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The Quick Center joins the quarter-century club this year, and the 25 ^th birthday celebration kicks off with "An Evening with Charlie Rose," followed by a rich 2015-16 season featuring a stellar dance series and a spotlight on nationally-known Connecticut artists.

Emmy-winning journalist Charlie Rose will be on hand September 19 for the opening night celebration, which features dinner, an interview with Rose, and cocktails and dancing to support the arts at the Quick Center. about ticket packages for this special evening. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Executive Director Peter Van Heerden at (203) 254-4242.

Van Heerden said he’s excited to be at the Quick Center’s helm at this pivotal juncture and he’s looking ahead to the next 25 years. “I hope to ensure the Quick Center continues to bring robust, informative and challenging performance works to the community and roots itself as the preeminent performance venue in the Connecticut arts corridor.”

This season the Quick Center is collaborating with the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery to present Dance: An Exploration in the Visual and Performing Arts . The initiative includes Dance: Marc Mellon, Jane Sutherland, Philip Trager , an exhibition of sculpture, painting and photography at the Walsh from September 18, 2015 through January 15, 2016, as well as performances by EVIDENCE/Ronald K. Brown (October 16), David Dorfman Dance (November 7), a holiday spectacular with Savion Glover (December 6) and a works-in-progress showing by Adele Myers and Dancers (September 17). In addition, the Open VISIONS Forum series will include a talk with Judith Jamison, former dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, on January 31.

David Dorfman Dance and Adele Myers and Dancers are also part of the season’s strong Connecticut flavor, which features a commissioning by composer Gwyneth Walker performed by the Connecticut Trio (September 27).

Open VISIONS will continue with visits from fashion guru Tim Gunn (October 14), restaurateur and ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ alumna Donatella Arpaia (February 26), and Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, who will give the annual Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lecture on November 18.

The Quick Center is putting the finishing touches on its website, which will unveil the full new season on July 6. Be sure to stop by and see all the exciting events for 2015-16 and take advantage of your employee discount – one complimentary ticket to each event, plus the opportunity to purchase up to two additional tickets at 50 percent off.

You may also consider becoming a Quick Center member to support future programming and arts educational outreach. Members at the Faculty/Staff/Retiree level enjoy seating priority for The Met: Live in HD series, VIP ticket access, and guaranteed registration for Missoula Children’s Theatre Summer Camps.

“Members are the cornerstone of performing arts venues,” said Van Heerden. “It’s through membership that ticket buyers turn into patrons and become a part of the fabric of the institution.”