Aug 06, 2013

Columbia State Announces 2013-2014 Performance Series Season

Tickets Go On Sale Aug. 20

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Aug. 6, 2013) - - - Columbia State Community College announces its 2013-2014 First Farmers Performance Series season with music, theater and some of the country's best entertainers.

"This year's lineup is exciting and sure to please performing arts lovers," said Janet F. Smith, Ph.D., Columbia State president. "We are also delighted to announce that First Farmers Bank will continue its commitment as the long-standing title sponsor, making possible the on-going success of the Performance Series."

"Ring of Fire-The Music of Johnny Cash" will open the season Sept. 26. Stories of faith, family, passion, redemption and humor set the stage ablaze in this production, which features more than 35 of Cash's hits, including "I Walk the Line," "I've Been Everywhere," "Folsom Prison Blues," "A Boy Named Sue" and "Ring of Fire."

On Nov. 7, one of Nashville's most celebrated female artists joins the series for "An Acoustic Evening with Pam Tillis." With more than seven million albums sold, 14 Top Five songs and six number one hits, there's no denying that Pam Tillis is a formidable force in country music.

Through his remarkable resemblance and his incredible talent to emulate and perform the voice and style, Travis LeDoyt flawlessly captures the essence and portrays a true "Tribute to the King," Dec. 5. Specializing in the 1954-1959 years, LeDoyt performs a spectacular, jaw-dropping tribute to the man that shaped a generation.

Franc D'Ambrosio will perform Feb. 6, "Broadway Songs of the Great White Way." D'Ambrosio studied under Luciano Pavarotti and currently tours throughout the U.S., Europe and South America, sharing his vibrant voice and legato singing with audiences of all ages. He is best known as the "Phantom" in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award winning musical, "The Phantom of the Opera."

On March 13, Dan Akroyd, Judith Belushi and Music Director Paul Shaffer present "The Official Blues BrothersTM Revue." Wayne Catania as Jake and Kieron Lafferty as Elwood strike the right balance of humor, music and mayhem, capturing the spirit of the cultural phenomenon that pays homage to Chicago's rich history of blues, gospel and soul music in the true spirit of the original Blues Brothers.

The Columbia State spring musical will serve as the capstone performance April 24 for this year's Performance Series. Announced in the spring, this theater event is performed by the Columbia State commercial entertainment program. Past shows have included "Once Upon a Mattress," "9 to 5," "Cats," "Grease" and "The Wiz."

Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 20 and are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Season tickets are available for $95. All performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus.

To charge tickets by phone using a major credit card, call (931) 540-2879. Tickets can also be purchased at the Columbia State ticket office in the Pryor Administration building, room 108, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The box office is located in the Hickman building lobby and will open one hour prior to each performance. For more information, visit www.columbiastate.edu/performance-series.

Ring of Fire
Photo Caption: "Ring of Fire-The Music of Johnny Cash"

Pam Tillis
Photo Caption: "An Acoustic Evening with Pam Tillis"

Travis LeDoyt
Photo Caption: "A Tribute to the King"

Franc D’Ambrosio
Photo Caption: "Broadway Songs of the Great White Way"

The Blues Brothers Reveiw promo poster
Photo Caption: Dan Akroyd, Judith Belushi and Music Director Paul Shaffer present "The Official Blues BrothersTM Revue"

Columbia State commercial entertainment program’s spring musical
Photo Caption: Columbia State commercial entertainment program's spring musical

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.