This semester is bringing a wide variety of events to the OCCC VPAC, said Cultural Programs Director Lemuel Bardeguez. And the best part of all? Students can attend the shows for free.

“It’s a really great opportunity for students who are strapped on cash … to maybe bring a date for free, bring a parent to thank them for helping them with school, or … to just bring a friend and give them a chance to watch  really high-quality performing arts for free.”

Bardeguez said free tickets can be picked up between 1 and 5 p.m. in the VPAC Theater box office located in the theater lobby or on the night of the show if there are still student tickets remaining. There also will be a kiosk set up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the week before each performance in the general dining area.

Students, faculty and community members will have the opportunity to see shows from internationally accredited orchestras to world traveling dance performances, Bardeguez said. He said his department looks for unique shows that will appeal to a broad audience.

“Our series showcases shows that you can’t find anywhere else in OKC,” he said. “It’s kind of an interesting mix.

“Our subscribers are community members, students, faculty members — people that have all kinds of different tastes.”

Bardeguez said each performance is different from the last with entertaining shows to intellectually challenging shows. He said the diversity provides cultural enrichment to those who attend.

“We look at the performing art series as part of student life and part of the complete student,” he said. “You can go to class and learn a lot about a subject, but what makes you a really rounded individual is also live experiences.

“When you come and watch all the shows … you experience something you wouldn’t have anywhere else, or not yet anyways. It’s exposing you to a new genre or a new type of show and performance and music. It’s part of the educational growth.”

Bardeguez said several shows are still on the calendar.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10. The band will perform the original music of Glenn Miller, he said.

“That’s going to be a traditional big band era type of show with a vocalist. They will be playing traditional jazz arrangements.”

The Chamber Orchestra Kremlin will be coming from Russia to perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,  March 26.

“They are a phenomenal group,” Bardeguez said. “They play with a lot of energy and are really proficient technically, and the conductor does a great job of bringing the ensemble together.”

Their performance will be the first time for the OCCC concert hall to be showcased, he said.

“That’ll be our first performing arts event that is an acoustic show.”

The season’s closing performance will be the Pilobolus Dance Theater. The group is known best for their shadow curtain work, Bardeguez said.

“We’re very excited to have them because our hall is well suited for dance. All the seats are right on top of the stage. There really is no bad seat in the house.”

Bardeguez said he sends out an email to all current students about tickets and upcoming performances.

For any more information, contact the Cultural Programs office at culturalprograms@occc.edu or 405-682-7576.

To contact Katie Axtell, email communitywriter@occc.edu