This fall promises to be one of the busiest entertainment seasons Columbus has seen in a long time. From opera to P-Funk, ballet to musicals, the Star of the State is living up to its name.

The hit production of Broadway Divas kicks off the season for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Sept.14-15 at the Ohio Theater. A trio of electrifying singers – Debbie Gravitte, Jan Horvath and Anne Runolfsson – will perform beloved tunes from Sweet Charity, Wicked, Cats, Westside Story and more.

Just a few blocks away but light years in difference, you’ll find George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic making “one nation under a groove” Sept. 15 at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. According to TicketSolutions.com, alongside James Brown, George Clinton is said to be one of the most sampled musicians ever.

Few crooners sing the American Songbook as effortlessly as Tony Bennett. At the grand and noble age of 81, this icon from the era of great nightclub singers continues to thrill his audiences of loyal followers and new converts. You can catch him Sept. 18 at the Ohio Theater… if you can still find a ticket.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s fall line-up kicks off with the Great American Songbook Series’ Big Band Meets Broadway, starring Vocal Impact, on Sept. 21 and 22 at the Southern Theatre. Don’t forget to check out the Swingin’ at the Southern Series, starting with Jazz Plays Art: A Fusion of Sight and Sound,” Oct. 24-28 at the Southern Theatre.

Reunion tours are always fun. Genesis fans will have plenty of it when the Turn It On Again 2007 Reunion Tour rolls into Nationwide Arena Sept. 22. The legendary rock band, fronted by lead singer Phil Collins, has been playing to sold-out audiences across Europe. The band’s spectacular stage set broke a world record for lite-panels, control boxes and high-resolution video screens.

A home-grown musical star presents her hit Gospel Stage Production Go Get Your Life Back Sept. 22 at the Capitol Theater in the Riffe Center. Promoters call Alisa Anderson’s play a production everyone can find something about themselves in. It’s the story of how two young women navigate the troubled waters of sexual abuse, infidelity, self-doubt, self-worth and spiritual renewal.

If comedy has a spiritual side, Late Nite Catechism, may take you to heavenly places through its irreverently funny look at how nuns used to run Catholic school. It’s complete with everything from glow-in-the-dark rosaries to prizes for audience members who come up with right answers. It runs Sept. 26 through Nov. 18 at the Riffe Center’s Studio 2 Theater.

Opera Columbus has a couple of offerings you won’t want to miss, including the durable four-act opera, La Boheme, Oct. 5-7 and The Secret Garden, Nov. 15-18 at the Ohio Theater.

BalletMet’s sprinting toward its 30th Anniversary with Sports Spectacular. The Capitol Theater production weaves competitive sports with professional dance Oct.11-14 at the Riffe Center. The dance troupe will follow it up with Dracula Oct. 17-21. Expect to be smitten and bitten by the lively production inspired by the Bram Stoker novel.

Broadway Across America – Columbus lights up its season with Disney’s High School Musical, Oct. 23-28 at the Palace Theatre, and follows it up with an impressive ticket, including Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Wedding Singer, Avenue Q and Disney’s The Lion King.

Columbus’ 2007-08 entertainment season starts out strong and never loses momentum. Check it out, and enjoy.

Watch Jerry Revish on the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. editions of WBNS-10TV Eyewitness News.