UAB Briefs: New season at The Alys, new track facility, Emmy winner
Welcome to another installment of UAB Briefs.
In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.
Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention? Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.
A FULL SEASON
The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center at UAB has announced the artists that will appear as part of its 2018-2019 season.
The season features more than 20 events, including pop-music legends, chamber music, jazz and contemporary dance.
Tickets went on sale June 14, according to a UAB news release.
Here are a few of the season highlights:
-- Singer-songwriter k.d. lang will open the season on Friday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m., with a stop on her “Ingénue Redux” tour.
-- Seán Curran Company, a contemporary dance troupe, will appear with Third Coast Percussion on Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. The troupe will present the world premiere of “Everywhere All the Time,” a piece commissioned by the ASC.
-- The noted blues musician and producer Keb’ Mo’ will appear on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.
-- The 2019 Alabama Dance Festival -- featuring Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, a contemporary troupe from Miami -- will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m.
-- The Oakwood University Aeolians, a gospel choral group, will appear on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m.
-- Legendary folk singer-songwriter Joan Baez will appear on Wednesday, April 10, at 7 p.m., as part of her final tour.
-- Singer Gladys Knight, who has No. 1 hits in the pop, gospel, R&B and adult contemporary genres, will appear Sunday, May 12, at 7 p.m.
For more information or to order tickets, 975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org.
GETTING ON TRACK
UAB Athletics broke ground on June 15 on a new track and field facility that represents a important milestone for the school, according to Mark Ingram, UAB Director of Athletics.
“For the first time in the UAB track and field program’s 33-year history, our student-athletes will have a world-class, competitive track where they can practice and compete,” Ingram said in a news release.
The facility will also be for use by UAB students, faculty and staff, as well as the residents of Birmingham, according to Ingram.
The new facility -- located adjacent to the recently renovated BBVA Compass Field -- will have a Mondo track surface with eight lanes, as well as space for competition in the discus, javelin, shot-put, hammer throw and jumps.
Area residents will be able to use the track beginning in 2019 when it is not in use for official events.
The new track will also be capable of hosting NCAA, conference and high school-level meets.
The project was made possible by a gift from UAB Athletics supporter Steve DeMedicis.
EMMY WINNER
The UAB Division of University Relations won the school’s first Emmy award for “Outstanding Sports-Feature Segment” at the 2018 Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, held in Atlanta on June 16, according to a news release from UAB Media Relations.
The entry, “More Than a Game,” showcased the partnership between UAB Football and Children’s Harbor.
The video -- created by Laura Thomas, Jeff Myers and Andrea Reiber -- focused on the football game between UAB and Louisiana Tech at Legion Field in October 2017.
Blazer players wore specially designed jerseys that each featured the name of a Children’s Harbor patient on the back instead of the player’s name.