Clay Center announces 2008-2009 performance season

Release Date: 5/14/2008 11:00:00 PM

Dateline (city): Charleston

Contact:
Katrina Harmon
Marketing and Communications Manager
(304) 561-3559

Attachment: 08-09season_press_release.pdf

Clay Center announces 2008-2009 season lineup
Special event performances include LeAnn Rimes and Chelsea Handler

(Charleston, W.Va.) 5/14/08 – The Clay Center is excited to announce its 2008-2009 Clay Center Presents performance season. The upcoming season promises exceptional entertainment with a lineup full of classic theatre, hilarious comedy, outstanding music and sizzling dance.

The season includes nine incredible performances with two special events that are sure to sell out:

• Legendary performers – Hear classic songs like “American Pie” and other hits with legendary songwriter Don McLean. Enjoy an extraordinary concert with one of the greatest horn bands in the history of popular music, Blood, Sweat & Tears.
• Side-splitting comedy – Laugh at the satirizing songs and political humor of the “only group in America that attempts to be funnier than Congress,” Capitol Steps.
• Inspiring gospel, jazz and blues – Be amazed by the award-winning soul, gospel and R&B vocalists of Naturally Seven, and feel the beat with the music of Latin Jazz pianist Omar Sosa. Join the gospel artists of the Dixie Hummingbirds as they perform a show of heavenly songs.
• Fantastic theater – Relive an American classic as Montana Repertory Theatre presents “To Kill a Mocking Bird,” and see an amazing performance full of music and stories when Charleston Stage Company co-presents “West Virginia: Words and Music.
• Dynamic dance – Experience the sophisticated style and magnetic energy of the Latin moves of Ballet Hispanico.
• Special events – Don’t miss E! Network’s late-night comedy sensation Chelsea Handler and Grammy Award-winning country pop singer LeAnn Rimes.
• Special summer performance – Get revved up with those tough-guy T-Birds and those sassy Pink Ladies with all-American musical “Grease.”

Patrons can get the best seats now with a full season subscription or Pick4 tickets. Only patrons with season and Pick4 tickets have an exclusive opportunity to buy tickets for special events LeAnn Rimes and Chelsea Hander.

Complete schedule for the Clay Center Presents performance season:

• Thursday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. – Naturally Seven
• Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. – Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet
• Sunday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. – Don McLean
• Friday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m. – Dixie Hummingbirds
• Friday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m. – Capitol Steps
• Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. – Ballet Hispanico
• Friday, March 13, 7:30 p.m. – Blood, Sweat & Tears
• Friday, April 3, 8 p.m. – Montana Repertory Theatre in “To Kill a Mocking Bird”
• Thursday, May 21, 8 p.m. – “West Virginia: Words and Music” co-presented with Charleston Stage Company

Additional Clay Center special events:

• Saturday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. – LeAnn Rimes
• Saturday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. – Chelsea Handler

Special summer performance:

• July 25, 26, Aug. 1, 2, 7:30 p.m. and July 27, Aug. 3, 3 p.m. – “Grease”

“We appreciate the continuing support of our patrons, and with the overwhelming success of this past season, we are eagerly anticipating the upcoming lineup of performances,” said Clay Center President and CEO Judy Wellington. “We are dedicated to providing quality, diverse entertainment, so we are excited to offer a variety of outstanding performers like Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dixie Hummingbirds, LeAnn Rimes and Don McLean as well as popular returning acts Naturally Seven and Capitol Steps.”

Patrons become season ticket holders when they purchase tickets to all nine regular season performances. This option provides the best value and saves patrons 20 percent off of single ticket prices, and they receive first choice of seating. Pick4 patrons receive 10 percent off of single ticket prices when they purchase a minimum of four regular season performances. One of the first benefits of being a season or Pick4 ticket holder is the opportunity to add on LeAnn Rimes and Chelsea Handler tickets in advance. Currently, tickets to these two special events are limited to those purchasing season and Pick4 packages.

Those interested in being added to the Clay Center mailing list to receive a season brochure and ordering information can visit www.theclaycenter.org to sign up.

Ticket Information:
Season ticket sales will be available to the general public in early June. Single ticket sales begin July 19.

In person: Clay Center Customer Care Center (Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
By phone: Call the Customer Care Center at (304) 561-3570 during regular hours.
By fax: (304) 347-3630
By mail: Clay Center, Attn: Ticket Orders, One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301