Lied Center for Performing Arts announces 2008-09 season

The Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska's "Home for the Arts," invites you to discover the many surprises of its 19th season. Featuring more than 30 distinctive performing artists, the 2008-09 season offers a variety of entertainment from demon barbers to political humor to illusionists.

For those who enjoy a stage spectacle, these Broadway musicals will make their Lied Center debuts: the devilishly delicious "Sweeney Todd" brings it's razor-sharp wit and amazing score by Stephen Sondheim to kick off the season in September; in January, it's a musical of an entirely different style with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar"; after a successful New York revival, "The Pajama Game" is hitting the road and will stop at the Lied Center in February; then, it's great news for fans of "American Idol" as Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis star in a new tour of "Ain't Misbehavin'."

And the spectacle doesn't end there. The Lied Center is also excited to present an array of popular entertainment designed to knock your socks off. Part Riverdance, part STOMP and part rock show, "Revolution" is like nothing you've seen before. Just in time for the November elections, "The Capitol Steps" return to the Lied with their brand of political humor where no candidate or party is safe. If you're a fan of "Dancing with the Stars," the "Champions of the Dance" tour brings professionals from the hit show for a demonstration of ballroom dance at its sexy best. For those who want to capture a little magic from the past, Frankie Avalon will make his Lied Center debut in November. And speaking of magic, The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion will wow audiences with feats such as walking through a spinning fan. If you're a fan of The Beatles, don't miss "RAIN: The Beatles Experience" in March. This music extravaganza traces the career of the Fab Four through all their career highlights including the "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance and Abbey Road.

If you're into challenging live dramatic theatre, Montana Repertory Theatre will bring "To Kill a Mockingbird" to the Lied in February. Playwright Christopher Cartmill will premiere his play, "Homeland," inspired by the historical trial of Chief Standing Bear and commissioned by the Lied Center.

For those seeking a soul-stirring musical experience, the 2008-09 season offers something for every taste from the big band sounds of the Glenn Miller Orchestra to a knock-out jazz line-up in the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour to the inspirational harmonies of the Soweto Gospel Choir. If chamber music is more to your taste, the Perlman/Schmidt/Bailey Trio will grace the Lied in October and the popular Chiara String Quartet will return in January. If Irish/Celtic music is your passion, the Lied Center has two special events for you. In December, musician/storyteller Tomaseen Foley will bring "A Celtic Christmas" to Lincoln with a host of musicians and dancers. In March, just in time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra will depart from its traditional classical fare to present "An Irish Spectacular," a tribute to traditional Irish tunes and will be joined by guest musicians and vocalists.

Whether you're an aficionado of modern dance or new to the genre, you won't want to miss the performance by the Merce Cunningham Dance Co. in March. Cunningham was one of the original forces in the contemporary dance movement and the Lied Center is proud to announce that Cunningham himself will be traveling with his company to Lincoln.

The 2008-09 season marks the 12th year of the popular Family Series, which offers family-friendly events with affordable pricing. This season's family events are: Michael Cooper (November); "The Phantom Tollbooth" (February); and the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Co. (March).

For the entire Lied Center 2008-09 lineup, refer to the Lied Center's Web site, www.liedcenter.org, beginning June 6. Brochures will be available later in June and season ticket orders (four or more events) may be placed at that time. Patrons ordering four to eight events will receive a 10 percent discount on their entire order, while patrons who order tickets to nine or more events receive a 20 percent discount. Individual event tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. Aug. 18. To receive a free Lied Center brochure, call the Lied Center ticket office at (402) 472-4747.

The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported the programs of this organization through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For more information, call the Nebraska Arts Council at (402) 595-2122.

Lied Center programming is supported by the Friends of Lied and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; Heartland Arts Fund, a collaborative venture of and Mid-America Arts Alliance and Arts Midwest; and the Nebraska Arts Council. All events in the Lied Center are made possible entirely or in part by the Lied Performance Fund, established in memory of Ernst F. Lied and his parents, Ernst M. and Ida K. Lied.