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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2008 > July > 29 > Entry
Long Center announces 2008-2009 season
Patti LaBelle, Marvin Hamlisch, the Blind Boys of Alabama with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and “The King Operetta,” the critically acclaimed musical dramatization of the last days of Martin Luther King Jr., are just some of the shows the Long Center for the Performing Arts has booked for the 2008-2009 season. The Long Center announced the shows today. Tickets will go on sale soon.
Family-friendly shows and popular entertainment spectacles form the majority of the lineup, though celebrated and sublime Austin piano master Anton Nel will give a major solo recital in March.
Tickets to Patti LaBelle are already selling well, Long Center representatives report, as are tickets to “Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy.” And back by popular demand in March is “Video Games Live,” the visual and musical celebration of video game music that recently wowed Austin fans.
However, five-time Tony Award-winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” originally scheduled for Aug. 19-24, has been canceled because of lack of ticket sales. Seems the musical about a die-hard musical theater fan hasn’t been doing great guns in other markets on its national tour.
From the Long Center season announcement news release, here’s the full schedule:
KIDS/FAMILY
CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, Nov. 25-30, 2008: Direct from Broadway, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by “nature’s unpredictable creations” that are brought to life by an international cast of 25 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians.
BOB THE BUILDER LIVE!, March 1, 2009, 3 p.m. 7 p.m.: Everyone’s favorite fix-it guy is steamrolling into town and bringing his lovable gang along for the ride in Bob the Builder Live.
DANCE SPECTACLE
REVOLUTION, Oct. 9, 2008, 8 p.m.: A brand new show that incredibly blends tap with rock n’ roll music, Revolution is a sweaty mix of live music, sex appeal and some of the world’s best Irish and tap dancing for the “tweeners” generation. Creators Mike Schulster and Joel Hanna of Riverdance are joined on stage by a live rock band and a dance ensemble direct from Broadway.
GARTH FAGAN DANCE, Feb. 18, 2009, 8 p.m.: Critically acclaimed Garth Fagan Dance has toured for 35 years on six continents under the direction of Tony Award-winning Garth Fagan, choreographer of Broadway’s The Lion King. The contemporary dancers in this Rochester, New York-based company are renowned for their individuality, unmannered approach and virtuosity.
JUNGUA, May 23 and 24, 2009, 8 p.m.: a show for all ages and inspired by the rich culture and traditions of China, Jungua balances traditional yin and yang by combining masculine martial arts and kung fu and quigong with the feminine grace of contortion, acrobatics and dance.
MUSIC
3 MO’ DIVAS, Oct. 19, 2008, 7:30 p.m.: From the creator of the hit concert 3 Mo Tenors, Marion J. Caffey’s brings 3 Mo’ Divas, a musical journey celebrating the amazing versatility of three classically trained female voices in a theatrically staged event. The Divas deliver their versions of opera, Broadway, jazz, movie soundtracks, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE: THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA WITH THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, Nov. 23, 2008, 7:30 p.m.: New Orleans’ legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band and vocal titans the Blind Boys of Alabama join forces to present this musical journey combining jazz and gospel hymns.
ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN, March 8, 2009, 8 p.m.: One Night of Queen celebrates the iconic passion of Freddie Mercury, his music and the genius of Queen.
THE TEN TENORS, April 8, 2009, 8 p.m.: Australian group the Ten Tenors is a platinum record-selling singing act bringing their interpretations of the tenor repertoire in a splashy concert; from classical and operatic arias, to Neapolitan ballads, to their native Australian folk songs.
SPECIALS
ANTON NEL, March 29, 2009, 8 p.m.: Winner of the 1987 International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall, Austin’s own classical pianist Anton Nel has played in major musical halls the world over, including South Africa, Europe, Asia and North and South America. He makes his Long Center recital debut with this concert.
DRUMLINE LIVE!, Jan. 11, 2009, 8 p.m.: DRUMLine Live! brings the black marching band traditions to the theatrical stage for the very first time, featuring a large cast of performers from the country’s top historically black colleges and universities.
THE|KING|OPERETTA, Jan. 17 and 19, 2009, 8 p.m.: Turbulent and uplifting, The|King|Operetta tells the story of Martin Luther King from April 4, 1967, to April 4, 1968 - the last year in his life, featuring a score of hard-edge rock, blues and funk. The New York Times hails the work as, “brilliant, original and inspired.” From the New York Drama Desk Award nominated Waterwell Theater Company.
MARVIN HAMLISCH, March 26, 2009, 7:30 p.m.: As composer and conductor, Hamlisch has won virtually every major award that exists: three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Hamlisch is best known for scores to such films as Ordinary People, The Way We Were, and Sophie’s’ Choice; and such Broadway musicals as A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song, and Seesaw.
VIDEO GAMES LIVE, March 28, 2009, 8 p.m.: Back by popular demand for one night only, VIDEO GAMES LIVE, presented by Razer, has the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology and interactivity of a video game, all completely synchronized to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals, state-of-the art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience.
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