April 25, 2016
Garrison Keillor
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Foreigner, The Official Blues Brothers Revue and the Broadway tour of “Annie” lead the parade of stellar shows that will be part of the 2016-17 Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College.
The eclectic season, which will present more than 30 performances in the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall and Polsky Theatre, will take you from Puccini’s “La Bohème” (performed by the Wichita Grand Opera) to a musical play called “Everybody’s Hero: The Jackie Robinson Story;” from “Jazz 100,” which celebrates the 100th birthdays of Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mongo Santamaria and Thelonious Monk, to chamber ensemble Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, a co-presentation with Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City.
The season opener on Oct. 9, “Basetrack Live,” is a work of documentary theatre that tells the story of a young Marine who went to Afghanistan and his return to his wife. It was named one of the top 10 performances in 2014 by The New York Times. And the winter holiday show will feature the Ten Tenors performing “Home for the Holidays.”
You’ll also find that some of your favorites will be back: Garrison Keillor, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, returning to perform “The Tempest,” one of their “25 for the 25th,” a celebration of the festival’s anniversary season.
Emily Behrmann, general manager of the Performing Arts Series, said: “Add world music, contemporary dance Native American flute and some Muppets and mariachis, and you have an exciting mix of diverse performances with something for all ages!”
Special this season is a collection of events titled Winterlude. Held on one Sunday evening in October, December, January and February, Winterlude shines the spotlight on local jazz and world musicians, including Joe Cartwright, David Basse, and Beau Bledsoe and his ensemble, Alaturka. Local performers who make up the Bach Aria Soloists plus guest artists will also be featured in Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat (A Solder’s Tale).
Season ticket packages go on sale today, Monday, April 25, to returning subscribers, and to new season ticket buyers Monday, May 9. If you buy five events or more, your total purchase is 10 percent off. An additional 5 percent discount is available if you become a member of the Friends of the Series by adding a minimum of $50 to your season ticket order. For more information, call 913-469-4445.
If you prefer to purchase on an event-by-event basis, tickets for individual shows go on sale June 6. Also on that date, JCCC will roll out a redesigned website for the Performing Arts Series. Check out all of the shows coming next season.
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