On Thursday, year ago and 62 the year before that. But Overture regulars will be glad to see perennial Overture acts returning for performances, including the Peking Acrobats, the Capitol Steps, Four Bitchin' Babes and Second City.
Overtre also continues booking prominent Broadway musicals, including The Lion King, the hit 1997 show that starts a 32-performance run next April 27 and will get everyone singing "Hakuna Matata," or else. Also in the splashy-musical vein: Grease, Seussical and Little House on the Prairie, which brings the indelible books to the stage with the help of Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls on NBC's Little House series in the 1970s and 1980s. (Actually, any Gen-Xer who, like me, followed the show closely in those days is more likely to say: Melissa Gilbert!!!)
Famous musical acts always figure prominently in Overture's schedule. Next season's lineup includes R&B great Gladys Knight, pop-folkie Suzanne Vega (who made us all weep with her big hit "Luka" 22 years ago) and my number-one pick for the upcoming season, bluegrass legend and Grand Ole Opry cast member Bobby Osborne. He's the mandolin-playing half of the Osborne Brothers, whom University of Tennessee football fans can thank for "Rocky Top."
As always, there are well-known comedians in the Overture lineup. October welcomes David Sedaris, he of the distinctive speaking voice and the public-radio fame. And in February there is Lily Tomlin, whose one-woman shows are legendary.
The season also includes the customary offerings in cabaret (Joan Curto, Paul Marinaro), world music (Shidara, Sones de Mexico) and kids' entertainment (A Year With Frog and Toad). But for sheer old-fashioned entertainment, you can't beat the animal act of Jungle Jack Hanna, appearing Oct. 18. Will he do something crazy with a lemur? You'll just have to buy a ticket and see.
Here is a video preview of the season.
A chronological list of the dates, titles and venues for next season's programming at the Overture Center follows.
October 2009
4 -- Liz Gilbert
10 -- The Capitol Steps
13 -- An Evening With David Sedaris
17 -- Ballroom With a Twist, starring Kristi Yamaguchi and Louis Van Amstel
17 -- Stellaluna
18 -- Jungle Jack Hanna
28 -- ABBA Mania
November 2009
5 -- Elizabeth Ward Land: A Broadway Harvest, Overture Cabaret Dinner Series
10-15 -- Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps
12 -- Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
15 -- Room on the Broom
December 2009
4 -- Step Afrika!
8-13 -- Grease, starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel
29 -- The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis
January 2010
14 -- Chris Botti, with the Madison Symphony Orchestra
19-24 -- Little House on the Prairie, with Melissa Gilbert
29 -- The Second City
February 2010
9 -- Pilobolus
11 -- Lily Tomlin
14 -- The Peking Acrobats
14 -- Joan Curto: Love is a Simple Thing, Overture Cabaret Dinner Series
21 -- A Year With Frog and Toad
March 2010
6 -- Sones de Mexico
7 -- Seussical
13 -- Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway
17 -- Danú
19 -- Shidara
26 -- Gladys Knight
27 -- Four Bitchin' Babes: Diva Nation
April 2010
1 -- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
8 -- Paul Marinaro Trio: A Tribute to the 30s, Overture Cabaret Dinner Series
9 -- Bobby Osborne, with the American Bluegrass Masters Tour
10 -- The Man Who Planted Trees
17 -- The Blanks
24 -- Suzanne Vega
27-30 -- Disney's The Lion King
29 -- The Kenny Barron Trio, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone, with the Monterrey Jazz Festival on Tour
30 -- Bill Blagg III
May 2010
1-23 -- Disney's The Lion King