F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre announces 2017-2018 season with 55 different shows
From a press release:
The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts has announced the lineup for its 31st season as the premier performing arts center in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Always “At the Heart of the Arts and Entertainment,” the Kirby Center’s 2017-2018 season once again delivers a diverse, star-studded group of performances that include the “Voice of Romance” Johnny Mathis, two nights of “The Sound of Music,” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Drifters, a family series featuring Disney Junior’s “PJ Masks” and an afternoon with “Jungle” Jack Hannah, and much more.
Most importantly, the Kirby Center’s new season highlights a sturdy focus on its mission to bring the arts and arts education into the community by charging only $10 for all tickets within its Signature Series.
“This is a movement we’ve been working towards over the past few years, and we’re truly excited about it,” said Will Beekman, the F.M. Kirby Center’s executive director. “We have long been bringing the arts into this community but, this year, we are making it easier to bring the community to the arts.”
Thanks to generous underwriting by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, theatergoers will pay just $10 per seat to see the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Howard Gospel Choir, Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Simply Three, and the Walnut Street Theatre’s take on a Sherlock Holmes mystery.
Further highlighting the importance of its mission, the Kirby Center is once again offering its Young People Theater Series free of charge, while also adding a free public performance of “The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told” during the 2018 Fine Arts Fiesta.
In all, the Kirby Center’s 2017-2018 season boasts 55 performances, ranging from independent films to world-renowned headliners. The season also includes the return of Celtic Woman, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” acclaimed Broadway vocalist Linda Eder, and Broadway productions of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Cabaret,” just to name a few.
Of course, the new season would not be complete without the W. Curtis Montz Film Series, which features 12 independent films screened throughout the summer.
Individual tickets for the 2017-2018 Season go on sale Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m., but Kirby Members can begin purchasing their seats beginning Tuesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. As always, pre-sale tickets will be available at the box office (71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre) or by calling 570-826-1100.
To become a member of the F.M. Kirby Center, visit kirbycenter.org or call 570-823-4599, ext. 225 during normal business hours.
The current 2017-2018 season schedule is listed below. As always, more performances will be added throughout the year.
F.M. Kirby Center 2017-2018 season schedule:
- The Ultimate Queen Celebration – Sat., July 1, 8 p.m.*
- Robbie Fulks – Fri., July 14, 8 p.m.*
- Daughtry – Sat., July 15, 8 p.m.*
- Fastball – Sat., July 29, 8 p.m.*
- Amos Lee – Sun., July 30, 8 p.m.*
- Dweezil Zappa – Thur., Aug. 3, 8 p.m.*
- Gene Ween Does Billy Joel – Sat., Aug. 5, 8 p.m.*
- TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band – Thurs., Aug. 10, 8 p.m.*
- Duke Ellington Orchestra – Sat., Aug. 12, 7 p.m.
- Donny & Marie Osmond – Thur., Aug. 24, 8 p.m.*
- Shopkins Live! – Fri., Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m.*
- Linda Eder – Fri., Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.
- Joe Nardone Presents: A Doo Wop Celebration – Sat., Oct. 14, 7 p.m.
- PJ Masks Live! – Tues., Oct. 17, 6 p.m.
- Up Close with Roy Firestone – Fri., Oct. 20, 8 p.m.
- Verdi’s Rigoletto – Sat., Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
- Penn State’s Premiere Jazz Ensemble Centre Dimensions – Thur., Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.
- The Fab Faux: A Hard Day’s Night – Sat., Oct. 28, 8 p.m.
- Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs – Wed., Nov. 1, 10 a.m.
- Dixie’s Tupperware Party – Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m.
- Johnny Mathis – Sun., Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
- Stomp – Thur. & Fr., Nov. 9 & 10, 7:30 p.m.*
- Simply Three – Wed., Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.
- Chicken Dance – Mon., Nov. 20, 10 a.m.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical – Wed., Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.
- The Sound of Music – Wed. & Thur., Dec. 20 & 21, 7:30 p.m.
- Video Games Live – Fri., Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m.*
- Arrival from Sweden – Sat., Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
- Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery – Wed., Feb. 7, 7 p.m.
- Jabber – Mon., Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
- Howard Gospel Choir – Sat., Feb. 17, 7 p.m.
- Four Score and Seven Years Ago – Wed., Feb. 21, 10 a.m.
- Harriet Tubman & the Underground Railroad – Fri., March 16, 10 a.m.
- Celtic Woman – Sun., March 25, 3 p.m.
- The Wizard of Oz – Fri., April 13, 7:30 p.m.
- The Drifters – Sat., April 14, 7:30 p.m.
- Huck & Tom and the Mighty Mississippi – Tues., April 24, 10 a.m.
- Jack Hanna – Sat., April 28, 3 p.m.
- Cabaret – Thur., May 17, 7:30 p.m.
- The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told – Sat., May 19, 2:00 p.m.
* Indicates shows that are currently on sale.
W. Curtis Montz Film Series schedule (all on Wednesdays):
- Cezanne Et Moi (2016, R) – June 7 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Loving (2016, PG-13) – June 14 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Cameraperson (2016, NR) – June 21 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Denial (2016, PG-13) – June 28 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Manifesto (2015, NR) – July 5 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- The Hero (2017, R) – July 12 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- I Am Not Your Negro (2016, PG-13) – July 19 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Jackie (2016, R) – July 26 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Paterson (2016, R) – Aug. 2 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- The Witness (2016, NR) – Aug. 9 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- The Death of Louis XIV (2016, NR) – Aug. 16 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- A Quiet Passion (2016, PG-13) – Aug. 23 – 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Jesse Faatz Photography
