MSU Riley Center announces new season lineup
The Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts announces a new slate of shows for the 2022-2023 Fall-Winter season. The season is full of headlining musical acts, complemented by a Broadway star and a ubiquitous comedian.
The season kicks off on September 17 with The Gatlin Brothers, followed by Jessica Vosk on September 30. Best known as Elphaba, the green-skinned witch from the Broadway hit Wicked, Vosk’s powerhouse vocals are sure to shine when matched with the theater’s unparalleled acoustics. Jay Leno, a man who needs no introduction, will deliver his side-splitting standup on Friday, October 7.
Blurring the lines between funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock, New Orleans musical legend Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue will take the stage on November 19. Released in the spring of this year, Lifted is his first new album in five years. After much anticipation, the album is an excellent indicator of what to expect on stage.
The beloved singer-songwriter and folk icon Emmylou Harris will perform with her band, filling the MSU Riley Center’s Grand Opera House theater with sage wisdom and eloquent lyrics like only she can on Friday, December 9. Rounding out the season on January 21, The Temptations and The Four Tops are sure to pack the house with Motown mania.
The MSU Riley Center announces this season on the heels of an impressive streak of sold-out shows, including an add-on performance by Bob Dylan in the spring and Boz Scaggs on July 23. The theater’s beauty is only rivaled by its acoustics, making it an idyllic venue for performers and patrons alike.
“We are selling more tickets each season than we ever have, far exceeding pre-pandemic levels,” said Terry Dale Cruse, associate vice president and head of the Meridian campus. “While we’ve been steadily presenting shows for over 15 years now, the energy and renewed interest in downtown and our community’s collective arts and culture offerings is palpable. To anyone considering a show or coming downtown for a weekend, my advice is do not hesitate.”
Since the opening of the MSU Riley Center in 2006, downtown Meridian has seen an influx of investment, specifically in arts and culture. The addition of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience and the new Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian provides unique enrichment opportunities for adults and children that complement the MSU Riley Center’s performing arts series and annual school shows. The grand opening of the Threefoot Hotel at the start of 2022 firmly positions Meridian as a destination for arts and culture across the state and region.
Season subscriptions to the MSU Riley Center’s 2022-2023 Fall-Winter Performing Arts Series are on sale now and start at $210 and go up to $540 per person. Special mini packs are also available, allowing patrons to purchase a bundle of three predetermined shows, claiming highly sought-after seats ahead of individual ticket buyers. Ranging from $95 to $340 per person, mini packs go on sale on August 1. Ticket prices to individual shows vary, starting at $20 and going up to $150 per ticket based on performance and seat selection. Ticket sales to individual shows begin on Tuesday, August 9, after a one-day presale to Friends of the Lady members on Monday, August 8. For more information and to purchase, visit www.msurileycenter.com or call 601.696.2200.
The MSU Riley Center thanks The Riley Foundation, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Mississippi State University, and Friends of the Lady members. Their continued support helps make these shows possible.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
