“Mavis Staples is the most underrated diva of the century. She has an almost superhuman ability to implant the pure power of passion and emotion.”—Rolling Stone

From her early days sharing lead vocals with her extraordinary family, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, Mavis Staples is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. Ms. Staples began her career with her family in 1950. Led by father Roebuck “Pops” Staples on guitar and featuring the voices of Mavis and her siblings, Cleo, Yvonne, and Pervis, they scored a hit in 1956 with “Uncloudy Day” and went from popular gospel singers to being the most spectacular and influential spiritually-based group in America. By the mid-1960’s, inspired by Pops’ friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Staple Singers became the spiritual and musical voice of the civil rights movement. Ms. Staples (with The Staple Singers and on her own) is responsible for blazing a rhythm and blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots, influencing artists from Bob Dylan to Prince (who dubbed her "the epitome of soul"). She is a Lifetime Grammy Award winner, National Heritage Fellowship award winner, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee and is included on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll. Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples will be performing her classic hits and songs from her new album, We’ll Never Turn Back.

Tickets are $32 Regular, $30 Seniors and Students

Joe Bonamassa started playing on a short-scale Chiquita guitar at the age of four, by age seven he was playing a full-scale guitar. A year later he was playing the blues like a veteran. Joe started performing in local venues at 10, and at 12 was asked to open for blues legend B. B. King. After hearing him play, King said “this kid’s potential is so great that he hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface. He’s one of a kind…a legend before his time.” While still in his teens, Joe, along with musician Berry Oakley, Jr., signed to EMI Records and produced their debut CD called Bloodline featuring the two chart hits, “Stone Cold Hearted” and “Dixie Peach.” After years of success and a string of hit albums, Joe has become involved with the “Blues in the Schools” program, developed by the Blues Foundation, to promote the heritage and legacy of Blues music through workshops about the evolution of Blues music from late 1800’s in the Delta to present day. Join us on October 19th for what promises to be a truly memorable concert!

Great memories are waiting with Trippin’ the 60’s starring Barry McGuire and special guest, Mason Proffit founder Terry Talbot. Singer-songwriter Barry McGuire, whose 1965 hit single, “Eve of Destruction,” knocked the Beatles out of the #1 spot, will “trip” into the 60’s with Terry Talbot and share the spirit of that unforgettable decade with a collection of songs and personal stories. Trippin’ the 60’s will feature McGuire’s hit songs like “Green, Green”, his first and greatest hit with the New Christy Minstrels, songs and stories of his first back-up group, The Mamas and The Papas, his run as the lead in the Broadway musical, Hair, and his influential encounters with Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn. “Eve of Destruction” has never sounded better. Terry Talbot achieved recognition as a skilled guitarist with music legends Glen Campbell, Chad Mitchell and Sonny & Cher. Talbot will sing his Grammy nominated music including the Mason Proffit hit, “Two Hangmen,” and share memories of his touching friendships with John Denver, Janis Joplin and The Eagles. Come and experience an unforgettable generation—up close and personal!

Tickets are $15 Regular, $13 Seniors and Students

Big Brother and The Holding Company evolved out of the San Francisco rock scene of the mid-1960’s and moved straight into the forefront of the psychedelic music movement. Their early hits include “Hall of The Mountain King,” “Down On Me,” and “Summertime.” In 1966, music legend Janis Joplin joined the band and became an instant hit. Later, Big Brother and The Holding Company were invited to play at the Monterey Pop Festival and shot into the national spotlight. After signing with Columbia Records, their album, Cheap Thrills became a tremendous success and monopolized the number one spot on the charts for eight weeks. This edition of Big Brother & The Holding Company is one you don’t want to miss. Their hits are as alive today as they were in the 60’s.

Tickets are $15 Regular, $13 Seniors and Students

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is Scotland’s only Regiment of Cavalry. Formed in 1971, they are the combination of two famous regiments, the third Carabiniers and the Royal Scots Grey, which can claim to be two of the oldest surviving Cavalry of the Line in the British Army. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are renowned for their outstanding Pipes and Drums, which held the Top of the Charts with “Amazing Grace.” They have performed around the world, including the Queen Mother’s birthday celebration and the Edinburgh Tattoo. The Band of the Coldstream Guards has existed for more than 200 years, making it the one of the oldest Military Bands in the world. Consisting of 49 musicians, the Band of the Coldstream Guards produces a sophisticated musical performance. They appear regularly in concerts around the UK and have toured successfully around the world, playing for heads-of-state and service chiefs.

Tickets are $44 Regular, $42 Seniors and Students

Considered one of the world’s greatest flamenco guitarists, Paco Peña has toured the world playing in such prestigious venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. During his illustrious 40- year career, he has collaborated with renowned artists including John Williams and Elliot Fisk. In 1985, he was the first to be honored as the “Professor of Flamenco Guitar” at the Rotterdam Conservatory and has held the title ever since. After his very successful and universally-acclaimed tour of Misa Flamenco, Mr. Peña returns to the Center in a new and brilliant show called A Compás! which highlights the power and the passion of music and dance from Southern Spain and features superb musicians and dancers who are a joy to watch.

Tickets are $40 Regular, $38 Seniors and Students

Younger brother of the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets, the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre was founded in 1966 and is one of the most distinguished classical companies in Russia. It is one of the few ballet companies in Russia to be given the honor and the highest official status by the Russian government as “State and Academic Ballet” along with the Kirov and Bolshoi State and Academic Ballet Theaters. Nearly all of the company’s teachers, coaches, and dancers have studied and graduated from the revered Vaganova Ballet Academy. Highly esteemed both nationally and internationally, the Vaganova Ballet Academy has produced the greatest ballet artists of all times. Over the years, the company’s creativity has grown and the mastery of the high traditions of Russian Ballet is now being passed down to a younger generation of artists, both Russian and foreign. The current artistic director is Yuri Petukhov, who was named the People’s Artist of Russia, State Prize Laureate of Russia, and Laureate to International Ballet competition. The St. Petersburg Ballet Theater will perform their fully-staged, full-length production of Giselle and will feature gold and silver medal principals.

Tickets are $44 Regular, $42 Seniors and Students

Bob Newhart’s career has spanned two successful television shows, 14 feature films and millions of albums sold worldwide and he still performs to sell-out crowds all over the country. His first album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was the first comedy album to go to #1 on the charts and is still ranked as the twentieth Best Selling albumof all time, according to Billboard. Seven albums followed afterwards with each being extremely successful multi-platinum projects. During his recording career, he earned three Grammy awards.Mr. Newhart also earned an Emmy and a Peabody award for his work on the Bob Newhart Variety Show and later had phenomenal success with The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Newhart (1982-1990). His numerous films include Hell is for Heroes, Catch-22, In & Out and most recently as Papa Elf in Elf with Will Farrell. Since 2005, Mr. Newhart has had a recurring role on the hit TV series Desperate Housewives. Mr. Newhart has also been honored with the distinction of being heralded as an “American Master” by the PBS documentary of the same name. In 2006, he released his New York Times bestseller, I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This and The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry to be preserved for all time! Don’t miss comedic legend Bob Newhart at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $50 Regular, $48 Seniors and Students

Rick, Peter, Ellie, and Carrie are all excited to start the new year, but Lazlo S. Gasky isn’t excited about being the new kid in school. Lazlo is the typical seven-year-old boy, but since he doesn’t quite look or speak like the other students, he gets teased and taunted, no one picks him for baseball, and no one sits with him during lunch. When Ellie realizes how tough Lazlo has it, she decides to spend an afternoon with him. Ellie and Lazlo teach their classmates a valuable lesson about giving others a chance. Adapted from Katie Couric’s popular children’s book, this uplifting new musical proves that being yourself is the best way to be.

Recommended for ages 5 and up • Tickets are $7 Adults, $6 Seniors and Students

Master Puppeteer Jim West returns to the Performing Arts Center with tons of puppet fun. Join Jim and Fossil, the dinosaur detective, as they mix fun and facts in their colossal production of Dinosaurs. Inspired by everyone’s favorite prehistoric creatures, this show combines classical music, puppet construction and dinosaur facts into a charming and hilarious performance. Among the dinosaurs featured in this amazing show are a Tyrannosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and an Apatosaurus.

Recommended for ages 5 and up • Tickets are $7 Adults, $6 Seniors and Students

Ever wonder what it was like for kids who’ve lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? In this special project with the White House Historical Association, the Kennedy Center imagines stories about the children of our nation’s Presidents—beginning with this exciting new musical inspired by Theodore Roosevelt and his family! In the summer of 1904, young Kermit, Ethel, and Archie Roosevelt stumble upon a real-life treasure map hidden in a copy of Treasure Island. They decide to work as a team and follow the clues to solve the mystery that leads them from the Red Room to the President’s Office to the Lincoln Bedroom. Find out where the clues lead in this clever and comical production featuring songs by Washington satirist Mark Russell, whose PBS specials have led TV Guide to call him “the funniest man on television.”

Recommended for ages 9 and up • Tickets are $7 Adults, $6 Seniors and Students

Seven-year-old rabbit, Ruby loves her Grandma and wants to do something special for her. She decides to put on a show, with music, costumes, a castle and everything, but she’s going to need a little help. Ruby decides to recruit her little brother Max. Ruby wants to do a play about a princess, but Max is already playing a cowboy. Ruby wants to look for costumes, but Max wants to look for frogs. Ruby realizes Max is no help at all so she gets her Bunny Scout friends to help. Can they help Ruby finish Grandma’s play in time? Based on the top-rated Nickelodeon television show inspired by Rosemary Wells’ bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, this charming new musical is full of fun and sibling revelry.

Recommended for ages 5 and up • Tickets are $7 Adults, $6 Seniors and Students

It’s a very busy day for Pooh in the Hundred AcreWood. He has to complete his stoutness exercises, catch a Heffalump with Piglet, and search for Eeyore’s missing tail. Rabbit also needs his assistance in an elaborate plan to play a trick on Kanga and Baby Roo, while Owl dispenses some bird-brained advice. Join Christopher Robin and his friends, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo and, of course, everyone’s favorite bear, Winnie the Pooh; in this enchanting musical based on the stories by A. A. Milne.

Written by Howard Ashman with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, this black comedy is about a poor young man named Seymour, working in a run-down flower shop, who discovers a mysterious plant after a solar eclipse. After bringing it to the flower shop, Seymour soon gains fame and fortune. The only drawback—the plant only feeds on human blood. Don’t miss this hilarious musical featuring show-stopping songs such as “Skid Row,” “Suddenly Seymour,” “Grow for Me,” and “Feed Me.”

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

Written by Howard Ashman with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, this black comedy is about a poor young man named Seymour, working in a run-down flower shop, who discovers a mysterious plant after a solar eclipse. After bringing it to the flower shop, Seymour soon gains fame and fortune. The only drawback—the plant only feeds on human blood. Don’t miss this hilarious musical featuring show-stopping songs such as “Skid Row,” “Suddenly Seymour,” “Grow for Me,” and “Feed Me.”

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a classic tragedy of power, greed and fate. The desires and appetites are enormous, the scope vast. How better to bring out the larger-than-life aspects of this play than to use the stark beauty and mystery of Butoh and the sublime vulnerability and fragility of clown to throw the themes of this play into strong relief. Butoh is a contemporary avant-garde dance form that originated in Japan and was first performed there in 1959. It combines dance, theater, improvisation and influences developed in Japan after World War II. Although its form varies widely, it primarily focuses on the transformation of the performer into abstractions and symbols of primal human experiences, sometimes with the use of white body makeup which is also used in Clown Theater. Clown theater is high-stakes physically and emotionally risky. Clowns go where the rest of us dare not tread. Clowns can take Macbeth by the teeth and give it a good shake.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a classic tragedy of power, greed and fate. The desires and appetites are enormous, the scope vast. How better to bring out the larger-than-life aspects of this play than to use the stark beauty and mystery of Butoh and the sublime vulnerability and fragility of clown to throw the themes of this play into strong relief. Butoh is a contemporary avant-garde dance form that originated in Japan and was first performed there in 1959. It combines dance, theater, improvisation and influences developed in Japan after World War II. Although its form varies widely, it primarily focuses on the transformation of the performer into abstractions and symbols of primal human experiences, sometimes with the use of white body makeup which is also used in Clown Theater. Clown theater is high-stakes physically and emotionally risky. Clowns go where the rest of us dare not tread. Clowns can take Macbeth by the teeth and give it a good shake.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

With the right song and dance, you can get away with murder. Chorus girl Roxie Hart is charged with murder, but with a clever lawyer and a bit of razzle dazzle, she goes from cold-hearted killer to toast of the town. Written by Bob Fosse and Frank Ebb with music and lyrics by John Kander and Frank Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six Tony awards and is one of Broadway’s most popular and exciting musicals. This sultry and seductive musical will feature stylish choreography and hit songs like “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “When You’re Good to Mama,” and “Hot Honey Rag.”

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

With the right song and dance, you can get away with murder. Chorus girl Roxie Hart is charged with murder, but with a clever lawyer and a bit of razzle dazzle, she goes from cold-hearted killer to toast of the town. Written by Bob Fosse and Frank Ebb with music and lyrics by John Kander and Frank Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six Tony awards and is one of Broadway’s most popular and exciting musicals. This sultry and seductive musical will feature stylish choreography and hit songs like “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “When You’re Good to Mama,” and “Hot Honey Rag.”

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

Written by Noah Haidle, Mr. Marmalade is a hilarious comedy about adult behavior shown through the eyes of two very bright children. Lucy is only four years old and has a vivid imagination. In the long hours Lucy spends without her preoccupied mother, she creates strange new world that revolves around a too-busy businessman name Mr. Marmalade, who never has time for the child who adores him. When he misses yet another tea-time, Lucy throws him over for the troubled five-year-old Larry from next door, with his own imaginary friends. Soon things go from bad to worse.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

Written by Noah Haidle, Mr. Marmalade is a hilarious comedy about adult behavior shown through the eyes of two very bright children. Lucy is only four years old and has a vivid imagination. In the long hours Lucy spends without her preoccupied mother, she creates strange new world that revolves around a too-busy businessman name Mr. Marmalade, who never has time for the child who adores him. When he misses yet another tea-time, Lucy throws him over for the troubled five-year-old Larry from next door, with his own imaginary friends. Soon things go from bad to worse.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

The Montgomery College Rockville Dance Company continues its annual tradition with a program of exciting and original dance works by Montgomery College students and faculty, as well as Washington, D.C. area choreographers. Audiences will be treated to a diverse showcase of ballet, jazz, and tap. Don’t miss this dazzling display of dancing prowess.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

The Montgomery College Rockville Dance Company continues its annual tradition with a program of exciting and original dance works by Montgomery College students and faculty, as well as Washington, D.C. area choreographers. Audiences will be treated to a diverse showcase of ballet, jazz, and tap. Don’t miss this dazzling display of dancing prowess.

Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

Suggested donation is $10

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

This performance is free and open to the public.

Suggested donation is $10