Princess Theatre plans up-coming season

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
The Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts announces its new season for 2004-2005, presenting a variety of touring professional performing artists for audiences in North Alabama.
Season tickets are now available at the Theatre's Box Office, providing a discount and first choice of tickets. The Princess Theatre has scheduled an open house on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. for the public to preview the season events.
The Professional Series offers a stellar line up of Broadway, comedy and music from which subscribers may "create their own series." Subscribers may select a minimum of three events or select the entire five event series. The Professional Series opens on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. with M*A*S*H television star Jamie Farr headlining the sell-out Broadway hit comedy as the lovable George Burns in "Say Goodnight Gracie the Life, Laughter &Love of George Burns and Gracie Allen".
"The Capitol Steps" presents its musical political satire at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2005. They are back at the Princess Theatre by popular demand after two sell-outs in a row. "
On Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m., the Princess presents the national tour of "Forbidden Broadway Shoots for the Stars." New York's most hilarious musical has been running on Broadway for 21 years.
The World Famous Count Basie Orchestra teams for the first time with multi-Grammy nominated vocalist Nnenna Freelon to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Count Basie's birth, Aug. 2. On Feb. 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. Freelon and the 18-piece orchestra will perform on the Princess stage, celebrating Count Basie and his music.
"An Evening With Arlo Guthrie" is scheduled for March 7, 2005 with special guests Abe Guthrie, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Irion and Gordon Titcomb. Arlo Guthrie and his family bring American folk music in a "family style" concert to the Princess.
The 2004-2005 season also features three special events.
"An Evening of Dance" with the Alabama School of Fine Arts on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. presents more than 30 young dancers from the school as they perform selected repertoire of dance styles from the classical, neo-classical and contemporary American works. The annual "Big Band Bash" is scheduled for April 7, 2005 at 7p.m. as a special benefit event in big band style.
The season ends with a new Spring Finale Benefit on April 29, 2005 at 7 p.m., including a performance of "Smokey Joe's Caf/" and a "Curtain Call" Party following the show.
The 2004-2005 season at the Princess is made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. To obtain a season brochure or for more information, call the Box Office at 340-1778.
Single tickets go on sale Oct.1.