Van Buren School District Fine Arts Center 2010-2011 schedule opens with Three Dog Night!

Van Buren Fine Arts Center - Saturday, Sept. 18, at 8:00 P.M.

Tom Watkins, Director of the Van Buren School District's Fine Arts Center, distributed brochures with the center's 2010-2011 schedule and ticket order form on July 22nd at the Rotary Club luncheon. Talking about the productions on the schedule, Watson said that in previous years, "the quality of programs has exceeded expectations." With the mix of professional artists and entertainers with local school groups scheduled for the current season, the center seems assured of extending that record.

The season starts on September 18th with Three Dog Night, one of the most popular rock bands of the early 1970's, and continues into October 2nd with Mark Nizer's 3D Comedy and Juggling, and the classic tale of Cinderella, "Happily Ever After" for the entire family on October 23rd. Bring your own special person to the Valentines' Day performance with Robin Spielberg's "Moonlight and Lovesongs". March hosts a variety triple-header: The Hunt Family on March 11 with mix of Celtic, bluegrass, and inspirational music and dancing; then on March 13, the Gilbert and Sullivan Players full-length production of "The Pirates of Penzance" and on March 31, "The Tartan Terrors" with a program of traditional Scottish music and dancing, "...and a wee bit of rock and roll." The season ends with the Spectrum Brass Gershwin Review on April 8, with popular instrumental and vocal selections from Broadway productions. On December 17th, a special program performed by former soldiers, "4 Troops" has also been added to the list of professional events.

The VBHS Theater will present the family musical, "Peter Pan" scheduled for November 12-14, and "Radium Girls" on March 4-5. A smiling Watkins assured the Rotarians that the local school actors would earn their wings and actually fly using special effects during the production - a first for the Fine Arts Center. The production of "Radium Girls" tells the tragic story of young women employed to paint the glow-in-the-dark numbers on watch dials used by the military in 1917.

Mixed in between productions and in conjunction with several of the programs, the Fine Arts Center also offers special free performances for groups of elementary school students to experience dramatic arts and music.

The full season schedule with dates, times and ticket prices is available online at: http://www.vbsd.us/fac/season.aspx  Season tickets are available and a special "family pack" increases the savings. Tickets may be ordered online or by calling the box office at 479-471-4017.