An exciting and entertaining mix of genres will take the stage during the 2013-2014 season of the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Kent State Tuscarawas’ fourth season begins Aug. 23 with Parents Night Out – a comedy for adults, and continues through May 2014 with a total of 25 performances spanning comedy, music, dance, popular theatrical stage productions and cabarets, which are new to the center this year.
The upcoming schedule of events was announced at the annual season unveiling on July 27, with more than 450 people in attendance.
“As we launch our fourth Performing Arts Center season, we are grateful for the community's overwhelming support for the center," says Gregg Andrews, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Tuscarawas. "We are also pleased with the outstanding attendance figures we have recorded. To date, we have had more than 81,000 people in attendance at just the Kent State Tuscarawas sponsored shows. This of course does not include the Tuscarawas Philharmonic or other community organizations and dance studios that regularly use our facilities. We are also amazed by the geographic reach of the appeal of the performances, which attract patrons from across our state and from 40 other states including large numbers from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, New York and California.”
According to Andrews, the new season features seven theatrical stage productions.
"The lineup includes the national tours of the hit Broadway shows GODSPELL, the hilarious Menopause the Musical, The Addams Family, Chicago, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash and West Side Story, which has the most recognizable and perhaps the best written music score of all times. We will also be presenting Driving Miss Daisy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play as performed by the Walnut Street Theatre."
West Side Story, Chicago and the comedy The Addams Family are all scheduled for two-night runs.
"We've developed a new series of shows this year, based on the success of last year's production of Trout Fishing in America, that we are calling the Cabaret Series," says Mike Morelli, general manager of the Performing Arts Center. "Both Guys with Guitars and Christian Howes will be performed with the audience seated onstage. A three-course meal is included in the price of the ticket and seating is limited to just 120. These intimate evenings will provide a completely new way to experience the incredible atmosphere of the Performing Arts Center."
Headlining the music series are the king of blues, B.B. King, country star Vince Gill, The Pink Floyd Experience, the Sing-a-long Sound of Music, and returning to the Performing Arts Center stage by popular demand, country singer Katie Armiger, who opened for Darius Rucker in September 2011.
Morelli adds that the Clapton Tribute: EVOLUTION, with special guest, Brimstone, bring an interesting and local angle.
“According to the founder of EVOLUTION, Chris Wintrip, it is the band's ‘deepest desire to pay homage to Mr. Eric Clapton.’ Joining Evolution on the program will be a reunion of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame honoree, Brimstone. Brimstone has a strong local connection as Dr. Gregg Andrews was part of the band. I'm excited for the evening and can't wait to hear both bands on our stage."
There are two musical performances scheduled during the holidays. Kenny Rogers will perform Christmas songs along with his long list of hits, and American Big Band: Home for the Holidays will deliver a holiday show with dancing and singing.
“Family entertainment is very important to us and in great demand by our patrons,” Andrews says. “Early exposure to cultural events, especially the theatre, benefits our youth in many positive ways. To enhance their cultural experiences, we have scheduled quality shows such as Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train: Live! Buddy's Big Adventure; The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Presents: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald; Celtic Nights: The Emigrants Bridge; The Sleeping Beauty performed by the Nureyev State Ballet Theatre; and Christian Howes, among others.”
Rounding out the 2013-2014 season are comedian Anita Renfroe, Iron Chef host Alton Brown, and ventriloquist and comedian Todd Oliver & Friends. Oliver was a semi-finalist on NBC's America's Got Talent.
Entertainment during the unveiling was provided by Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County actors in character of some of the new season's headliners – The Addams Family, West Side Story, Sleeping Beauty, Johnny Cash, Chicago and GODSPELL. Also, one lucky patron won the drawing for two free tickets to every show on the current schedule.
Season packages (four or more events) went on sale July 31 while single event tickets will be available beginning Aug. 7. Performing Arts Center members can take advantage of presale opportunities for packages beginning July 29 and single events on Aug. 5. A complete list of performances and ticket prices are online at www.tusc.kent.edu/pac.
Tickets can be purchased by mail, in person at the Performing Arts Center box office, by calling 330-308-6400 or online at www.tusc.kent.edu/pac. The box office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Free parking is available for all shows. The Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Dr. N.E. in New Philadelphia.