By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts has set the stage for what it hopes will be an exciting year.
The BCPA’s new season includes 27 concerts and festivals. Director Tina Salamone told WJBC’s Susan Saunders, more acts are expected.
PODCAST: Listen to Susan’s interview with Salamone on WJBC.
“We have offers out in country, in comedy and in pop rock that we hope to announce in the next four to six weeks,” Salamone said.
Those already scheduled to perform include David Cassidy; Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain; ‘All My Children’ alum Walt Willey as ‘Wild Bill’ Hickock; a Frank Sinatra tribute on his 100th birthday and the Vanderbilt Melodores, the former NBC ‘Sing-Off’ champions who are led by Normal Community alum William Woodard.
BCPA will host a new beer festival in late August, similar to Bruegala which moves to the Corn Crib in Normal this summer. Another outdoor show is planned in October – the Northern Exposure Music Fest, which will feature eclectic music.
Tickets go on sale for all shows on June 4, but the BCPA’s ‘Arts Partners’ can buy tickets today.
Salamone said the BCPA has a new, lighter brochure that can be more widely distributed at the same cost.
“The piece we had been sending out traditionally is kind of heavy and costs a lot to print and (mail), so we only sent out about 13,000 last year and we had so many asking where they can get their own copies,” Salamone said, adding this year’s lighter program has gone out to about 28,000 prospective customers.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
