LSU Presents the 2007-2008 Great Performances Theater Series

August 8, 2007 — The LSU Student Union Great Performances Theater Series once again brings the best of music, comedy and theater to Baton Rouge. This year’s performances include “The Ten Tenors,” The Actors’ Gang’s “1984,” “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” and The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s “Completely Hollywood (abridged).” All performances will take place in the LSU Student Union Theater at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, Oct. 7, the first performance of the series will kick off with Australia’s most debonair music export, “The Ten Tenors.” Highly regarded as a hip and happening musical sensation to be reckoned with, The Ten Tenors have been seen by more than 77 million people on three continents, selling out shows and winning hearts with their unique style, obvious camaraderie and unparalleled fusion of artistry, musicianship and comedy. The Ten Tenors leave audiences breathless, heroically striding through the classical tenor repertoire, swaying through the ballads of the Neapolitan crooners, and highlighting their youth with critically acclaimed performances of rock classics. These classically trained singers, known for their black suits and eclectic repertoire, have shared the stage with musicians like Rod Stewart, Andrea Boccelli, Alanis Morrissette and Willie Nelson, among others.

The Actors’ Gang’s “1984” will take the stage on Friday, Nov. 2. Based on George Orwell’s novel “1984,” a new stage adaptation offers a glimpse of what life becomes under a government based on deception and misguided loyalty. Imagine a world where people fear that their opinion cannot be expressed freely, where leaders are not held accountable for their deceptions and where perpetual war is waged against an unseen enemy; a world where ignorance is strength, freedom is slavery and war is peace. This is the world Orwell created more than half a century ago, and its prescience of today’s world is stunning. Tim Robbins, artistic director of The Actors’ Gang, is directing this powerful new stage adaptation by San Francisco Mime Troupe’s Michael Gene Sullivan.

The music of Johnny Cash will ignite the stage on Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the new Broadway musical “Ring of Fire,” featuring 38 signature songs from the legendary “Man in Black.” Stories of passion, redemption, humor and salvation set the stage ablaze in a musical celebration of the world’s most famous rebel. Hits include “Walk the Line,” “Hurt,” “Jackson,” “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue” and the title track “Ring of Fire.” Nearly three years after his passing, Cash remains one of the most popular entertainers of all time. He has also posted more than 130 hits on the Billboard Country Singles Chart, more than anyone in history. Cash is one of the few people in music history to sell more than 50 million records.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company, or RSC, will boldly take on America’s largest export and savage show biz in “Completely Hollywood (abridged),” which takes place on Friday, April 11. RSC is a three-man comedy troupe known for taking long, serious subjects and reducing them into short, sharp comedies. They have created six stage shows, two television specials and numerous radio pieces. They have been seen on all the major American and British television networks and are heard frequently on both National Public Radio and the BBC.

Season tickets for all four shows are on sale now and prices range from $112 - $138 for the general public; $95 - $121 for Union members, faculty and staff; and $46 - $59 for students. Season subscribers get all the shows in the series for one low price, a 15 percent savings compared to individual ticket prices. There is also a savings on service fees charged on individual tickets. Subscribers receive preferred choice of seating for each show and are guaranteed the same great seats for every show in the series.

Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 27. A limited number of series tickets will be sold and can be charged to MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Tiger Cash. Series and individual tickets may be purchased through the LSU Student Union Box Office at 225-578-5128. The Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information e-mail unionbox@lsu.edu, call the LSU Student Union Program Department at 225-578-5118 or visit www.lsu.edu/union or www.lsu.edu/upc/livelyarts.

The national award-winning LSU Student Union Great Performances Theater Series is one of the longest-running variety performing arts series in Baton Rouge. It is sponsored by the LSU Student Union Program Council Lively Arts Committee.

Currently the LSU Union is undergoing a renovation to see the progress that is happening visit www.lsu.edu/unionrenovation/. The LSU Union Theater is also planning a series of improvements which will allow it to continue its long tradition of providing first-class performances for the university and our neighboring communities. For information on how you can get involved in supporting the LSU Union Theater, contact Lynn Shields, LSU Student Union director of development, at lshield1@lsu.edu or 225-578-5124.

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Michelle Spielman
LSU Office of Public Affairs

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