A season of stars: 2019-2020 McCain Performance Series features kings of comedy, Broadways hits, music greats and more
Friday, June 7, 2019
The 2019-2020 McCain Performance Series at Kansas State University will feature a show by comedy giants Steve Martin and Martin Short at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — The 2019-2020 McCain Performance Series at Kansas State University will be a season of stars with comedy giants, country and pop music greats, popular Broadway musicals and much more.
Upcoming attractions include comedy kings Steve Martin, Martin Short and Ken Jeong; recording greats Travis Tritt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bobby McFerrin and Kool & The Gang; and Broadway hits "RENT," "Finding Neverland," "The Color Purple" and "Beautiful — The Carole King Musical." Classic literature also will come to life with stage versions of "1984," "The Odyssey" and the beloved children's book "Anne of Green Gables" as a ballet.
Be ready for feats of awe when Cirque Mechanics' "42FT — A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels" and Diavolo: "Architecture in Motion" take center stage. Travel the world with performances by Russian Renaissance, the Irish acoustic group Lunasa, The Kingdom Choir from London and the 2018 royal wedding, the Four Italian Tenors, Venezuelan native Siudy Garrido's Flamenco Dance Theater and noted American musicians Chris Thile on mandolin, John Hiatt's acoustic show, the Imani Winds with Jon Nakamatsu, Gary Mullen and the Works performing the music of rock group Queen, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and songwriter and performer Susan Werner. Top it off with "In the Mood," featuring the swing music hits of the 1940s.
Holiday time will bring some special celebrations with the Oak Ridge Boys' Christmas Tour and Jane Lynch from "Glee" and Kate Flannery — Meredith from "The Office" — with "A Swinging Little Christmas." The McCain series also offers shows kids will enjoy, including the prehistoric smash "Dinosaur World Live!" and the wizardry of "Piff The Magic Dragon."
Season tickets will go on sale Monday, June 10, with discounts available for those who subscribe to seven or more events. Single tickets will be available starting Monday, Aug. 5. To get priority seating, join the Friends of McCain with a season ticket order of seven or more events by Friday, June 28. Friends of McCain members receive other exclusive privileges, including invitations to meet the artists, free parking and access to the Director's Lounge before shows and at intermission. Benefits vary by donation level.
Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office or by calling 785-532-6428. Download a season brochure at k-state.edu/mccain. Tickets are half-price for youth 18 and under and for Kansas State University students with their student ID.
And don't forget to mark your calendar for the biennial McCain Home Tour on Sunday, Dec. 8. Featured homes on this year's tour and ticket information will be announced in the fall.
The following shows are part of the 2019-2020 McCain Performance Series. All events will be in McCain Auditorium unless otherwise noted.
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8.
• The Four Tenors: "Viva Italia," 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13.
• Steve Martin and Martin Short, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.
• The Kingdom Choir, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2.
• Siudy Garrido Flamenco Dance Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10.
• Russian Renaissance, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13.
• An Acoustic Evening with John Hiatt, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.
• Ken Jeong, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27.
• Diavolo: "Architecture in Motion," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.
• "42FT — A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels" — Cirque Mechanics, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.
• Oak Ridge Boys: 2019 Christmas Tour, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.
• Jane Lynch: "A Swingin' Little Christmas," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10.
• Travis Tritt, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13.
• "The Color Purple," 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.
• Squirrel Nut Zippers and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.
• "Finding Neverland," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020.
• Bobby McFerrin: "circlesongs," 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 2020.
• Imani Winds with Jon Nakamatsu, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
• Chris Thile, mandolin, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.
• "RENT," 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.
• "Dinosaur World Live," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.
• Lunasa, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, Wareham Opera House.
• "In the Mood," 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2020.
• "1984," 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
"The Odyssey," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2020.
• Susan Werner, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2020, Wareham Opera House.
• "Piff The Magic Dragon," 6 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2020.
• "Beautiful — The Carole King Musical," 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2020.
• Kool & The Gang, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2020.
• "Anne of Green Gables, The Ballet," 7 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2020.
