The Lied Center for Performing Arts will kick off its 2015-16 schedule Sept. 24-25 with one of the most enduring Broadway shows of all-time, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
The season is also set to feature legendary crooner Tony Bennett, a six-show run of the Tony-winning musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and the Russian National Orchestra with superstar pianist Yuja Wang.
Part of the Glenn Korff Broadway Series, "Joseph" will be followed by some of Broadway's biggest titles including "A Gentleman's Guide" (Oct. 29-Nov. 1) "Flashdance the Musical" (Feb. 19 and 20) "Riverdance" (March 15-17) and "Annie" (April 21 and 22).
"Thanks to the Glenn Korff Endowment, we are able to attract higher-profile shows than we've had in the past," said Bill Stephan, executive director of the Lied. "The Lied Center has been building up to this point. The two sold-out extended runs of Blue Man Group in 2011 and 2013 illustrated the high demand for top-quality, Broadway-style entertainment in Lincoln as well as the popularity of brand new titles like 'In the Heights' and 'Spring Awakening,' both recent Tony Award-winning best musicals.”
Following the success of the 25th anniversary season, the Lied Center will present bluegrass group Punch Brothers on Sept. 29 and 18-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett on Oct. 2. The Fab Four, a tribute to The Beatles, returns on Oct. 9 as well as Take 6 with a new holiday concert on Dec. 11. One of country music's greatest living legends, Merle Haggard, will make his Lied Center debut Nov. 10, the Texas Tenors will play Jan. 21 and Dennis DeYoung -- the voice of Styx -- will perform March 4.
On Feb. 27, the Russian National Orchestra will return for the first time since 2001 to perform with Wang. The all-Russian program will be highlighted by Stravinsky's masterpiece "The Firebird."
"After sold-out performances by the Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, we are thrilled to continue the tradition of bringing the finest orchestras in the world to the Lied Center," said Ann Chang, artistic director.
The Lied Center's classical music programming begins with the Shanghai Quartet, known for its passionate performances of both Eastern and Western music. On Nov. 3, men's vocal ensemble Cantus will perform a program of both traditional and contemporary selections. The Piano Series returns for a third year with leading concert pianists Stephen Hough and Garrick Ohlsson.
The jazz and world music lineup is highlighted by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra featuring singer Dee Dee Bridgewater and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield on March 11. The Lied Center will present "A Romantic Evening with Jackie Allen" at the Rococo Theatre on Feb. 13. The Pablo Ziegler Quartet for New Tango, famous for pioneering the Argentine New Tango movement, performs on March 31 and Broadway hit "FELA!" comes to the Lied stage April 8. Doc Severinsen, longtime bandleader for "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, will perform at the Lied for the fourth time on April 16, this time with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra.
On Feb. 5, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo returns to the Lied Center blending incredible technique, impeccable comic timing and the astounding fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe. The Lied Center's spring dance program will include performances by Parsons Dance on April 2 and the Moscow Festival Ballet's renditions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Carmen Suite" on April 19. On Dec. 2, Netherlands-based dancer and choreographer Erik Kaiel will captivate audiences with an intimate performance in the Johnny Carson Theater.
Dr. Seuss's beloved "Cat in the Hat" will bring all sorts of trouble to the Lied Center on Feb. 12-13, and on April 14, one of PBS Kids' biggest celebrities, Daniel Tiger, will perform in a new live production filled with singing, dancing and laughter.
One of the Lied's most extensive theater schedules in years will include L.A. Theatre Works' adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" on Oct. 23. As part of the Grow A Show program, the Lied Center will present two new productions, "The Things They Carried" and "Puddin' and the Grumble." Based on the best-selling novel, "The Things They Carried" chronicles author Tim O'Brien's journey to the jungles of Vietnam in a one-man production to be performed in the Johnny Carson Theater. "Puddin' and The Grumble" is an uplifting family musical that explores overcoming the challenge of childhood hunger. The theater program will conclude with a performance of "The Exonerated" by the Actors' Gang, under the direction of Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins, capturing the real-life experiences of six wrongfully convicted death row inmates.
The Lied Center closes the 2015-16 season with Ryan Stiles and some of improv comedy's biggest superstars in "Whose Live Anyway?" on April 29.
Season tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 12. Tickets to all Lied Center events will be available for reservation as part of a 2015-16 season ticket package. If the performances are not sold out through season ticket orders, remaining tickets will be available for single-ticket purchase starting Aug. 11.
A season ticket package is an order of four or more events. Members of the general public will receive a 10 percent discount for season ticket orders including four to seven events. Orders of eight or more events will receive a 20 percent discount. UNL students can place season ticket orders for three to five events at a 10 percent discount or six or more events at a 20 percent discount (in addition to the 50 percent discount all current UNL students receive on Lied Center tickets).
Season ticket seating assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Donations to the Friends of Lied organization can provide advanced processing of season-ticket orders or preferred seating. A $250 donation earns advanced processing of season orders while gifts of more than $1,000 earn preferred seating. Visit the Friends of Lied website at http://www.liedcenter.org/friends-lied for details.
For more information on the schedule, call the Lied Center ticket office at 402-472-4747 or 800-432-3231 or visit http://www.liedcenter.org.