What’s Next?

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Looking forward to the 2015-16 performing arts season in central Ohio

As fall draws nearer, anticipation is always high for the beginning of the forthcoming performing arts season.

We took a look at some of the shows on the 2015-16 calendar to see which ones will be standouts in an impressive line-up.

PromoWest Productions presents Twenty One Pilots

Sept. 18

Schottenstein Center

Among the big-name alternative music acts to play Columbus this fall is Twenty One Pilots, the two-man indie pop band that hails from central Ohio. The band is playing in support of its 2015 album Blurryface, from which “Fairly Local,” “Tear in My Heart” and “Stressed Out” have hit radio. Other alternative acts in September include Death Cab for Cutie Sept. 19 and Of Monsters and Men Sept. 28, both presented by CD102.5 at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

Broadway Across America presents Kinky Boots

Oct. 6-11

Ohio Theatre

Not only does Kinky Boots have star power – actor Harvey Fierstein wrote the book, and pop singer Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time”) wrote the music – it also has six Tony Awards to its name, including Best Musical. The musical is the story of a struggling shoe factory owner who revitalizes his business when he partners with a drag queen to design sturdy high-heeled boots for her colleagues. “At the beginning, they think they’re totally different, and then they realize they have more in common than they ever thought they would,” says Lisa Minken, marketing manager for CAPA, which oversees Broadway in Columbus.

Shadowbox Live presents Tenshu Monogatari

Oct. 7-25

Shadowbox Live

Kabuki theater loaded with Asian influences, from anime styling to martial arts battles, is the newest endeavor on the part of Shadowbox Live. To tell the story – a Japanese folk tale that revolves around groups of samurai and a castle haunted by female ghosts – Shadowbox will transform its theater, including rice-paper screens with puppet windows, balconies for the musicians and a traditional hanamichi stage ramp for entrances and exits. “It’ll be larger than life. It’ll have lots of extraordinary action, and it’ll have lots of very modern music,” says Shadowbox Executive Producer and CEO Stev Guyer.

CATCO presents The Elephant Man

Oct. 21-Nov. 8

Studio Two Theatre, Riffe Center

Before it was a movie starring John Hurt in extensive make-up, the story of John Merrick was a play that takes a different approach in its message about judging others based on their appearance. Instead of heavy make-up, Merrick’s deformities are conveyed through his movement, and everything is tied together by the music played by a single cellist. “The production is much more about the theatricality of the story and being able to imagine the human condition of this person,” says CATCO Producing Director Steven Anderson.

CAPA presents The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes

Oct. 25

Palace Theatre

A screening of the hugely popular 1987 film The Princess Bride precedes a Q&A with star Cary Elwes. Even the biggest fan of the movie will have the opportunity to learn more than he or she ever dreamed of knowing about it and how it maintains its enormous following almost 30 years after its release. “If you’re a fan of the film, this is huge. … Cary’s got some great insight,” says Rich Corsi, director of programming for CAPA.

Funny Bone presents Stephen Rannazzisi

Nov. 5-7

Columbus Funny Bone

Stephen Rannazzisi, known to fans of FXX’s The League as Kevin MacArthur, will bring his comedy – “He’s a storyteller; basically life experiences,” says General Manager Dave Stroupe – to the Funny Bone this fall. Visitors will have the opportunity to see Rannazzisi in the club’s new showroom, which opened in June and is far larger than its predecessor, offering a new balcony and a much bigger bar in the lobby. Another highlight of the fall season is Charlie Murphy, brother of Eddie Murphy and another storyteller known for his appearances on Chappelle’s Show relating his experiences with Rick James and Prince.

Wexner Center presents Kneebody + Daedelus

Nov. 6

Wexner Center for the Arts

Jazz is a bigger part of the Wexner Center’s programming this year than usual, and this show will be among the more innovative shows on the line-up, combining the jazz music of Kneebody with the electronic sound of Daedelus. A similar show in October 2013 – Mehliana, a collaboration between Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana – drew significant interest, so when center Director of Performing Arts Chuck Helm saw Kneebody + Daedelus perform in New York, he knew the sound would appeal to fans of jazz and electronic music. “It’s almost like a live remix,” Helm says.

McConnell Center presents Hard Day’s Night

Nov. 12

McConnell Arts Center

There are plenty of Beatles tribute bands out there, but Hard Day’s Night goes well beyond the stereotypical route of playing the Fab Four’s songs while wearing the types of clothes the band donned over the years. The quartet has played the McConnell once before, last year, and the show sold out well in advance, with many of those who failed to buy tickets hanging out in the lobby to listen. “One of the things that makes them stand out (is) these guys are really genuine and authentic in the way they play their music,” says McConnell Executive Director Jon Cook.

ProMusica presents Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Dec. 12-13

Worthington United Methodist Church, Southern Theatre

December is often a time for familiar music, and that’s what ProMusica intends to offer with its performance of Vivaldi’s renowned Four Seasons, complete with the sonnets originally written to accompany the music. “We are mindful of being able to offer some favorites or pieces that are familiar, because it is that time of year when families want to go to things together,” says ProMusica Executive Director Janet Chen. Vadim Gluzman, principal guest artist for ProMusica, will pull double duty, playing first violin and also serving as a soloist – all under the pressure of performing without a conductor and thus having to take a larger leadership role.

Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents The Spy Who Loved Me

Jan. 16

Ohio Theatre

The music of spy films – including the James Bond, Mission: Impossible, Get Smart and Austin Powers franchises – comes alive in this new show for the symphony’s pops series. To top it off, the show will feature as guest vocalist 1980s pop star Sheena Easton (“Strut,” “Modern Girls,” “9 to 5”), who sang the eponymous theme song for 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only. “We’ve been trying to get very creative with symphony shows. … The opportunity to play this with the Columbus Symphony is just an awesome opportunity,” says Corsi of CAPA, which oversees the symphony.

Columbus Jazz Orchestra presents Sammy, Dean, & a Little Bit of Frank

Feb. 4-8

Southern Theatre

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s 100 Years of Frank Sinatra in February broke ticket sales records, so it made sense to bring back the Rat Pack sound, featuring vocalist John Fredo doing the Sinatra and Dean Martin parts, and tap dancer Ted Louis Levy to channel the spirit of Sammy Davis Jr. “When you saw the Rat Pack, you really felt that life was a party, and I think that’s how we all want to live, secretly. … We’re not going to do impressions, we just want to catch the spirit,” says orchestra Artistic Director Byron Stripling. Also on the orchestra’s calendar is Redefining Tradition: Ellington, Basie, and Beyond, which will be simulcast and feature the world premiere of a tribute to frequent CJO guest Clark Terry.

BalletMet presents Carmen.maquia

Feb. 5-14

Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center

Carmen is best known as an opera, but this modernized ballet version by Gustavo Ramirez Sarsano will captivate audiences with a unique, minimal approach to movement, says BalletMet Artistic Director Edwaard Liang. Liang has wanted to bring Sarsano’s work to Columbus since he began negotiations for the artistic director position almost three years ago, and has seen Carmen.maquia performed in Chicago, so he knew it was a good show to introduce Sarsano. “I’m really excited to show a different perspective and such a modern take on Carmen. I think it’s going to be riveting,” Liang says.

New Albany Symphony Orchestra presents Peter and the Wolf

Feb. 7

Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts

Children are the clear target of this show, which also includes a performance of Ferdinand the Bull. It will feature Columbus Dance Theatre dancers and narration by NBC-4’s Jym Ganahl, and on the day prior to the main performance, the orchestra will put on a sensory-friendly show for children who cannot sit still through an entire orchestral performance. “I think adding a visual element – especially for the kids, and even for the adults – keeps their attention. It’s always nice to see and hear,” says orchestra Executive Director Heather Garner.

Opera Columbus presents La Bohème

March 2-6

Southern Theatre

While Johnathan Larson’s Rent took La Bohème and turned the setting into New York at the center of America’s HIV/AIDS crisis, this production of the Paris-set opera classic moves the story to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. Director Stephanie Hevey took risks by moving the setting and casting younger talents, but they’ll pay off in a great sound and story, says Opera Columbus Artistic Director Peggy Kriha Dye, who made her opera debut in La Bohème years ago. “It’s obviously relevant to today, but the setting our director is putting it in makes everybody understand this is a completely universal story,” says Dye.

McCoy Center presents ABBA the Concert

May 15

Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts

The McCoy Center worked with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra for last year’s Mary Chapin Carpenter show, and will collaborate with the orchestra again for this concert featuring one of the world’s top ABBA tribute groups. ABBA the Concert has played with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra before, but that show was at the Ohio Theatre, and the McCoy Center offers a wholly different musical experience. “They’ll do all the major hits from ABBA, which is a ton,” says Corsi of CAPA, which also oversees operations for the McCoy.

Garth Bishop is managing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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