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WILKES-BARRE — The F.M. Kirby Center has announced its lineup for the 2017-2018 season.

In its 31st season, the downtown theater will offer an inviting mixture of musical, theatrical and cinematic showcases for adults and children, including “Voice of Romance” Johnny Mathis, a two-night run of “The Sound of Music,” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Drifters, Disney Junior’s PJ Masks and “Jungle” Jack Hannah.

Reaffirming its mission to bring more affordable entertainment to the surrounding community, the Kirby Center will offer $10 tickets to all shows in its Signature Series, including performances by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Howard Gospel Choir, Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Simply Three and Walnut Street Theatre’s production of “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”.

The low-priced admission comes courtesy of underwriting by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

In a press release from the Kirby Center, executive director Will Beekman said, “This is a movement we’ve been working toward over the past few years, and we’re truly excited about it. We have long been bringing the arts into this community, but this year we are making it easier to bring the community to the arts.”

The theater’s Young People’s Theater Series will offer free productions throughout the season, including a public performance of “The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told” during the 2018 Fine Arts Fiesta.

Everything from independent films to internationally recognized headliners will comprise the schedule of 55 performances, which will include Celtic Woman, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” celebrated Broadway vocalist Linda Eder and Broadway productions of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Cabaret.”

The W. Curtis Montz Film Series will feature 12 art-house films throughout the summer.

Individual tickets for the 2017-2018 season go on sale at 10 a.m. June 9, but Kirby members can purchase seats starting at 10 a.m. May 30. All pre-sale tickets are available at the Kirby Center box office or online at kirbycenter.org or by phone at 570-826-1100.

The current 2017-2018 F.M. Kirby Center entertainment schedule features:

• The Ultimate Queen Celebration* — 8 p.m. July 1

• Robbie Fulks* — 8 p.m. July 14

• Daughtry* — 8 p.m. July 15

• Fastball* — 8 p.m. July 29

• Amos Lee* — 8 p.m. July 30

• Dweezil Zappa* — 8 p.m. Aug. 3

• Gene Ween Does Billy Joel* — 8 p.m. Aug. 5

• TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band* — 8 p.m. Aug. 10

• Duke Ellington Orchestra — 7 p.m. Aug. 12

• Donny & Marie Osmond* — 8 p.m. Aug. 24

• Shopkins Live!* — 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29

• Linda Eder — 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6

• Joe Nardone Presents: A Doo Wop Celebration — 7 p.m. Oct. 14

• PJ Masks Live! — 6 p.m. Oct. 17

• Up Close with Roy Firestone — 8 p.m. Oct. 20

• Verdi’s Rigoletto — 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21

• Penn State’s Premiere Jazz Ensemble Centre Dimensions — 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26

• The Fab Faux: A Hard Day’s Night — 8 p.m. Oct. 28

• Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs — 10 a.m. Nov. 1

• Dixie’s Tupperware Party — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4

• Johnny Mathis — 7 p.m. Nov. 5

• STOMP* — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10

• Simply Three — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15

• Chicken Dance — 10 a.m. Nov. 20

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29

• The Sound of Music — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21

•Video Games Live* — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12

• ARRIVAL From Sweden — 7 p.m. Jan. 20

• Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery — 7 p.m. Feb. 7

• Jabber — 7 p.m. Feb. 12

• Howard Gospel Choir — 7 p.m. Feb. 17

• Four Score and Seven Years Ago — 10 a.m. Feb. 21

• Harriet Tubman & the Underground Railroad — 10 a.m. March 16

• Celtic Woman — 3 p.m. March 25

• The Wizard of Oz — 7:30 p.m. April 13

• The Drifters — 7:30 p.m. April 14

• Huck & Tom and the Mighty Mississippi — 10 a.m. April 24

• Jack Hanna — 3 p.m. April 28

• Cabaret — 7:30 p.m. May 17, 2018

• The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told — 2 p.m. May 19, 2018

* Indicates shows that are currently on sale.

The W. Curtis Montz Film Series schedule (all on Wednesdays) is as follows:

• Cezanne Et Moi (2016, R) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. June 7

• Loving (2016, PG-13) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. June 14

• Cameraperson (2016, NR) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. June 21

• Denial (2016, PG-13) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. June 28

• Manifesto (2015, NR) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. July 5

• The Hero (2017, R) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. July 12

• I Am Not Your Negro (2016, PG-13) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. July 19

• Jackie (2016, R) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. July 26

• Paterson (2016, R) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2

• The Witness (2016, NR) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9

• The Death of Louis XIV (2016, NR) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16

• A Quiet Passion (2016, PG-13) — 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23

For updates on the Kirby Center schedule, visit kirbycenter.org.

More performances will be added throughout the year.

The F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre has announced its 2017-2018 entertainment schedule.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL021217boscov1-3.jpg.optimal.jpgThe F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre has announced its 2017-2018 entertainment schedule. Times Leader file photo

By Matt Mattei

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