Ladysmith Black Mambazo and ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro -- two acts that quickly sold out in their previous appearances in Anchorage -- will be in the 2012-2013 season announced by the Anchorage Concert Association Thursday.
Other returning groups include the Ahn Trio, Riders in the Sky, Beau Soleil, The Lost Fingers and The Reduced Shakespeare Company; the last-named will present their abridged version of yuletide lore in an act titled "The Ultimate Christmas Show."
Three musicals are also on the list, "Shrek the Musical" and "Dreamgirls" and "Disney's Mary Poppins," the third Disney musical to be presented by ACA in the last four years, following "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."
The traveling production of "Shrek" will be have its technical rehearsals in Anchorage, working out the bugs in advance of a national tour that will open in Atwood Concert Hall. The same approach was used successfully last year by the touring production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
The annual presentation of "The Nutcracker" will feature a new company, Cincinnati Ballet, in a recently remounted production using fresh choreography and new sets and costumes.
Season subscriptions go on sale Thursday, available by calling 272-1471 or downloading the order form at anchorageconcerts.org. Later this month it will be possible to order directly from the website.
Anchorage Concert Association lineup, 2012-13:
The Ahn Trio, Sept. 28
Riders in the Sky, Sept. 29
"Shrek the Musical," Oct. 5-14
New York Polyphony, Oct. 12
Footsteps of Django, Oct. 19-20
"Of Mice and Men," Oct. 26 - Nov. 4
Break of Reality, Nov. 3
Metta Quintet, Nov. 10
The Nutcracker Ballet, Nov. 23-25
Pink Martini, Dec. 8
Reduced Shakespeare Company, Dec. 13-15
Matt Andersen, Jan. 11
Cirque Mechanics, Jan. 25 -26
Big Foot and other Lost Souls, Jan. 24 - Feb. 3
Afro-Cuban All Stars, Feb. 2
The Good Lovelies, Feb. 15
"Dreamgirls," Feb. 26 - March 3
Avi Avital, March 9
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, March 16
BeauSoleil, March 23
Jake Shimabukuro, March 29
Betrayal, April 12 - 21
The StepCrew, April 13
Gretchen Parlato, April 20
Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, April 28
Cocktails with Larry Miller, May 3-4
The Lost Fingers, May 11
"Disney's Mary Poppins," May 21- June 2
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Reach Mike Dunham at mdunham@adn.com or 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM
Anchorage Daily News