The “Cabaret” national tour kicks off the second half of the 2017-18 Performing Arts Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

The bricks of Ohio University’s Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium will be swinging this spring semester as OHIO’s Performing Arts and Concert Series is poised to host a Tony-winning Broadway production, numerous award-winning musicians and another Stage Door Series performance.

Performing Arts Series

The second half of the 2017-18 Performing Arts Series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, when the “Cabaret” national tour rolls into Athens for a one-night performance. This Tony-winning musical debuted on Broadway in 1966 and continues to inspire audience members around the world to follow their hearts while the world loses its way.

The Performing Arts Series continues through March with three musical performances, including:

• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16 – This Grammy Award-winning South African male choral group has been performing worldwide for more than 50 years – all while teaching audiences about South Africa and its culture. Dubbed by Nelson Madela as “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors,” Ladysmith Black Mambazo has collaborated with numerous other artists, most notably with Paul Simon on his 1986 “Graceland” album. 
• The Birdland All-Stars featuring Tommy Igoe, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20 – New York’s legendary Birdland jazz club, complete with drumming sensation Tommy Igoe, comes to Ohio University on a tour that includes new arrangements featuring the music of David Bowie, The Police and Steely Dan, as well as fresh interpretations of iconic works by Charlie Parker, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. 
• Kenny G, 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 23 – The biggest-selling instrumental musician of all time brings his Grammy- and American Music Award-winning sound to OHIO for an evening filled with music spanning his three-decade and 23-album career.

Concert Series

The 2017-18 Concert Series resumes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, with 3 Doors Down’s “Back Porch Jam” Tour. This Grammy-nominated multiplatinum rock band brings an acoustic interpretation of its hits, fan favorites and deep album cuts to OHIO’s Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. As an added bonus, all ticket purchasers will receive a limited-edition digital EP with acoustic performances of three of the band’s hits. 

The Concert Series goes philanthropic on Saturday, Feb. 10, with the Dustbowl Revival and special guests the Tillers and Doc Robinson for a special 7 p.m. Stage Door Series performance to benefit Adyn’s Dream. An Athens-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Adyn’s Dream raises funds through live musical events for families with children born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The Stage Door Series, launched in the spring of 2016, invites concert-goers to join the performers on stage for an intimate musical experience. Every ticket dollar generated from this Stage Door Series performance will go to Adyn’s Dream. 

Other spring semester Concert Series performances include:

• CMT Next Women of Country, 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23 – The fourth annual CMT Next Women of Country Tour comes to Ohio University with headliner Sara Evans, an Academy of Country Music and County Music Association Award-winning musician, and featuring RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr.
• An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 21 – Singer, composer, actor and Grammy winner Lyle Lovett returns to the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium stage with his long-time friend, singer, songwriter, author and Grammy winner Shawn Colvin. 

Special add-on performances

The spring semester Performing Arts and Concert Series will also include two special add-on performances to coincide with OHIO’s two spring semester Family Weekends.

Magician Daniel Martin hits the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, for a special Sibs Weekend performance. Among his accolades, Martin’s award-winning magic was featured on the BBC’s “Top 100 Magic Moments in History.”

The 2017-18 Performing Arts and Concert Series concludes Saturday, April 7, with an 8 p.m. “Masters of the Mind” Moms Weekend performance. Four internationally-acclaimed mentalists – Jeff and Tessa Evason (also known as the “Psychic Duo”), the “Mind Artist” and Guy Bavli (better known as the “Kinetic Man”) – demonstrate the power of the mind via telekinesis, hypnosis, mind reading and predictions. 

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Additional shows will be announced throughout spring semester.

Part of Ohio University’s Campus Involvement Center, the Performing Arts and Concert Series is open to the public, with discount tickets for students and senior citizens available for many shows. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 740-593-1780 or visit https://www.ohio.edu/performingarts/.

Grammy Award-winning musicians Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin will grace the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium stage on Wednesday, March 21.

Daniel Martin brings his magic to the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, for a special Sibs Weekend performance.