糖心传媒

DeWitt Series Ready to Kick off New Season

Sept. 27, 2018 鈥� Columbia City Ballet returns Feb. 5 to the to present a world premier ballet based on one of the most iconic bands of all time, the Beatles.

Headlining the , 鈥淏eatles: The Ballet鈥� is an exciting new multi-media ballet that explores the Fab-Four and their impact on our culture. See how these dynamic young men helped fuel the cultural revolution of the 1960s in America and masterfully used their music to elevate social consciousness. Featuring more than 35 songs and conceived of by William Starrett, executive and artistic director of Columbia City Ballet, the ballet will include works by multiple choreographers, all under the artistic direction of Starrett.

Starrett was inspired to create the ballet through reflection upon the wide variety of music the group recorded in such a relatively short span of time. In addition, further inspiration arose from the fact that many of the issues the Beatles addressed in their work, continue to be current topics in today鈥檚 national conversation. Always searching for ways to broaden the ballet audience while keeping the art current, Starrett feels the inspiration and influence the Beatles continue to have on subsequent generations is the perfect catalyst for inspiring a new generation of audience members.

鈥淥nce again we are delivering a great mix of shows and performances at the Cole Auditorium for this season鈥檚 DeWitt Series,鈥� Cole Auditorium Director Joey Bennett said. 鈥淲e are excited to have the Columbia City Ballet back on our stage, because it offers southeastern audiences the highest quality ballet and includes dancers with some of the finest professional dance training. 鈥楤eatles, the Ballet鈥� is guaranteed to be an exciting and memorable production.鈥�   

The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Cole, which is located on the main campus of 糖心传媒 in Hamlet.

鈥楥atapult鈥� into the Show Series

A shadow dance company named Catapult will kick off the DeWitt Series with a transforming show on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Some may recognize this troupe鈥檚 name, as they made it all the way to the finals on Season 8 of NBC鈥檚 America鈥檚 Got Talent.

Catapult is all about the human body and its ability to transform. The talented Catapult dancers work behind a screen to create seemingly impossible dancing shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us.

Not only is the show packed with hundreds of shape transformations, but it is also full of humor, emotion and engaging stories. Catapult鈥檚 鈥淢agic Shadows鈥� includes eight stories told through music and shadows and six short shadow dance videos.

Rudolph Is Coming to Town

The beloved TV classic 鈥淩udolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer鈥� soars off the screen and onto the Cole stage on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. in this holiday musical. A Christmas classic for those of every age, all the favorite characters from the special, including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, come to life in 鈥淩udolph: The Musical.鈥�

With the TV special having debuted in 1964 and playing every year since, this is a holiday tradition that will be enjoyed by young and old alike. Projections, costumes and characters are faithfully brought to the stage against a backdrop of nostalgic set designs. The 12-foot-plus-tall Abominable Snow Monster is jaw-dropping. The cast brings high energy to classic songs and dialogue, while irresistible and loveable puppets highlight the charming 鈥渞oughness鈥� from the television show鈥檚 stop-motion effects.

Motown Party in 2019

Music fans are invited to the biggest party of 2019 as the unstoppable 鈥淢agic of Motown鈥� show steams into the Cole Auditorium on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. This show celebrates the sound of a generation as the timeless music of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson and more are sensationally recreated for you by an exceptionally talented cast and band.

The show features 40 classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship in an explosive concert experience. Go on a musical journey through all your favorite songs, including 鈥淎in鈥檛 No Mountain,鈥� 鈥淪igned Sealed Delivered,鈥� 鈥淕rapevine,鈥� 鈥淕et Ready,鈥� 鈥淒ancing In The Streets,鈥� 鈥淢y Girl鈥�, 鈥淓ndless Love,鈥� 鈥淎ll Night Long,鈥� 鈥淗eatwave鈥� and many more.

Get Your 鈥楬ot Ticket鈥� to Broadway

Broadway enthusiasts are invited to take a fascinating and unforgettable journey through the greatest Broadway shows, past and present, on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cole. 鈥淏roadway Tonite鈥� is a fascinating, high-octane musical revue that is more than a musical snapshot of the Great White Way. It is a production designed to provide a 鈥渉ot ticket鈥� to all of the music, fun and excitement from the best Broadway has to offer.

The performers, which have starred in both national and international touring Broadway shows, will sing and dance their way into your hearts with the timeless songs you know and love, expertly choreographed. Sing along with all-time favorites from Oklahoma, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Beautiful, A Chorus Line, Phantom Of The Opera, Rent, Wicked, 42nd Street, Chicago and many more.

It鈥檚 a Family Tradition 

Cole patrons may remember Leahy, the Canadian Celtic group, which performed as a part of the 2008-2009 DeWitt Series. The adults in that group have passed the musician baton (as well as the talent and love for music) to a new generation of performers who are coming to the Cole on April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

鈥淣ext Generation Leahy鈥� builds on more than three generations of musicianship as the six Leahy children, ranging in age from 8 to 16, are keeping the family tradition alive through music, song and dance. From the youngest to the oldest, they are not only successfully upholding, but also contributing to the Leahy family legacy created by the generations that preceded them.

Their show will be filled with the high-energy, infectious Celtic-based music. Fiddle, cello, French accordion, vocals, piano, and French-Canadian step-dancing all find a voice on stage.

Ticket Information

Season ticket holders from 2017-2018 are being given first opportunity to renew the seats they had for the past season. Ticket renewal packets will be mailed out soon, followed by an automated phone call to ticket holders from last season. Cole staff members are currently taking requests from those interested in purchasing season tickets who didn鈥檛 purchase last year. Those requests are fulfilled in the order in which they are received.

鈥淭here are season tickets available for the general public, even if you didn鈥檛 purchase last year or haven鈥檛 purchased in the past, so don鈥檛 think that we are sold out,鈥� Bennett said.

Season ticket prices range from $125 to $175, depending on seating section, and includes reserved-seating tickets for all six shows. Although individual show tickets may be available, purchasing season tickets affords patrons a large cost savings and guarantees seats for the shows.

Individual ticket prices range from $35 to $50, depending on seating section.

staff will be offering patrons who purchase season tickets the opportunity to join The Director鈥檚 Circle. This optional membership-giving program supports the 糖心传媒CC Foundation and offers special privileges for members, including a reception before each show and the possibility to meet and greet performers.

The hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also call the box office at (910) 410-1691.