Mark your calendars! Fans of great entertainment can look ahead to a fun and exciting 2019-20 season of diverse performances from Opening Nights at Florida State University.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie announced the season will be dedicated to President and Dean Emeritus Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, who died May 20. D’Alemberte established the annual tribute to the arts in 1999, known then as Seven Days of Opening Nights, during his tenure as FSU president.
The 2019-20 lineup will present an eclectic series of 30 performances, including music, dance, theatre, comedy, spoken word and visual arts.
Favorites such as The Beach Boys, Sister Hazel and The Righteous Brothers will perform, along with emerging artists like Celtic folk singer Julie Fowlis and cellist/singer-songwriter Shana Tucker who taps into jazz, classical, soulful folk and acoustic pop with her self-described genre of ChamberSoul™.
“Several of the most exciting and hottest artists will be coming to Tallahassee this season,” said Michael Blachly, director of Opening Nights. “The unique talents of these individuals and groups will delight our audiences and offer meaningful opportunities to reflect on the performances.”
The 2019-20 season begins Sept. 16 with the Alabama-based soul rock band St. Paul & The Broken Bones and ends April 27 with the Canadian folk pop duo Dala.
Black Violin — featuring Florida natives Wil B., who studied at FSU, and Kev Marcus — will return to Ruby Diamond for their hip-hop, jazz performance Feb. 13.
Other highlights this season: Hiplet Ballerinas, who fuse classical ballet with hip-hop and other urban dance styles, Oct. 3; a holiday performance by quintet Canadian Brass, Dec. 10; singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth, Jan. 28; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, an all-male comic ballet company, Feb. 8; The Pirates of Penzance, presented by New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Feb. 11; Sir James Galway, an Irish virtuoso flute player, March 5; and multiple Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti, March 30.
Two performances will be family-friendly matinees with all seats available for $10. The Magic of Kevin Spencer on Halloween will be a “sensory-friendly performance” appropriate for children with autism, as well as children of all ages and abilities. On Feb. 1, David Engel’s Starforce Academy will captivate kids with his intergalactic parody variety show.
In addition to the traditional FSU venues, Opening Nights will host several performances off campus throughout the community to reach a broader audience. The venues will include Fred Turner Auditorium, Goodwood Museum and Gardens, Pearl in the Wild and Pebble Hill Plantation.
To order tickets and view the full season lineup, visit OpeningNights.fsu.edu. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 16. Patrons who have subscribed to any of Opening Nights’ five membership levels will be able to purchase tickets in advance of general public ticket sales.
About Opening Nights at Florida State University
Opening Nights is Florida State University’s official performing arts presenter, bringing world-class talent to campus and the capital region. For more information, visit OpeningNights.fsu.edu.