Arts season to open at Granada
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 12:54 p.m., July 14, 2008
Updated 12:54 p.m., July 14, 2008
The Golden Dragon Acrobats’ performance to open the restored Granada Theatre and Sally Struthers starring in “Nunsense” will be two highlights of the Emporia Arts Council’s 2008-09 season.
Memberships for the new season are available now and include a set of tickets to six shows, plus the opportunity to purchase a discounted ticket to “Nunsense,” a fundraiser performance for the arts council. Season memberships start at $100 and can be purchased at the Emporia Arts Center, 618 Mechanic St., or by phone at 343-6473. Youth season memberships are $20.
Work on the Granada continues in preparation for a scheduled Oct. 3 gala opening, and on Oct. 9, the Golden Dragon Acrobats will take the stage at 7 p.m. The group strives to preserve a tradition of Chinese acrobatics that began at least 2,500 years ago. The Golden Dragons have performed in more than 65 countries on five continents.
Acclaimed Kansas City-area jazz saxophonist and educator Doug Talley brings his group, the Doug Talley Quartet, to the Granada at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 for the second show of the season. The Emporia High School jazz band will make an appearance during the Talley Quartet’s performance.
The venue for the Jan. 18, 3 p.m. performance of “Nunsense” hasn’t yet been determined. Arts Council Executive Director Melissa Windsor said the show will be at either the Granada or Albert Taylor Hall on the campus of Emporia State University. The musical comedy series is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has been rendered in more than 5,000 productions worldwide.
Struthers is best-known for her role as Archie Bunker’s daughter, Gloria, on “All in the Family,” a role for which she won two Emmy awards. She also played a prominent role in the 1970 film hit “Five Easy Pieces” and, more recently, had a regular role in the TV series “Gilmore Girls.” Danny Goggin will direct the production.
Tickets for “Nunsense” will not be included in the Arts Council’s season lineup. Season-ticket holders can purchase a ticket for $20; for non-season-ticket holders, tickets will be $30.
The Millers, a blues quartet that finished as runner-up in the first season of NBC’s summer series “America’s Got Talent,” will bring its sound to the Granada on Jan. 30. The Lafayette, Ind.-based band has shared the stage with such stars as Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Joan Jett and Kanye West. Their performance begins at 8 p.m.
On Feb. 28 at Albert Taylor Hall, the Montana Repertory Theatre will perform Christopher Sergel’s stage version of Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The Montana Rep was formed in 1967 and is billed as one of the country’s oldest touring companies. Its performance will start at 7:30 p.m.
Classical harpist Emmanuel Ceysson and the Missoula Children’s Theatre will bring the season’s final two performances. Ceysson, originally from France, has earned a number of awards for his harp-picking, including the 2006 Young Concert Artists International Auditions competition and the 2004 USA International Harp competition. He’ll perform at the Granada on March 26 at 7:30 p.m.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre, which performed “The Little Mermaid” at Emporia High School last April, will return to EHS to perform “The Princess and the Pea” on April 3 and 4. The April 3 show begins at 7 p.m. The April 4 performance begins at 2 p.m.