New Theater Season Set To Open At Three Rivers

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers Community College rolls out the red carpet with an exciting 2009-2010 Patrons of the Arts Season featuring a bright star from Broadway and Hollywood, a classic from American literature, Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet as well as musical performances encompassing bluegrass, jazz, folk and classical.

The 2009-2010 Patrons of the Arts season will open on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. with a presentation of John Steinbeck's classic American drama "Of Mice and Men", brought to life on the Tinnin Center stage by the Barter Theatre Touring Company.

The Barter Theatre boasts famous alumni including Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn and Kevin Spacey. The Barter Theatre is the State Theatre of Virginia and is the longest running professional Equity theatre in the nation.

The curtain will rise on the Sept. 29 performance of "Of Mice and Men" at 7 p.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center Theater. Tickets are $10 per person and may be ordered by credit card by calling (573) 840-9620. Tickets are also available at the Rutland Library on the Three Rivers campus, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce and at the door the evening of the performance.

"Three Rivers Community College is proud to be able to present such a distinguished line up of performances," said Dr. Wesley A. Payne, Vice President for Learning at Three Rivers. "This year's Patron's season is one of the finest in the country. Thanks to the Patrons, you don't have to leave Southeast Missouri to enjoy a world class entertainment experience."

The 2009-2010 Patrons of the Arts Season will feature six additional performances at the Tinnin Center Theater:

* Peter Ostroushko, Thursday, Nov. 12: Peter Ostroushko is one of America's finest mandolin and fiddle players, and he will perform a variety of music, including folk, jazz, classical and even rock in his Tinnin Center concert. Ostroushko has performed with such greats as Jethro Burns, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Taj Mahal and Tim O'Brien and has served as the music director of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion."

* Shades of Blue, Friday, Feb. 12: Shades of Blue is the 18-member jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America and will be the featured performance during the Annual Three Rivers Jazz Festival. The band's repertoire ranges from traditional big band to bebop and swing to modern jazz. The Three Rivers Jazz Festival will also include a performance on Thursday, Feb. 11 by high school jazz bands from throughout the region, and on Saturday, Sept. 13 by the Southeast Missouri All-District Jazz Band.

* A Night of the Oscars -- the Hollywood Concert Orchestra featuring Shirley Jones, Thursday, Feb. 25: Singer and actress Shirley Jones will lead you down the Red Carpet during "A Night of the Oscars." Known for her performances as the mother on the television series "The Partridge Family" and in movie musicals "Oklahoma" and "Carousel," Jones will perform Oscar-winning music from some of Hollywood's greatest movies. The 37-member Hollywood Concert Orchestra is one of the premiere musical ensembles and known as "The Orchestra of the Stars."

* William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet, Tuesday, March 2': The highly acclaimed Acting Company/Guthrie Theater will return to the Tinnin Center stage with one of the world's most famous plays, Shakespeare's classic "Romeo and Juliet." Shakespeare's iconic romantic tragedy of innocent young lovers falling victim to family hatred and cruel destiny has swords clashing, everlasting love is promised and a treacherous sleeping potion is swallowed in the greatest love story of all time. Young love has never been so delightful or as dangerous as in this stirring new production. Three Rivers will also host this award-winning troupe at a workshop for area high schools students.

* Beppe Gambetta, Thursday, March 11: Bopped Gambetta is known as the "Italian King of the flat-pick guitar." Gambetta's performance will showcase a sophisticated blend of folk, bluegrass, classical and American musical roots that has made him a master innovator of the acoustic guitar.

* The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields: This classical orchestra of leading musicians of London was founded by Sir Neville Mariner 50 years ago. And is known for its superlative performances and award-winning recordings. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields "has an aura possessed by no other British orchestra." The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is the most recorded chamber orchestra in the world with over 500 recordings in its library. The Tinnin Center concert will feature music by Grieg, Beethoven and Schubert.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. and all tickets are $10. To order tickets by credit card call (573) 840-9620 or call Three Rivers toll-free at 1-877-TRY-TRCC and ask the operator for the Patrons of the Arts. Tickets are also available at the Rutland Library on the Three Rivers campus and the Greater Public Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets will be available at the Tinnin Center box office prior to each performance.