Lola Productions launches the first annual Signature Series, a mix of world-class performances to be held at UTEP’s Magoffin Auditorium beginning this fall. From dance to music to a multimedia celebration of the planet Earth, the 2012-2013 Signature Series presents a broad international spectrum of performing arts events that will uplift audiences with spectacular and unforgettable performances.All shows are at the Magoffin Auditorium on the UTEP campus.Sunday, November 11, 2012, 7:00PM SACRED MUSIC SACRED DANCE (Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Loseling 
Monastery) In recent years, The Mystical Arts of Tibet tours, featuring the famed multiphonic singers of Drepung Loseling monastery, have taken the world by storm. This sacred performing art is endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a means of promoting world peace and healing. They have performed in many of America's greatest theaters and music halls. The Drepung Loseling monks are featured on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack of the motion picture Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt. On previous tours, the monks have shared the stage with Philip Glass, Kitaro, Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, Michael Stipe, Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant, the Beastie Boys, and many other artists. As well as performing in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Herbst Theater and the Ravinia Festival. “...primordial pool of sound that you feel as much as hear.” San Francisco Chronicle*****************Saturday, December 22, 2012, 7:30PM PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND “CREOLE CHRISTMAS” Celebrate the Holiday Season with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as they swing in the Holiday Season New Orleans style, hot and spicy, with their wildly popular "CREOLE CHRISTMAS.” An annual must-see event for audiences of all ages, come dance in the aisles as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band strut their stuff and sprinkle the evening with Holiday Classics with a New Orleans twist. “the sold-out audience that was treated to a range of emotions, from pure joy to awe, as these gifted musicians ranging in age from 38 to 78 took command of the stage to demonstrate how Christmas jazz is done in New Orleans.” All About JazzSaturday, February 9, 2013, 8:00PM MEOW MEOW 
 “….drags cabaret kicking and screaming into the 21st century” Time Out New YorkNamed top ten “Best of Cabaret ” by Time Out New York, “cabaret diva of the highest order” by the New York Post and “A phenomenon” by the Australian press, the “Post -post- modern cabaret diva” Meow Meow has wowed audiences globally with her unique brand of kamikaze cabaret and performance art exotica. Meow Meow performs in venues as diverse as the Sydney Opera House, Joe's Pub (New York), American Repertory Theatre (Boston), the Berlin Philharmonic, the Famous Spiegeltents globally, London's West End. She has graced the international arts festival stages of Time Based Arts (US), Ann Arbor, Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Braga, Portugal and the Festival Estuaire (France). She frequently collaborates with an eclectic mix of the world's greatest artistic visionaries including David Bowie, Pina Bausch, Iain Grandage, Pink Martini, John Cameron Mitchell, and the Dresden Dolls among others. *******************Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:00PMBELLA GAIA(Beautiful Earth) is an immersive theater experience that expresses the deeply moving beauty of planet Earth as seen through the eyes of astronauts by successfully simulating space flight. A “Living Media Atlas” journey of our world, BELLA GAIA™ is a portal for audiences to develop a deeper connection and empathy with planet Earth. Created by award winning director, composer and violinist Kenji Williams in collaboration with NASA, BELLA GAIA™ features a live performance by Kenji and world musicians, against a large screen backdrop of orbiting visualizations of Earth from space.“BELLA GAIA is Just Beautiful. It really felt like I was back in Space.”
 Piers Sellers, NASA Astronaut, Spacewalker (STS-112 Atlantis, STS 121 Discovery) *******************Sunday, March 3, 2013, 7:00PMJUAN de MARCOS & THE AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS "Shaping the future of Cuban Music..." The Sunday TimesFollowing in the footsteps of legendary Cuban orchestras Los Van Van, the Buena Vista Social Club, and Irakere, the Afro-Cuban All Stars have become one of the best-known and most successful Cuban orchestras performing today. Lead by bandleader, producer, and arranger Juan de Marcos, the All Stars ensemble concept spans three generations of musicians, and promotes the full range of Cuban musical styles. De Marcos’s musical journey began in the early 1990’s and he has never looked back since. Juan de Marcos, founder and bandleader of Sierra Maestra, was also the man behind the legendary Buena Vista Social Club recordings. The Buena Vista Social Club recordings were born through De Marcos’ efforts to rediscover the neglected stars of Cuba’s golden age of music. The initial Buena Vista Social Club recording was put together by De Marcos and Ry Cooder. It went on to become a Grammy-winning international bestseller and was made into an Oscar-nominated film by celebrated German director Wim Wenders.****************Saturday, April 13, 2013, 7:30PMLES BALLET TROCKADERO de MONTE CARLO “Trocks’ parody plus expertise equals delight.” Chicago TribuneFounded in 1974 for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts. The Trocks, as the dancers are affectionately known, quickly garnered major critical acclaim by New Yorker, The New York Times and The Village Voice. Since those beginnings, the Trocks have appeared in over thirty countries and over five hundred cities worldwide—presenting extended engagements in Amsterdam, Athens, Auckland, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Brisbane, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Cologne, Glasgow, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow), Perth, Rome, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Vienna. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire.Wednesday, April 17, 20132Cellos (Sulic & Hauser)The meteoric success of 2CELLOS started when former cello rivals Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser decided to join forces. In January 2011, they uploaded a unique cello version of “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson onto YouTube. Within just a few weeks, their video became a huge viral sensation, receiving over 5 million views. This led to a record deal with SONY MASTERWORKS and an invitation to join Elton John on his worldwide tour.The duo has appeared on National TV shows like The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (twice in 6 months!) and Stefan Raab’s TV total in Germany. On January 2012, they appeared as the special musical guests on Fox’s hit TV series GLEE where they performed “Smooth Criminal” in the Michael Jackson tribute episode. This was the first time that an instrumental duo had performed on the show in this coveted guest spot. “It’s like Yo-Yo Ma meets Trans Siberian Orchestra but even more hip.” Earmilk