'Prairie Home Companion' host Garrison Keillor to perform during River Campus' third season

Garrison Keillor will bring his comedic interpretation of Midwestern culture to Cape Girardeau at a performance during the upcoming season at the River Campus.

The lineup for the campus' third season includes an appearance by the author and entertainer as well as student interpretations of "Carousel" and "Little Shop of Horrors."

"Every year we try to get the best touring shows available," said Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. "And every year you can bet your bottom dollar that these were the best shows we could get that fit into our calendar, our budget and into our hall."

The touring series kicks off with the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company on Oct. 17 and includes performances of "Annie," "Wizard of Oz," "TAO -- The Martial Arts of Drumming" and "Sleeping Beauty."

Student performances open Sept. 30 with "Little Shop of Horrors." Other shows include "The Children's Hour," "Carousel" and Neil Simon's "Rumors."

Because "Rumors" has language some may find offensive, it will not be included in the season tickets and is available for individual purchase. This year, Cerchio and Rhonda Weller-Stilson, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, started reviewing the shows to determine which performances could offend some people.

Southeast Missouri State University offered refunds last year for "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You" after some patrons were offended by the play's content. Cerchio said there was a heightened sensitivity to the issue this year but that the Neil Simon play was the only show sold separately for that reason.

"Neil Simon uses adult language, and he doesn't beat around the bush," he said.

Weller-Stilson said the department's choices are a reflection of the interests of the students and community as well as educational opportunities for drama students. She said "Little Shop of Horrors," which is more contemporary, balances out the large-scale performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel."

"We normally try to have one larger and one smaller of the two musicals," she said.

The symphony begins its concert season with Antonin Dvorak's "New World" Symphony on Oct. 13. Performances include Paul McCartney's "Behold My Heart" and Handel's "Messiah: Easter Portion."

Keillor is known for his National Public Radio program "A Prairie Home Companion," which was made into a 2006 film. He is also the author of "Lake Wobegon Days," "Love Me" and "Homegrown Democrat." He will perform May 5.

Season ticket sales open to the public Wednesday. Tickets for individual events go on sale July 15, after season ticket sales end July 10.

Tickets for "Rumors" and the special events, Keillor's performance and the "Great Russian Nutcracker," will be sold individually.

Tickets can be ordered by mail, fax or in person at the River Campus box office at 518 S. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 651-2265.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

River Campus schedule

Weekday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows start at 2 p.m.

All performances are in the Bedell Performance Hall unless otherwise indicated.

Symphony series

* "New World" Symphony, Oct. 13

* "Behold My Heart," Dec. 8

* Moscow State Radio Symphony, March 5

* "Messiah: Easter Portion," March 29 and 30

* "Four Seasons," May 4

Theater and dance series

* "Little Shop of Horrors," Sept. 30 to Oct. 4

* Fall for Dance 2009, Dec. 3 to 5 (2 and 7:30 p.m. performances on Saturday)

* "The Children's Hour," Nov. 11 to 15 in the Rust Flexible Theatre

* "Carousel," Feb. 24 to 28

* River North Chicago Dance Company, March 2

* "Rumors," March 24 to 28 in the Rust Flexible Theatre

* Spring into Dance 2010, April 15 to 18

Touring series

* Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company, Oct 17

* "The Queen of Bingo," Oct. 30

* "Annie," Dec. 15

* "Wizard of Oz," Jan. 27

* "TAO -- The Martial Art of Drumming," March 6

* "Sleeping Beauty," April 22

Special events

* Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker," Dec. 14

* "An Evening with Garrison Keillor," May 5

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO