The concert is part of the Cypress Creek FACE 2009-2010 Promenade Series supported in part by The Wachovia Foundation. Concert tickets are just $12 Adult, $10 Senior, $6 Student, and $8/each for Groups of 8 or more.

Additional Promenade Series concerts this season include: Dance of Asian America, October 13, 2009; University of Houston Moores School Concert Chorale, November 10, 2009; St. Thomas Highland Dancers and Pipe Band, December 8, 2009; Weston Hurt, baritone, January 12, 2010; The Rob Landes Trio, February 9, 2010; the 9th Annual “World of Song” Choral Concert with Sweden’s Robert Sund, conductor, February 27, 2010; Fantastic Fourhand: Sharon Goldsberry & Jay Whatley, March 9, 2010; Carnaval Guitar Duo, April 13, 2010; and Konishi-Jiang-Fardet Trio, May 11, 2010.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Amazing Opening Week Ticket Sales

We began selling single tickets to all of our concerts this past Tuesday, August 25 at 9:00 a.m. We usually do well selling around $11,000. This year we sold over $13,200! More impressive was the wide variety of concerts purchased. While many were for The Four Freshmen and Aaron Neville, we sold lots of tickets to The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Cherryholmes and Celtic Crossroads as well. I’m excited by the ticket sales. I hope this means people are happy with our line-up. I also hope this means more people are finding us. I’ve spent years trying to get the word out about who we are and I think it’s finally paying off. If you enjoy our concerts, tell a friend.

Our annual gala, Best of the Northwest, is going to be held at Champions Golf Club on Friday, September 18. The gala will honor Nancy & Irv Grayson for their wonderful support of FACE (they have been board members for a number of years and Nancy has co-chaired past galas and events) and our community. Reservations are $150. We still have a few spots open if you would like to attend. Contact the FACE Box Office at 281-440-4850. The gala supports our season and, especially, the Free Children’s Series.

I know we are just getting the 2009-2010 season kicked off but I will be attending a conference in a few weeks to begin the booking process for the 2010-2011 season. If you have any suggestions of artists you are interested in, send me an email at info@cypresscreekface.org.

Thank you for supporting FACE!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The FACE 2009-2010 Season is announced...

We are excited to announce our new season featuring concerts for all ages... Star-Lit!, Family, Promenade, and our Free Children's Series.

Star-Lit! Series brings in the Stars!
The season begins on September 20 with The Four Freshmen. In October, Cherryholmes, a Grammy-nominated bluegrass group, will bring lots of energy to the stage. The Houston Symphony will return for New Year's Eve and Celtic Crossroads will make their Centrum debut in January, featuring a fusion of various forms of Celtic music with dancing. The legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform in March and Aaron Neville & His Quintet featuring Charles Neville will close the season on a soulful note. Season tickets on sale now!

Family Series features Fun!
The Family Series has the kind of concerts that you will love to bring your children (or grandchildren) to because they feature wholesome, family-friendly entertainment. The season begins in October with Theatre IV's musical rendition of "Jungle Book", sure to delight both the young and young at heart. Back by popular demand, Trout Fishing in America comes to the Centrum stage in February. In April, Thaddeus Rex closes out the Family Series season with flare and a sincere celebration of reading! Season tickets start at $20.

Promenade Series!
The Promenade Series continues with nine Tuesday afternoon concerts plus one Saturday evening. The season will feature a Dons & Divas operatic performance, Dance of Asian America, the University of Houston Concert Chorale with conductor Betsy Weber, Carnaval Guitar Duo, The Rob Landes Trio (an early Valentine's treat!), A World of Song with Swedish guest conductor Robert Sund (Saturday evening only), Fantastic Fourhand featuring pianists Jay Whatley and Sharon Goldsberry, baritone Weston Hurt, the Konishi-Jiang-Fardet Trio, and more. Promenade Series season tickets ordered before August 25, 2009 are just $60 for Individuals and $175 for Families. After August 25, Individual season tickets will be $70 and Family season tickets will be $200.

Free Children's Series continues....
Once again we present the finest in young audience programming for FREE! Don't miss the Houston Grand Opera's 'Opera To Go!' production of "Hansel & Gretel" on October 10th, the Carranza Puppets production of "Pinocchio" on November 14th, the A.D. Players acting out "The Secret Garden" on January 30, or the ArtsPower production of "Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Class Clown", on March 27. All concerts take place on a Saturday at 10AM.

Learn more about our upcoming season by checking out our website - and don't forget to add your thoughts to our blogs. You can also visit us on facebook and twitter.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Cypress Creek FACE to receive Houston Endowment Grant

Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts and Community Enrichment (FACE) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Houston Endowment to support its mission to bring the arts home to the Great Northwest.

A Spring-based performing arts nonprofit organization, Cypress Creek FACE will use the money to pay for cultural enrichment and educational opportunities for residents in northwest Harris and southern Montgomery counties.

"Cypress Creek FACE is thankful to the Houston Endowment for the generous grant to support our programs," said Nanci Decker, Cypress Creek FACE executive director. "The endowment's faith in our program will plant seeds that help our community arts program blossom."

Cypress Creek FACE was established in 1997 to provide top quality concerts and educational opportunities for all members of the community. Over the past twelve years, FACE has presented over 200 concert artists and 20 master-classes including Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Burt Bacharach, the Houston Symphony, Lincoln Center Jazz, Doc Severinson, Canadian Brass, Hal Holbrook, Glen Campbell, Arturo Sandoval, and Joshua Bell. This season, FACE will present 37 concerts/programs including a partnership with Klein ISD to provide educational outreach to all third grade students in the district.

Cypress Creek FACE brings a variety of performances to The Centrum, a world-class, 885-seat facility on the campus of the Cypress Creek Christian Community Center, 6823 Cypresswood Drive in Spring.

Upcoming events include the Free Children’s Series program, Carranza Puppets’ “Rumpelstiltskin” on March 28; jazz legend, Ramsey Lewis, performing April 4; Family Series artist Beethoven’s Wig on April 18; and the remarkable 5 Browns and their five Steinway Grand pianos on May 2.

The Houston Endowment is a private philanthropic foundation that provides contributions and grants to charitable organizations and educational institutions throughout the Greater Houston Area.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Hear the Sounds of the Season with Holiday Brass!

We are about to be bombarded with “holiday music” from the car radio to the piped in stuff at the mall. While this may sound like a great way to get into the holiday spirit, the best way to hear it is live... from real instruments played by professional musicians. Cypress Creek FACE has the perfect answer... come hear Holiday Brass. They are a quintet of Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet musicians that will perform at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Their program will include holiday music from the 16th century to the present, and popular music from traditional Christmas carols, ballets, Broadway musicals, and television shows.

The group members are: Jim Vassallo, trumpet, is currently principal trumpet with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra in addition to teaching at the Moores School of Music; Randal Adams, trumpet, is Associate Professor of Trumpet at Sam Houston State University and currently a member of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra; Sarah Cranston is principal horn with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and 4th horn with the Houston Ballet Orchestra; Thomas Hultén, trombone, teaches trombone and euphonium at Houston Baptist University and is currently acting Principal trombone with the Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet; and Mark Barton, currently principal tubist with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Houston Ballet Orchestra, and the Moores Brass Quintet, Mark is a faculty member at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music where he serves as the Brass Area Chair.

Concert tickets are just $12 adult, $10 senior, $6 student, and $8 for groups of 6 or more. For a holiday treat, we serve cookies and punch before and after the concert. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to hear the sounds of the season! Call 281-440-4850 or go online at www.CypressCreekFACE.org to order tickets.