Arts and Entertainment

Melissa Etheridge, 'Cabaret' and more on Anchorage Concert Association schedule

The Anchorage Concert Association will launch its 2017-2018 season with raspy-voiced rocker Melissa Etheridge on Sept. 14.

The arts organization announced its new season lineup Monday. More than a third of the 25-plus acts have performed in previous seasons. Familiar entertainers include musical satirists The Capitol Steps (March 16), socially conscious mini orchestra Pink Martini (May 12), a cappella chamber ensemble Cantus (Oct. 6) and South African stalwarts and multiple Grammy winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Jan. 20).

"We've been finding in these more uncertain times, people prefer the comfort food of the performing arts, so we're trying to provide that," said Anchorage Concert Association Executive Director Jason Hodges.

"But at the same time we're still wanting to bring newer, very talented artists to town for people who are willing to be surprised and go on a little musical adventure with us."

Among the new acts are The Quebe Sisters (March 10), a fiddling trio playing vintage country and western swing; Davina and the Vagabonds (Feb. 2), a high-energy jazz/blues group with a lead singer who has been compared to Betty Boop, Amy Winehouse and Billie Holliday; La Santa Cecilia (Nov. 10), Grammy winners for Best Latin Rock Album; and '90s punk, jazz and swing band Squirrel Nut Zippers (Feb. 9).

On the non-musical end are Canadian actor Charles Ross' "One Man Star Wars Trilogy," (Dec. 1-2) a comical condensation of the original three films, and a session of storytelling series "The Moth." (Feb. 14)

This season's Broadway in Anchorage series shows are "Cabaret,"(April 24-29) "Rodger + Hammerstein's Cinderella" (Oct. 24-29) and "Little Shop of Horrors" (Feb. 20-25).

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Also on the lineup, but not part of the Broadway series, is the long-running hit "Menopause: The Musical." The show parodies retro pop songs to pay tribute to "the change."

The new season won't be confined to the Performing Arts Center.

Several of artists will venture into the community for outreach classes and events.

Neo-folk rockers The Ballroom Thieves are slated to perform with local music students during their September performance.

"They'll be backing the band up," Hodges said. "When I was (researching) The Ballroom Thieves I discovered they do work with youth musicians."

There are also plans for TAIKOPROJECT, a Japanese-style drum ensemble coming in March, to visit East High School to work with student musicians.

The Anchorage Concert Association will also continue their series of "secret shows" — by-invitation performances at venues around the city.

"We don't tell you where it is or who the artist is going to be, and then the day before the concert, we tell everybody where it is and who's playing," Hodges said. "The band plays about 20, 30 minutes, they usually have a food truck in the parking lot, and its, just a little social occasion with some great entertainment in  a pretty laid back, informal environment."

For the full 2017-2018 season schedule, visit anchorageconcerts.org.

 
 

Tamara Ikenberg

Tamara Ikenberg is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News.

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