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Celebrity Artist Series' 24th season opens

BLOOMSBURG — A deep-sea explorer, ventriloquist and jazz artists are a few of the performers and presenters for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Celebrity Artist Series' 2009-10 season. Tickets are on sale now as the series returns to Mitrani Hall in the newly renovated Haas Center for the Arts. One performance, a concert by the Georgia Guitar Quartet on March 27, 2010, will be presented in Carver Hall's Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium.

Programs featured in the 24th season are:

• Kevin Johnson, ventriloquist, Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m. Johnson has appeared on NBC's "America's Got Talent" and "Late Show with David Letterman." Audiences are entertained by his characters, birds Matilda and Clyde and ladies’ man, Harley. For more information on Johnson, visit www.kevinjohnson.tv.
• Cirque Le Masque, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cirque Le Masque features a combination of sight, sound, imagination and beauty in the style of Cirque du Soleil. Jugglers, acrobats, comics and aerialists perform feats of balance, grace and strength to music. Visit the group's Web site, www.cirquelemasque.com, for more information.
• Yamato, drummers of Japan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m. Yamato combines theater and musical arts into a performance of tightly synchronized percussion and expressive solos. Each performance features the sounds of several dozen drums enhanced with Japanese wind and string instruments. A pre-curtain speech on performance highlights will be offered in Haas Gallery, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.yamato.jp.
• The Ten Tenors, Saturday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m. This Australian group has performed for more than 77 million people and continues to sell out shows in London, Sydney and Los Angeles. Their live performances and recordings have received enthusiastic reviews, and their 2006 album reached gold and platinum status. For more information, visit www.thetentenors.com.
• Robert Ballard, "Tales of an Ocean Explorer," Thursday, Nov.19, 7 p.m. An accomplished deep-sea explorer, Robert Ballard is best known for his historic discovery of the sunken R.M.S. Titanic. He has conducted more than 120 deep-sea expeditions using the latest in exploration technology and is a pioneer in the early use of deep-diving submarines. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/field/explorers/robert-ballard.html.
• "Annie," the musical, Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m. The holiday season starts with the timeless tale of Orphan Annie. Annie clings to the hope her lost parents will someday come to reclaim her, while she and the other girls live under the iron rule of Miss Hannigan. "Annie" includes the scores "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow." A pre-curtain speech on performance highlights will be offered in Haas Gallery, Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.thebookinggroup.com.
• River North Chicago Dance Company, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, 7 p.m. River North Chicago has established itself as a professional, contemporary ensemble and one of the country's leading dance companies. The jazz-based company incorporates highly skilled and emotive dancers, stimulating music and bold choreography. A pre-curtain speech on performance highlights will be offered in Haas Gallery, Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.rivernorthchicago.com.
• Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, 7 p.m. Four top artists featured in the 2009 Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars join forces to bring a live snapshot of the longest running, continuous jazz festival to audiences. The show will include pianist Kenny Barron, known for his elegant playing; violinist Regina Carter, who has garnered seven Grammy nominations; baritone Kurt Elling, whose voice spans four octaves; and guitarist Russell Malone, who has toured internationally with vocalist Diana Krall. A pre-curtain speech on performance highlights will be offered in Haas Gallery, Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.cami.com for more information.
• The Georgia Guitar Quartet, Saturday, March 27, 2010, 8 p.m. The quartet takes an adventurous approach to chamber music as members draw inspiration from past and current music, both classical and contemporary rock, and incorporate their own compositions into their program. A pre-curtain speech on performance highlights will be offered in Haas Gallery, Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.georgiaguitarquartet.com for more information. This performance will be held in Carver Hall's Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium.
• Turtle Island Quartet, "Love Supreme: A Concert for the Soul," Saturday, April 10, 2010, 8 p.m. The Turtle Island Quartet won two Grammy Awards for best classical crossover album. The group fuses classical quartet and contemporary American musical styles. Visit the quartet's Web site, www.turtleislandquartet.com, for more information.
• The Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre in "Sleeping Beauty," Saturday, March 6, 2010, 7 p.m. The Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of Russia’s most distinguished artistic companies. The 65-member ballet company trains its dancers in its prestigious ballet training institution in Russia. For more information, visit www.hegmusic.com/The-Tchaikovsky-Ballet-Theatre.

For more information regarding ticket prices and events, call the box office at (570) 389-4409 or visit www.bloomu.edu/CAS. Orders may be placed in person at the box office, by telephone, online or a mail order form.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Education, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.

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