New Gogue Performing Arts Center announces star-studded inaugural season

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The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University announced the full schedule of dates and performances for its 2019–20 inaugural season on March 6.

As unveiled by Christopher Heacox, executive director, the Gogue Center will present an eclectic mix of 27 headlining acts during its premier season. Performances span nine genre-specific series, including Americana Roots, Broadway, Celebrity Concerts, Chamber Arts, Dance, Family, Global Stage, Jazz and Vocal Songbook.

Season highlights include performances by surf-rock legends The Beach Boys; the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; star of stage and screen Sutton Foster; banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck and the original Flecktones lineup; soprano Renée Fleming; acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown and Dancers; and hit Broadway musicals “RENT: 20th Anniversary Tour” and “Waitress.”

“We’re thrilled to present such a diverse and dynamic inaugural season,” Heacox said. “We’ve put a great deal of thought into our lineup and have selected acts from around the world that will inspire, engage and entertain audiences.”

In addition to presenting high-caliber entertainment, the Gogue Center—Alabama’s first land-grant university performing arts center—will elevate and transform the cultural landscape of the university and region through education and community engagement.

“Several of our inaugural season artists will present school show performances for Auburn area students as part of our K-12 education program,” said Heacox. “These performances are opportunities for thousands of schoolchildren to gain exposure to American music, circus arts, dance and more.” Many visiting artists will also interact directly with Auburn University students and faculty through artist talks, master classes and lecture demonstrations.

Starting off the festivities for its historic first year, the Gogue Center will host a four-day Grand Opening Festival, Thursday, Aug. 22–Sunday, Aug. 25. A different musical act is planned for each day of the festival. Scheduled performances and events include a free Auburn University student concert on Thursday; a Grammy Award-winning artist (to be announced April 22) in concert on Friday; a black-tie Grand Opening Fête featuring performances by bel canto tenor Santiago Ballerini and Michael Feinstein and Friends on Saturday; and a “Campus and Community Day” with local and regional performers on Sunday.

Heacox also announced that season and series subscriptions for the inaugural season are now available to all Gogue Center sponsors and donors.

“Subscriptions are really the best way to guarantee a seat at a performance—and they provide the best value in terms of ticket price,” said Heacox.

Season subscriptions include tickets to all 27 season performances and offer patrons a savings of 25 percent off regular ticket prices. Series subscription packages include tickets to three shows per series and are priced at a discount of up to 20 percent off regular ticket prices.

Subscriber access to seat selection for individual performances will be prioritized based on cumulative giving to the Gogue Center and will begin March 12 and continue through May 14.

Sponsorship opportunities for the season are still available. Those who would like to become a season sponsor and gain priority access to subscriptions and seat selection should contact Leah O’Gwynn, director of development, at 334-844-1287 or leah.ogwynn@auburn.edu.

Additional subscription packages will be made available in the coming months and remaining single tickets will go on sale to the general public Aug. 22.

Dates and performances for the Gogue Center’s 2019-20 inaugural season are as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 25
Renée Fleming (Vocal Songbook)
One of the most celebrated singers of our time, Grammy Award winner Renée Fleming is a world-renowned touring soprano who has performed for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II. She has recorded everything from opera to indie rock, jazz and the soundtrack of “The Lord of the Rings.”

Friday, Sept. 27
An Evening with Sutton Foster (Celebrity Concerts
Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Sutton Foster will perform her tour de force cabaret show “An Evening with Sutton Foster.” A veteran of stage and screen, Foster currently stars as Liza on the critically-acclaimed TV Land series “Younger” and played the role of Michelle Simms on the popular Amy Sherman-Palladino series “Bunheads.”

Sunday, Sept. 29
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (Vocal Songbook)
Taking contemporary popular hits and reframing them in vintage musical genres, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox’s live show is full of dancing, pageantry and can include anything from a 1920s brass band cover of Aerosmith to a hot jazz reworking of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” to a 50s-style interpretation of the 1980s Toto hit “Africa.”

Thursday, Oct. 3
DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion (Dance)
The dancers of DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion combine elements of contemporary dance with martial arts, acrobatics, gymnastics and hip-hop while interacting with the elaborate, unique set pieces designed by creative director Jacques Heim. The Los Angeles-based company has performed in 250 cities worldwide and was a finalist on the 2017 season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” They will present two works, “Trajectoire” and “L’Espace.”

Saturday, Oct. 12
Larry, Steve and Rudy — The Gatlin Brothers (Celebrity Concerts)
For over six decades, the Grammy Award-winning trio of Larry, Steve and Rudy—The Gatlin Brothers has dazzled audiences everywhere with their gospel harmonies. Among a remarkable total of 33 Top-40 country music hits are classic favorites like “Broken Lady,” “All the Gold in California” and “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You).” The brothers will sing their hits and regale the audience with a lifetime of stories from the road and stage.

Friday, Oct. 18 
Blue Note Records 80th Birthday Celebration. The State of Jazz featuring Kandace Springs, James Carter Organ Trio and James Francies (Jazz)
As jazz’s longest-running and most-respected label, Blue Note Records has elevated everyone from Miles Davis to Herbie Hancock to John Coltrane. In celebration of its 80 years as a force in the industry, the iconic Blue Note has launched a tour featuring the dynamic trio of vocalist Kandace Springs, pianist James Francies and saxophonist James Carter.

Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31
“42ft — A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels” by Cirque Mechanics (Family)
The innovative circus troupe’s latest creation, “42ft — A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels,” takes place inside a 42-foot singlering circus, mesmerizing audiences with wonders like acrobats, strongmen and a galloping metal horse. Cirque Mechanics has been praised in “Spectacle Magazine” as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.”

Friday, Nov. 1
Allman Betts Band (Americana Roots)
The sons of Greg Allman and Dickey Betts have combined their talents to form the Allman Betts Band. For their new world tour, the band will play songs from their solo projects as well as classic Allman Brothers tunes in honor of the Southern Rock supergroup’s 50th anniversary.

Thursday, Nov. 21
Béla Fleck and The Flecktones (Americana Roots)
Innovative bluegrass and jazz quartet Béla Fleck and The Flecktones have reconvened for a long run of live performances in celebration of the band’s 30th anniversary. The supremely talented lineup consists of Fleck on banjo, virtuoso bassist Victor Wooten, Wooten’s brother and percussionist Roy “Futureman” Wooten, and pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy. Their performance at the Gogue Center marks the band’s first appearance in the state of Alabama in more than 10 years.

Tuesday, Dec. 3
Montrose Trio (Chamber Arts)
Praised in the “Washington Post” for its “absolutely top-notch music-making,” the Montrose Trio has rapidly earned a reputation for performances of unmatched distinction. Formed in 2013, this collaboration between pianist Jon Kimura Parker, violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith is considered one of the best piano trios in the world. They will perform works by Dvorák, Schubert and Beethoven.

Wednesday, Dec. 4 and Thursday, Dec. 5
“Escape to Margaritaville” (Broadway)
Featuring the music of Jimmy Buffet and based on a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia and Emmy Award nominee Mike O’Malley, “Escape to Margaritaville” is the ideal musical comedy for every Parrothead.

Tuesday, Dec. 17
VOCES8 (Vocal Songbook)
The spellbinding “a cappella” talents of preeminent British vocal ensemble VOCES8 span everything from early English choral works to modern jazz and pop. The internationally renowned octet has performed throughout the U.K. and Europe, Asia, and across the U.S. VOCES8 will present the Gogue Center’s first-ever Holiday Show.

Friday, Jan. 17
“Dino-Light” by Lightwire Theater (Family)
A menagerie of neon-lit creatures moves around a completely darkened stage, choreographed to exhilarating music and including the occasional neon sword fight—this is “Dino-Light” by Lightwire Theater. The New Orleans-based group uniquely blends dance with innovative costume design. They won truTV’s “Fake Off” and were a semi-finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

Friday, Jan. 31
Dorrance Dance (Dance)
Founded in 2011 by artistic director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, Dorrance Dance is an award-winning, New York City-based tap dance company whose exceptionally talented dancers and musicians deliver innovative, powerful performances at every show. Their performance at the Gogue Center will feature mixed repertoire, including the new work “Myelination.”

Thursday, Feb. 13
The Beach Boys (Celebrity Concerts
The legendary surf-rock band has hit the road for a globe-trotting new tour, led by original member Mike Love. In addition to songs from their latest albums, the Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will perform several signature hits, from early rock classics (“Surfin’ Safari,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows”) to chart-toppers from the seventies and eighties (“Kokomo”). This will be the Beach Boys’ first appearance in Auburn in almost 45 years.

Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19
“RENT: 20th Anniversary Tour” (Broadway)
“RENT” premiered in 1996 to rave reviews and became the hit Broadway musical of the year. Now, over two decades later, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning masterpiece returns to the stage for a vibrant 20th-anniversary touring production that continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations.

Friday, Feb. 21
Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience
(Global Stage)
A signature blend of American roots music, New Orleans funk, reggae, world and blues, Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience is a massively entertaining live show that incorporates all that is great about Louisiana’s diverse musical heritage. The two-time Grammy Award-winning Simien is one of the most accomplished artists in American roots music today and his music can be heard on movie soundtracks including “The Princess and the Frog,” “The Big Easy” and “Murder of Crows.”

Tuesday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 26
“Waitress” (Broadway)
A hit Broadway musical based on the beloved 2007 film starring Keri Russell, “Waitress” tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, an expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town. Brought to life by a groundbreaking, all-female creative team, the Tony Award-nominated hit features original music and lyrics by seven-time Grammy Award nominee Sara Bareilles.

Sunday, March 1
Pablo Sáinz Villegas: Americano Trio (Global Stage)
Celebrated as the soul of the Spanish guitar, virtuoso Pablo Sáinz Villegas brings passion and emotion to each of his stirring live performances. Appearing as the Pablo Sáinz Villegas: Americano Trio, Villegas will be accompanied by versatile bassist Pedro Giraudo and master percussionist Nacho Arimany, with songs to include anything from bossa nova to the Beatles.

Tuesday, March 3
Matt Haimovitz and Simone Dinnerstein (Chamber Arts)
“The New York Times” has lauded Matt Haimovitz as a “ferociously talented cellist [of] uncommon, expressive gifts,” and the “Independent” praises pianist Simone Dinnerstein for the “majestic originality of vision” in her artistic approach. These two acclaimed classical solo artists will perform as a duet on a dynamic program that includes a Beethoven cello sonata alongside a Philip Glass partita, and solo piano and cello repertoires by both composers.

Friday, March 20
Sierra Hull Band (Americana Roots)
A mandolin prodigy, Sierra Hull had already signed to a record label by age 13 and released her debut “Secrets” three years later. The bluegrass virtuoso’s latest album, 2016’s “Weighted Mind,” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album and was produced by banjo master Béla Fleck, who said of Hull: “She plays the mandolin with a degree of refined elegance and freedom that few have achieved.”

Tuesday, March 24
Dover Quartet and Bridget Kibbey (Chamber Arts)
Cherished harpist Bridget Kibbey and the world-renowned Dover Quartet unite for the first time in a celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach. Kibbey is an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician who has toured with Dawn Upshaw and Placido Domingo. The Dover Quartet is one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world, performing more than 100 engagements each year. Together, they will inspire audiences with a rousing selection of some of Bach’s greatest works.

Thursday, March 26
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Jazz)
Wynton Marsalis leads 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today as they perform a vast repertoire ranging from original compositions to masterworks by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus and many others.

Tuesday, April 7
Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martinez Duo (Jazz)
This Cuban jazz supergroup is the combination of classical piano prodigy Alfredo Rodríguez and ingenious percussionist Pedrito Martinez. Their first collaborative album, “Duologue,” was released in February 2019 and produced by the legendary Quincy Jones who discovered Martinez at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival. The duo will perform a beautiful fusion of jazz, Cuban music and American popular music with Afro-Cuban drumming that will leave audiences’ hearts soaring.

Saturday, April 18
Camille A. Brown and Dancers (Dance)
Founded in 2006, Camille A. Brown and Dancers is a Bessie Award-winning, New York City-based dance company whose high theatricality, gutsy moves and virtuosic musicality connect timeless stories and history with contemporary culture through innovative social dance. Camille A. Brown is an acclaimed, multi-award-winning choreographer notable for her work on the recent NBC production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and the 2018 Tony Award-winning “Once on This Island,” among many others.

Tuesday, April 21
Zakir Hussain and Friends featuring Kala Ramnath and Jayanthi Kumaresh (Global Stage)
Zakir Hussain is appreciated as an international phenomenon and a classical tabla virtuoso. His many historic collaborations span decades and include John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, Mickey Hart, George Harrison and Yo-Yo Ma. For his performance at the Gogue Center, Hussain will appear with Indian classical violinist Kala Ramnath and veena (lute) artist Jayanthi Kumaresh.

Friday, May 8
“Air Play” by Acrobuffos (Family)
Since 2005, Acrobuffos have been redefining traditional circus performance to the delight of all ages. Their latest production, “Air Play,” is a comedic physical theater adventure of two siblings journeying through a surreal world, turning everyday objects like fabrics, balloons and confetti into scenes of uncommon beauty and wonder.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.