Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

The lineup for the 2010-2011 DeWitt Performing Arts Series at the Cole Auditorium was released Friday, with country music legend Kenny Rogers topping off a lineup featuring musicals, humor, nostalgia and classical music.

Rogers is scheduled to kick the series off with a performance of his country standards on Sept. 16. The series will also include a pair of musicals, a humorist, pianist Emile Pandolfi, the Charlotte Symphony, Sha Na Na and Debby Boone.

Cole Auditorium Director Joey Bennett said he expects more season tickets to be available for this 12th installment of the series, but is encouraging interested parties to contact the Cole Box Office soon to secure the passes.

“We are very pleased to be able to bring such high-caliber performers to our area,” Bennett said. “Many in our audience would not have the opportunity to enjoy these performers without the generous support of our patrons and our season sponsor, the DeWitt family.”

Bennett cautions auditorium patrons season passes may be the only way into big ticket shows like the Kenny Rogers kickoff concert and the series final installment with Debby Boone in May of 2011. Boone is perhaps best known for her 1977 song “You Light Up My Life.”

Season tickets range from $100 to $130 each.

“Purchasing season tickets is the only way to guarantee seats to the headliner performances,” Bennett said. “We are expecting a sell-out for these bigger shows, but we currently have season tickets available.”

Season tickets may purchased at the auditorium box office. The phone number is (910) 410-1691.

On Oct. 21, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” will grace the stage.

The traditional Christmas show in December will be a performance of “Scrooge - The Musical,” set for Dec. 14.

Pandolfi will bring his marriage of music and humor to town on Jan. 25.

On Feb. 17, the Cole is scheduled to host pops music from the Charlotte Symphony.

Nostalgia group Sha Na Na brings its act to town on March 22, and Boone rounds out the field on May 5.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

Bennett explained season ticket holders realize a cash savings versus purchasing individual show tickets, have the opportunity to renew the same seat for the 2011-2012 DeWitt Season - or request an upgrade - and receive automated phone call reminders prior to the day of the show.

The public can also find out more about the performances by visiting the Cole Auditorium Web site, www.richmondcc.edu; Facebook page, www.facebook.com/coleaud); or by registering for the Cole Auditorium e-mail list.

The staff of the Cole may be contacted by phone or by visiting the box office located inside the Auditorium during the college’s normal business hours.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.