Jorgensen Hosts A-List Acts

By: Ashley McGown

Posted: 8/30/07

Each year, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts provides students with an abundant schedule of events to attend throughout the year. This upcoming semester seems to be particularly enthralling. With a line-up of first-rate acts spanning several genres of entertainment, there is bound to be at least one act for everyone. Here is a quick peek at some of the top acts that will be visiting Storrs this fall.

Act: Regina Spektor

Date: Sept. 26

Time: 8 p.m.

Cost: $15 for students; $20 for non-students

Born in Russia, Spektor and her family moved to the Bronx when she was still a young girl. Her debut album, "Soviet Kitsch," is an eclectic mix of piano-driven songs, ranging from the heartfelt ballad, "Carbon Monoxide," to "Poor Little Rich Boy," which is played primarily with a drumstick on a wooden chair. The NYC-based band Only Son will open for Spektor.

Act: Phil Vassar

Date: Sept. 28 & 29

Time: 8 p.m.

Cost: $16-20 for students; $34-45 for non-students

Named Country Songwriter of the Year twice by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Vassar is one of the only country music stars whose music is centered around a piano. Besides becoming a star in his own right, Vassar has also penned songs for Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and other notable country singers.

Act: Kathy Griffin

Date: Oct. 6

Time: 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $16-20 for students; $32-42 for non-students

Griffin, who's notorious for her shameless celebrity bashing, is sure to stir up controversy at UConn on Family Weekend. Although she is best known for her unforgiving stand-up routines, Griffin is also familiar with the small screen. She played Brooke Shields' co-worker on the hit show "Suddenly Susan," and she is currently the star of her own reality show, "My Life on the D-List."

Act: Global Drum Project

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 8 p.m.

Cost: $7 for students; $25-30 for non-students

Former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart teams up with tabla master Zakir Hussain, talking drummer Sikiru Adepoju and percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo for a night of music. The pit-stop in Storrs is part of tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of their chart topping, Grammy award winning record, "Planet Drum."

Act: Anúna

Date: Oct. 19

Time: 9 p.m.

Cost: $7 for students; $25-30 for non-students

Originating in Ireland, Anúna is a group consisting of 14 singers and three musicians whose performances are littered with extraordinary costumes and lighting. Best known as the original voices of "Riverdance," Anúna is setting out on their first U.S. tour this fall, on which they'll explore and perform different arrangements of medieval music.

Act: Lewis Black

Date: Oct. 26 & 27

Time: 8 p.m.

Cost: $16-20 for students; $34-45 for non-students

Black, a Grammy award winning comedian, is sure to be one of the most exciting acts at Jorgensen this season. His rant-style stand up act, which is often politically charged, has managed to captivate audiences all over the US. His constant touring and frequent appearances on "The Daily Show" have made Black one of today's most popular comedians.