Italian American Heritage Month: Hugh Panaro

Hugh Panaro is a celebrated American tenor and stage actor best known for his long association with The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Born in Philadelphia, Panaro is very proud of his Italian heritage. Encouraged by his parents, he showed early musical promise and began performing as a child, later earning his degree from Temple University

He made his Broadway debut in Les Misérables as Marius and went on to star in a range of major productions, including Show Boat, Lestat, Side Show, and The Red Shoes. However, it was his iconic portrayal of the Phantom—and earlier, Raoul—in The Phantom of the Opera that cemented his reputation as one of Broadway’s most magnetic and vocally gifted leading men.

Known for his powerful voice, emotional depth, and refined stage presence, Panaro has also appeared in concerts and symphonic performances around the world. Beloved by fans and colleagues alike, he continues to be recognized as one of Broadway’s great romantic tenors, bringing both passion and polish to every role he inhabits.

A Fitting Tribute To A Great Lady!

 

From Philly To Hollywood Via Big Time Promos!

Promoting any entertainment attraction in the current hi-tech, super competitive, global atmosphere takes more than talent. It takes persistence, imagination and a love for the business that motivates you to go that extra mile.
Jesse Cute, Vice President of Allied Global marketing has all three, and then some.
Watch Dan Cirucci's interview with Jesse on The Advocates on RVN-TV and discover how a kid from Philly mastered the art of public relations and promotion on a Very Big Stage. Great fun!

Active Republicans At Major Urban University? YES!

For the lowdown on another story that the media won't report, watch Dan Cirucci as he chats with Chris Smith, Chair of the Temple University College Republicans. These are the young people you never hear about. Watch, listen and learn!

Stop The Hate; Join In Support Of ISRAEL!

An Important Message About Marc Lamont Hill!

GREATER PHILADELPHIA

Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel, As of this writing, Temple University has refused to take action against Professor Marc Lamont Hill, Temple’s Steve Charles Chair in Media, Cities and Solutions at the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication. Please continue to call and email Temple’s president and Temple trustees. Last Wednesday, Hill spoke at a United Nations forum on “Palestine” advocating violence against Jews and Israel as well as boycotts, sanctions and divestment against Israel and the replacing of Israel with “Palestine” “from the river to the sea.” See video on Hill’s speech here (fast-forward to 135:00): http://webtv.un.org/search/special-meeting-of-the-committee-on-the-exercise-of-the-inalienable-rights-of-the-palestinian-people-in-observance-of-the-international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people/5972788893001/?term=&lan=english ZOA continues to call for Hill to be fired. See our statement later in this email.  Temple President Richard Englert issued a statement about the episode late in the day on Friday (see below) that does not fully address what Hill did. Englert fails to condemn Hill nor apologize for Hill’s remarks. Instead, he wrote, Hill’s “comments sparked strong responses from those who were offended by his language.” He apparently fails to grasp exactly what Hill did, or that it does much more than “offend.” It greatly concerns us that, for example, someone would call for violence against Jews or the destruction of the home to seven million Jews and an important ally of the United States. The statement is not on the university’s Twitter feed nor on its Facebook page.   Greater Philadelphia ZOA Board Member Bart Blatstein issued a clarion call about what Temple University should do. It was published by Philly.com. See immediately below. Temple should take action after Marc Lamont Hill’s Israel comments By Bart Blatstein  Especially after the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre of 11 Jewish worshippers, universities must refuse to employ professors who call for anti-Semitic violence and destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. It is outrageous that Marc Lamont Hill is still employed as the Steven Charles professor at Temple University, after Hill showed himself to be an Israel-hating anti-Semite by maliciously and ignorantly calling for Israel’s destruction and genocidal violence and destruction of the Jewish state during Hill’s November 28 rant at the United Nations.  CNN appropriately fired Hill. However, shockingly, Temple University failed to express any concern regarding Hill’s violence-inciting speech, or about the harmful impact Hill’s statements will have on Temple University’s and Steve Charles reputation and Temple students. Instead Temple defended Hills’ supposed constitutional “right . . . as a private citizen” to make these hateful statements. But Hill’s statements were not private; they were made in a major public forum. As the voice of the university, professors have a duty to speak responsibly when they speak publicly.       Temple University’s current Board must show leadership by immediately condemning Hill and demanding his dismissal, or at a minimum removing him from holding the Steven Charles Chair.        Among other things, Hill declared that “we must offer more than just words,” and that instead Palestinian-Arabs must be allowed to engage in “revolts,” “resistance” (euphemism for Palestinian-Arab terrorism and murder) and “tactics otherwise divergent from Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi” (obviously meaning violent tactics). Hill also called Israel’s reestablishment seventy years ago the “Nakba – the great catastrophe” and “tragic”; and advocated for Israel’s total elimination and replacement with a Palestinian-Arab (terror) state, by invoking the infamous genocidal chant screamed during Jew-hating anti-Israel demonstrations. Free Palestine from the river to the sea” which means destroy all of Israel. Hill’s speech was filled with other propaganda falsehoods against Israel. Temple University’s current Board must show leadership by immediately condemning Hill and demanding his dismissal, or at a minimum removing him from holding the Steven Charles Chair. Temple’s leaders must take this moral and honorable stance against hatred and anti-Semitism. Doing anything less will only add to the shame and harm that Marc Lamont Hill has already brought upon Temple University and to Steven Charles. Bart Blatstein is president and Chief Executive Officer of Tower Investments, Inc. This article was published by the Philadelphia Inquirer and may be found here. Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s statement: The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America is outraged by the remarks that Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill made at the United Nations on November 28. We believe that Temple University should fire Hill for his support of the racist anti-Israel and anti-Jewish Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS); for his endorsing Palestinian-Arab violence against Jews if the non-violence tactics of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and India’s Mahatma Gandhi are not working; and for his use of the slogan “A free ‘Palestine’ from the river to the sea” – a classic chant used at anti-Israel/anti-Jewish rallies and protests for decades. The slogan means that the Jewish State of Israel would be destroyed and replaced with a majority-Arab state of “Palestine” where Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly said that no Jews will be allowed to live. Professor Hill’s outright lies, distortions and slanders about Israel and the Jewish People during the “Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People” have the potential to incite hatred and resentment of Jews in America and elsewhere, create a hostile environment for students on the Temple University Campus, and have the potential to result in violence against Jews. Until today, Hill had been a contracted commentator on CNN. CNN reportedly ended its relationship with Hill due to his remarks at the UN. Please contact CNN officials (see below) to thank them for taking the appropriate action. Hill’s remarks can be heard in their entirety at the link immediately below. Fast forward to 135:00. http://webtv.un.org/search/special-meeting-of-the-committee-on-the-exercise-of-the-inalienable-rights-of-the-palestinian-people-in-observance-of-the-international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people/5972788893001/?term=&lan=english We call on all people of good conscience to call or write to Temple University President Richard Englert and to contact members of Temple’s Board of Trustees. See information below. By retaining Hill as a Temple professor, the university sends a clear message to students and other faculty that Jew-hatred, calls for violence, and distortions of contemporary situations and history are acceptable. In a climate of rising Jew-hatred and increased attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions – this is unacceptable. We must make it clear that institutions have a responsibility to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against open and brazen hate and the unambiguous incitement to violence and terrorism. If you call or write to anyone about Hill, or whenever engaged in pro-Israel advocacy, always be polite and civil. See below contact information for Temple’s president and the names of its board of trustees. Richard M. Englert President of Temple University Second Floor, Sullivan Hall 1330 Polett Walk Philadelphia, PA 19122 215-204-7405 (phone) 215-204-5600 (fax) president@temple.edu Temple trustees: Dennis Alter Leonard Barrack, Esq. Stephen G. Charles Joseph F. Coradino Paul G. Curcillo Theodore Z. Davis The Honorable Nelson A. Diaz, Esq. Ronald R. Donatucci Patrick J. Eiding Judith A. Felgoise Richard J. Fox Lewis F. Gould, Jr., Esq. Lon R. Greenberg Tamron Hall Sandra Harmon-Weiss, M.D. Marina Kats, Esq. Drew A. Katz Patrick V. Larkin, Esq. Solomon C. Luo, M.D. Joseph W. Marshall, III, Esq. Anthony J. McIntyre Christopher W. McNichol J. William Mills, III Mitchell L. Morgan, Esq. Leon O. Moulder, Jr. Patrick J. O'Connor, Esq. Bret S. Perkins Daniel H. Polett Charles E. Ryan Michael H. Reed, Esq. Phillip C. Richards, '62 Jane Scaccetti, '77 Michael J. Stack, III (S)* Honorary Life Trustees: Alan M. Cohen Peter D. DePaul Lacy H. Hunt Sidney Kimmel Ex-Officio Trustees: The Honorable Thomas W. Wolf, Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania The Honorable James F. Kenney, Mayor, City of Philadelphia The Honorable Pedro A. Rivera, Secretary of Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education Statement by Temple President Richard Englert: “EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT To the Temple community, Earlier this week, Temple University was thrust into the media spotlight after the remarks of one of our faculty, Marc Lamont Hill, during the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The story has been covered widely, including this story from Friday’s Philadelphia Inquirer. As you can see, his comments sparked strong responses from those who were offended by his language. I have spoken with some; I have heard their concerns; and understand their reactions to the “river to sea” reference, a phrase many associate with a perceived threat. Let me be clear: Professor Hill does not represent Temple University, and his views are his own. Further, Professor Hill’s right to express his opinion is protected by the Constitution to the same extent as any other private citizen. It is also vitally important to remember our values: Temple condemns in the strongest possible terms all anti-Semitic, racist or incendiary language, hate speech, calls to violence, and the disparagement of any person or persons based on religion, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or identity. The university, in the best interest of its community, will take necessary and proper action to protect these values when they are threatened. At the same time, we pride ourselves on our diversity, in all its forms. We will always be a place where divergent points of view will find a home. These are the values the Temple community embraces. Thank you for your commitment to Temple’s ideals, which have withstood the tests of more than 130 years. And thank you for all you do to make Temple the welcoming community it is. Sincerely, Richard M. Englert President Executive Office of the President 1330 Polett Walk Sullivan Hall, 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19122"

His Remarkable Journey Will Inspire You!

He's a college professor, an ordained Baptist minister, a business executive, an author and a nationally recognized public relations professional.
His journey from West Philly, through Central High School, Duquesne University and Palmer Theological Seminary led him all the way to the White House where he was honored as a Champion of Change in 2012. 
Click here to watch Dan Cirucci's chat with David W. Brown, one of Philadelphia's most accomplished professionals. His remarkable story showcases the good things that are happening in a city that needs more people like him!

What Do YOU Think? Is It Ridiculous, Or What?

Video: Students Rush Floor In Temple Upset Win!

Pandemonium breaks loose as Temple University students rush the floor at Philly's Wells Fargo Center after Temple's dramatic 77-52 hoops win over #10-ranked Kansas.

Resignation Statement Of Bill Cosby

"I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University Board of Trustees."
-Bill Cosby

Bombshell: Cosby Resigns From Temple Board

Bill Cosby has resigned from the Temple University Board of Trustees. Cosby resigned today following sontinuing allegations accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting women over many years.

Cosby released the following statement this afternoon:
"I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University Board of Trustees."

Temple Hoops Single Game Tickets On Sale!

Temple men's basketball fans can purchase single game seats for the 2014-15 season starting at 10:00 a.m. this Thursday, October 23. Tickets can be purchased via phone at 1-800-298-4200, online at comcastTix.comor in person at the Liacouras Center Box Office.

The Owls will host 15 games at the Liacouras Center as well as Kansas at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday, December 22. Nine American Athletic Conference opponents will travel to North Broad Street, including defending NCAA champion UConn as well as Cincinnati, a regular NCAA tournament team.

Former Sixers coach Larry Brown will once again bring his SMU Mustangs to the Liacouras Center while Philadelphia Big 5 rival Penn makes an appearance on Temple's campus.

* Tickets for all games (excluding Kansas and UConn) are $15 (upper level), $25 (lower level baseline) and $35 (lower level sideline).

* Tickets for the Kansas and UConn games are $20 (upper level), $30 (lower level baseline) and $40 (lower level sideline).

Temple's home opener for the 2014-15 season is Friday, November 14 when the Owls host American at 7:30 p.m.

Group tickets (20 or more people) can be purchased by calling the Temple Sales Office at 215-204-8499.

Full and partial season tickets are still available, and guarantee customers the best seats, ticket discounts, and other season ticket holder benefits. Partial plans this season include a 4-game package featuring either the Kansas or UConn game, as well as a 7-game weekend plan that incorporates all Saturday and Sunday contests. To order full or partial season tickets, call the Temple Sales Office at 215-204-8499 or visit www.OwlsTix.com.

For courtside seating and private suite inquiries, call the Temple Owl Club at 215-204-2286

Tickets for the Kansas game can be purchased through ComcastTIX, online at ComcastTix.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200 or in-person at the Wells Fargo Center box office.

Tickets for the neutral site La Salle game at The Palestra on December 6 ($35, $25, $15) can be purchased by calling the Temple sales at 215-204-8499.

Two Philly PR Stars Receive Worthy Honors!

Wow! Big honors this afternoon for Jerry Klein (shown with Anne Klein) and my former student Meredith Avakian-Hardaway at Temple University's Lew Klein Awards in Philadelphia.

Jerry was a top-flight broadcaster before he and Anne became a potent PR duo. Meredith who is Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Philadelphia Bar Association, is a Rapidly Rising PR Star. 

All three are dear friends and I'm so proud to know them. Plus, Temple's a great place, a shining gem.

Oh, Brian Williams and John Oates were there too.

Lik

Important, Inspiring Women? Don't Forget This One

Before Women's History Month draws to a close, we wanted to mention one Very Important Woman who deserves to be recognized.
Because, it isn't often that you can say that you know an honest-to-goodness legendary figure -- someone who's made groundbreaking accomplishments and changed life for the better for millions. This is a woman who's kept true to her ideals and principles, who has not only charted new paths for others but who has fearlessly and tirelessly championed the cause of justice at every stage of her life.
And she's still making a difference every day.
We're referring to Philadelphia's own Arline Jolles Lotman; a lawyer, activist, scholar, researcher and commentator who is also a treasured friend to all those who have the good fortune to know her as we do.
Arline's been a trailblazer from the getgo.
She was the first Executive Director of the Governor's Office on the Status of Women appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp in 1972.
In that capacity, she faced tasks and challenges that came with no guidebook. But she wasted no time in getting right to work.
She drafted and implemented Pennsylvania's state ERA required changes to executive, legislative and administrative departments and agencies under the Governor's Executive Order mandate. Under her leadership, federal ERA ratification was secured for Pennsylvania -- no small feat at the time.

She structured and chaired investigative public hearings to end gender discrimination in the public and private sector in health care, and credit granting. In fact, she presented testimony before many state and federal entities, including Congress the FDIC and the NIH. She testified during hearings on health delivery and its related institutions.
Her work in these and other fields helped to bring about regulation changes for state regulated entities and voluntary public written notice adherence by the Pennsylvania State Retailers Association, which included department stores, providing all employed women, whether single or married, with equal access to loans, credit cards, etc. That in itself was a huge achievement because it freed woman to pursue their own lives.
Though her work sometimes brought immediate change, in some areas it took decades. With the NIH, for example it took 30 years to achieve some significant results and still gender discrimination has not been eliminated in the vast scope of health related matters
Arline continues to fight for public policy and legal advancements that embrace gender equality.At the Governor's Office on the Status of Women, Arline opened hearings on gender protocols on drug testing and NIH representatives were witnesses at those hearings. But only within the last ten years has NIH had a protocol to test drugs on women as differentiated from men. Arline was on this case long before that and she's still studying the gender  differentiated implications of health care and drugs.
To give you some idea of how far ahead of her time she was, take a look at this recent CBS 60 Minutes report on how drugs can affect sexes differently and remember that Arline Lotman's pioneering work helped bring this to light:



Arline Lotman was also one of the first women to assume leadership roles at the Philadelphia Bar Association. For example, she chaired the Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention which evaluated candidates for all levels of state judiciary and even some federal court prospective appointees. She led a panel of attorneys and non-attorneys as reviewers of qualifications and was the first Chair to add diversity to the panel by expanding its members to include representatives from the Bar Association's Minorities in the Profession Committee and Women's Committee.
In 1992 she was appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell, and President of City Council, John F. Street to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter Commission where she joined government officials, attorneys, business, political and civic leaders charged with statutory responsibility for drafting charter amendments for submission to the voters as ballot referenda. This was only the second time in the history of the City Charter that such a Commission has been impaneled.
Arline Jolles Lotman has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Medical Center, at Temple University and at the Villanova University Law School. She's served as President of the Temple Law Alumni Association, on the board of Temple's Law Foundation and on the Board of Visitors.
She has served on the American Bar Association's House of Delegates (the first woman Philadelphia Bar Association representative to do so)  and she has been a member of the ABA's Standing Committee on Election Law. She has also chaired the Philadelphia International Visitors Council and served on the University of Pennsylvania Public Interest Advisory Board. She's long been a champion of pro bono public interest work in the legal community and was one of the first to advocate for such work as part of the formal law school curriculum.
A prolific writer, Arline's work has appeared in the National Law Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pennsylvania Lawyer and numerous other publications. She brings to everything she does not only her scholarly gravitas (JD, MA, ADR) but also her lifelong experience and keen insight. Over the years, she has generously mentored and encouraged women in all walks of life.
And here's the thing: Through it all, she remains irrepressibly human, lively, inquisitive, fiercely loyal and genuine to the core.
We are proud to know her and honored to salute her.

Bar Association Names New PR/Marketing Chief

The Philadelphia Bar Association, the oldest association of lawyers in the United States, welcomes Meredith Z. Avakian-Hardaway as its new director of communications and marketing.

Avakian-Hardaway succeeds Mark Tarasiewicz, who assumed the duties of executive director on January 1, 2014.

We are delighted with this news and confident that Meredith Avakian-Hardaway will do an outstanding job in this pivotal role. We've known Meredith since she was a student at Temple University and it has been a pleasure to watch her achieve prominence as a respected and accomplished public relations professional.

"The 212-year-old Philadelphia Bar Association strives to foster understanding of, involvement in and access to the justice system," said Philadelphia Bar Association Executive Director Mark Tarasiewicz. "It was important for us to select a director of communications and marketing who understands our heritage as well as what it takes for us to 'raise the bar' for our members, their clients and the public."

Avakian-Hardaway joins the Philadelphia Bar Association from DuPont, where she spent nearly eight years in a variety of public relations and communications positions. Most recently, Avakian-Hardaway served as a regional public affairs manager. In this role, she led internal and external communications, including 24/7 issues and crisis communications support, for eight manufacturing plant sites in three states – Delaware, New Jersey & Rhode Island.

Avakian-Hardaway also serves as the Philadelphia Public Relations Association's vice president for external affairs and has won the organization's Fast Track Award and Dr. Jean Brodey Award. She also recently was named a "Rising Star of PR" by PR News, a "Hero" by the American Red Cross, and a "Notable Alumni" by Temple University's Department of Strategic Communications. Avakian-Hardaway also is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and has received national awards from the student chapter of the organization.

"Thousands of citizens are helped by the Philadelphia Bar Association through its mission of serving the profession and the public by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law," said Avakian-Hardaway. "I am honored to be a part of the team and look forward to working with some of the most talented people in Philadelphia and beyond."

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is the oldest association of lawyers in the United States. The mission of the Association is to serve the profession and the public by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law. In so doing, the Association strives to foster understanding of, involvement in and access to the justice system.

Pro Stepping Company Performs At Temple 3/13

The first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping, Step Afrika, will visit Temple Performing Arts Center on the campus of Temple University on Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets at $20 are available now exclusively through ComcastTix, online at ComcastTix.com, by phone at 800-298-4200 or in person at The Liacouras Center Box Office. 

Their Philadelphia stop will display some of the world’s most talented dancers using their bodies as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps and the spoken word.

Elevating stepping to an art form, the Washington, D.C. based company travels the world entertaining fans with their unique moves.  The company promotes an appreciation for stepping and its use as an educational, motivational and healthy tool for young people.   Celebrating 19 years of entertainment and education, Step Afrika was named one of the top 10 African American Dance Companies in the United States based upon Dance USA’s survey of African American dance companies by budget size. 

Temple Performing Arts Center

The Temple Performing Arts Center, located at 1837 North Broad Street, serves as a cultural center for the Temple University campus and the surrounding community.  Offering concerts, space for meetings and symposia and other cultural and educational events the center positions itself as Philadelphia’s newest location for the arts.  The venue dates back to 1882 after pastor and lawyer Russell Conwell came to Philadelphia to lead the Grace Baptist Church.  In the mid-20th century, the Baptist Temple, as it was formerly called was a primary stop for some of the country’s most intellectual figures.  The venue was graced with speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr., President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Anne Sullivan with her well known student Helen Keller.  After being purchased by the University in 1974, the building was later designated by the American Institute of Architects as a Landmark Building in 2003.  Today it is known as Temple Performing Arts Center.

Liacouras Center Named A Top National Venue

The Liacouras Center, the 10,000-seat multipurpose arena on the campus of Temple University, was recently named one of the “Top 200 Venues in Worldwide Ticket Sales” by Pollstar Magazine for 2013, according to the October 14 edition of Pollstar Magazine.

The Liacouras Center, which is home to Temple Owls' men's and women's basketball and hundreds of other annual events, ranked 162nd overall, drawing 41,858 patrons to non sporting events. Pollstar does not chart sales from sporting events.

The Liacouras Center is operated by Global Spectrum, the subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor which manages more than 115 arenas and stadiums around the world.

Thirteen other Global Spectrum-managed arenas adorned the list, including Global Spectrum’s flagship arena, the Wells Fargo Center, which ranked third in the United States and 10th worldwide, welcoming 428,355 patrons to concerts and family shows for the year.

The other Global Spectrum-managed venues in Pollstar's Top 200 are listed here in order of rank: Budweiser Gardens in London, ON, ranked 96th (89,921); the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA, ranked 99th (88,048); the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC, ranked 114th (80,828); the Fargodome in Fargo, ND, ranked 138th (55,948);Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ, Global Spectrum's newest account, ranked 158th (47,427); the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, ON, ranked 166th (40,202); the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, ON, ranked 174th (38,164);the Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO, ranked 183rd (36,381); the XL Center in Hartford, CT, ranked 184th (35,991); the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre ranked 188th (35,057); the Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum ranked 190th (34,584); and the Constant Convocation Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, ranked 194th (32,303).

The Liacouras Center
The Liacouras Center, 10,000 seat multi-purpose venue, is located on Temple University's campus and is positioned along the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia. The venue serves the Temple student body of 37,000 students and the city of Philadelphia as a full entertainment arena featuring concerts, family shows, Temple Men's and Women's Basketball games and more. Most recently, The Liacouras Center was named one of the busiest arenas in the world by Venues Today, finishing 13th in the world and 10th in the United States for the Mid-Year 2012 rankings, among venues with 10,000 seats and under.

Global Spectrum
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Liacouras Center, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.

Thirty Seconds To Mars In Philly May 13

Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic, collectively known as Thirty Seconds to Mars, will hold a private performance at the Temple Performing Arts Center on the campus of Temple University on Monday, May 13 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the event are available via radio on 104.5 WRFF. Fans can also stay tuned to THIRTYSECONDTOMARS.COM for other ways to attend the show.

Fans are invited to come worship with the Church of MARS and bear witness to the alternative rock kingpins as they prepare for their next multi-year world tour. The Church of MARS will take place in four cities - Boston, Washington DC, Chicago and Philadelphia.

The special intimate performance will debut new material for the first time, and the group will perform selections from their classic repertoire. In addition, the band will screen the short film for their latest hit "Up in the Air" and give a glimpse of their award winning documentary Artifact.

The American rock band affectionately known as Thirty Seconds to Mars, formed in 1998, hailing from Los Angeles. With three albums to date the group is gearing up for another world tour and the release of new music. The group has been compared to Pink Floyd as their edgy and experimental music has been described as having a philosophical and spiritual influence.

Help Temple Men's Hoops Help Local Charities

The Temple University men’s basketball team will partner with two local non profits in support of their charitable efforts this holiday season. The team will partner with Toys for Tots as they face off against Detroit in the final game of the Gotham Classic on Friday, December 28 at 3 p.m. All fans who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive a discounted ticket for as low as $5. Santa Claus will also be in attendance to meet and take pictures with young owl fans.

The season of giving will continue on Monday, December 31 at 2 p.m. as the team will host Bowling Green in The Liacouras Center for a New Year’s Eve match up. Philabundance will be on site as fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item to receive a discounted ticket as low as $5.

Toys for Tots
The Toys for Tots program seeks to play a role in the development of our nation’s most valuable resource, our children. The organization strives to unite all members of the local community in a common cause for three months throughout the year, with their annual toy collection and distribution campaign. They also hope to contribute to the betterment of communities for the future.

Philabundance
Philabundance is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the solution of food poverty by taking immediate steps and creating long-term strategies to decrease this world issue. Currently with 13 trucks on the road, six days a week, the organization prides itself on serving the needs of the Delaware Valley by increasing access to emergency food for those who need help the most. By cultivating strong relationships with the food industry, schools, companies and others, they’re able to ensure that the procurement and distribution of food are effective and reaching a vast amount of residents in the Delaware Valley.

The Liacouras Center, a 10,200 seat multi-purpose venue located on Temple University's campus, is positioned along the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia. The venue serves the Temple student body of 37,000 students and the city of Philadelphia as a full entertainment arena featuring concerts, family shows, Temple Men's and Women's Basketball games and more. Most recently, The Liacouras Center was named one of the busiest arenas in the world by Venues Today, finishing 14th in the world and 10th in the United States for the Mid-Year 2012 rankings, among venues with 10,000 seats and under. Approaching a monumental year, The Liacouras Center will celebrate its 15 year anniversary this year of providing quality entertainment to the city of Philadelphia.

Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Liacouras Center, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.

Liacouras Center & Temple Hoops: 15 Great Years!

The Liacouras Center will celebrate 15 memorable years as home of the Temple University men's and women's basketball teams and countless other top-notch entertainment tonight, Wednesday, December 12 at 7 p.m., as the Temple Men’s Basketball team will tip off against Towson.  In honor of the celebration the first 1,500 fans will receive an anniversary T-shirt honoring the momentous day.

“We are very fortunate to have hosted the millions of fans that we’ve been able to have the privilege of serving here over the past 15 years,” said Global Spectrum's Fran Rodowicz, General Manager of The Liacouras Center.  “The diversity of events that we’ve hosted only gets stronger each year showcasing this beautiful arena as a true multi-purpose venue, and we can’t thank our patrons and promoters enough.”

Here are some fun numbers to note during the first 15 years at The Liacouras Center:

·         3,542,052: Total number of patrons through the doors since December 8, 1997

·         1493: Total number of events held at The Liacouras Center

·         10,080: Number of John Mayer fans who attended the highest attended concert in the building November 27, 2002

·         190,860: Number of hot dogs eaten

·         113,055: Number of soft pretzels purchased

·         10,241: Largest attendance at a Temple Men’s Basketball game – January 31, 2004 vs. St. Joe’s

·         5,144: Largest attendance at a Temple Women’s Basketball game – January 28, 2005 vs. Tennessee

·         154: Number of Temple men’s basketball wins in the building (total record: 154-43)

·         120: Number of Temple women’s basketball wins (total record: 120-49)

Tickets for the game can be purchased exclusively through ComcastTIX on line at ComcastTIX.com, by phone at 800-298-4200 or in person at the Liacouras Center Box Office.

The doors of The Liacouras Center opened on December 8, 1997 to a crowd anxiously awaiting a Temple University production of Peter and the Wolf followed by a Temple Men’s basketball game the next night against Fresno State.  Formerly known as the Apollo of Temple, the venue was renamed and dedicated to former Temple University President Peter Liacouras on February 13, 2000. 

The venue has seen many aesthetic changes throughout the years, but one constant has been full-time staff member Donna Moses, who has been at The Liacouras Center since the venue opened in 1997.

The Liacouras Center has played host to a myriad of legendary concert acts including Carrie Underwood, Jill Scott, Bob Dylan, Kanye West, Mike Epps and Philadelphia native and boxing icon Bernard Hopkins with his defeat of Enrique Ornelas in The Broad Street Brawl.  The facility also hosted Wheel of Fortune, USA Gymnastics American Cup, 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional’s, and tour rehearsals for Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Jennifer Lopez and Barbara Streisand. 

“There have been many great memories at The Liacouras Center, from exciting Temple basketball games, to concerts to family shows and tour rehearsals for great talent like Jennifer Lopez and Barbara Streisand,” said Richard Rumer, Temple University Associate Vice President of Business Services. “We look forward to our continued success of presenting a diverse mix of events that attract patrons from all over the Delaware Valley region.”

Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Liacouras Center, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.