Season tickets are now on sale for the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith鈥檚 two annual
lineups of touring shows and musical performances: the 37th annual Season of Entertainment
and the fifth annual Season at the Blue Lion.
For More information or to reserve tickets for either season, contact the 妻友社区 Box Office at 479-788-7300.
Season of Entertainment
Performances by world-renowned jazz musician Branford Marsalis and best-selling country music artist Martina McBride, combined with a musical rendition of 鈥淐inderella,鈥� ensure that the Season of Entertainment 37 will be one local residents won鈥檛 want to miss.
The season schedule also features performances by the university鈥檚 theatre department and concerts by university music students.
Considered 鈥渢he most respected living U.S. jazz instrumentalist鈥� by the Las Vegas Sun, will treat Fort Smith to a jazz concert showcasing his premier talent.
A Louisiana native, Marsalis has performed jazz and classical music for nearly 40 years and has released more than 30 albums.
As part of her Christmas tour, will perform much of her new CD, scheduled for release in August. Boasting 14 Grammy Award nominations, McBride has released 13 albums throughout her successful 25-year career.
The national touring show 鈥淐inderella鈥� brings all the classic moments from the story as well as new twists. The Rogers and Hammerstein adaptation features songs including 鈥淚n My Own Little Corner,鈥� 鈥淚mpossible/It鈥檚 Possible鈥� and 鈥淭en Minutes Ago.鈥�
鈥淐irque Mechanics: Pedal Punk鈥� is a Steampunk-inspired show featuring bicycles, cyclists and machinery. The New York Times hailed the show as 鈥渆xceptional, evocative, eye-catching and grossly entertaining.鈥�
鈥淕entri: The Gentleman Trio鈥� will present an evening of lush orchestrations and rich three-part harmony. Their signature sound, described as 鈥渃inematic pop,鈥� calls on the Gents鈥� classical training. Their album, 鈥淩ise,鈥� debuted at No. 3 on Billboard鈥檚 Classical and Classical Crossover Charts.
Stacey Jones, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events said 鈥渢he season has something in it for everybody.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most balanced season鈥檚 we鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淲e have some of the top performers in the world in the areas of music and theatre performing in this year鈥檚 season. For western Arkansas residents, this is a lineup that will offer world-class entertainment for a short drive and a reasonable price.鈥�
Season tickets for the Season of Entertainment are $195 at the 妻友社区 Box Office in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 1. The season runs from Sept. 7 to May 1.
The complete Season 37 schedule follows:
Sept. 7: Branford Marsalis, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Oct. 4: 妻友社区 Symphonic Band Concert, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Oct. 10: 妻友社区 Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Oct. 19-21, 23-24: Theatre @ 妻友社区 production, 7:30 p.m., Breedlove Auditorium.
Oct. 30: Gentri: The Gentlemen Trio, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Nov. 8: 鈥淐irque Mechanics: Pedal Punks,鈥� 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Nov. 16: 妻友社区 Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Nov. 20: Campus Lighting, 5:30 p.m., Campus Green.
Nov. 26: Martina McBride Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m., First National Bank Exhibit Hall.
Nov. 30: Season鈥檚 Greeting Concert, 7:00 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Feb. 15-17, 19-20: Theatre @ 妻友社区 production, 7:30 p.m., Breedlove Auditorium.
April 4: 妻友社区 Symphonic Band Concert, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
April 17: 妻友社区 Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
April 23: 鈥淐inderella,鈥� 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
May 1: A Grand Night for Singing, 7:30 p.m., ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.
Season at the Blue Lion
Fort Smith residents can enjoy four musical performances next year as part of the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith鈥檚 fifth annual Season at the Blue Lion.
Robert Tepper will perform with Chris Cameron Sept. 28; the Tejas Brothers will perform a concert of 鈥淭ex-Mex Honky Tonk鈥� music on Oct. 24; Bumper Jacksons will bring their eclectic musical style for a Jan. 17 concert; and 妻友社区 music faculty members will close out the season with a concert Jan. 30. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. at The Blue Lion Downtown, at 101 N. Second St.
Known for his hit song 鈥淣o Easy Way Out,鈥� featured on the Rocky IV soundtrack, Tepper has released four pop albums, most recently 鈥淣ew Life Story.鈥� Tepper will perform with Chris Cameron, a 妻友社区 alumnus and prominent local musician who has found acclaim for his formidable blues sound.
With a blend of polka, country, blues and other musical genres, the Tejas Brothers have established themselves as an innovative Texas musical quartet. Formed in 2006, the group has become one of the best live acts in Texas with their electrifying and fun show.
With a style compared to 鈥渁n old-time barn dance in downtown New Orleans, 鈥渢he Bumper Jacksons will play a vast range of styles, from waltzes to hard-swinging grooves and drinking songs. The group鈥檚 unique sound earned them the accolades of 2015 Artist of the year and 2013-2015 Best Folk Band at the Washington Area Music Awards.
妻友社区 faculty members will display their talents at the Music Faculty Showcase concert, which will include instrumental, vocal and piano faculty members performing in tandem with trumpet, percussion and chamber ensemble pieces and various solos.
Stacy Jones, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events, praised the variety of this year鈥檚 Blue Lion schedule.
鈥淭here are some styles of music here that are different than what we鈥檝e done in the past, but it is nothing but true entertainment value for everybody in attendance,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be having top-notch national artists as well as local artists grace the Blue Lion stage this year.鈥�
Season tickets cost $50, and only 250 tickets are available for each performance. Individual show tickets go on sale on Aug. 1. The season runs from Sept. 28 through Jan. 30.
The four-show series at the Blue Lion at 妻友社区 Downtown is separate from Season of Entertainment.
About the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow 妻友社区 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally. To find out what makes 妻友社区 just right for you, go to .