Patten Performances satiate thirst for the arts
Brittany L. Shaw
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Culture
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The second of the 2007-2008 Patten Performances, Joseph Heller's "Catch 22," made famous by the book and movie, will debut at UTC Oct. 15 in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall.
Boyer said Heller also wrote a stage play that got swept aside in lieu of the movie's success.
"'Catch 22' is one of the most hilarious things out there...a critique of bureaucratic thinking," he said.
According to Boyer, the Aquila Theatre company talked to the Heller estate and worked out the rights to perform it as part of a national tour.
Boyer said Aquila is one of the top touring companies out there, but also a minimalist company.
"The audience has to imagine, and the actor has to be good enough to make you believe," Boyer said.
Ken Kapelinski, currently the director of entertainment and sports venues, managed operations of the fine arts center and the Patten Series for 26 years.
Kapelinski said he has a lot of respect for the Aquila Theatre company. "They try to find things that are different," he said.
He said he is looking forward to seeing "Catch 22" because it has so rarely been performed on stage.
"Few people have ever seen the stage version, so it's a neat opportunity," he said.
The Patten series is comprised of two theatre, two dance and three musical performances, according to Boyer.
The 2007-2008 season includes the likes of Clark Terry and the Statesmen of Jazz, The Second City Touring Company, Lorraine Feather and the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet.
"Artistically I haven't found a weak link," Boyer said.
Kapelinski said the Patten series is not an attempt to compete with local performances but to fill the gap. "We do something that they can't do and that's over and above what they do," he said.
Kapelinski also said efforts are made to schedule a workshop to accompany nearly every show. "We always keep in mind 'how can we get these artists together with the students?' when we're scheduling," he added.
Boyer said there has been a lot less art in schools and a lot of students may not have experienced weekly music classes or a trip to a museum. "We're no longer creating consumers of the arts at the K through 12 level," he said.
Boyer said while his generation may have had to suffer through such experiences at the time, the payoff was being able to appreciate them later in life.
"Watching a theatre or dance performance or listening to a string quartet makes you think differently," Boyer said. "Even if it's just for those two hours.
"Listening to a string quartet with 500 people is an important experience," he added.
Michael White, a Red Bank, Tenn., junior, said he has attended several of the Patten Series performances. "They're all very professionally put on events," he said. "I think it is very beneficial to the Chattanooga community and the community at UTC."
Boyer said he hopes to continue to present a series that not only entertains, but challenges.
"Basically I just have to find top talent and stand back."
For more information see http://www.utc.edu/Administration/FineArtsCenter/dp.php.
