BLOOMINGTON, IL - The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) presents its brand-new line-up of artists for the 2021-2022 season!

A SHOW FOR EVERYONE!  is the 2021 - 2022 theme for this season at the BCPA.

This season you will be laughing out loud at all the various comedy acts performing on the BCPA main stage including The Second City Comedy Club “Best of Second City” and The Daily Show Writers Comedy Tour.

Discover the world of dance with acts like the Russian National Ballet: Romeo & Juliet/Carmen and the Off-Broadway sensation Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

Over 15 diverse musical acts are slated to appear on the BCPA’s main stage this season. Get ready to boogie with some former members of Village People as The Kings of Disco present When Disco Was King, m-pact, hailed as “one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world” by the San Francisco Chronicle make their BCPA debut. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet will be celebrating the life and legacy of Dave Brubeck in this multimedia show. Shake & Holla, is a brand-new tour showcasing blues and the sounds of New Orleans brass. Masters of Soul will be a celebration of Motown and soul music. The BCPA favorites The Neverly Brothers return with their rock n’ roll tribute from Elvis to the Beatles. The jazz ensemble Hot Club of San Francisco will take the stage with the twice GRAMMY® Award winning Evan Price, Bessie, Billie & Nina – Pioneering Women in Jazz dives into the musical and social legacies of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. The bagpipes with attitude band the Red Hot Chili Pipers bring a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards and drummers – who have been rocking the world. America’s premier large brass ensemble The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, the rock concert plus live art comedy fusion ArtRageous, the lush three-part harmonies of GENTRI, the explosive live concert show The McCartney Years performs the music of Paul McCartney and Forever Motown round out the musical offerings this season.

The Student Spotlight series returns being organized by the Friends of the BCPA! This series is bringing four shows to the BCPA this season. Starting with the hip-hop fable GRIMMZ Fairy Tales, the famous, accident prone bear visits Bloomington in Paddington Gets in a Jam, The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen brings some dazzling visuals to the BCPA stage and the get up and dance as ArtRageous for Kids closes out the Spotlight Series.

Theater offerings this season include Forever Young, Escape to Margaritaville, GRIMMZ Fairy Tales, RENT, That Golden Girls Show! – A Puppet Parody and the classic Church Basement Ladies.

Tickets go on sale for new 2021 - 2022 season of shows on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 10:00 AM CST. Tickets can be purchased online at artsblooming.org, by phone at (309) 434-2777 or in person at the Ticket Office located at 600 N. East St., Bloomington, IL.

To get your tickets now, before the general public, become a Friend of the BCPA. As a Friend you will receive the first opportunity to purchase tickets throughout the entire season. Call (309) 434-2777 for more information on becoming a Friend of the BCPA and visit artsblooming.org to view the entire season.

The BCPA is a great place to volunteer as well as see a show! Phone our Volunteer & Concessions Coordinator Monica Adams at (309) 434-2768 or email madams@cityblm.org.

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SEASON OVERVIEW

 COMEDY

The Second City Comedy Club “Best of Second City”

Friday, September 24, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $42/ $27/ $21/ $15

Chicago’s legendary sketch and improv comedy theater returns to the BCPA with “The Best of The Second City.” This must-see show features the best sketches and songs from The Second City’s history made famous by superstars like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and more--as well as their trademark improvisation. Come see where it all began during this special engagement.

Fresh, fast and always spectacularly funny, The Second City is celebrating nearly sixty years of producing cutting-edge satirical revues and launching the careers of generation after generation of comedy’s best and brightest. 

The Daily Show Writers Comedy Tour

Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 7:30 PM

Tickets: $44/ $29/ $23/ $17

The comics behind the jokes that make you laugh nightly on Comedy Central’s THE DAILY SHOW!

DANCE

Russian National Ballet - Romeo & Juliet/Carmen

Friday, January 21, 2022, at 6:30 PM

Tickets: $69/ $55/ $48/ $43

The Russian National Ballet was founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s, when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union's ballet institutions were exercising their new-found creative freedom by starting new, vibrant companies dedicated not only to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet but to invigorate this tradition as the Russians began to accept new developments in the dance from around the world.

The company, then titled the Soviet National Ballet, was founded by and incorporated graduates from the great Russian choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Perm. The principal dancers of the company came from the upper ranks of the great ballet companies and academies of Russia, and the companies of Riga, Kiev and even Warsaw. Today, the Russian National Ballet is its own institution, with over 50 dancers of singular instruction and vast experience, many of whom have been with the company since its inception.

Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $61/ $46/ $40/ $34

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary season, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti, Les Ballets Trockadero first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts.

The original concept of LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO has not changed. It is a Company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works in faithful renditions of the manners and conceits of those dance styles. The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The fact that men dance all the parts--heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses, angst-ridden Victorian ladies--enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing the most knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audiences.

The Company has appeared in over 34 countries and over 600 cities worldwide since its founding in 1974.

“The Trocks are a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals.” - Sydney Star Observer

MUSIC

 When Disco Was King

Friday, October 8, 2021 at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $61/ $46/ $40/ $34

Show sponsored by The Pantagraph

Starring The Kings of Disco…. Former members of VILLAGE PEOPLE!

It’s time to GET DOWN AND BOOGIE!  Come celebrate all things disco—the culture, the people, the era and most importantly, the MUSIC!  Join The Kings of Disco—all former members of the world-famous group Village People—as they take you through the days of platform shoes, mirror balls, outrageous clothes, velvet ropes and, of course, nights filled with dancing!

This concert chronicles the history of the era when all America wanted to do was dance – dance – dance as The Kings of Disco perform the major disco hits. Backed by a full band, they sing, dance and get their boogie on to create a party like no other! 

The evening is loaded with iconic disco hits from such groups as the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Thelma Houston, Sylvester, Kool & the Gang, Trammps, Earth, Wind & Fire, Commodores, The Brothers Johnson, Diana Ross and, you guessed it, the Village People!

Get your tickets now for When Disco Was King starring Former Members of Village People who have toured the globe for over 30 years bringing in crowds of epic proportions to party and dance the night away!

m-pact

Friday, October 22, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $46/ $31/ $25/ $19

Imagine the smooth soul of Sam Smith, the percussive power of Stomp, the funk and groove of Bruno Mars, the sophisticated harmonies of Take 6, and the brass bite of the Michael Bublé Big Band…All created by the human voice alone! Hailed "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world" by the San Francisco Chronicle, m-pact is respected worldwide as a cutting-edge trailblazer in the realm of vocal music. Emerging from an age of autotune and overproduction, this Los Angeles based ensemble has cultivated a new generation of ears hungry for the fresh, raw power of nature's "first instrument" – the human voice.

From the beginning, the "pact" of these well studied masters has been to stay true to Music, regardless of style or genre. Their sophisticated sound and accessible appeal have garnered vast accolades, from Vocal Group of the Year (the LA Music Awards), an Indie nomination (the Independent Grammy), and Artist of the Year (Seattle Music Awards), to Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition.

Touring renowned fine arts halls and jazz festivals across four continents, m-pact has performed with pop superstars Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men, Natasha Bedingfield, and Ray Charles to name a few; as well as with jazz legends Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, and many others. Over the last 2 decades, their signature sound has been used in both TV themes and animated Disney feature films and is enjoyed on jazz and pop radio worldwide.

“You ROCK, m-pact!” – Sheryl Crow    “A Vocal Wall of Sound.” – NPR

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet

Friday, November 12, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $46/ $31/ $25/ $19

2020 marked the Centennial Year of jazz giant Dave Brubeck. To celebrate his life and legacy, Dave's sons Chris and Dan Brubeck, who performed and recorded with their father since the 1970s, curate a multimedia show with their own Brubeck Brothers Quartet. With Dan and Chris as the foundation, guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb complete this dynamic quartet. Through stories told by his sons and music performed by the Quartet, the show invites audiences to travel along the timeline of Dave’s extraordinary life and career.

Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all their lives.  Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist, and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966—nearly a half century ago. They’ve subsequently played a variety of styles in a number of different groups, performing at concert series, colleges, and jazz festivals across North America and Europe including the Newport, Detroit, Montreal, Playboy/Hollywood Bowl, and Monterey Jazz Festivals.

Although the Quartet’s style is rooted in “straight-ahead” jazz, their concerts reveal an inherent ability to explore and play odd time signatures while naturally integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music. The group’s creativity, technique and improvisation can be heard in their uncompromising music, which reflects their dedication to melody, rhythm, culture and the spontaneous spirit of jazz.

Shake & Holla

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $80/ $65/ $59/ $54

Shake & Holla is a brand-new tour that showcases foot-stomping Mississippi "hill country" blues and the funky, syncopated sounds of New Orleans brass. Touring together for the first time ever, the Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award-winning North Mississippi Allstars will be joined by the legendary Rebirth Brass Band in a musical celebration of two great southern musical traditions. Steeped deeply in their own traditions, both artists also are part of the vanguard of blues and soul music. Appearing with them on this tour is blues guitarist, vocalist, and drummer Cedric Burnside, a Grammy-nominated artist in his own right, as well as the grandson of legendary Fat Possum recording artist RL Burnside. For one special night, these three artists will be playing their own favorite selections as well as collaborating throughout the show on an array of great songs, exploring the musical connection between the Mississippi Delta and Bourbon Street...right down Highway 61.

Masters of Soul

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $46/ $31/ $25/ $19

Masters of Soul is a celebration of the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown and soul music. This 90-minute show features stylishly costumed, fully choreographed performances of both male and female groups backed by a live band. For many, Masters of Soul is the ultimate stroll down memory lane. For younger generations, the show offers an opportunity to experience an era in our country's history that produced many of the greatest music acts ever recorded.

Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the 10-person cast consists of three lead male vocalists and three lead female vocalists backed by a four-piece band of seasoned musicians who've been touring together for decades. Masters of Soul has performed to numerous sold-out audiences and garnered rave reviews across the country at venues ranging from community theaters and universities to performing arts venues and concert halls. 

Masters of Soul performs: Gladys Knight & The Pips - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - The Temptations - The Four Tops - Diana Ross & The Supremes - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Barry White - Sam and Dave - James Brown - and many more!

The Neverly Brothers

Friday, January 14, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $40/ $25/ $19/ $13

THE NEVERLY BROTHERS: "A Rock ‘n’ Roll Tribute – From Elvis to the Beatles!"

The Neverly Brothers concerts are a tribute to one of the most exciting chapters in music history: the birth, near death and resurrection of rock n’ roll. Their one-of-a-kind high energy stage performances take you on a musical guided tour of rock history - from 1955 to 1965.

The first half of their concert pays tribute to the music created by the 1950s American Rock n' Roll pioneers - which by 1960 had become a distant memory but became the inspiration for the next wave of young rock bands from Britain. The second half then pays tribute to the 1964 British Invasion bands that re-recorded the forgotten 1950s American rock music – along with lesser known early 1960s rhythm & blues songs, recorded their own original songs and pulled Rock n' Roll from the edge of extinction by re-inventing and re-energizing it for a new generation.

You'll learn rock history and be thoroughly entertained with their chronological song sequence, stories behind the music and vintage wardrobe changes. Their repertoire consists of show-stopping renditions of early hits by Jerry Lee Lewis (Great balls of fire), Chuck Berry (Johnny B. Goode), Eddie Cochran (Summertime blues), Buddy Holly (That’ll be the day), The Beatles (Twist & shout), The Rolling Stones (Satisfaction), The Kinks (You really got me), The Dave Clark Five (Glad all over) and more! 

It‘s not “moldy oldies”- it’s “old-school cool!” So, hop aboard our virtual tour bus and fasten your seatbelts for an exciting MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR!

The Drifters

Friday, February 4, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $50/ $35/ $29/ $23

Up on the Roof.  Under the Boardwalk.  This Magic Moment. There Goes My Baby.  Dance with Me.  Spanish Harlem.  Stand by Me.  The list of hits goes on and on.

THE DRIFTERS…one of Rock & Roll’s founding vocal groups is once again touring the U.S. under the auspices of their original management team.

From their inception in the early 1950's and up until recently THE DRIFTERS has a symbiotic relationship with Rock & Roll legend George Treadwell, who's discovered and managed such famous artists as Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn and Nina Simone.  The Treadwell Family was there when the original DRIFTERS formed and was responsible for guiding their career through 20 years of uninterrupted hits that has made them the second most successful recording artist of all time, according to Billboard Magazine. 

Through an historical journey, which included no less than 5 legendary lead singers, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King the group's ongoing story has covered the entire spectrum of Rock & Roll.  They were the first musical group to include string instruments into Rhythm & Blues music with their hauntingly beautiful song, "There Goes My Baby".  They were the first musical group to sell 2 million records with their pop classic, "Up On The Roof".  They were the first African American vocal group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Along with fellow inductees the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Supremes, the Drifters were in the first class of Rock & Roll legends to be initiated into the Hall of Fame.  Their classic tune "Under The Boardwalk" is the most played R & B record of all time. 20 other million sellers followed.     

Hot Club of San Francisco

Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $45/ $30/ $24/ $18

This ensemble of accomplished and versatile musicians celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering Quintette du Hot Club de France. The HCSF borrows the instrumentation of violin, bass, and guitars from the original Hot Club while breathing new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions from the group’s superb lead guitarist, Paul Mehling. Featuring the silken violin of twice GRAMMY® Award-winning Evan Price, the velvet vocals of Isabelle Fontaine, and a swinging rhythm section, the group never fails to surprise and delight.

To hear the ensemble, live or on any of their 14 albums is to be carried back to the tight, smoky jazz clubs of 1930’s Paris and to the refined lounge of the famous Hotel Ritz. Often called gypsy jazz, the music of The Hot Club of San Francisco has entranced audiences around the globe for over 25 years. Acoustic Guitar has hailed the group’s playing as “intricate, scorching and often brilliant.” With frequent national and international tours—from Iceland to Lincoln Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival—The Hot Club of San Francisco keeps this historic music fresh and alive.

Bessie, Billie & Nina - Pioneering Women in Jazz

Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $54/ $39/ $33/ $27

From the Jim Crow era-South through the turbulent 1960s, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone were among the most influential and popular singers of their times. Both within their music and outside of the clubs and concert halls, they wielded their exceptional talents to combat racial prejudice, sexism, and poverty. Whether powerfully and playfully claiming her autonomy and sexuality (Bessie Smith), forcing America to acknowledge the racism pervasive in the American South and beyond (Billie Holiday), or giving voice to the Civil Rights movement with stirring protest anthems (Nina Simone), these trailblazing singers spoke to and for the disenfranchised as women, African-Americans, and artists. All three women defied social norms, embracing self-empowerment through their art. 

Produced by Grammy-winning Eli Wolf (Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson), and with arrangements by pianist and musical director Carmen Staff (Dee Dee Bridgewater), BESSIE, BILLIE, & NINA: PIONEERING WOMEN IN JAZZ features three dynamic vocalists, each a rising star in her own right: Charenée Wade and Camille Thurman (both regular performers with Jazz at Lincoln Center) and Tahira Clayton (co-leader, WIJO, Women in Jazz Organization). Presented in affiliation with WIJO and backed by an all-female band, Wade, Thurman, and Clayton celebrate the enduring legacies of these iconic women and artists with performances of their classic songs, including Bessie Smith’s “Downhearted Blues,” Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” and Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam.” 

The musical and social legacies of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone remain as relevant as ever. Their contributions resonate with today’s artists across many genres, as well as with ongoing movements toward progress and equality for women, African-Americans, and the LGBTQ community. BESSIE, BILLIE, & NINA will entertain, inspire, and empower audiences during this pivotal time in our own history.

Red Hot Chili Pipers

Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $48/ $33/ $27/ $21

Bagpipers who Rock!

“These are my boys!” exclaimed Sir PaulMcCartney after rocking out to a Chilli performance.

 “Awesome!” said film star Ewen McGregor after he guested on drums with the Chillis

“Gotta get me some of that Red Hot Chilli Pipers!  I WANT some!” tweeted actor Samuel Jackson after seeing the band perform on NBC in the summer of 2012

 Bagpipes with attitude.  Drums with a Scottish accent. A blazing rock band and show so hot, it carries its own health warning!

It’s Bagpipes. It’s Rock. It’s Bagrock. AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns. Where rock anthems sit comfortably alongside the great tunes from the glens and the mountains of Scotland.

It’s The Red Hot Chilli PIPERS – (NOT the Peppers!) -- a 9-piece ensemble consisting of piper, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers -- who have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless.  The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping.

Since they walked away with the top prize on the primetime TV talent show, “When Will I Be Famous” in the U.K. in 2007, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers haven't stopped for a breath, other than to inflate their bagpipes!  Formed in 2002, The Chillis have fast become a global phenomenon, taking their signature 'Bagrock' sound to the masses with their unique fusion of rocked up Bagpipes and clever covers of popular songs from all genres.  Their trademarked sound is a unique fusion of traditional pipe tunes – like “The Flowers of Scotland”, “The Hills of Argyll”, and “Amazing Grace” (done Chilli-style, of course!) -- and contemporary anthems like Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, “Clocks” by Coldplay, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, “Let Me Entertain You” by Robbie Williams, and a fantastic rock medley of “Deep Purple”, “Smoke on the Water”, and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”.

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $57/ $42/ $36/ $31

Virtuosity, Quality, Personality

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is America’s premier large brass ensemble. A group that always reflects the diverse makeup of men and women in the American culture, RMPBB is dedicated to the notion that music is a gift to be enjoyed by everyone.

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is a family-owned and operated business that had its beginnings on the streets of New Orleans. On the advice of family patriarch Ellis Marsalis, the group created a concert format that breaks the usual barriers between genres and strives to create a connection between the audience and performers.

The ensemble is especially dedicated to reaching out to the world's youth and inspiring them to reach for their dreams. A veritable "dream team" of virtuoso brass players, the group burst onto the music scene with a debut performance in Philadelphia's Kimmel Center in Verizon Hall, a residency for the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and a special feature on the National Public Radio show, "All Things Considered."

Performances by The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass range from solo trumpet to brass quintet, to the full eleven-piece ensemble with percussion. Their programs include holiday concerts, mini concerts for schools, and traditional brass concerts with optional organ or choir. Brothers on the Battlefield: The Power of Love, covers music from the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movements.

In recent years the group has been invited to perform in performing arts centers around the world including China's National Center for the Performing Arts, Guangzhou Opera House, Tangelwood's Seiji Ozawa Hall, and prominent performing arts centers throughout the United States, South America, Asia, and Europe.

ArtRageous

Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $45/ $30/ $24/ $18

ArtRageous is a troupe of multi-talented Live performance artists, world-class singers, and recording artists, highly trained dancers, and audience motivators, and veteran musicians hailing from the high desert of New Mexico. Their high energy performance is a combination of ALL ARTS on ONE STAGE, combined with humor and interaction in a frenzy of movement and color.

ArtRageous has a passion for all things art and community and they bring their message of the arts being an integral and valuable part of human existence to the stage, leaving their audience of all ages singing, dancing, and clapping along.

ArtRageous has been fortunate to perform for theatre-goers and celebrities alike and their artworks are in private and public galleries around the world.

The audience is immersed in the world of ArtRageous and become participants in the show, not merely watchers. For the brave audience members, they are invited to join the troupe on stage for special numbers featuring their creativity. For the more mild audience members, the ArtRageous vocalists will instruct vocal parts as they sing along and use their souvenir finger lights to create a light show.

There is something for everyone, whether you are a performer at heart or just want to be thoroughly entertained.

GENTRI

Friday, May 6, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $48/ $33/ $27/ $21

GENTRI, which is short for “The Gentlemen Trio” was established in June 2014 and is comprised of three dynamic tenors: Brad Robins, Casey Elliott and Bradley Quinn Lever. Pioneering a signature sound they call “Cinematic Pop,” the music of GENTRI is transfused with lush, epic orchestrations and rich, dynamic three-part harmonies all composed by the group’s producer Stephen Nelson.

To date, GENTRI has released three EP’s and three full length albums, the most recent being “Noel”, GENTRI’s second Christmas album, which debuted #6 on iTunes pop charts, just under Taylor Swift.  Almost all of GENTRI’s albums have reached #1 on various Billboard charts. The Gents are also known for their award-winning music videos, which have been featured on news outlets around the world including ABC World News, NBC Nightly News and Inside Edition.

GENTRI has performed all over the United States and across the globe. They have shared the stage with world-renowned talent, including Tony Award-winning powerhouse Kristin Chenoweth, international tenor sensation Alfie Boe, Tony Award-winning vocalist Idina Menzel, and legendary rock bands Journey, Blondie and One Republic.

The McCartney Years

Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $45/ $30/ $24/ $18

Show sponsored by The Pantagraph

Hailed by the original Beatles promoter as ‘THE BEST ON THE SCENE’, The McCartney Years is a period-true, technically stunning, and explosive live concert show that performs the music of Paul McCartney spanning two decades from The Beatles to Wings.

Songs include hits like “Hey Jude”, “Jet”, “Let It Be”, ”Band On The Run”, “The Long And Winding Road”, “Live And Let Die”, “Lady Madonna” and many, many more, plus some of the deep cuts that McCartney wrote during the 1960’s and 1970’s; all performed to their original arrangements by a band that has entertained audiences worldwide and even has a personal accolade from former Paul McCartney & Wings Guitarist Denny Laine.

Guaranteed that you will jump out of your seat to clap, sing and dance to the music by one of the most prolific artists of all time in this authentic, timeless live concert experience!

Forever Motown

Friday, May 20, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $53/ $38/ $32/ $26

Show sponsored by The Pantagraph

Imagine seeing the greatest Motown groups of all time, all on one stage together again!  That’s Forever Motown and it’s so good for the soul.  Hitsville churned out all the #1 hits back in the 60s and 70s…and this show celebrates the best of the best from Berry Gordy’s Detroit hit-making factory. A fabulous cast, backed by a band of incredible musicians, represents Motown royalty -- performing the beloved songs from the greatest groups, artists and songwriters of all time: The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Stevie Wonder. “Clearly the best Motown Review to date”, raved CBS News; “Captures the essence of America’s own music in an evening of sheer fun”, wrote the Washington Post. “Bring your dancing shoes and bring the whole family. This is a show for everyone.” exclaimed the Entertainment Review. Sing, dance & celebrate the music of your life to songs like “My Girl”, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “Reach Out”, “Shop Around”, “Dancin’ In The Street”, “Stop, In The Name Of Love”, “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” & “Uptight” – nearly 30 non-stop hits in all!  

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Organized by the Friends of the BCPA!

GRIMMZ Fairy Tales

Friday, October 15, 2021, at 10:30 AM
Tickets: $5 all seats.

Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop, fable, story dance-pop sensational brothers, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert.  They’re known not just for their sounds, but for the stories their music tells through, off-the-chart theatrical effects.

They’ll be performing some of their greatest hits including Snow White and the Seven Shawties, Down with Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel: Lost in the Streets, and their featured first Granny-winning song, Cinderella Remix!  Pay your bling and hear them sing…and so much more.  A concert experience like none other!  “A hip-hop revelation for the younger generation!”

Paddington Gets in a Jam

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 10:30 AM
Tickets: $5 all seats.

Watch Paddington, the famous, accident prone bear, as he takes to the stage in this fun filled comedy.

Paddington is making his favorite marmalade jam with the help of the Brown’s housekeeper Mrs. Bird, but they run out of sugar, so Paddington heads next door to borrow some from Mr. Curry. The usually grumpy Mr. Curry is even more short tempered than ever as he prepares for a visit from his great aunt who is a stickler for tidiness. Paddington, feeling sorry for Mr. Curry, volunteers to help him with his chores. Unfortunately for Paddington his good intentions end up leading to chaos, as one by one each of his jobs starts to have an unexpected outcome!

Will Paddington be able to fix everything before Mr. Curry and his great aunt arrive home?

The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen

Thurs., Feb. 10, 2022, at 10:30 AM AND 1:30 PM
Tickets: $5 all seats.

We begin with Aesop’s classic fable of the The Tortoise and the Hare but continue the story which finds them 10 years down the road, now with children of their own and exploring modern day distractions.  Smart phones and video games create a new landscape of lost connections to life experiences. The Next Gen features Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare in a whole new kind of race; where their adventures lead them into unexpected territory. Old man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare must come together despite their differences to find and save their children. What hurdles will they have to overcome to make it to the finish line?

With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling and the creative use of music from classical to pop, this production brings this tale into a new brilliant light.

ArtRageous for Kids

Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 10:30 AM
Tickets: $5 all seats.

The audience is immersed in the world of ArtRageous and become participants in the show, not merely watchers. For the brave audience members, they are invited to join the troupe on stage for special numbers featuring their creativity. For the more mild audience members, the ArtRageous vocalists will instruct vocal parts as they sing along and use their souvenir finger lights to create a light show.

Outrageous Fusion and Inclusion, all packed into one electrifying, energizing, get-up-and dance ArtRageous experience!

THEATER

Forever Young

Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $49/ $34/ $28/ $22

FOREVER YOUNG takes you back to the music of your youth. Back to the moment you discovered what it meant to set the record down, push play and tune in! Packed full of pop, rock and country classics.

Escape to Margaritaville
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $91/ $76/ $70/ $64

Welcome to Margaritaville, where people come to get away from it all—and stay to find something they never expected. With a book by Emmy Award^® winner Greg Garcia (“My Name is Earl,” “Raising Hope”) and Emmy Award^® nominee Mike O’Malley (“Survivors Remorse,” “Shameless”) ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE is the musical comedy featuring both original songs and your most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and many more. USA Today calls it "A little slice of paradise!" and Entertainment Weekly raves, "It will knock your flip-flops off!" So don't let the party start without you.

GRIMMZ Fairy Tales

Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 8:00 PM
Tickets: $45/ $30/ $23/ $17

Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop, fable, story dance-pop sensational brothers, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert.  They’re known not just for their sounds, but for the stories their music tells through, off-the-chart theatrical effects.

They’ll be performing some of their greatest hits including Snow White and the Seven Shawties, Down with Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel: Lost in the Streets, and their featured first Granny-winning song, Cinderella Remix!  Pay your bling and hear them sing…and so much more.  A concert experience like none other!  “A hip-hop revelation for the younger generation!”

RENT: 25th ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR

Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 6:30 PM
Tickets: $87/ $72/ $66/ $60
Show sponsored by The Pantagraph

For a quarter of a century, Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece RENT has inspired us to choose love over fear and to live without regret. Its immeasurable emotional impact has forever changed the world of musical theatre.

RENT follows a year in the lives of a diverse group of artists and friends struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. This powerfully resonant phenomenon has become more than a musical – it’s a cultural touchstone, a rite of passage and a source of joy and strength for millions. The extraordinary RENT fan community spans every continent and every generation – including many born over a decade after the show opened on Broadway.

Whether you’ve never seen RENT or have completely lost count, you can’t miss it this time around – the 25^th Anniversary “Farewell Season of Love” is your FINAL CHANCE to experience this illustrious touring production.

Come join us to celebrate 25 years of “La Vie Bohème.”  13,140,000 minutes of the one and only RENT.

That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody

Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $47/ $32/ $26/ $20

'That Golden Girls Show!' is a brand-new show that parodies classic Golden Girls

moments - with puppets!

Get set for an evening of cheesecake, laughter, jazzercise, shoulder pads, sex, and the elegant art of the quick-witted put down. From Sophia’s get-rich-quick schemes to Rose's tales from St Olaf, Blanche's

insatiable hunt for men and the Fountain of Youth, and Dorothy's daily struggle to make sense of her life.

Devoted fans will fondly remember our four girls from Miami, and for the first timers, this will be a joyful introduction to the brilliance of that television series.

Church Basement Ladies

Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 2:00 PM AND 7:30 PM
Tickets: $41/ $26/ $20/ $14

Church Basement Ladies, a celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, features four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and the problems of a rural Minnesota church. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, the book and music give us a touching, funny look at their lives as we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fundraiser, and a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on due course while thoroughly enjoying, (and tolerating) each other. Funny and down to earth, audiences will recognize these ladies as they begin to see the Church year unfold from below the House of God. This is most certainly true!

 2021-2022 Season Artwork for Press Release

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