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Cal Poly Arts plans eclectic season

By TPR Staff

New Broadway musical touring shows will include the wacky quest for the Holy Grail in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” //Contributed
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Cal Poly Arts’ 2010-11 season will offer 41 shows ranging from Shakespearean productions to modern theater pieces, acrobatics to dance and comedy to virtually every genre of music.

“I am extremely pleased with the remarkable opportunities available to us this season,” said 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.”

Stage shows

Stage shows will include Aquila Theatre’s contemporary take on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” while veteran actor Hal Holbrook will return with his award-winning one-man show, “Mark Twain Tonight.”

TV sitcom “Soap” star Jay Johnson will bring his ventriloquism artistry to the funny and touching “The Two and Only,” with Gilbert & Sullivan represented in a production of “The Mikado.”

New Broadway musical touring shows will include the wacky quest for the Holy Grail in “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” the bid for being taken seriously in the comical “Legally Blonde” and the moving coming-of-age passages of the Tony Award-winning “Spring Awakening.”

Comedy

In the comedy department, American icon Bill Cosby will perform two shows, author and NPR commentator and humorist David Sedaris will present an intimate speaking engagement and more zany improv is on tap with the rest of the “Whose Line Is It Anyway” crew, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood.

Music

Music will run the gamut with Steve Martin on his banjo, backed by his smokin’ bluegrass band; jazz/blues pianist Mose Allison; and “American Idol” vocalist Melinda Doolittle.

The music will continue with pop music’s wry Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks and a performance by sultry chanteuse Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.

The line-up also will range from the smooth piano stylings of Jim Brickman and the roots and blues music of Taj Mahal with Malian artist Vieux Farka Tour/.

A special Jazz Festival weekend will include Esperanza Spalding with an eight-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 will include five siblings on five pianos with the 5 Browns, the famed Vienna Boys Choir and the Philharmonic of Poland, direct from Opole and conducted by Maestro Boguslaw Dawidow.

Once again, the Forbes pipe organ will be profiled in solo recitals, first by Britain’s acclaimed David Briggs and then in a return engagement by James Welch.

World music will be represented by South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nati Cano’s Mariachi Los Camperos and Spain’s Benise in his haunting “Spanish Guitar” multimedia spectacle.

Dance

Dance enthusiasts can look forward to the modern movement and music combination of Garrett Moulton Productions’ “Stringwreck,” San Francisco’s contemporary company ODC Dance, Brazil’s Bal/ Folclorico da Bahia and the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s classic performance of “Swan Lake.”

For all ages

The affordable Family Series will offer quality entertainment for parents and children alike with Theatreworks USA’s “Click Clack Moo” stage play and Mark Nizer’s “Live in 3-D” jugglefest.

Audiences of all ages can appreciate the artistry of the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei and the precision of “Drumline Live.”

Also suitable for all ages will be the stage movement and visual artistry of Imago Theatre’s “ZooZoo” and the wildlife wonder of Jack Hanna’s “Into the Wild Live” show.

Special engagements

Additional special engagements will include the Blind Boys of Alabama’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” filled with holiday fare and gospel rhythms with special guest blues singer Ruthie Foster.

“One Night of Queen” will honor rock legend Freddie Mercury and his quintessential band.

Season tickets

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

n Create Your Own subscriptions allow patrons to order just four or more events to qualify and receive all subscriber benefits plus 10 percent off their entire ticket order. Orders with eight or more events receive 15 percent off every seat.

n Special Fixed Series genre packages are offered at a 20 percent discount.

Each package has four specially selected shows designed to immerse subscribers in a broad range of classical music, dance, world music, jazz, family events and Broadway and stage shows.

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

A Cal Poly Arts 2010-11 brochure with full information about all the currently booked shows may be requested from the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office by calling 756-2787 or stopping by the office on Grand Avenue on the Cal Poly campus.

New subscription packages are available now. Single tickets will go on sale to the general public Aug. 2.

Full season show and ticket ordering information, as well as artist and show website links, are available at www.calpolyarts.org.

For season ticket phone orders, call 756-2787.

The ticket office will

begin its summer service schedule Monday, when it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Patrons also may fax orders to 756-6088 or mail orders to the PAC Ticket Office, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0441.