By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER Lifestyles & Features Editor
The historic Turnage Theater in downtown Washington is gearing up for Saturday’s opening-night celebration of its third season.
The black tie-optional event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a wine-and-cheese reception, according to Scotty Henley, the Turnage Theaters Foundation’s executive director. The opening-night show features the Four Freshmen, a group that introduced a new vocal sound to the world of jazz a half century ago. Tickets are $70 per person for orchestra and mezzanine seating.
Saturday’s show is the first of many special events slated for the Turnage stage this season, Henley told the Daily News.
“I hope that everybody has a chance to look at our offerings for this third season,” he said. “I think they’ll find many things they’d like to come see at the Turnage, which helps support the Turnage.”
Among the upcoming shows is Bearfoot, bluegrass veterans of the Turnage’s first season. The group from Alaska has a new lead singer. It has been nominated for this year’s Emerging Artist of the Year award. Tickets range from $15 to $20 per person.
“I Love a Piano” is planned for Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. Presented by an off-Broadway cast, the all-singing, all-dancing musical review features six decades of American music by Irving Berlin. Tickets are $28 per person for orchestra and mezzanine seating, and $18 per person for balcony seating.
On Oct. 8, the Turnage will present the Aquila Theatre Company’s “As You Like It” at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 or $30 per person. And on Oct. 17, Dillon Fence will present a night of “indie rock” beginning at 8 p.m. Those tickets are $15 or $20 per person. Rounding out the October schedule will be Missy Raines and the New Hip at 8:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $15 or $20 per person.
Turnage shows continue into 2010 with such offerings as a concert by Washington native Tim Waters on Nov. 7, “An Evening with Groucho Marx” on Nov. 13, East Carolina University’s Storybook Theatre on Nov. 14, “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Nov. 21, Tar River Swing Band on Dec. 18, ECU’s “Charlotte’s Web” on Jan. 23, “Everybody’s Hero: The Jackie Robinson Story” on Feb. 28 and The Taffetas on March 13.
A Turnage fundraiser, billed as A Lavish Night of Entertainment, Where the Pamlico and Tar Rivers Meet, is being organized and will be presented Oct. 3 beginning at 7 p.m.
The event includes live music, comedy and dance, according to Henley. Admission price ranges from $15 to $22 per person.
An early announcement of performers includes the Donald Underwood Thompson Band, Dick Feyer’s Tribute to Elvis, The Green Grass Cloggers, Dennis Modlin and The Back Creek String Band, singer/songwriter Scott Wilkinson, vocalist Courtney Stevens and the East Carolina University Tap Dance Ensemble.
Prior to the main show, a “meet-and-greet” event will showcase the work of several local artists in the Turnage lobby from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Tickets for all these events are available at the Turnage box office, located at 150 W. Main St., Washington, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
More information about these and other performances at the Turnage Theater can be found at turnagetheater.com.