Violinist Caroline Campbell, known for her collaborations with Sting and Barbra Streisand, will close out the 2024 season at Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University with a sold-out performance on Saturday, Dec. 14.
But there’s more to look forward to. The Staller Center’s spring lineup includes The Great DuBois circus on Jan. 26, Met Opera: Live in HD with Aida on Jan. 25, and Broadway star Sutton Foster on Feb. 1.
The variety of performers is part of Director Alan Inkles’ strategy to compete in the post-COVID entertainment landscape.
“Once COVID hit, people got so used to watching TV and all the channels… it takes an extra push to get people out,” Inkles told The South Shore Press. “We’ve got to find different things. We’ve got to be creative. We can’t do too much of the same thing, and I think the Caroline Campbell show is an epitome of that kind of thing.”
Campbell’s return performance, blending classical and electric music with a fresh take on rock and pop, is exactly the kind of program Inkles believes will draw audiences. As a violinist who has toured with Andrea Bocelli and performed with major stars, Campbell has built a loyal following. Tickets for her intimate performance at Staller’s 370-seat theater sold out quickly.
Looking ahead to spring, Inkles is eager to share an exciting lineup with Staller Center patrons.
“We are a professional arts center, bringing people like Chris Distefano, Saturday, March 8, as one of the hottest comedians,” he said. “And coming this Feb. 1, Sutton Foster, who is probably the hottest Broadway star right now.”
Additionally, he said, “We have a big Bollywood show coming in from India. We have Syncopated Ladies, which were the Beyoncé dancers, doing a phenomenal tap dance show, and right next to it, we might have a faculty recital, who really would be playing Carnegie Hall.”
Other spring events include The Acting Company performing The Comedy of Errors on Feb. 8, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 14, Voice and the Violin with Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez on Feb. 15, and the family-friendly Peter & the Wolf with the Staller Center Outreach Ensemble on March 30. A full lineup is available on the Staller Center website.
Inkles has served as director at Staller Center for 30 years. As a Stony Brook University graduate, Inkles is proud of his role in bringing world-class talent to the center and providing a platform for the university’s students and faculty.
“We are the management team for the music department, which is a very strong program at Stony Brook, one of the top programs in the country,” he said. The planning of all the concerts–from jazz to chamber music–falls under his umbrella, and he particularly enjoys showcasing the university’s own.
Among these are internationally acclaimed faculty members pianist Gilbert Kalish and cellist Colin Carr. “These are major stars in the world, and that’s why we have a great program,” Inkles said.
One of Inkles’ favorite events is the annual Starry Nights concert, which will take place on April 2. Directed by Carr, the concert showcases the best of Stony Brook’s faculty and students in the university’s Department of Music.
In addition to its musical offerings, Staller Center is home to the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery for art lovers and sponsors the annual Stony Brook Film Festival.
Tickets for spring shows are available by calling 631-632-2787 or emailing boxoffice@stallercenter.com. The Staller Center is located at 100 Nicolls Road in Stony Brook.