Southeastern's Columbia Theatre announces new season
Monday, August 26, 2019
by: Tonya Lowentritt
ONCE UPON A TIME IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY – One-Man Star Wars Trilogy is just one of the mainstage presentations included in Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts’ 2019-20 line-up. The show has been performed for over a million Star Wars fans from London’s West End, Off-Broadway, Dubai, and the Sydney Opera House. The show is performed with permission of Lucasfilm, Ltd. All “Star Wars” elements are property of Lucasfilm, Ltd. All rights reserved.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing
Arts recently announced its 2019-20 season, which offers everything from live music
to theater.
The season also boasts entertainment from campus ensembles, said Jim Winter,
artistic director of Columbia Theatre. Performances will be scheduled throughout the
season. Dates and additional information are available at columbiatheatre.org.
The Columbia Theatre curtain officially opens with Southeastern Opera/Theatre
Workshop’s presentation of “Cabaret.” The production is scheduled Sept. 26 and 27
at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $21 for adults and $16 for seniors, Southeastern faculty/staff
and non-Southeastern students. Southeastern students are admitted free of charge with
their ID.
Tickets are available at the Columbia Theatre box office, located at 220 E. Thomas
Street in downtown Hammond, or by calling 985-543-4371.
Back by popular demand, Missoula Children’s Theatre will return the week of Oct.
19 with a production of “Jack and the Beanstalk” for area youth. Upon their arrival
Oct. 14, Missoula will hold auditions and cast approximately 50 to 60 area children.
Rehearsals will begin that day, and a full-scale production will be presented Oct.
19 at 2 p.m. For additional information, contact the Columbia Theatre administrative
office at 985-543-4366.
Also in October is “An Evening with Clarence Gilyard, Jr. on Oct. 23. The star
of “Die Hard,” “Top Gun,” “Matlock,” and “Walker, Texas Ranger” will share his life
experiences as a film, television and stage actor.
Next on tap is a concert from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, which begins
its series of performances at Columbia Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m., with “Romantic German
Masters.” The concert is the first of three LPO performances.
Additional LPO concerts include the Yuletide Celebration, a fun program of holiday
musical favorites for the entire family featuring local student choirs, on Dec. 6
and “Nature’s Awakening” on Feb. 28. Both concerts are scheduled at 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz Ambassadors of the United States Army Field Band from Washington DC
will make a return appearance for a free concert Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. Known as America’s
Big Band, the Jazz Ambassadors are the premier touring jazz orchestra of the United
States Army.
On Nov. 1, Columbia Theatre presents Durand Jones and the Indications.
“Durand is a Southeastern alumnus who is a rising star. His fantastic, soul-influenced
band recently played on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS This Morning,” Winter said. “We
are thrilled to have him returning to his roots. My staff and I are currently working
very hard to make Nov. 1 a special night celebrating some of Southeastern’s most successful
alums.”
In celebration of Jones’ return to Southeastern, Columbia Theatre will be serving
Gnarly Barley, a beer brewed by Southeastern alumni Zac and Cari Caramonta, offering
a special discount for alumni that night, and hosting additional surprise guest alumni
for the curtain speech and lobby greeters.
Approximately one week later on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Columbia Theatre presents
One-Man Star Wars Trilogy. The show has been performed for over a million Star Wars
fans from London’s West End, Off-Broadway, Dubai, and the Sydney Opera House. Charles
Ross single-handedly plays all the characters complete with voice impressions, sings
the music, flies the ships, fights the battles and condenses the plots of three films
into one comedic production.
On Dec. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m., Columbia Theatre will present Hammond Ballet Company’s
“The Nutcracker.” The classic holiday ballet features professional guest artists and
excellent all-star local dancers.
Columbia will present “Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks” as the first performance
of 2020 on Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. Winter said the production weaves together music and
drama to tell the story of Rosa Parks from her childhood in rural Alabama to her famous
decision to “sit down and be counted.”
Aquila Theatre will bring its production of “1984” to Columbia on Feb.15.
“We are thrilled to present this world-class theatre company’s stage adaptation
of George Orwell’s legendary novel that was decades ahead of its time,” Winter said.
Columbia presents a pair of performances in March. First up is The Songs and
Stories of Neil Diamond on March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
“Come sing along to your favorite songs with show-stopping entertainer Jack Wright
and his music and media presentation of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits,” Winter said.
Next up on March 27 at 7 p.m. is TheatreWorksUSA’s presentation of “Pete the
Cat.” Based on the New York Times #1 best-selling children’s books by author James
Dean, “Pete the Cat” is a fun, musically driven series about exploring the world.
Rounding out the season is a performance by the band Che Apalache on April 4
at 7:30 p.m. Led by Joe Troop, Che Apalche features three powerhouse Latin American
musicians and has been taking audiences by storm with their fusion of Latin and American
roots music.
A compliment to the Columbia Theatre season, Fanfare will feature many “home-grown”
artists. Fanfare will once again showcase music, theater, dance, lectures, children’s
events, and art exhibits, highlighting the myriad of talent university faculty and
students have to offer in Fanfare’s 34th season.
For Columbia Theatre season or individual ticket information, contact the administrative
office at 985-543-4366 or log on to columbiatheatre.org.
