June 23, 2010

Cal Poly Arts Announces 2010-2011 Season Performance Lineup

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, The Russian National Ballet, "Spamalot," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are just a few of the performances set for the 2010/11 Cal Poly Arts season. New subscription orders are available to first-time subscribers June 26. Single tickets go on sale to the general public on August 2.

"I am extremely pleased with the remarkable opportunities available to us this season,” says Cal Poly Arts Director Steve Lerian. “The richness and depth of touring artists in all genres has allowed us to offer a strong mix of old favorites and cutting-edge newcomers. I hope you will join us in exploring the full palette of performances we are bringing to the Central Coast this season.”

A brief season overview of show highlights includes:

STAGE SHOWS: The Bard of Avon is back with Aquila Theatre’s contemporary take on A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; veteran actor HAL HOLBROOK returns with his award-winning one-man show, MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!; TV sitcom “Soap” star JAY JOHNSON brings his ventriloquism artistry to the funny and touching THE TWO AND ONLY; and Gilbert & Sullivan are represented in fine form with THE MIKADO.

New Broadway musical touring shows include the wacky and wonderful quest for the Holy Grail in MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT; the bid for being taken seriously in the comical LEGALLY BLOND; and deeply moving coming-of-age passages are found in the Tony Award-winning SPRING AWAKENING.

COMEDY: Get ready to laugh loud and long with two shows by American icon BILL COSBY; an intimate speaking engagement with author and NPR commentator/humorist DAVID SEDARIS; and more incredible zany improv with the rest of the “Whose Line Is It Anyway” crew – COLIN MOCHRIE and BRAD SHERWOOD.

MUSICAL CONCERTS run the gamut with STEVE MARTIN on his banjo, backed by his smokin’ bluegrass band; jazz/blues pianist MOSE ALLISON; “American Idol” vocalist MELINDA DOOLITTLE; pop music’s wry and revered DAN HICK & THE HOT LICKS; sultry chanteuse LAVAY SMITH & HER RED HOT SKILLET LICKERS; the smooth piano stylings of JIM BRICKMAN; and the roots and blues music of TAJ MAHAL with Malian artist VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ.

A special Jazz Festival weekend includes ESPERANZA SPALDING with an 8-piece ensemble, modern jazz innovator and celebrity patriarch ELLIS MARSALIS, and the new First Lady of Jazz DIANE SCHUUR, appearing in concert with the San Luis Obispo Symphony conducted by Michael Nowak.

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Five siblings on five pianos must mean THE 5 BROWNS are on the Cohan Center stage, as will be the famed VIENNA BOYS CHOIR and the PHILHARMONIC OF POLAND, direct from Opole and conducted by Maestro Boguslaw Dawidow.

The Forbes pipe organ will be profiled again in solo recitals: first by Britain’s acclaimed DAVID BRIGGS and then in a return engagement with JAMES WELCH.

WORLD MUSIC is well represented by South Africa’s ebullient LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO, Nati Cano’s famed MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS, and Spain’s BENISE in his haunting “Spanish Guitar” multi-media spectacle.

DANCE enthusiasts can look forward to the modern movement and music combination in Garrett Moulton Productions’ STRINGWRECK; San Francisco’s contemporary company ODC DANCE; Brazil’s BALÉ FOLCLÓRICO DA BAHIA; and the RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE’s classic performance of Swan Lake.

The popular, affordable FAMILY series promises quality entertainment for parents and children with Theatreworks USA’s adorable CLICK CLACK MOO stage play and Mark Nizer’s LIVE IN 3-D jugglefest.

And audiences of all ages will thrill to the artistry of the CHINESE ACROBATS OF HEBEI and the precision of DRUMLINE LIVE; the stage movement and visual amazement of IMAGO THEATRE’s ZOOZOO; and the warmth and wildlife wonder of JACK HANNA’s INTO THE WILD LIVE show.

Additional don’t-miss special engagements include the BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA’s Go Tell It On the Mountain, filled with holiday fare and gospel rhythms and special guest, blues singer Ruthie Foster, and the faithfully-performed spectacle, ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN, honoring rock legend Freddie Mercury and his quintessential band.

All Cal Poly Arts subscribers receive priority seating, substantial season ticket discounts, ticket exchange privileges, and advance notification of added events throughout the year.

There are two easy ways to subscribe and save, with early access to the best seats in the house:

Create Your Own (CYO) subscriptions: Patrons need to order just four (4) or more events to qualify as a CYO Subscriber and receive all subscriber benefits plus 10 percent off their entire ticket order; orders with eight (8) or more events receive 15 percent off every seat.

Special Fixed Series genre packages are being offered at a deep 20 percent discount. Each Series has four specially-selected shows, designed to fully immerse the subscriber in a broad range of classical music, dance, world music, jazz, family events, and Broadway and stage offerings.

Fixed Series patrons may also add any other season shows to their orders and save 20 percent on those seats as well.

The Cal Poly Arts 2010-11 brochure may be requested from the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office by calling 756-2787 or stopping by the Grand Avenue location.

For full season show and ticket ordering information, as well as artist and show website links, are available on-line at www.calpolyarts.org.

SPECIAL NOTE: All Cal Poly faculty and staff members now may receive the 20 percent student discount price. (2 tickets per I.D.)

For season ticket phone orders, please contact the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office at 805/756-2787. Walk-up orders welcome.

The ticket office summer service schedule begins July 5: open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Patrons may also fax orders to 756-6088 or mail orders to the PAC Ticket Office at One Grand Avenue in San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0441.