If you’ve been wondering what’s coming up for the spring dates of the Performance Series at Minnesota State University, wonder no more.
Dale Haefner, the impresario of the annual Performance Series, released the spring schedule this week and it’s full of the kind of variety we’ve come to expect from the series.
We asked Haefner to answer a few questions about what’s coming up this spring (which includes, by the way, return visits from Pieta Brown, Erik Koskinen and The Jimmys). As always, he obliged.
The Free Press: Can you go through some of the highlights in the spring series?
Dale Haefner: I am excited to bring Cantus back to campus. Cantus appeared here in 2014, and I have heard and received many requests to bring them back. The group will provide master classes in the afternoon with a performance the evening of Feb. 5
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier will perform on March 11. I chose Mary because she has a fanbase in the area. I also want the songwriting majors in the Department of Performing Arts to have a chance to hear her perform and hopefully meet with her after the gig to gather some insight into songwriting.
I am a huge fan of New Orleans piano, and John “Papa” Gros has been on my radar for a while. He will bring his syncopated Crescent City style of piano playing to Mankato on March 26.
FP: How has attendance been so far this academic year?
DH: Audience totals for fall semester events in Halling Recital Hall were a bit worrisome. Audience participation remains well below pre-pandemic levels. I don’t know if it’s because of the oversaturation of events in the area. I don’t believe it is the ticket cost. Tickets for most of the Performance Series events in the Recital Hall are $10.
If one would drive to the metro to hear these same artists that appear in Mankato, one would easily pay two or three times that amount. In addition, someone attending a concert in the metro would incur a substantial amount of additional expense like gas, parking and other entertainment costs.
FP: You’ve got a few acts that have been here a time or two. Is that because of demand, availability, both, none of the above?
DH: I am mindful of conversations with friends of the Performance Series and I pay attention to social media comments about artists that I bring to Mankato. I have curated a list of rotating artists that includes musicians/bands that I know will draw and have demonstrated that there is substantial demand for those artists. I am careful to introduce new acts to the area because the public is hesitant to pay to see an act that they are not familiar with. I can think of multiple cases where I have had a Grammy-nominated artist on stage at a reasonable price point with maybe 50-60 people in the audience.
FP: Is there anything you’re still working on that isn’t on the list?
DH: The spring calendar is complete with Performance Series events, student ensemble concerts, and a semester-ending collaboration between the dance, theater and music programs with a production of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” I am already working on contacting artists for fall 2024 and spring 2025.
FP: Have you made any changes to the way you book acts?
DH: Recently I changed my approach to booking artists. I am starting to contact agents and artists almost one year in advance of a possible performance date. Last fall, I was considering a number of artistic options for the spring semester but was not able to book them because the artists that I was considering were already booked. I am negotiating with agents now for dates in October and November 2024. I have already booked an artist for January 2025.
FP: Is there anything about this list that would surprise people?
DH: I think that those who follow the Performance Series might be surprised with the addition of a tribute show on the spring schedule. The Elton John Tribute Show, featuring Garrett Steinberg, will be a successful show. Garrett has offered this show in the area and I noticed quite a bit of positive social media traffic about the performance. Why not?