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Something for Everyone: Comedy, clowns, music and variety included in series by School of the Arts

Winston-Salem Journal
By Ken Keuffel

The next Something for Everyone comes pretty close to living up to its name.

The series, presented by the UNC School of the Arts in the Stevens Center, will begin Sept. 19 with a comedy called Mama's Night Out and end May 22 with Mary Wilson of the Supremes. The other attractions will include a return visit by Gaelic Storm (Oct. 9); "Stay Tuned," a variety show (Nov. 13); "The Lettermen Christmas Show" (Dec. 19) and Jim Lauderdale, a Grammy award-winning bluegrass artist (Jan. 9). Aga-Boom will perform March 4, showcasing clowning rooted "in the unique European theatrical style."

As for musicals, Hairspray will be presented Feb. 26 and 27. And the funny Church Basement Ladies will arrive April 1, celebrating a church-basement kitchen and the women working in it.

"You are looking for variety and you're looking to please a wide, diverse audience," said Joy Perry, Something's programming and marketing director. "It's difficult oftentimes to narrow down exactly what it is you're going to book."

But several guidelines became apparent as she began piecing together the "puzzle" about 18 months ago. The guidelines were gleaned from audience surveys and artist showcases at booking conferences.

Moreover, an economically challenging environment suggested the need for an affordable "escape" in the form of "a lot of comedy and a lot of nostalgia artists," she said.

Single-ticket prices will range from $21 to $53, up from the ticket prices for this season's series ($16 to $41). But take Hairspray out of the mix, and the highest single-ticket price is $42 for Mary Wilson.

"I don't think we've ever had a ticket price quite that high," Perry said of Hairspray ($53). "But our other shows are right in line with previous shows' ticket prices."

Perry said that Hairspray has generated a lot of interest. In the musical, which is set in the 1960s, Tracy Turnblad aims to vanquish the reigning princess of a televised dance show, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate the show -- all without denting her 'do.

Hairspray will be presented three times over two days.

"The question is: Can you sell three shows?" Perry said. "A lot of times I only do one night (for a series attraction) because that's all I feel I can sell. It's a gamble; there's no guarantee that you're going to sell anything."

Perry said that there are "a lot" of things she'd like to bring in -- but can't, because of audience tastes.

"We do live in the Bible belt," she said. "We do live in a section of the country where you can offend pretty easily if you're not careful…. To be perfectly honest, I want to get butts in seats. I want to bring in things the community wants to see. If they want to see conservative, then that's what I'm going to book."

It's worth noting, too, that Perry will rely on ticket sales to fund 80 percent of Something's $300,000 budget for next season. The rest of the money will come from student fees and from ticket proceeds from this season's series. The proceeds no longer fund UNCSA scholarships.

"It's pretty high-pressure," Perry said. "I'm expected to sell tickets."

One show out of the Something norm will be Aga-Boom. Press materials describe clowns cutting "through the barriers of language and culture with the art of slapstick, the humor of physical comedy and the delighted excitement of childhood."

Perry said that Aga-Boom satisfies her desire for at least one series show that is for all ages. In addition: "We've never done a show with European, avant-garde style of clowning," she said. "It's sort of old school, almost mime-type clowning. It's just so different, fun and unique."

Something has become both a nice community service for patrons who want fare beyond UNCSA's usual programming and a way for current UNCSA students to gain experience working behind the scenes as stagehands.

And often, a show in the series will feature a UNCSA alumnus, either on stage or behind it. In January, for example, Jim Lauderdale will perform bluegrass, having received a bachelor's degree in acting in 1979. His Bluegrass Diaries won a 2008 Grammy award for the best bluegrass album of the year.

"It's nice to be able to complete the circle," Perry said.

How To Get Tickets:

Tickets for the next Something for Everyone series are now on sale.

All shows will be at the Stevens Center, 405 W. Fourth St., and each will begin at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

Single-ticket prices, ranging from $21 to $53, differ from show to show. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.

Season tickets are $235 (orchestra) and $208 (balcony).

A dinner buffet will be served on the 10th floor of the Stevens Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. before each evening show. The cost of each dinner is $23.

To order tickets, go to www.tickets.com or call the center box office at 721-1945.