RiverCenter for the Performing Arts officials announced the 2011-12 season on Tuesday evening in conjunction with a performance by comedian, actor and musician Seth Rudetsky.
Audience members cheered for shows like “Young Frankenstein,” based on the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy. Brooks adapted the movie to the stage and composed the music, wrote the lyrics and produced the musical that made its Broadway debut in 2007. It closed in 2009.
“The Color Purple,” which had a two-night run last February, proved to be so popular that it’s returning for one night on Feb. 18.
Jim Rutland, RiverCenter’s program and education director, put the season together and is really excited about the whole year.
“It’s a great season, as usual,” said Claude Scarbrough, who is the chairman of RiverCenter’s board of directors.
RiverCenter executive director Bill Bullock said he and his staff are bringing what he considers “the best Broadway season ever.”
Rutland is especially excited about “South Pacific,” which is the Lincoln Center version that won several Tony Awards in 2008.
BROADWAY ON BROADWAY SERIES
All shows and concerts are in the Bill Heard Theatre at 7:30 p.m., unless noted.
Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway: Sept. 26-27. A revue of American musical tunes by composers like Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers and Hart, Kander and Ebb, Lerner and Lowe, George Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Oscar Hammerstein.
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein: Nov. 1-2. The classic 1974 movie comes to life on stage.
The Color Purple: Jan. 18. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg.
Rock of Ages: Feb. 15-16. A small town girl meets a big city rocker and they fall in love to the music of the ’80s.
Fiddler on the Roof: March 22-23. The famous musical that blends songs, dance and drama.
South Pacific: April 24-25. Set on a tropical island during World War II, two young couples struggle with their own prejudices and thoughts about the war.
Mamma Mia!: May 15-16. Unsure who is her father, a young bride-to-be invites the three potential men to her wedding.
CENTER STAGE SERIES
Kansas: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1. The group will perform with the Columbus State University Philharmonic. Hit songs like “Carry on Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “The Point of No Return” will be performed.
John Tesh -- Big Band Live!: Nov. 10. The TV and radio personality and his Big Band Orchestra will play music from the Swing era.
Joshua Bell: Nov. 17. Bell is a classical violinist.
Cantus Christmas: Dec. 19, Legacy Hall. The annual concert by Cantus Columbus tells the Christmas story.
Soweto Gospel Choir: Feb. 7. A vocal ensemble that performs songs of tribal, traditional and popular African and Western gospel in eight languages.
Russian National Ballet: Feb. 25. “Cinderella” will be danced to music by Prokofiev.
The Acting Company: Feb. 28. “The Comedy of Errors” is about two sets of identical twins who are separated at birth and later unexpectedly reunited.
Vienna Boys Choir: March 4.
Say Goodnight Gracie: April 12. The life and love story of comedians George Burns and Gracie Allen by Rupert Holmes.
The Knights: April 15. This orchestra is led by conductor Eric Jacobsen.
KNOLOGY DISCOVERY SERIES
The Kennedy Center on Tour: 7 p.m. Oct. 21. “Knuffle Bunny -- A Cautionary Musical” is about a stuffed animal’s first trip to the laundry.
Ramona Quimby: 7 p.m. Feb. 3. About the elementary school students of Klickitat Street including Ramona Quimby and her older sister, Beezus.
Garry Krinsky: 7 p.m. May 4. “Toying with Science” combines circus skills, mime, original music and audience participation.
COST
Series’ subscriptions are on sale now. For prices, click on this story a ledger-enquirer.com. Single tickets and custom combinations go on sale Aug. 27. The RiverCenter box office is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. 706-256-3613.
