UAB Briefs: Free concert at ASC, homecoming events, Theatre UAB
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.
FREE SHOW AT THE ALYS
The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center will present a free outdoor concert by the band Las Cafeteras on Friday, Oct. 12, at Engel Plaza, according to a UAB news release.
The concert starts at 7 p.m., but the event starts at 6 p.m. with a free dance class offered by Jorge Ibanez and Maribel Munguia of Corazon de Alabama. Participants can learn cumbia and other Latin social dance moves.
Food trucks and a bar will be on-site
Las Cafeteras, from Los Angeles, is known for their Afro-Mexican beats and rhythms and their inspiring lyrics, the release states.
The group has been featured by NPR, KCRW, The Los Angeles Times and other outlets since the release of their first studio album, “It’s Time.”
The Los Angeles Times called Las Cafeteras a “uniquely Angeleno mishmash of punk, hip-hop, beat music, cumbia and rock.”
The concert is part of ¡Celebración! This is a series of events celebrating Latin culture that began on Sept. 7 and continues through Oct. 16.
HOMECOMING
UAB will celebrate homecoming from Oct. 14-20 with a wide variety of events, according to a news release from the school. The homecoming theme will be “Blazers in the Magic City,” according to the release.
One of the homecoming highlights will be a clash between the UAB Blazers football squad and North Texas at Legion Field on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.
The 220-member Marching Blazers will perform with the UAB Alumni Band during halftime and present a portion of its 2018 field show, “Rockstar,” featuring music from 1980s rock bands.
In addition, the winners of the Mr. and Ms. UAB Scholarship Competition, which is sponsored by the UAB National Alumni Society, will be announced at halftime.
Single-game football tickets start at $20 and are available at the gate or at uabsports.com. For gameday information, go to blazergameday.com.
Homecoming week also features The Hoops Season Tip-Off in Bartow Arena on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.
The Tip-Off will feature the UAB men’s basketball team playing the Georgia Bulldogs in an exhibition game, as well as a UAB women’s basketball championship celebration.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at uabsports.com. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for disaster relief for victims of this summer’s California wildfires.
Homecoming will include at least a dozen other events, most to be held on or near campus, including the Gurney Derby and the Blaze the Night Pep Rally, both on Oct. 17; the homecoming parade on Oct. 19; the Blazer Bolt for Brain Cancer on Oct. 20.
“Saturday Night Live” writer Anna Drezen will perform a comedy show at the Hill Student Center Ballroom on October 16 at 8 p.m. that is free and open to the public.
For details on all the events, go to uab.edu/homecoming.
A MUSICAL SPELLING BEE
Theatre UAB — the performance company of the UAB Department of Theatre — will present the popular musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
There will be performances Oct. 17-20 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the ASC’s Sirote Theatre.
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk awards for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” follows six quirky adolescents competing at the regional championship.
In addition, four audience members will be chosen to compete alongside the six spellers.
This play contains adult language and situations.
Admission is $15 and $20; student tickets are $6. Tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10.
For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.alysstephens.org.
Visit Theatre UAB online at uab.edu/cas/theatre.