Dear Friends,

Welcome to UApresents’ 2008-2009 season!

The process to create the new season began in the summer of 2007 and involved months of planning and meetings, thousands of emails and hundreds of phone calls. I am grateful to the many people who have collaborated on this exceptional season — the talented UApresents staff, our dedicated Advisory Board and its Programming Committee, colleagues within the University and fellow performing arts centers.

Our season opener promises to be a soulful, horn-fueled evening of classic Motown hits featuring legendary vocalist Mary Wilson of The Supremes and the original Motown band, The Funk Brothers. The season continues with violin virtuosos Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Gil Shaham and the rare appearance of both Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Joffrey Ballet within one season. We welcome soul and blues icon Etta James, vocalist k.d. lang, Broadway stars Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin and a special return engagement of STOMP. The season offers Cuban rhythms, Indian masters, a Celtic celebration, an African spectacular and breathtaking Chinese acrobats. Comedienne Paula Poundstone will make you laugh and a holiday event brings a very special message.

As is the case for arts presenters across the U.S., ticket sales account for just over half of our cost to host these great performances. The generous support of individual and corporate sponsors, grants and donations are needed to fund the balance. Please consider a gift in any amount to help us continue to bring these great performers and performances to Tucson and the communities of Southern Arizona. Come celebrate the richness this season has to offer! I look forward to seeing you at Centennial Hall.

Natalie Bohnet, Executive Director, UApresents

As I continue to enjoy living in Tucson and learning of our rich heritage in Southern Arizona, the more I am impressed by UApresents. The quality of artists performing for UApresents rivals that of any performing arts center in the country.

The opportunity to experience world-class artists is not just limited to you, our valued subscribers and patrons. This cultural asset extends to UA students, faculty and staff. Special discounts make performances accessible to seniors, members of the military and groups. An aspect of UApresents of which I am most proud is their outreach to 12,000 school children from across Southern Arizona who attend UApresents’ School Matinees each year. For many of these children, it is their first exposure to the performing arts and it may be their first time on the campus of The University of Arizona. For all of us, UApresents represents a cultural and educational asset that helps us leap beyond borders, beyond limitations, toward the fullness of human potential.

Robert Shelton, President, The University of Arizona