BPACC kicks off 2016-17 season Saturday

The Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center has announced its 2016-17 season, which kicks off Saturday. See the first few months of events below, with more at bartlett-express.com. BPACC is at 3663 Appling Road in Bartlett.

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  Aug. 27: Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters at 8 p.m. You may know Billy Bob Thornton as an Academy Award-winning actor, but his true passion lies in music and performing for live audiences. This group is rooted in American country rockabilly music, and their music carries great Southern storytelling messages.

• Sept. 8-11: “Stones in His Pockets” by the Bartlett Repertory Company at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. This two-man play written by Marie Jones centers around a major Hollywood film studio descending on a sleepy village in Ireland. It is a fast, funny and brilliant tragicomedy.
• Sept. 16: The band Solas (meaning “light”) marks its 20th anniversary this year and will perform in Bartlett at 8 p.m. Some have described it as the premiere country and Celtic band to ever emerge from the U.S. The band’s sound is explosive, seductively personal, timelessly melodic and rippling with modern tones. They bring a fresh and unexpected arrangement of age-old tunes and compelling originals.

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  Sept. 23: Collin Raye at 8 p.m. Experience an electrifying country music singer who continues to produce soulful, heartfelt music and who has 24 top ten records, 16 No. 1 hits and 10 nominations as male violist of the year.

• Oct. 7: Janelle Arthur at 7 p.m. Hailing from a small town in East Tennessee, Arthur has been singing since she was 8 and has never looked back. Her popularity grew after being a top-five finalist from the 12th season of “American Idol.” Having made multiple appearances on the “Grand Ole Opry” she brings her soft yet powerful voice to BPACC’s first DinnerStage performance of the season.
• Oct. 22: “Your Town on Stage” at 8 p.m. Experience the telling of Bartlett’s history with the award-winning musicians John Latini and Jamie-Sue Seal, as well as a photo slideshow of the city, history and more. The story-telling will feature the talents of local kids as they help sing on stage. This performance is also part of Bartlett’s sesquicentennial celebration.
• Oct. 29: “Southern Fried Chicks” at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. This all-female group, featuring Etta May, is busting out of the henhouse with a new show, the “Cage-Free Comedy Tour!” The performance is filled with stories, music, audience participation, singing and dancing.
• Nov. 12: Good Lovelies at 8 p.m. This upbeat Toronto-based trio relies on their unerring three-part vocal harmonies and clever songs to produce music drawn from their folk roots and western swing. They have parlayed stunning harmonies with playful and sunny original songs.
• Nov. 18-19: “Mr. Otis’s Dance Boot Camp Showcase” at 7 p.m. This production by TheatreKids in grades 7-12 features jazz, ballet and tap dance routines, to name just a few.
• Dec. 10: Emile Pandolfi at 8 p.m. One of America’s best-loved pianists returns to the BPACC stage for his second holiday concert, which also features vocalist Dana Russell. They perform rich and remarkable medleys with lush arrangements of popular Christmas classics.
• Jan. 14: Matt Beilis at 8 p.m. With just him and his ivory keys, Beilis makes the stage come alive. He tells the story of how the greats in the music industry have shaped the music of today. He brings his own flare of songwriting with his distinct voice, and he delivers a soothing mixture of soulful R&B grooves and a twist of soft rock.

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  Jan. 28: Melinda Doolittle at 8 p.m. Vocalist and songwriter Doolittle displays artistry and style in a soul-stirring evening of music. She became a household name during Season Six of “American Idol” with her powerhouse vocals and charm. According to the “New York Times” she has a voice “that inspires trust … a phenomenally gifted, stylistically adroit singer.”

• Feb. 3: Little Memphis (Brian Less) at 7 p.m. Enjoy an intimate dinner and performance by a powerful and energetic vocalist and pianist as he plays a wide range of songs, all while begging the audience for suggestions. Less played for Taylor Hicks for 15+ years, so he knows how to engage an audience and make it fun.
• Feb. 17: Loren & Mark at 8 p.m. A guitar duo who have mastered their craft, these artists share a strong musical chemistry. Their diverse repertoire of original music consists of stunning guitar instruments as well as vocal duets. They are influenced by Americana, jazz, country-western and classical music.
• Feb. 25: Dana Louise and the Glorious Birds at 8 p.m. Louise (daughter of Ezra Idlet of the Grammy-nominated musical partnership Trout Fishing in America) brings her vibrant, melodic vocals and finger-picking music to the Bartlett stage. Drawing her music from jazz and bluegrass, she carries a contemporary beat that is contagious.
• March 10: “Route 66” at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. This ’50s musical is a rip-roaring, pedal-to-the-metal road trip down memory lane, featuring hits such as “Dead Man’s Curve,” King of the Road,” Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” and of course “Route 66.” Come “Get your kicks … on Route 66.”
• March 23-26: “Hairspray” at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Join the audience for this production put on by TheatreKids in grades 7-12. The play follows a plump teenager who follows her dream to dance on a local TV dance program and becomes a celebrity overnight.
• April 1: Bartlett Community Concert Band at 7 p.m. This annual concert showcases soaring musical arrangements by 65 talented community musicians under the direction of Dr. Rhendle Millen.
• April 15: “Guy Bavli: Master of the Mind” at 8 p.m. Experience the award-winning mentalist and entertainer, featured in more than 400 TV shows and a veteran of performances in 50 countries. This performance offers a combination of humor, heart-stopping stunts, mind illusions and telekinesis mixed with audiovisuals.
• April 20-23: “Always a Bridesmaid” at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Bartlett Repertory Company, a professional theater troupe, closes out its season with a throwback to their very first BPACC performance by presenting a play by the same playwrights: Jones, Hope and Wooten. In this comedic romp, four friends have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their senior prom—to be in each other’s weddings, no matter what.
• May 5: Pickin’ Picnic at 6 p.m. This free outdoor concert is staged under the stars on the lawn next to the theater at Appling Lake. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics, or they can purchase food from the on-site vendors.
• June 17: Missoula Children’s Theatre at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. This popular children’s theatre event spotlights the youngest of theatre lovers (grades K-12). Auditions will be June 12. There’s no charge to participate, and children will be chosen for a production that will be rehearsed and performed over a one-week period. The specific production has not yet been determined.

For more information on the 2016-17 season, visit the BPACC website at bpacc.org, call (901) 385-6440 or email bpacc-sales@cityofbartlett.org. Tickets are available online at bpacc.tix.com.