From Elvis to Stones tribute to 'Cats': Local arts ready for 2019-20 season

Their 2019-20 seasons won't begin until fall, but several Knoxville-area major arts organizations have announced and are selling season tickets for their upcoming slates.

Individual tickets are often sold at later dates than tickets for entire or partial seasons. 

So what's coming up? There are many choices.

The University of Tennessee's Clarence Brown Theatre runs each of its theatrical seasons during the college academic year. The first show begins in August; each season ends in May. 

The theater's 2019-20 season incorporates plays — from rock 'n' roll with a Tennessee connection to a holiday standard to Shakespearian tragedy.

The season begins with the musical "Million Dollar Quartet," Aug. 28-Sept. 22. Set on the CBT mainstage, "Million Dollar Quartet" tells about the December 1956 impromptu jam session that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins held in Memphis' Sun Record Studios.

After the last "Million Dollar Quartet" show on Sept. 22, Oliver Springs native and Tony Award winner Levi Kreis will perform his "Broadway at the Keys" concert. The separately ticketed 90-minute concert is at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the theater. 

Kreis originated the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in "Million Dollar Quartet" on Broadway and won a Tony for his performance. He'll play record producer Sam Phillips in Clarence Brown's show.

'Carol' returns, Hamlet laments 

Season ticket packages are on sale at https://clarencebrowntheatre.com. Single show tickets go on sale Aug. 5. The other plays in the Clarence Brown upcoming season are: 

"People Where They Are" plays Oct. 2-20 in the Carousel Theatre. The play was inspired by  East Tennessee’s Highlander Center. “Exit, Pursued by a Bear" is Oct. 30-Nov. 10 in the Lab Theatre. The play has been described as a "wild revenge comedy" set in the mountains of north Georgia.

"A Christmas Carol" returns Nov. 27-Dec. 21 on the Clarence Brown mainstage. The theater presents its popular adaptation by Edward Morgan and Joseph Hanreddy again. UT theater associate professor Jed Diamond returns as Ebenezer Scrooge.

"Blithe Spirit" plays Feb. 5-23 on the mainstage. Playwright Noel Coward called his play about marriage, love, ghosts and psychics an "improvable farce." "Hamlet" comes to the Carousel Theatre Feb. 26-March 15. The play by William Shakespeare has been called the greatest play in the English language.

"The Clown Project" plays March 25-April 5 in the Lab Theatre. Physical comedian Zack Fine and UT students will use clown techniques to create an original performance piece about the power of friendship. The theater ends the season with the musical "A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder" April 22-May 10.

'Broadway' at Tennessee includes 'Fiddler,' 'Cats'

The Tennessee Theatre's 2019-20 series "Broadway at the Tennessee" waits until after Christmas this year to begin; season tickets are at https://www.tennesseetheatre.com.

Broadway's season of six plays with 34 performances begins Dec. 27-29 with "Fiddler on the Roof." Other shows are "Miss Saigon," Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2020; "Waitress," Feb. 28-March 1; "A Bronx Tale," April 3-5; "Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," May 5-10; and the season closer "Cats," June 19-21.

The theater also promotes two "add-on" performances as part of the Broadway series. Those are "The Color Purple," Nov. 5-6; and The Blue Man Group, April 21-23.

A date for single ticket sales for individual shows has not been announced.

KSO season includes a Neil Diamond tribute

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's 2019-20 season of pop performances begins with a tribute to pop legend Neil Diamond. "Super Diamond: The Ultimate Neil Diamond Tribute!" is 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Tennessee Theatre.

The remaining KSO pops series includes:

"Singin' in the Rain," 8 p.m. Jan. 11, Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The KSO will play the music of the classic film starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds as the film is shown on the big screen.  

"The Texas Tenors," 8 p.m. Feb. 8, Civic Auditorium. This trio found success on "America's Got Talent" and now has four studio albums, two PBS specials and numerous awards. 

"Music of The Rolling Stones," 8 p.m. March 7, Civic Auditorium. This concert with such Stones hits as "Satisfaction" and "Honky Tonk Women" comes from the same people who led KSO tributes to Led Zeppelin, Queen, Journey and Pink Floyd.

"Symphony of Illusions with Michael Grandinetti," 8 p.m. April 4, Civic Auditorium. Grandinetti will perform magic to the sounds of the orchestra.

"Swingin’ Symphony," 8 p.m. May 9, Civic Auditorium. The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra performs with the symphony; music includes tunes by Duke Ellington and George Gershwin. 

The Neil Diamond and the Rolling Stones concerts are "add-ons" to the KSO five-concert subscription package. Season tickets are at www.knoxvillesymphony.com. Single tickets go on sale in August.