The 2009-10 season marks CAPA's 40th anniversary. Founded in 1969 to save the demolition-bound Ohio Theatre, CAPA established a mission to bring the best performing artists from all over the world to Columbus, and the upcoming 40th anniversary season continues to fulfill that mission.
Highlights include the return of 84-year-old blues legend B.B. King and American humorist David Sedaris. Legendary Brazilian band Os Mutantes will make a tour stop at the Capitol Theatre in support of its first album in 35 years, and world-renowned dance company Diavolo will perform their surreal, dramatic works on the stage of the Palace Theatre.
Tickets for most shows on the CAPA 2009-10 season go on sale to the general public Sept. 14 (unless otherwise noted) at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office, 39 E. State St., all Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, BB King, Os Mutantes, and David Sedaris are on sale now. The season line-up is listed as follows:
Carolina Chocolate Drops, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long
The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band of three young and talented musicians, are recognized as leading the revival of traditional string band music. Under the tutelage of Joe Thompson, this trio of Durham-based youngsters strive to carry on this long-standing musical genre from the foothills of North and South Carolina. With Justin Robinson on fiddle, Rhiannon Giddens on banjo and fiddle, and Dom Flemmons on guitar, jug, and harmonica, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are a taste of an old-time art based in the heritage of the antebellum South. Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
B.B. King, Oct. 8, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
For more than half a century, B.B. King has defined the blues for a worldwide audience with hits like The Thrill is Gone, Ridin’ with the King with Eric Clapton and When Love Comes to Town with U2. He developed and perfected his signature style on his trademark guitar “Lucille,” earning him a spot in both the Blues Foundation and the Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Special guest will be Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real.
Os Mutantes, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 77 S. High St.
Os Mutantes records have been passed from musician to musician over the years, altering the contemporary musical landscape. As a result, their cut-and-paste, sonic collage approach is an aesthetic now prevalent in modern music. Formed in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1966, Os Mutantes blended English rock with American psychedelic and traditional Brazilian music to create an entirely new sound reflective of the turbulent times. After disbanding in the early ‘70s, Os Mutantes reunited in 2006 and are now touring to promote the Sept. 8 release of Haih, its first album in 35 years.
David Sedaris, Oct. 17, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. Author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, each of which became a bestseller, Sedaris has been nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album.
Yasmin Levy, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
In her deep, spiritual, and moving style of singing, Yasmin Levy preserves and revives the most beautiful songs from her Ladino/Judeo-Spanish heritage. Yasmin has incorporated the more "modern" sounds of Andalusian Flamenco and Turkey into medieval Ladino/Judeo-Spanish songs, as well as combined instruments such as the darbuka, oud, violin, cello and piano.
Shelley Garrett’s Beauty Shop 2009, Nov. 15, 3 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
America’s most successful African-American, musical play is all new for 2009 as the curling irons get hotter, the gossip gets juicer, and the backstabbing goes deeper in Beauty Shop.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 28, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 29, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
A Columbus tradition for more than 30 years, the Nebraska Theatre Caravan returns with the national touring production of A Christmas Carol. Capturing every detail of the Dickens classic, from the spine-chilling ghosts and gorgeous renditions of traditional British carols to crotchety Scrooge and lovable Tiny Tim, Columbus audiences have come to love Charles Dickens’ enchanting story and this treasured holiday event.
Dave Koz and Friends, "A Smooth Jazz Christmas 2009," Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
The 2009 tour features a special reunion of the original lineup. Rick Braun, David Benoit, Peter White, and Brenda Russell will be joining multi-Grammy nominee and saxophonist Dave Koz on the road this holiday season.
Skaggs Family Christmas featuring Ricky Skaggs and The Whites, Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
Virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs, celebrated musical clan The Whites, and their families perform Christmas classics and brand new holiday gems.
Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, Feb. 13, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Composed of five young and fiercely talented musicians — Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Paul Kowert (bass) — the band has captured the attention of music lovers across genres. Formed in 2006, the group’s first album, How to Grow a Woman from the Ground, received a Grammy Award nomination, and 2007’s Punch — which features Thile’s ambitious four-movement chamber suite, The Blind Leaving the Blind — also received critical acclaim.
The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., Feb. 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
A groundbreaking opera by George and Ira Gershwin, this national tour of Porgy and Bess weaves a tale of prejudice, love and tragedy. Incorporating a wealth of blues and jazz into the classical art of opera, Gershwin considered Porgy and Bess his finest work with songs such as Summertime and It Ain’t Necessarily So. Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
Peking Acrobats, Feb. 23, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
The Peking Acrobats, a troupe of China's most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists and gymnasts, bring their 2,000-year-old tradition of acrobatics to Columbus. Complemented by live musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments, a Peking Acrobats performance offers the opportunity to view an ancient folk art tradition.
Ailey II, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 77 S. High St.
Ailey II’s exceptional modern ballet dance company merges the spirit and energy of the country’s best young talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding choreographers. Ailey II will perform an exhilarating and diverse repertoire that includes Alvin Ailey’s timeless classics as well as new works by both dance veterans and celebrated emerging choreographers. Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
The Second City’s 50th Anniversary Tour, March 5, 8 p.m., Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
Celebrating an anniversary of epic comedy proportions, The Second City is taking the party on the road with a very special 50th anniversary comedy tour. In this hilarious history lesson, they take you through what the world has been laughing about for half a century with material from the very best comic minds of our generation — Alan Arkin, Robert Klein, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and more. With a look at the individual events in each decade that shaped our national conversation, The Second City's 50th anniversary show is a comedy timeline through every scandal, war and dalliance that made headlines and fodder for the comic geniuses of The Second City.
A Song for Coretta, (By Pearl Cleage, directed by Lesley Ferris), March 5, 7:30 p.m., March 6, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., March 7, 3 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Co-presented with The Ohio State University Department of Theatre and inspired by the long line of mourners at Ebenezer Baptist Church paying their respects to Mrs. Coretta Scott King, this play introduces five fictional African-American women, aged 17 to 57, who find laughter and hope while waiting in the rain to say goodbye.Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
Simply Sinatra, March 12, 8 p.m., Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
Steve Lippia pulls his audience back in time with a remarkable combination of his own musical interpretation and the influence of the greatest singers of an incredible era in American music. In Simply Sinatra, he delivers standards permanently engraved in music history including I’ve Got You Under My Skin, The Lady is a Tramp, Mack the Knife, Just the Way You Are and That’s Life.
A Special Family Show with They Might Be Giants, March 14, 3 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 77 S. High St.
Brooklyn’s legendary alternative rockers They Might Be Giants are now recognized among the foremost creators of cool kids’ albums. The band’s most recent disc, Here Come the 123s, won them the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Children's Album. The show will feature hits from previous kids’ albums, as well as music from the new album, Here Comes Science, released Sept. 1.
Altan, March 14, 7 p.m., Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
With their exquisitely produced, award-winning recordings and heartwarming, dynamic live performances, Altan has captivated audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle. Altan has always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense and its growing influence and popularity have proved them right.
Diavolo, March 19, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
Diavolo company members are dancers, gymnasts, actors and athletes. Under the guidance of artistic director and founder Jacques Heim, they have collaboratively developed works on oversized, surrealistic sets and structures. Everyday items such as doors, chairs, and stairways provide the backdrop for dramatic movement — leaping, flying, twirling — to create metaphors for the challenge of relationships, the absurdities of life, and the struggle to maintain our humanity in the shadow of a technological world.
Eddie Palmieri, March 20, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Nine-time Grammy winner Eddie Palmieri is widely regarded as an explosive keyboardist. His gift for broken meters and chromatic passages led critics to dub him "The Latin [Thelonius] Monk." Since the 1960s, he has refreshed Latin dance music by introducing rock licks, urban poetry and elements of tango, cumbia, waltz and the folkloric musics of his beloved Puerto Rico. Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
Playhouse Disney Live! March 27, 3:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
Celebrate with your Playhouse Disney pals when Playhouse Disney Live! comes to town. In this brand new live show, you're invited to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as Mickey plans a spectacular music party for all his friends. The Little Einsteins set off on a musical mission around the world to find a song for the party - with the help of Rocket, Pooh, Tigger and Darby.
DanceBrazil. April 13, 8 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
For more than 30 years, DanceBrazil has thrilled audiences throughout the world with its dazzling artistry inspired by the cultural tapestry of Brazil. Whether in the streets or on stage in the most prestigious theaters, the dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil blend their unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement, contemporary dance and Capoeira, the traditional dance/martial arts form that had its origins in Africa and evolved in colonial Brazil as a means of fighting enslavement.
The 5 Browns, April 15, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — are delivering on their dream to wake up classical music by introducing it into the lives of people everywhere. Whether performing a duo or complex five-piano arrangement, the 5 Browns are a singular quintet of world-class concert pianists, performing on five pianos and various ensemble combinations.
Yellowjackets, April 28, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
A performance by the Yellowjackets — purveyors of eclectic jazz for nearly three decades — is an experience that has as much to do with sight as it does sound. Any given performance by this seasoned quartet brings with it a degree of spontaneity.
Poncho Sanchez, May 2, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Poncho Sanchez learned from the masters. As a youngster, he played alongside Cal Tjader, Claire Fisher, and Mongo Santamaria. Now as a bandleader for almost two decades, he has preserved a bedrock style of Afro-Cuban Latin jazz pioneered half a century ago by his heroes, while infusing it with his own fresh interpretations. Presented in association with The King Arts Complex.
Pilobolus, May 6, 8 p.m., Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
The gravity-defying, visually astounding choreography of the modern dance company Pilobolus has captivated audiences around the globe for nearly four decades with their bizarre creative collaboration which applies no boundaries to the human form. Featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Late Show with Conan O’Brien, and the 2007 Annual Academy Awards, the company blurs the line between dance and acrobatics.
The Four Bitchin’ Babes present Diva Nation … Where Music, Laughter, and Girlfriends Reign! May 23, 7:30 p.m., Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
Featuring Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Nancy Moran and Deirdre Flint and their whimsical, hip, and sophisticated girl-group harmonies, these multi-talented musicians let loose on how the new millennium has, in some cases literally, changed the face of "The Diva."
For more information on any of these productions, visit www.capa.com.