JACKSON, WYO. – April 28, 2010 – Since opening the doors on the Center Theater in March 2007, the Center for the Arts has been bringing world-class performances to Jackson Hole. With its 2010-11 Center Presents season it continues that tradition, expanding and even improving upon previous years.

“We’ve put together a very exciting mix of national headliners, local talent and family entertainment representing a wide range of styles and genres,” said Clare Payne Symmons, executive director of the nonprofit Center for the Arts.

This year’s Center Presents season again includes several performances co-presented with two Center resident organizations. With Dancers’ Workshop, the Center will host The Chamber Ensemble of the New York City Ballet – an unprecedented opportunity for both organizations as well as for the community at large – as well as Ballet Jazz Danse Montreal and San Francisco-based LINES Ballet. With the Off Square Theatre Company, the Center will co-present “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical.”

The 2010-11 Center Presents season is as follows:

Sunday, May 9: The Young Dubliners – A longtime favorite of Jackson Hole music fans, the Irish-American rockers return to the valley for their Center Theater debut. YoungDubliners.com
Saturday, May 22: Jackson 6 & Calle Mambo – Two of Jackson Hole’s finest working bands present traditional New Orleans jazz and sizzling Latin rhythms.
Monday, July 19: George Winston – The famed pianist-composer visits with his new disc, “Love Will Come,” in hand. GeorgeWinston.com
Monday, July 26: Jackson Hole Hootenanny – Teton County’s weekly all-acoustic mini folk festival returns to the Center Theater for another all-star special installment.
Sunday, Aug. 1: Joan Armatrading – The English singer-songwriter-guitarist remains a distinctive voice and powerful presence in the music world, as evinced by her 2010 release, “This Charmed Life.” JoanArmatrading.com
Friday & Saturday, Aug. 6-7: The Chamber Ensemble of the New York City Ballet – A week-long residency includes three performances, offering a rare opportunity for an intimate look at one of the world’s greatest ballet companies.
Thursday, Aug. 26: Herbie Hancock’s The Imagine Project – A true icon of modern music, the keyboardist has over his 50-year career won 12 Grammy Awards and made 50-plus albums as a leader, including jazz’s first platinum-selling record, “Headhunters.” HerbieHancock.com
Sunday, Sept. 12: Gerry Spence – The nationally known attorney, commentator, author and photographer speaks about law, liberty and life in Wyoming. GerrySpence.com
Sunday, Sept. 19: Anne and Pete Sibley – Jackson Hole’s husband-and-wife folk duo returns for another intimate evening of angelic harmonies. AnneAndPeteSibley.com
Friday, Oct. 1: BJM Danse Montreal – This internationally renowned repertory company works with some of the most prestigious choreographers in the world of dance and contemporary ballet.
Friday, Oct. 15: “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical” – The Kennedy Center offers this fun and fast stage version of Mo Willems’ Caldecott Honor-winning favorite.
Monday, Oct. 18: Taj Mahal with Vieux Farka Touré – The globetrotting bluesman teams up with the Malian guitarist to explore their commonalities and contrasts. TajBlues.com
Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011: The Flying Karamazov Brothers – The Brothers blend performance art, improvisation, word play and above all virtuosity into a unique form of entertainment. FKB.com
Friday, Jan. 21, 2011: Jackson Hole Showcase – The Center again shines the spotlight on local musicians, actors, dancers and other performers, with host James Booth.
Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011: Richter Uzur Duo – Cellist Viktor Uzur and guitarist Brad Richter are classical musicians of the highest caliber, but their concerts highlight a range of musical interests from rock to world music. RichterUzurDuo.com
Friday & Saturday, Feb. 18-19, 2011: LINES Ballet – The acclaimed San Francisco-based contemporary dance troupe returns to Jackson Hole to present its stirring rendition of “Scheherazade.”
Sunday, April 17, 2011: Leon Redbone – The distinctly individual performer continues his love affair with flapper-era radio ditties, Depression-spawned ragtime and World War II folk-jazz. LeonRedbone.com

Tickets for all Center Presents performances go on sale at noon on Wednesday, May 5. Tickets can be purchased online at www.JHCenterForTheArts.org or in person at the Center Box Office at 265 S. Cache St. or by phone at (307) 733-4900. The Center Box Office is open noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours before any ticketed performance.

“Ticket prices alone do not pay all the costs of bringing world-class talent to Jackson Hole,” Payne Symmons said. “With few exceptions, the Center for the Arts loses money every time it opens the doors to the Center Theater. We are therefore endlessly grateful to the generous local and regional businesses that have joined us as Corporate Sponsors to present this year’s season.”

The list of businesses that have joined the Center for the Arts’ Corporate Sponsor program has expanded greatly over last year:

43 North
Blue Spruce Cleaners
Circumerro Media
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole
Fighting Bear Enterprises
First Interstate Bank
GE Johnson Construction Co.
Hawtin Jorgensen Architects
High Country Linen Supply
Ignight
Jackson Hole Art Auction
Koshu Wine Bar
Line One Tax & Accounting
The Liquor Store
Mechco Inc.
Net Jets
Rainmaker, Inc.
Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole
Snake River Brewing Co., Inc.
Tegeler & Assoc. Insurance
Teton Motors
Town of Jackson
Town Square Inns
Trauner Designs Inc.
Wells Fargo
The Wort Hotel

Don Kushner, the production manager and technical director for the Center for the Arts, is largely responsible for assembling the Center Presents season. “It is the result of several months work by more than a few enthusiastic community members, as well as the staff and board at the Center For the Arts,” he said.

For additional details about the 2010-11 Center Presents season, or about the Center for the Arts in general, contact Doug Henderson at the Center for the Arts at (307) 734-8956 ext. 13 or Doug@JHCenterForTheArts.org.