Small-town America brings nationally known performers to historic theater

LANCASTER GRAND THEATER 

News Release

LANCASTER — A variety of nationally known entertainers will mark the fifth season of the Lancaster Grand Theatre, the restored venue first opened in 1925. 

“We are thrilled to announce our outstanding lineup for our fifth season following our restoration as Central Kentucky’s home to world-class entertainment in our historical venue. Only five years in operation —  after being closed for 50 years and undergoing a 4.2 million dollar restoration — the theatre is a ‘can’t-miss’ destination for rich, cultural experiences for all ages,” said Debbie Hoskins, executive director of The Lancaster Grand Theatre.  “A theatre presenting programming as now scheduled at the Lancaster Grand Theatre is usually only found in much larger cities.  The intimacy of a historical venue like the Lancaster Grand makes it an ideal setting for all performances. It has become a destination for the arts and entertainment in Kentucky.”

American Girl Tea Event SPECIAL EVENT

Saturday, September 30, 2017 -2:00 p.m.    and May 12, 2018 – 2:00 p.m.    

Tickets: $40

American Girl is an American institution that celebrates girls for who they are today and who they can become tomorrow with their famous dolls.  More than 2,000 young ladies and their guests have already attended this event during past seasons.

Lunch and tea are served followed by an American Girl movie.  A talk about social dining etiquette is also given. Young ladies are invited to bring their doll to sit at the table in special seats along with moms and dads and other family members and friends.  

Jamie Farr – Tuesdays with Morrie, The Play

Tuesday, October 3, 2017  – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 30, 35, 40, 45

Tuesdays With Morrie is an autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor, brilliantly played by Jamie Farr of M*A*S*H fame.  Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

Tuesdays with Morrie a winner every day of the week.  The former MASH star is brilliant in Tuesdays With Morrie…guarantee it will make you laugh, cry, think and feel… The Toronto Star

Country Cool Comedy Tour

Saturday, October 7, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35

Country Cool is a straight shootin’ comedy show that laughs at what we’re all dealin’ with … the “this can’t really be happening” moments in life, that make us all feel like we’re losing our minds one traffic jam at a time. Trish Suhr, Karen Mills and Leanne Morgan all have southern roots but are well traveled, diverse, sharp and savvy. Their no-nonsense approach “tells it like it is,” but of course, with charm and style. It’s not redneck, it’s not white trash, these girls are country cool! It’s comedy for the masses, because let’s face it, everybody’s got a little country in ‘em.

These three women have been friends for over a decade and have stood in it, walked through it, and come out on the other side laughing. Their take on marriage, kids and aging will keep you in stitches and the laughs don’t stop there. This comedy show runs the gamut from topics ranging from sports to mastering technology to their undying support for the troops which gives them a universal appeal that both men and women can relate to.

Artrageous

Thursday, October 19, 2017 –     7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10,15,  20, 25, 30

Art and Music gone wild!

How much excitement is there in watching portraits being painted? Plenty!-if it’s accompanied by high energy dancing, singing, and lots of audience involvement! Proof is in watching a performance of ARTRAGEOUS, then actively participating in all the elements of the show. ARTRAGEOUS is an interactive art and music extravaganza unlike anything you have ever experienced. Rarely do you get the chance to experience some of the best things in life, together in one place. Live music, Live art, and over-the-top family fun!

Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat –

Performance for Schools

October 25, 2017    9:30 a.m. and 11: a.m.        

School Performance: Tickets: $10

From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears at their door, Sally and her brother know that the Cat in the Hat is the most mischievous cat they will ever meet. Suddenly the rainy afternoon is transformed by the Cat and his antics. Will their house ever be the same? Can the kids clean up before mom comes home? With some tricks (and a fish) and Thing Two and Thing One, with the Cat in The Hat, the fun’s never done!

A Christmas Carol

Monday, December 4, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets:  $30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60

A powerful story of redemption, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, has enchanted audiences the world over with its simple message of selfless giving. Ebenezer Scrooge, a most unrepentant, miserly fellow, is made to see the light as he survives a merciless battery of revelations by the ghosts of his own Christmases: Past, Present, and Future.

         This fully staged musical adaption of Dicken’s work is a timeless classic  filled with lush costumes, stunning sets, music, and dance featuring veteran Broadway actors.  

         With beloved traditional carols of the season included, A Christmas Carol is an enchanting way to begin the holiday festivities.  The performance has become an annual tradition at the Lancaster Grand Theatre!

Celtic Angels Christmas

Monday, December 11, 2017 – 7:30 P.M.

Tickets: $10, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45

Celtic Angels Christmas will captivate audiences with the magic of Christmas in an awe-inspiring show which encompasses vocal and instrumental seasonal favorites and Irish, contemporary and original Christmas themes with a Celtic twist.

Combined with stunning dance routines performed by tantalizing world-champion dancers, including acrobats from Cirque de Soleil, this show creates an unforgettable evening’s entertainment!

This family show is a holiday celebration of Christmas in Ireland featuring Christmas music from across the centuries, presented in inimitable fashion by some of Ireland’s finest female performers.

A Tribute to Hank Williams SPECIAL EVENT

Monday, January 1, 2018 – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 15, 20, 25

Hiram King Williams, born September 17, 1923, and died January 1, 1953 quietly in the back seat of a car driven by a college student hired to drive him to a New Year’s Day concert in Canton, Ohio.  What transpired in his 30 short years was nothing short of amazing.  Regarded as one of the most significant and influencial American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, Hank recorded 35 singles, (5 released  posthumously that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country and Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 number one (three posthumously).  Inducted into halls of fame, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961);The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame (1970); and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987).

Join us on New Year’s Day as we celebrate the life of Hank and his music career.

Henry Cho, Comedian

Saturday, January 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 20, 25, 35, 40, 45

     Henry’s TV credits include appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, CBS’s The Late, Late, Show, and NBC’s Young   Comedians Special. He served two years as host of NBC’s Friday Night Videos and had many guest roles on various network sitcoms. Henry was co-creator, co-producer and co-writer of “The Henry Cho Show” on GAC.

     Henry’s one hour Comedy Central Special, “What’s That Clickin Noise?” is currently running and he can also be heard daily on Sirrus, XM and Blue Collar Radio. He’s also a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry.

Some of Henry’s film credits include Universal’s McHale’s Navy with Tom Arnold & David Allen Greer; Say It Isn’t So with Heather Graham & Sally Field; and Material Girls with Hilary Duff & Angelica Houston produced by Madonna.

     Henry was the keynote entertainer for The 59th Annual Radio & Television Correspondents’ Dinner and has worked extensively with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood & many others. Henry’s clean comedy is so versatile that he can headline Vegas and tour with Michael W. Smith in the same month.

     Henry recently filmed the Faith-based Indy film “Saving Faith”, to be released in 2017, in which he is a featured performer and also co-producer.

Skatetacular Dreams on Ice

Tuesday, January 16, 2018  – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 20, 30, 35, 40, 50, 55

Join an all-star cast of world famous professional ice skaters, singers, dancers, and cirque acts as they glide across the stage in an ice experience like no other. Introducing Skatetacular Dreams On Ice: the first ever ALL ORIGINAL live sung ice musical, featuring a one of a kind soundtrack from Mirror Mirror Music. Follow our cast as they dream through the seasons in search for eternal winter, but beware nothing is more powerful than your imagination. For in a moment you could be skating right into a fiery solstice or winter storm. It’s up to the audience to help Ella find her path back to her winter dream. This new age ice show is a great interactive show for everyone. Featuring a wonderful storyline that is sure to connect with all audiences, it’s an amazing mix of the music of today with a twist of cirque and comedy – and it’s on done on ice at the Lancaster Grand Theatre.

An Evening with Jimmy Webb, America’s Songwriter

Friday, January 26, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 20, 30, 35,40, 50, 55

Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer and singer known worldwide as a master of his trade. Not many artists can say they premiered a classical nocturne and had a rap hit with Kanye West (“Do What You Gotta Do” on “Famous”) in the same year, but Jimmy’s career is full of surprises. Since his first platinum hit “The Worst That Could Happen,” Webb has had numerous hits including “Up, Up and Away,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,”“Galveston,” “All I Know” and “MacArthur Park,” and has also become a leader and mentor in the industry as a champion for songwriters.

Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. His numerous accolades include the prestigious Ivor Novella International Award (2012) and the Academy of Country Music’s Poet Award (2016). In 2016 Rolling Stone Magazine listed Webb as one of the top 50 songwriters of all time.

Jimmy Webb was the youngest person ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and served as its Chairman. He has also served proudly as the Vice Chair of ASCAP. Jimmy Webb’s songs have been recorded by some of the greatest voices of all time including Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Feinstein and Judy Collins as well as bands like R.E.M. Per BMI, his song “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” was the third most performed song in the 50 years between 1940 and 1990. Webb continues to write and record, and has released ten solo albums since the 1970s, while also writing for other artists. His latest two CDs, “Just Across the River” and “Still Within the Sound of My Voice,” feature duets with friends including Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, JD Souther, Glen Campbell, Lucinda Williams, Mark Knopfler, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett and Keith Urban, among others.

Webb currently tours the world (50 concerts in 2016) with a variety of concerts, “An Evening with Jimmy Webb” – a humorous master class of songs and stories; “Jimmy Webb: The Glen Campbell Years” – a multimedia celebration of his friend and collaborator; and a Pops concert. In October 2016 Webb premiered his “Nocturne for Piano and Orchestra (Nocturne for “Lefty”)”.

Irving Berlin’s, I Love a Piano        

Thursday, February 1, 2018  – 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets: $10, 20, 25, 35, 40, 45

I Love a Piano is a nostalgic musical journey spanning seven decades of American history as seen through the eyes of Irving Berlin – a man who Jerome Kern described by saying “Irving Berlin has no place in American music… He is American Music!” The show tracks the life of a piano with one sour key through four generations of singers and dancers who have performed with and around it.

With over 60 of Berlin’s enduring and popular favorites, this spectacular new show captures the spirit of America from the Ragtime rhythms of the early 20th century through the swinging sophistication of the 1920s and 30s. From the sentimental songs that inspired a nation during two World Wars to the innocent optimism of the 1950’s. Timeless classics, such as “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” do more than define the music of a generation, they define the music of America.  The show will also feature the music of Cole Porter, Gershwin and others.

Exile – Celebrating 55 Years Tour

Thursday, February 15, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50

Exile formed in 1963 looking to play small clubs in Richmond, KY but managed to top both the pop and country charts during their more than 54 year-long career. Their mist successful hit, “Kiss You All Over” spent four weeks at the top of Billboard’s pop chart in 1978.  In the early 1980s  Exile started to focus on country music. During their run on the country charts Exile has successfully had ten No.1 singles including “I Don’t Want to be a Memory” and “Give Me One More Chance.” The five original member of Exile reformed in 2008 and kick off their 55th Anniversary Tour this year.

In the Mood

Monday, February 26, 2018  – 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets: $10, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60

IN THE MOOD is a Big Band theatrical swing revue featuring a company of 19 on stage: the sensational thirteen-piece String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra and the IN THE MOOD Singers and Dancers, including a high-flying swing dance couple. It’s the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and other greats of the 1940’s. The show’s music arrangements, costumes and choreography are as authentic as it gets!

The brassy, big band sounds of IN THE MOOD will take you back to one of America’s greatest musical generations – the 1940’s Swing Era. The show recreates the era with sizzling choreography, sassy costumes and over 40 unforgettable songs performed live on stage, like “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B),” “In The Mood,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Sing, Sing, Sing” and more. The second act is a moving tribute to those who served our country.  If you love big band music – this is this is the show to see.

It’s the greatest music from the swing era in a revue about the big band era and the influence of this music during the WWII years. The IN THE MOOD band and singers were also selected to be part of the entertainment for the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ball.

Rhythm of the Dance

Tuesday, March 6, 2018     – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 25, 35, 40, 45, 55

Rhythm of the Dance celebrates both the rich history of Ireland as well as the art of Irish dance, from the disciplined tradition of the Celtic Step, to the sensual ancient dance style. Rhythm of the Dance has heralded a new era in Irish entertainment, featuring 30 dancers, a traditional live full Irish band, and the vocals of the Young Irish Tenors.

Internationally rated as one of the three most popular and successful Irish dance shows on tour (with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance) critics, audiences, and millions of fans around the world, have hailed the live stage show as a must see!

The Modern Gentlemen (aka) Frankie Valli’s Four Seasons

Thursday, April 12, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, 25, 30, 35, 45, 50

An all-star vocal group originally brought together by the legendary Frankie Valli!   The perform with Frankie Valli across the world singing as his Four Seasons. With the stylings of classic vocal groups like The Four Freshmen and Hi-Lo’s, they blend todays sound of a Michael Bublé times four to create the ultimate vocal experience for all ages performing over 5 decades of classic hits from Rock, Pop and Doo-Wop!

They’ve toured all over the world from Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra, Broadway, Asia, Canada, and down under in Australia and New Zealand. They’ve appeared with The Beach Boys, The Manhattan Transfer, Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson and so many other greats, as well as performed for presidents of The United States and Prince William!

SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND MOVIES

The Lancaster Grand Theatre is offering performances and movies for area public, private and home school students.  Student tickets vary from $5.00 to $10.00 for a live performance, and student movie tickets are $2.50.  

Artrageous

Thursday, October 19, 2017 – 11:00 a.m. – Tickets: $8

Dr. Seuess’s Cat in the Hat

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 – 9:30a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – Tickets: $10

A Christmas Carol

Monday, December 4, 2017 – 11:00 a.m. Tickets: $12

Celtic Angels Christmas

Monday, December 11, 2017 -9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – Tickets: $10

Skatetacular

Wednesday, January 17, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. – Tickets: $10

Rhythm of the Dance

Tuesday, March 6, 2017 – 11:00 a.m. – Tickets: $10

     Movie Selection

A Movie Selection will be announced in the future.

Tickets for all performances are currently available.  They can be purchased by calling 859.583.1716, or in person at the box office at 117 Lexington Street, Lancaster from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.