F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre announces 2019-2020 season with over 50 events
From a press release:
Today, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts announced the lineup for its 33rd season as the premier performing arts center in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Always “At the Heart of the Arts and Entertainment,” the Kirby Center’s 2019-2020 season once again delivers a group of diverse and exciting performances that include the award-winning musical “Rent,” a showing of the film “Hocus Pocus” with a live Q&A with Kathy Najimy, a children’s show adapted from the hit kids book “Llama Llama Live,” “Masters of Illusion” based on The CW’s television show, a magical holiday with “Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical,” and much more.
Perhaps most importantly, the Kirby Center’s new season will, once again, feature five free sensory-friendly performances produced in partnership with King’s College. This year, the performance will be Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach TYA” (Theatre for Young Audiences).
Sensory-friendly theatre is performed in a friendly, supportive environment for families and friends with children or adults who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other sensitivity issues.
“Making theater and entertainment accessible has always been at the heart of our mission,” said Anne Rodella, artistic director of the F.M. Kirby Center. “We look forward to continuing to create a more inclusive environment, producing and presenting relaxed performances where any audience member that struggles attending traditional performances will feel comfortable and welcome.”
Thanks to generous underwriting by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, tickets for the Kirby Center’s Signature Series will cost just $10 per seat for the third year. The 2019-2020 Signature Series includes performances by Vieux Farka Toure & Bombino, Ballet Jazz Montreal presenting Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me,” and Aquila Theatre’s production of “1984.”
Further highlighting the importance of its mission, the Kirby Center will offer its Young People Theater Series free of charge for the fourth consecutive season. Over the past four seasons, more than 22,000 elementary school students have experienced live theatre as a result of this important component of the venue’s Arts in Education program.
Of course, the new season would not be complete without the W. Curtis Montz Film Series, which features 10 films to be screened on Wednesdays in June, July, and August.
Individual tickets for the 2019-2020 season go on sale on Friday, June 7 at 10 a.m., but Kirby Members can begin purchasing their seats beginning Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m. As always, pre-sale tickets will be available at the Sundance Vacations Box Office at the Kirby Center (71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre) and by phone at 570-826-1100. Some previously announced shows are already on sale.
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 2019-2020 season schedule is listed below, with more performances to be added throughout the year.
F.M. Kirby Center 2019-2020 season schedule:
- Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach TYA – Friday-Sunday, July 12-14
- Tommy Emmanuel – Wednesday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.
- Brit Floyd – Saturday, July 27, 8 p.m.
- Lyle Lovett & His Large Band – Sunday, July 28, 8 p.m.
- An Evening with Dawes – Tuesday, July 30, 8 p.m.
- Tom Segura – Tuesday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m.
- The Righteous Brothers – Wednesday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m.
- The Breakfast Club with Anthony Michael Hall – Saturday, Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m.
- Ballet Jazz Montreal presents Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me – Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m.
- Billy Gardell – Thursday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m.
- Classic Albums Live presents Beatles’ Abbey Road – Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m.
- 1984 – Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.
- Hocus Pocus with Kathy Najimy – Friday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Vieux Farka Toure & Bombino – Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
- Josh Gates Live: An Evening of Ghosts, Monsters and Tales of Adventure! – Friday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m.
- The Velveteen Rabbit – Thursday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.
- Night of the Living Dead Live! – Friday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
- Marshall Tucker Band & The Outlaws – Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m.
- Darci Lynne Farmer – Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m.
- Staylin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees – Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.
- A Christmas Carol – Thursday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.
- Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical – Thursday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
- Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker – Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
- Classic Albums Live presents Led Zeppelin II – Saturday, Jan 18, 8 p.m.
- National Ballet Theatre of Odessa presents Swan Lake – Thursday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.
- Rent – Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Sweet Chariot – Thursday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.
- Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom – Friday, Feb. 21, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Masters of Illusion – Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.
- Finding Neverland – Monday, March 9, 7 p.m.
- Dinosaur World Live! – Saturday, March 14, 3 p.m.
- Llama Llama Live! – Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m.
- Treasure Island – Tuesday, April 14, 10 a.m.
- Classic Albums Live presents Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon – Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m.
- The Color Purple – Sunday, May 17, 7 p.m.
“Before the Kirby Was the Kirby” film schedule (all on Fridays):
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, PG) – June 21 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Mary Poppins (1964, G) – July 5 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Top Gun (1986, PG) – Aug. 23 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Dr. Zhivago (1965, PG-13) – Sept. 20 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Young Frankenstein (1974, PG) – Oct. 25 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001, PG) – Nov. 22 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, PG) – Dec. 20 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The W. Curtis Montz Film Series schedule (all on Wednesdays):
- Clara (2019, NR) – June 5 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Shoplifters (2018, R) – June 12 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Halston (2019, NR) – June 26 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Red Joan (2019, R) – July 3 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Dogman (2018, NR) – July 24 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Tell It to the Bees (2019, NR) – July 31 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- The Souvenir (2019, R) – Aug. 7 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Gay Chorus Deep South (2019, NR) – Aug. 21 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Working Woman (2018, NR) – Aug. 28 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Always in Season (2019, NR) – Sept. 4 – 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Jason Riedmiller Photography/NEPA Scene
