KCMETROPOLIS.org
Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Johnson County Community College dedicated its Cultural Education Center on Oct. 3, 1990, and offered its first season in spring 1991. For 20 years, the Performing Arts Series at JCCC has consistently offered quality programming. True to tradition, another exceptional season unfolds.

Emily Behrmann, interim general manager of the Performing Arts Series at JCCC, just announced the 20th anniversary celebration with eight-time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole on Sept. 25, plus a season of cutting-edge performances, celebrity names, diverse cultures, dance and music.

The season is listed chronologically. Shows begin at 8 p.m. in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted.

• Sept. 10, 2010 - Takács Quartet, Grammy-winning string quartet
• Sept. 11, 2010 - American Voices, Songs of Our Nation, Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Andy Cooney
• Sept. 25, 2010 - The "Still Unforgettable" Natalie Cole, 20th anniversary celebration
• Sept. 30, 2010 at 7 p.m. - Jungle Jack Hanna, featuring the star of TV's Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures
• Oct. 16, 2010 - Robert McDuffie, violin soloist, and the Venice Baroque Orchestra, The Seasons Project, featuring a world premier tour of a Philip Glass composition, a PAS co-commission
• Oct. 20, 2010 at 7: 30 p.m. - Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter
• Oct. 22-23, 2010 - Capitol Steps, political comedy troupe
• Oct. 29-30, 2010 - Quixotic Fusion, Lux Esalare, Kansas City ensemble of musicians, dancers, aerialists
• Nov. 5, 2010 - DRUMLine Live, created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline
• Polsky Theatre, Nov. 6, 2010 - beatlegras, bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three
• Nov. 12, 2010 - Jigu! Thunder Drums of China, a world-class company of drummers, percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province
• Nov. 20, 2010 - Naturally 7, award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called "vocal play"
• Dec. 3, 2010 - Christmas Bells Are Swingin'!, Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton
• Jan. 29, 2011 - Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, internationally renowned modern dance company
• Polsky Theatre, Feb. 4, 2011 - The Hot Club of San Francisco, Gypsy jazz, in Silent Surrealism
• Feb. 12, 2011 - An Evening with Martin Short, starring the legendary comedian, film star and SNL alumnus
• March 4, 2011 - Opole, Philharmonic of Poland, with soprano Iwona Sobotka, light classics by Viennese composers
• March 5, 2011 - Hot Tuna Blues, guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame, blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite, and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale
• Polsky Theatre, March 12, 2011 - Janis Ian, singer, guitarist, songwriter (At Seventeen)
• April 2, 2011 - Joffrey Ballet, Chicago-based, world-renowned ballet company
• April 16, 2011 - Béla Fleck, banjo, Zakir Hussain, tabla/percussion, and Edgar Meyer, bass
• May 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. - Spamalot, a Broadway musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail

    
 The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify - listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance, classics, center stage, family or special events. Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a "subscriber" discount. "Friends" members receive an additional 5 percent discount. New subscriptions of five or more shows go on sale April 26 and single tickets on June 1. Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit www.jccc.edu/TheSeries for detailed artist information.