SOCORRO, N.M. – A wide variety of theatrical and musical performances, special events, and community celebrations aims to entertain and enthrall New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series (PAS) patrons during the 2023-2024 academic year. From Shakespeare’s “As You Like it” to the Peking Acrobats to the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” this year’s lineup of performances is sure to captivate and delight the STEM university’s students, staff, and area residents.

A full schedule of PAS events and ticket information is available online at: nmt.edu/pas. Most Macey Center performances are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors age 65 and older, $8 for youth under age 18, and free of charge for NMT students who show a Tech ID. Season tickets are now available, and subscribers save 25% off tickets for the entire year. Special pre-show events are an additional charge.

“Some of our favorite performers will be returning to the Macey Center stage this year,” said Ronna Kalish, PAS director. “And we’re so excited to welcome new musicians and enjoyable activities as part of our offerings. I’m thrilled that we have such a diverse mixture of events and performances – something for everyone. We’re looking forward to seeing enthusiastic turnouts for these very special guests to our campus and community. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Community Collaboration Events

The first event kicking off the 2023-2024 PAS season is the popular Socorrofest, a two-day free community celebration of music, with arts, food and drink vendors, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, car show, and kids’ events held in Socorro’s Historic Plaza on Friday, Sept. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 16, from noon to 9 p.m. Local bands and individual performers, such as Spanish dance music star Gonzalo, will be featured on two stages throughout the weekend.

Other community events during the 2023-24 season include the NDI-New Mexico (National Dance Institute) youth dance instruction Thursday, Nov. 16; the free annual Community Arts Party at Finley Gym Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024; the Women’s Arts Showcase during the month of March in conjunction with Women’s History Month and WomenFest; a performance of “The Rocky Horror Show” the weekend of April 5 to 7, 2024, from Socorro Community Theater and NMT’s Department of Communication, Liberal Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS); Missoula Children’s Theatre residency and performance by Socorro youth in June; and the annual Fourth of July Celebration featuring New Mexico musical performers, games, vendors, and super-spectacular fireworks choreographed by NMT’s Energetic Materials Research and Training Center (EMRTC).

Presidential Chamber Music Series

The free Presidential Chamber Music Series, sponsored by New Mexico Tech Interim President Daniel H. Lopez, features four free concerts: 

• Friday, Oct. 6: Eric Sewell’s Nomad Ensemble with stellar New Mexico musicians featuring the piano, violin, and cello;
• Friday, Nov. 10: Camerata Del Sol, a string quartet drawing together performers from Las Cruces, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez to bring unique chamber music experiences to the region;
• Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024: The Alash Ensemble, who bring to life the ancient art of Tuvan throat singing, producing two, three, or four pitches simultaneously.
• Thursday, March 7, 2023: The Alias Brass Quintet, featuring five innovative musical virtuosos who perform standards and original compositions from Baroque and classical to jazz and pop.

PAS Subscription Series and Special Events

The regular NMTPAS subscription series begins in September and runs through April 2024. Several pre-show events throughout the year are connected to the performances, and costumes are encouraged for several of them. Special events carry an additional cost to participate.

The first event in the subscription series is Socorro Community Theater’s “As You Like It,” the classic Shakespearean musical comedy featuring themes of love, envy, and forgiveness, runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 22 to 24. The Friday show kicks off with an optional Ye Olde Partye Medieval cosplay dinner, with a hearty medieval meal, drink specials, and costumes encouraged. 

Other PAS performances and events include:

• Friday, Oct. 27: “Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr” will showcasing acrobats in a turbine tug of war between man, nature, and machine.
• Thursday, Nov. 30: The Stephane Wrembel Quartet will spotlight a French-born virtuoso guitarist who is a disciple of the Django Reinhardt gypsy style.
• Saturday, Dec. 16: “Mariachi Christmas” will return a colorful seasonal showcase of ballet, folkorico dance, and mariachi music, a genre of regional Mexican music, to the Macey Center stage.
• Tuesday, Jan. 30: Peking Acrobats will astound and amaze with their spectacular mix of awe-inspiring acrobatic feats and high-tech special events.
• Thursday, Feb. 15: The “Masters of Soul” show featuring singers and a band will celebrate the songs and performers that define Motown and soul music. Preceding the show will be an optional Groovin’ Valentines Dinner.
• Friday, March 1: “Stories from Home” will highlight contemporary dance, embodying the oral traditions of Latino communities in the Southwest.
• Friday, April 12: “Scrap Arts: Children of Metropolis,” will feature a percussion ensemble, high-action choreography, film and theater in an adrenalin-packed performance.
• Friday, May 3: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a build-your-own taco buffet, plus a cash bar with tequila flights, margaritas, Mexican beer drink specials, rousing games of Loteria with fun prizes, and local Spanish music for a Cinco de Mayo dance.  

NMTPAS receives support from New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs; Western States Arts Federation, the National Dace Project, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the city of Socorro. For performance and ticket information or to volunteer, visit nmt.edu/pas or call 575-835-5688.