Pearson Lakes Art Center 2009 Performing Arts Season

Press release from the Pearson Arts Center in Okoboji Iowa.

For Immediate Release: The Pearson Lakes Art Center’s 2009 Performing Arts Season

For information and tickets call 712.332.7029

General Information:

• It takes almost a year to put together the season
• Tickets for members of the Pearson Lakes Art Center went on sale Friday, August 22, 2008
• Tickets will go on sale for non-members on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10am.
• Members get a 15% discount on tickets until September 6^th and Non-members get 10%

The Pearson Lakes Art Center is thrilled to be able to present your 2009 performance season. Many hours and months have gone into creating this schedule. We have designed this season much like the last three years, so that there is something for everyone! We have 24 events planned including the third installment of the “Growing Iowa’s Economy Speaker Series.”

Many of our performances will have educational components for youth or the public. These performances are marked with an E. Keep an eye out for the public and student workshops being offered throughout the year by our various performers. All of our performances include our ever popular “Final Set,” a meet and greet with every performer that comes through our building. This is the perfect opportunity to get your memorabilia signed by the artists themselves and ask any questions you may have. We offer most of our shows as packages, individual tickets, or as a season pass. This year’s packages are as follows: National Package, Jazz, Blues & Zydeco Package, Performance Package, the Pomerantz Hall Summer Fun Package, Children’s Series, Speaker Series and Lakes News Shopper Free Performances. Let’s take a closer look at these packages!

NATIONAL PACKAGE: The national package is an exciting mix of national and international artists with remarkable credentials. This year’s national package performers are Roger McGuinn from the legendary band The Byrds, Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter Michael Johnson, The ever popular Irish Party band, Gaelic Storm, One of the best Showbands from the 70’s, New Odyssey and the BEST sketch comedy troupe touring, Chicago’s The Second City!

ROGER MCGUINN: September 18, 2009

The PLAC is thrilled to present Mr. Roger McGuinn, one of the most important names in rock and pop music history. Mr. McGuinn is a music legend and perhaps one of the most accomplished and versatile musicians in the history of rock and roll. He has played on, arranged, written and produced some of the most famous records in the history of popular music. Founder of one of the most important groups in the history of pop music, THE BYRDS, his legendary status is well established.

MICHAEL JOHNSON: August 17, 2009

Michael is an artist the PLAC has tried to bring to our stage for a number of years, and in 2009 he’ll be finally performing at Okoboji. His voice quickly identifies him as the man who sings “Bluer than Blue” and “That’s That”, a soundtrack for our lives. He has toured with John Denver, performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and released 20 albums.

GAELIC STORM: February/March 2009

Holders of the record for the largest attended show ever in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theater-it’s GAELIC STORM! How could we not bring them back? Gaelic Storm is known world-wide as one of the finest Irish performing groups, period! They are regular visitors to Billboard’s World Music Charts and have released five CD’s internationally. Comprised of six talented musicians, they appeared in the blockbuster movie Titanic as the “party band” in the steerage scene. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!!

This is a GUARANTEED SELLOUT!!

NEW ODYSSEY: June 9, 2009

Three guys...40 instruments! Remember the days of the great Okoboji Showbands like Dave Major & the Minors, the Upson Downs, and The Fall Guys? Well those days are back! New Odyssey last appeared here in the late 1970’s at the Grand- View Show Room and since then they have gone on to be the nations #1 rated show band. They perform the best Big Band hits to hilarious musical comedy sets. This is a show for everyone.

CHICAGO’S THE SECOND CITY: July/August 2009

In the world of stand-up and improvisational comedy, NO name is bigger than Second City. They are the “Beatles of Stand-Up Comedy.” This Chicago based comedy troupe hosts such alumni as John Belushi, Gildna Radner, and Dan Akroyd, to name a few. We are excited to bring them back after the 2007 sellout show. Believe us!! GET TICKETS EARLY!!!

JAZZ, BLUES & ZYDECO PACKAGE

We are always asked to bring in top quality jazz and blues and we aim to please so this year we have a great mix of blues, jazz and a little zydeco as well. Artists include Zydeco artist ever: Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Delfeayo Marsalis, and a big night of blues and soul with The Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings and soul singer Tad Robinson

TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE (E): March 11, 2009

We are so pleased to present the 2008 Grammy winner as the best Zydeco musician performing today...Lafayette, Louisiana’s Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience. Terrance has been performing for 23 years and was the first Zydeco artist to be asked by the U.S. State Dept. to tour and perform in Cuba. He is the creator of one of the finest children’s music education programs in the country that teaches about Zydeco music and the Creole culture...Creole for

Kidz. In addition to his public performance, he will be hosting three workshops for grade school students. In true Mardi Gras style we will have Gumbo samples from Remington’s Restaurant.

DELFEAYO MARSALIS (E): May 14, 2009

Marsalis...need we say more! The Marsalis family is the “best of the best” when it comes to Jazz and we are thrilled to have trombone player, Delfeayo and his band come to the PLAC. Delfeayo is currently serving as the curator for the Minnesota Orchestra’s jazz series.

BIG NIGHT OF BLUES & SOUL: October 22, 2009

The PLAC Big Blues Night was named one of the best nights in blues by Blues Revue Magazine in 2008!

CHICAGO RHYTHM & BLUES KINGS: Hailing from Chicago is one of the most respected blues and rhythm groups! The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings is a six man powerhouse performance. TAD ROBINSON: Tad has been hailed as one of the finest blue eyed soul singers performing today. Tad is a 3 time W.C. Handy Award Nominee. When a singer cites his music influences as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Dusty Springfield you know you are in for an incredible evening of live “old school” soul!

POMERANTZ HALL SUMMER FUN CONCERT Package is always a lot of fun and this year is no exception. We have Dave Rowley & Friends, The Headliners and Rockin' Jake

DAVE ROWLEY & FRIENDS: August 20, 2009

Dave Rowely brings his talented group of friends back to the PLAC for an “end of summer” show that people talk about! It is an incredible evening of pop music with great vocals. Dave Rowley & Friends: A truly fun summer show!

ROCKIN JAKE: July 8, 2009

It’s a night of BBQ, Hot Sauce and High Steppin’ New Orleans Fun! Rockin’ Jake’s live show is one not to be missed. It is a mix of zydeco, blues, swamp funk, and second line. Jake is considered THE finest harmonica player to ever hail from “The Big Easy” and is a 5 time winner of New Orleans’ OFF BEAT magazine’s coveted “Best of the Beat” Award for best harmonica player. And if that isn’t enough, Jake is an award winning barbecue chef and will be cooking up some sweet and spicy samples for all of the PLAC patrons.

THE HEADLINERS: June 17, 2009

It’s a tradition that the PLAC present The Headliners for another night of fun and great music. People enjoy their eclectic mix of all kinds of jazz; from Latin jazz, to standard jazz favorites. This is always one of our best received shows of the summer.

PERFORMANCE PACKAGE consists of top quality classical performances by professional performers. Our Hancher Show is always the highest quality, Michael Antonello Event, Dancers in Company and the return of John Moore

HANCHER ARTIST SHOW (E): TBA

We will schedule a performance presentation through Hancher Auditorium for the 2009 season. At this time we don’t know the exact artist but a special show is planned. We expect this performance to be held in November 2009. There may be a workshop associated with this show.

MICHAEL ANTONELLO (E): Fall/Spring 2009

We are very fortunate to be able to bring back Violin Master, Michael Antonello for our 2009 performance season. A special event will be announced soon regarding his performance.

A JOHN MOORE CHRISTMAS: December 10 & 12, 2009

From Milford, Iowa to New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, we are thrilled to bring back the Lake’s Area’s own John Moore. John is currently working in New York City’s Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Program; a master’s degree type program for extraordinary opera singers. You will have to wait a long time to hear vocals this outstanding. He will be hosting two performances for the 2009 holiday season!

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA’S DANCERS IN COMPANY (E): April 25, 2009

One of the finest college based dance companies will come to the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre stage as the University of Iowa’s Dancers in Company return to the PLAC. Dancers in Company is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students selected through a rigorous audition process. Their performance will be a combination of jazz, ballet and modern dance; something U of I is known for! They will also host a workshop for area dance students.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE SHOWS!

We will once again be working with TheatreworksUSA from New York City to bring TWO children’s theatre shows to Okoboji. These shows will be added to our regular public schedule.

February 15, 2009

Our spring performance will be IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE & OTHER STORIES.

The fall show will be announced soon!

LAKES NEWS SHOPPER FREE PERFORMANCES – We are thrilled to work with the Lakes New Shopper to provide free entertainment throughout the year for the community. These are all professional and exciting performances.

THE PINES: April 9, 2009

We are excited to present Red House Records recording artists, The Pines. This group consists of Benson Ramsey, son of the legendary Iowa musician Bo Ramsey and his musical partner David Huckfelt. They have recently signed with the nations premier roots and fold record label, Red House Records, and are on tour of their new CD, “Sparrows in the Bell”. If you like Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, Mason Jennings, then you will want to experience The Pines Live at the PLAC

AN EVENING WITH SHAKESPEARE: Returning in 2009 will be the PLAC and the Lakes News Shopper’s popular “An Evening with Shakespeare”. Mission Theatre Company, the first professional, year round theatre company in the Iowa Great Lakes, will be performing Renegade Shakespeare; a pastiche of the Bard’s great plays. It is a mix of the comical, tragical, historical and much more. In addition members of OST will be invited to appear in this outdoor setting

LAKES NEWS SHOPPER FREE FALL SHOW TO BE ANNOUNCED

Do not hesitate to secure your packages. Call the box office at 712.332.7029

Schedule subject to change at any time.

We hope you enjoy the offers from our 2009 performing arts season…remember these are great gifts for friends and family…or a wonderful treat for yourself.