OXFORD, Miss. – The Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts
\nbrings a little soul and some great family classics, plus lots of
\nBroadway magic to the University of Mississippi for the 2008-09 season.<\/p>\n
The season includes five shows in the Ford Center Series, five in the
\nArtist Series, three in Series 108, three in the Ford Family Friendly
\nSeries and three in the new Heritage Series, as well as a few extras.<\/p>\n
“Nothing is more daunting or exciting as determining performances for each series,” Director Norm Easterbrook said.<\/p>\n
“With the seemingly endless choices available, plus feedback from our audiences and patrons, we’ve conceived a season we hope will be well-received. It’s a pretty adventurous season that we hope our audiences will enjoy.”<\/p>\n
Ticket prices to Ford Center events vary depending on each show and choices in seating. For information, contact the UM Box Office at 662-915-741 or go to http:\/\/www.olemiss.edu\/fordcenter\/ and http:\/\/events.olemiss.edu\/events\/.<\/p>\n
Season opener is Capitol Steps at 8 p.m. Friday (Aug. 29), coinciding with the first 2008 presidential debate, hosted at the center Sept. 26. Capitol Steps is a musical troupe of former Capitol Hill staffers who mock everything and everyone on Pennsylvania Avenue in song parodies and skits.<\/p>\n
“The multi-talented Capitol Steps have an incredible following and are amazingly talented,” Easterbrook said. “We are pleased they are able to return to the Ford Center this season.”<\/p>\n
The center will be closed throughout September for the debate, and the remainder of the season offers a few new surprises, Easterbrook said.<\/p>\n
Ford Series performances, all with an 8 p.m. curtain time, include the musicals “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” on Oct. 11, “Sweeney Todd” on Nov. 7, “Oliver!” on Dec. 13 and “Hairspray” on Jan. 29. The series concludes May 1 with Las Vegas Tribute to Motown.<\/p>\n
“The Las Vegas Tribute to Motown offers music by some of the biggest stars of the Motown era: The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops and more,” Easterbrook said. “It’s just a fun way to end the Ford Series for the year.”<\/p>\n
The popular Artist Series opens its 71st season of presenting the finest of live performing arts on Oct. 11. The season opener is The Ahn Trio of sisters who were born in Seoul, Korea, and educated at Juilliard in New York City. The trio fuses its music with the art of dancers, pop singers, DJs, painters, photographers, ecologists and even kite-makers.<\/p>\n
Rounding out the Artist Series are Dance Theatre of Harlem on Feb. 17, “Giselle” from the Russian National Ballet Theatre on March 3, “Messiah” featuring UM Concert Singers conducted by Dennis Shrock on April 6 and The 5 Browns on April 24. All Artist Series performances begin at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Blues crooner Robert Cray performs as part of Series 108 at 8 p.m. Oct. 25. For more than 30 years, Cray has inspired critics and fans with his soulful vocal and instrumental artistry, earning five Grammys and respect from his peers. The series also includes DRUMLine Live on Jan. 26 and the Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile on Feb. 7, both at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
The Family Friendly Series brings “The Ant and the Elephant” on Nov. 22, “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” on March 8 and The Gizmo Guys on May 2, all at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
Besides Capitol Steps, other “extras” for the season are the United States Navy Concert Band on Feb. 11 and National Symphony Orchestra on March 23, both at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Another season surprise is the new Heritage Series, which recognizes the contributions of great American performers, Easterbrook said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Campbell Brothers kick off the Heritage Series at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 with their mixture of African-American gospel music and electric steel guitar. Their appearance is part of the NEA National Fellowship program, an initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts.<\/p>\n
Other Heritage Series performances are famed soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples on Feb. 27 and Arlo Guthrie’s “The Lost World Tour” on March 9. All Heritage Series shows begin at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
“It is our pleasure to present the new season and new series,” Easterbrook said. “Our hope is that we offer opportunities for our audiences to have new experiences in the performing arts, find inspiration and perhaps enjoy themselves at the same time.”<\/p>\n
For more information, visit the Ford Center<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"