Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces “Out of this World Festival: An Exploration of Art + Cosmos,” Presented by the Adirondack Trust Company
SARATOGA SPRINGS – As part of its commitment to creating immersive experiences that enhance world-class performances, SPAC has announced the “Out of this World Festival: An Exploration of Art + Cosmos,” presented by the Adirondack Trust Company, from August 2 – 16. The festival, an exploration of the nexus between art and cosmos, will feature a new speaker series led by Astronaut Nicole Stott, and acclaimed authors and science writers Dava Sobel, Diane Ackerman, and Stephon Alexander; pre-show festivities and post-concert star gazing around the Orchestra’s The Planets – An HD Odyssey and Star Wars: A New Hope™ in Concert performances, and a family concert entitled Meet the Music: Albert and Wolfgang with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
“SPAC and its home, the Spa State Park, represent a perfect confluence of man-made beauty and natural beauty and it is the inspiration of place that made us want to explore the interplay between the natural world and the world of art, the nexus between Art + Cosmos. This year, we launch the Out of this World festival, kicked off by a performance of Holst’s The Planets with spectacular NASA Space footage, followed by star-gazing around the reflecting pool. Audiences will engage with roaming astronomers, experience virtual reality space expeditions. We introduce a new SPAC Speakers series with thought-provoking ‘stars’ from the worlds of space, science and the arts…and much, much more,” said Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC’s president + CEO.
Sobol added, “I look forward to sharing this journey of discovery with audiences of all interests and ages this August. A special thanks to the Adirondack Trust Company and The Dudley Observatory at miSci for their partnership to make this new festival possible.”
Full schedule:
“Out of this World Festival,” presented by the Adirondack Trust Company:
TH, AUG 2 @ 8PM: NEW! Speaker Series on the SPAC Stage: “eARTh from Space” with Nicole Stott
Nicole Stott is an artist and former NASA astronaut who served as Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and a Mission Specialist on STS-128 and STS-133, and is the first to paint a watercolor in space. Tickets are $20 or $48 for all three speaker events if purchased by July 19.
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F, AUG 3 @ 6PM: The Philadelphia Orchestra The Planets – An HD Odyssey Pre-Show Festival On the SPAC Lawn with a “Walk through the Planets” exhibit, VR Space expeditions, interactive science activities and displays, “Ask an Astronomer” booth, and a Starlab Planetarium.
@ 8PM:The Philadelphia Orchestra performs The Planets – An HD Odyssey
Post-Concert: Star Party with Guided Telescope Viewings around the reflecting pool
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W, AUG 8 @ 1PM: Meet the Music: Albert and Wolfgang with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center:
A family concert that explores Einstein’s passion for the music of Mozart, as well as the harmony and interplay that exists between scientific thought and classical music composition. The concert is $5 general admission and is recommended for children ages six + up.
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TH, AUG 9 @ 8PM: NEW! Speaker Series on the SPAC Stage “Earth and Other Worlds”, a conversation with Dava Sobel and Diane Ackerman
Dava Sobel is a science writer and author of Galileo’s Daughter and The Glass Universe.
Diane Ackerman is a poet, science writer, and author of A Natural History of the Senses, The Human Age, and The Zookeeper’s Wife. Tickets are $20 or $48 for all three speaker events if purchased by July 19.
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SAT, AUG 11 @ 6PM: The Philadelphia Orchestra Star Wars: A New Hope™ in Concert Pre-Show Festival on the SPAC Lawn
@ 8PM: The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Star Wars: A New Hope™ in Concert
Post-Concert: Star Party with viewings of the Perseid meteor shower around the reflecting pool.
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TH, AUG 16 @ 8PM NEW! Speaker Series on the SPAC Stage: “The Jazz of Physics” with Stephon Alexander
Stephon Alexander is a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, jazz saxophonist, and author of The Jazz of Physics. Tickets are $20 or $48 for all three speaker events if purchased by July 19.
Tickets and more information:
* Pre-show and post-concert events on August 3 and August 11 are free with a ticket to the evening performances.
* Cost to attend the speaker series is $20 per event. A pass to all three speaker events is available for a discounted rate of $48 until July 19. Tickets are general admission only.
* Tickets to Meet the Music: Albert and Wolfgang on August 8 are $5 general admission and recommended for children ages 6 and up.
Visit spac.org for more details.
