OXFORD, Miss. – Some of the best shows in live
entertainment are scheduled for spring 2008 at the
University of Mississippis Gertrude C. Ford Center for the
Performing Arts. They include magic, opera, ballet and
Broadway musicals plus a frog and a toad.
Of course, the Ford Center is not bringing a real frog and
toad to its stage, but Oxford resident Allyson Best said
her two little girls are “definitely looking forward to
hopping and singing along” during the Broadway musical “A
Year with Frog and Toad.”
While 5-year-old Aubrey and 2-year-old Lauren will have to
wait until April 12 to meet Arnold Lobel’s beloved
characters, Best said her “bundles of boundless energy”
will be OK, “especially since they’ll get a chance to see a
little magic in February.”
Best is referring to female illusionist Lyn Dillies, whose
performance is scheduled Feb. 10.
“Ole Miss really aims to bring outstanding performances to
our hometown, which is just one of the reasons I love this
university so much,” Best said. “‘Frog and Toad’ plays all
over the world and it’s so amazing that it’s coming here.
My husband Brad and I won’t have to drive miles and hours
to take our girls to see this musical.”
The show is part of the Ford Center’s new Family Friendly
Series, which is sure to be “a favorite for years to come,”
said Norm Easterbrook, Ford Center director.
“Many of our new programs are responses to requests by
folks in the community – especially in the area of
family-friendly programs,” he said. “We want to provide
some affordable family experiences for young people to be
introduced to the Ford Center and to make the Ford Center
events more familiar and accessible to audiences of all
ages.”
In this effort, Easterbrook also has added the 108 Ford
Center series to this season’s lineup.
“108 Ford Center is quite a different endeavor,”
Easterbrook said. “Here again, this is an effort to
introduce programs to a younger audience, in this case 18-
to 24-year-olds.” The 108 Ford Center performances will be
“coupled with opportunities to meet the performers before
or after the show along with several other activities that
we hope will build a following from within this age group,”
Easterbrook said.
The series includes the musical production “DRUM!” February
15 and “The Mystical Arts of Tibet” May 1.
“I think ‘The Mystical Arts of Tibet’ will attract a huge
student following,” Easterbrook said. “Endorsed by the
Dalai Lama as a means of promoting world peace and healing,
these famed monks will construct a sand mandala painting in
connection with their appearance.”
During the month before the monks’ visit, University Museum
plans to host a photographic exhibition of their travels. A
lecture on the sand mandala, a Tibetan Buddhist tradition
symbolizing the transitory nature of things, is slated as
well, Easterbrook said.
A Jan. 29 performance by the Time for Three musicians is
another show that Easterbrook expects will attract
students.
“Time for Three is a young, dynamic trio of classically
trained string musicians with a style that transcends
performance genres,” Easterbrook said. “In concert, a
gypsy-tinged piece may follow a bluegrass standard. This
group continues to win over widely diverse audiences across
America and have been enthusiastically received by schools
and communities.
“With magic, opera, Shakespeare and a frog and toad added
to the mix, plus the 108 Ford and Ford Family Friendly
series, the upcoming spring season is refreshing, but also
enchanting and, at times, downright amazing,” he added.
The season kicks off at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 with Quink, an
acclaimed vocal group that ranks among the top a cappella
ensembles of the world. The schedule of 8 p.m performances
also includes Time for Three Jan. 29; “Ring of Fire,” the
tale of Johnny Cash told through songs and stories, Feb. 2;
“DRUM!,” a musical production of Nova Scotia, Feb. 15; and
“Evita,” the true story of Argentina’s infamous Eva Peron,
Feb. 18. “The Magic of Lyn – America’s Premier Female
Illusionist,” for children of all ages, is slated for 2
p.m. Feb. 10.
Mid-season performances are “Romeo and Juliet” by the St.
Petersburg Ballet on March 4, the Empire Brass on March 28
and the Smothers Brothers on March 29. All March
performances are at 8 p.m.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” takes the stage at 3 p.m. on
April 12. The season concludes with “The Mystical Arts of
Tibet” on May 1.
Ticket prices vary by shows and seating. Call the UM Box
Office at 662-915-7411 for ticket information or to request
assistance related to a disability. For more details, visit
http://www.olemiss.edu/fordcenter/.