Legendary performer Ben Vereen to give show at Zankel

SaratogaArtsFest has announced that this year’s line-up will include a performance by Ben Vereen, the Tony Award-winning actor, dancer, and singer known for his wide-ranging roles and performances over the past 45 years.

Backed by his band, Vereen will perform his one-man show Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m. in Skidmore's Arthur Zankel Music Center. The show features the music of Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and the best of Broadway.

Tickets to the Vereen performance will go on sale March 15. Admission is priced at $60, or only $10 with a SaratogaArtsFest ARTSPASS. The ARTSPASS is available through March 31 at a discounted price of just $35.

Visit SaratogaArtsFest.org to purchase an ARTSPASS and receive a promotional code necessary for the discounted Vereen ticket. Tickets to the performance can also be purchased for $60 directly through the box office at the Zankel Music Center.

On Broadway, Vereen has appeared in Wicked, Fosse, I’m Not Rappaport, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Jelly’s Last Jam, and A Christmas Carol.  His role in Pippin garnered him both a Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His many memorable roles include that of Louis Armstrong in Armstrong—Chicago Style and Chicken George in the TV miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination. His long list of television guest appearances ranges from Law and Order to Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In 2012, Vereen was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame and the National Museum of Dance Hall of Fame. At the time of his induction, the National Museum of Dance also honored Vereen with a lifetime achievement award.

In addition to the Vereen performance, the SarartogaArtsFest lineup for Friday, June 7, will include an open dance rehearsal by Susan Marshall & Company, performances of the Repertory Jazz Ensemble of the Empire State Youth Orchestras, and a film screening by the Saratoga Film Forum in collaboration with Yaddo. The full ArtsFest schedule of events will be announced in late April and will be available at SaratogaArtsFest.org.

 Early-bird special for ArtsFest admission

As SaratogaArtsFest gears up for its seventh annual citywide celebration of the arts, June 6-9, festival organizers are offering an early-bird incentive with special discounts for adult admission through March 31.

SaratogaArtsFest 2013 will offer a wide variety of arts experiences, including music, dance, visual art, film, theatre, and literary art. The festival is designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences, from the arts aficionado to families with young children.

Through the month of March, the ARTSPASS admission package for adults and seniors will be available at a discount of $5, resulting in a price of just $35, while military personnel (active or past) can claim a pass for free through the end of March. Admission to the festival for youth (17 and under) is free at all times.

An ARTSPASS provides admission to the full range of events and cultural activities during the multifaceted arts showcase. The pass also provides discounts at Saratoga Springs restaurants and shops during the festival, as well as benefits year-round at area arts organizations.

To purchase an adult ARTSPASS or to reserve a free youth or military pass, visit SaratogaArtsFest.org.