MSU Riley Center announces Fall/Winter Series
Singing legends and fresh young talents, theatrical productions that delights children and intrigue adults, and an athletic, creative contemporary dance company will entertain the state as part of the MSU Riley Center’s Fall/Winter Series. The series gets off to a romantic start in the historic venue in downtown Meridian on Aug. 24 with ballad singer and Grammy winner Michael Bolton.
September brings the “Texican rock ’n’ roll” of the Grammy Award–winning Los Lonely Boys as well as the sweet, sassy voice of country singer Sara Evans. Two singer-guitarists arrive in October: Grammy Winner Peter Frampton RAW, doing acoustic tour, and Johnny Rivers, bringing back his many 1960s and ’70s hits. JJ Grey & Mofro promise a rootsy, Southern-accented concert in November. Kathy Mattea's Songs and the Season salutes the holiday season in December with a program featuring both traditional favorites and surprises. And in January 2016, vibrant young soul singer Brian Owens re-creates “The Marvin Gaye Experience.”
The Fall/Winter Series includes two Family Shows. In October, Dallas Children’s Theater On Tour presents The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), adapted by prolific children’s playwright David Wood from the beloved Roald Dahl book. The following month, Theatre IV of Richmond, Virginia, stages a lively, funny a musical version of Sleeping Beauty.
The innovative, up-and-coming troupe Thodos Dance Chicago performs several pieces in October, including “A Light in the Dark,” The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. The Fall/Winter Series concludes in February 2016 as a British-American cast from Aquila Theatre takes a clever, fast-paced theatrical trip to Victorian London with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
“We serve a wonderfully diverse community, so we always face the fun challenge of finding exciting performers who appeal to a wide variety of tastes,” said Dennis Sankovich, executive director of the MSU Riley Center. “We’re really pleased to bring such a dynamic set of artists to the MSU Riley Center stage for our Fall/Winter Series. As different as they all are from each other, they do have one thing in common: They really know how to thrill an audience.”
Sankovich noted that the MSU Riley Center offers an equally wide range of season-ticket options, allowing patrons to customize their own packages of shows and receive discounted prices. “They’re a great way to give yourself some unforgettable entertainment experiences, purchase gifts for friends or business clients, or do both at the same time,” he said. He also said, “We need to continue to thank The Riley Foundation for their sponsorship which allows us to bring in top name artists.”
Current season-ticket holders must renew by July 22, to hold the same seats. New season-ticket buyers can purchase full-season packages starting July 27, A “build your own package” option, which includes a discount and early seating, is available for those who wish to purchase tickets to three or more shows but not the full season. Tickets for these packages can be purchased starting August 3, Tickets for individual shows go on sale Aug. 10.
Performances start at 7:30 p.m., except that Family Shows start at 7 p.m. Select shows will feature pre-show parties in the Grand Lobby, allowing patrons to socialize and enjoy refreshments as anticipation builds for the evening’s on-stage presentation.
Tickets and additional information are available by phone or in person at the MSU Riley Center box office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and starting one hour before show time on the day of a show. The telephone number is 601-696-2200, the address is 2200 Fifth Street in downtown Meridian, and the website is www.msurileycenter.com.
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