What do David Crosby and Graham Nash, the New York Theatre Ballet, "Hairspray" and "Magic Tree House: The Musical" have in common?
They'll all grace the stage of The Center For Performing Arts at Governors State University during the 2008-2009 performance season.
The Center's blockbuster season was recently announced and subscriptions are available for sale this weekend. Individual tickets will go on sale Aug. 1. (Single tickets for "Hairspray," scheduled for March 13 and 14, go on sale Sept. 15.)
"We are trying to create a season that has a lot of big events in it and trying to make them at reasonable prices," said Burt Dikelsky, executive director of the Center.
Dikelsky said one of the hallmarks of previous GSU seasons always has been its diverse offerings for audiences of all ages and interests.
"We also want our audiences to get the best in entertainment without having to drive too far," Dikelsky said. The venue regularly gets good crowds from Chicago's Southland and Northwest Indiana.
The upcoming entertainment roster is filled with stellar acts, including Grammy winning, Hall of Fame rockers David Crosby and Graham Nash, who will perform Oct. 31. Dikelsky jokingly said theater personnel are calling the show the "Crosby and Nash Halloween Bash."
Among other shows are NBC's "Last Comic Standing" Live Tour on Oct. 11; The Second City Touring Company's "DeFace the Nation," on Nov. 1; Christmas with Aaron Neville and the Neville Quintet on Dec. 6; Opera Ala Carte: "The Mikado," on Feb. 22; the Afro-Cuban All Stars on March 20 and DRUMLine Live on March 21.
Family audiences will also enjoy a variety of shows including Salt Creek Ballet's "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 13; Mike Super, who'll perform a magic/illusion show on Jan. 31 and "Junie B. Jones" on May 2. FYI: To order subscription and single tickets, call (708) 235-2222 or visit www.centertickets.net.
GSU's 2008-2009 Schedule:
* NBC's "Last Comic Standing: Live Tour," Oct. 11; $38 to $66
* The Mammoth Follies, Oct. 17; $10.50 to $15.50
* An Evening with David Crosby & Graham Nash, Oct. 31; $59 to $87
* The Second City Touring Company's "DeFace the Nation," Nov. 1; $24 to $52
* "Smokey Joe's Cafe," Nov. 15; $26 to $54
* "Magic Tree House: The Musical," Nov. 22 and 23; $26 to $41
* Christmas with Aaron Neville and the Neville Quintet, Dec. 6; $53 to $72
* "A Christmas Carol," Dec. 7; $10.50 to $15.50
* Salt Creek Ballet's "The Nutcracker," Dec. 13; $15 to $43
* New York Theatre Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty" and "Carnival of Animals," Jan. 25; $28 to $56
* Mike Super, Jan. 31; $24 to $52
* The Lettermen, Feb. 14; $36 to $64
* Opera Ala Carte: "The Mikado," Feb. 22; $29 to $57
* The Pink Floyd Experience, Feb. 28; $34 to $62
* "Hairspray" (National Broadway Tour), March 13 and 14; $44 to $63 (for matinee) and $54 to $73
* Afro-Cuban All Stars, March 20; $35 to $63
* DRUMLine Live, March 21; $39 to $54
* Junie B. Jones, May 2; $10.50 to $15.50
* The Kingston Trio, May 3; $25 to $55
* "To Kill a Mockingbird," May 9; $27 to $42
