Classics of all kinds highlight 草莓视频Riley Center spring/summer series
MERIDIAN, MS 鈥 Classics will rule the stage as the presents its 2018 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series, starting April 14 with a concert by the powerhouse rock band Jefferson Starship.
Classic rock and soul, classic American roots music, a renowned classical ballet and even a family-oriented musical version of a classic fairy tale make up the Spring/Summer Series. The nine-show season runs through August 18.
鈥淓ach of our performers and productions in the Spring/Summer Series has, in some exceptional way, stood the test of time,鈥 said Dennis Sankovich, the Riley Center鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淲hat better fit could we have for our Victorian gem of a theater? It made its grand debut in 1890, regained its youthful vigor in 2006, thanks to a loving restoration, and has since inspired the ongoing revival of Meridian鈥檚 historic downtown.鈥
All shows start at 7:30 p.m. except for the Family Show, 鈥淭hree Little Pigs,鈥 which begins at 7 p.m. Season tickets go on sale to new buyers on Monday, March 5. 鈥淏uild Your Own鈥 mini season ticket packages of three or more shows become available starting the following Monday, March 12. The on-sale date for individual tickets is a week after that: Monday, March 19.
Seven of the nine Spring/Summer Series shows are musical concerts, starting with Jefferson Starship. The band, which grew out of the 1960s psychedelic rock group Jefferson Airplane, reached its apogee as a critical and commercial success from the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s.
The conclusion of the series, on August 18, also harks back to the 1970s. Disco superstars KC and the Sunshine Band will bring a full stage show, complete with a horn section and dancers. Pat Benatar, a rock icon of the 鈥80s, will sing on July 17 alongside her longtime guitarist, producer and husband, Neil Giraldo.
Herman鈥檚 Hermits starring Peter Noone will recreate the irresistibly catchy mid-1960s sound of pop music鈥檚 British Invasion in a June 1 concert. Like the songs, Noone seems hardly to have aged at all since he shot to stardom at age 16.
Two other concerts will draw on the distinctively Southern musical legacy of Memphis. Marc Cohn, the singer-songwriter famous for his 1991 hit 鈥淲alking in Memphis,鈥 will perform on May 17 with special guests and down-home gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama. William Bell will present a Tribute to Memphis Soul Revue on June 14. Bell, a songwriter and singer for the legendary Stax Records label, will be joined by bluesman Bobby Rush and songwriter-singer Don Bryant.
Old Crow Medicine Show, performing in concert May 4, takes its inspiration from the traditional string bands and blues artists of the mid-20th century as well as another classic artist: Bob Dylan. The group fleshed out a Dylan song fragment to create its biggest hit, 鈥淲agon Wheel.鈥
Direct from Moscow, Russia, comes Moscow Festival Ballet to perform one of the greatest classical ballets of all time, the Tchaikovsky masterpiece 鈥淪wan Lake.鈥 This magnificent dance event will take place on April 19.
The 草莓视频Riley Center always tries to include at least one affordably priced Family Show in each series. This time, it鈥檚 鈥淭hree Little Pigs,鈥 a charming, funny musical version of the beloved fairy tale, reimagined with the Big Bad Wolf as not so bad after all.
鈥淲ith each of our shows, we鈥檒l be bringing back a lot of great memories,鈥 Sankovich said. 鈥淎nd the timeless beauty of our theater always guarantees a memorable evening.鈥
The Riley Center offers a range of season-ticket options that include discounted prices and other perks. If subscribers lose or forget their tickets, the Box Office will issue duplicates on the spot. With a simple phone call, subscribers can also arrange to leave their tickets at the Box Office for friends, family members or clients.
The 草莓视频Riley Center thanks The Riley Foundation and 草莓视频 for their invaluable continuing support. The Riley Center is also grateful to the Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival for its support of the 2018 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series.
Jefferson Starship-Saturday, April 14, 2018
, with its roots in the 1960s, remains so culturally relevant that the current Netflix Wet Hot American Summer series uses Starship鈥檚 1979 hit 鈥淛ane鈥 as its theme song. Multi-instrumentalist (and 鈥淛ane鈥 co-writer) David Freiberg goes back to the band鈥檚 earliest days. Cathy Richardson鈥檚 piercing vocals have earned the approval of retired lead singer Grace Slick. Expect to hear all your favorites, from 鈥淲e Built This City鈥 and 鈥淔ind Your Way Back鈥 to 鈥淲hite Rabbit鈥 and 鈥淰olunteers鈥 from Starship鈥檚 first incarnation as Jefferson Airplane. Also, thanks especially to fiery lead guitarist Jude Gold, expect a band that really rocks.
Direct from Moscow, Russia-Moscow Festival Ballet-Swan Lake-Thursday, April 19, 2018
A Meridian favorite returns, bringing Old World elegance to the 草莓视频Riley Center stage with Tchaikovsky's romantic tour de force Swan Lake. Sergei Radchenko, longtime dancer with the famed Bolshoi Ballet, founded the in 1989. He brought together stars from across his country to stage fresh productions of timeless classics. The company loves to tour, sharing the beauty and grace of Russian ballet. The Moscow Festival Ballet specializes in such beloved masterpieces as Cinderella and The Sleeping Beauty, both of which it has performed at the Riley Center, and of course Swan Lake. Come experience some of the world鈥檚 greatest artists at the peak of their powers.
Three Little Pigs-Friday, April 27, 2018
What if the Big Bad Wolf wasn鈥檛 actually bad, just a well-meaning klutz? That鈥檚 the intriguing premise of this hilarious musical, which retells the story of the : Rose, Frank, and Ham. The Wolf doesn鈥檛 mean to scare the pigs or wreck their houses. He just wants to invite them to his birthday party. Finally, he confides in Mother Pig, and she teaches him how to be gentle and careful. Paul Deiss updated the classic fairy tale, writing the book, music, and lyrics. Virginia Rep on Tour brings it energetically to the stage.
Old Crow Medicine Show-Friday, May 4, 2018
As it has progressed from singing on street corners to performing at massive music festivals, has stayed faithful to the past. Its sound preserves both the rough edges and the heartfelt emotion of old-time country string bands. Its biggest hit, 鈥淲agon Wheel,鈥 reworks a half-finished Bob Dylan outtake into a foot-stomping ode to the native South of co-founders Critter Fuqua (banjo) and Ketch Secor (fiddle). The band will be playing songs from its retro-sounding new album, Volunteer, along with lots of old favorites. These guys always have a great time onstage, which guarantees that the audience does too.
Marc Cohn听with Special Guests听The Blind Boys Of Alabama-Thursday, May 17, 2018
American music: That鈥檚 what create. Cohn shot to fame in 1991 with the bluesy, soulful 鈥淲alking in Memphis.鈥 The song describes his visit to the city of blues pioneer W.C. Handy, rock 鈥檔鈥 roll king Elvis Presley, and soul legend Al Green, all mentioned in the lyrics. The Blind Boys began singing together in 1939; founding member Jimmy Carter still tours with the group. Through the decades, they have remained faithful to their passionate style of gospel music, which springs 鈥 like Cohn鈥檚 very personal songs of poignancy and inspiration 鈥 straight from the heart.
Herman's Hermits听Starring Peter Noone-Friday, June 1, 2018
Music doesn鈥檛 get any happier than 鈥淐an鈥檛 You Hear My Heartbeat,鈥 鈥淢rs. Brown, You鈥檝e Got a Lovely Daughter,鈥 鈥淚鈥檓 Henry VIII, I Am,鈥 and all the other pop confections from . Lead singer Peter Noone burst into stardom at age 16 with the band鈥檚 1964 hit, 鈥淚鈥檓 into Something Good.鈥 He remains in fine voice and charms 21st-century audiences with the same dazzling grin that melted the hearts of 鈥60s teenyboppers. Enjoy Noone at the 草莓视频Riley Center as he bounces through his classic hits and other favorite oldies from the era of pop music's British Invasion. You鈥檒l definitely be into something good.
William Bell Tribute to Memphis Soul Revue-Thursday, June 14, 2018
With the Take Me to the River tour (also spotlighting bluesman Bobby Rush and songwriter-singer Don Bryant), is bringing back the Memphis music scene he helped create. In the 1960s, Bell worked for the legendary Stax Records in his hometown of Memphis, writing such classics as 鈥淵ou Don鈥檛 Miss Your Water鈥 and 鈥淏orn under a Bad Sign.鈥 His own hit recordings include 鈥淎ny Other Way,鈥 鈥淓verybody Loves a Winner,鈥 and 鈥淭ryin鈥 to Love Two.鈥 He still commands a stage and sings straight from the soul: Last year, his latest album, This Is Where I Live, won a Grammy Award.
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo-Tuesday, July 17, 2018
have formed one of the most successful partnerships in music history. During their nearly four-decade career, they have won an unprecedented four consecutive Grammy awards, as well as three American Music awards.
Their undeniable chemistry, Benatar鈥檚 mezzo-soprano vocal range and Giraldo鈥檚 trail blazing work as a producer, guitarist and songwriter created some of rock鈥檚 most memorable hits. These include, 鈥淧romises in the Dark鈥, 鈥淗ell is For Children鈥, We Live For Love鈥, 鈥淟ove Is A Battlefield鈥, 鈥淗it me with Your Best Shot鈥 and 鈥淲e Belong.鈥 Their rock and roll love affair has endured for 38 years and they continue to tour every year, wowing audiences everywhere.
KC and The Sunshine Band-Saturday, August 18, 2018
Discoing right out of the 1970s, powered by a full horn section, a flashy stage show, and an irresistible beat, it鈥檚 . Harry Wayne Casey, better known as KC, got millions of people to lace up their boogie shoes during the heyday of big hair and glitter balls. Sampling of his songs by rappers has introduced a whole new generation to such soundtrack-of-the-鈥70s hits as 鈥淕et Down Tonight,鈥 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Way (I Like It),鈥 鈥(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,鈥 鈥淚鈥檓 Your Boogie Man,鈥 and 鈥淜eep It Comin鈥 Love.鈥 Come join the party!
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