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In its eighth season of bringing world-class entertainment to East Texas, ÿÈÕ´óÈü¹ÙÍø's Belcher Center announces its 2014-2015 season featuring a diverse lineup of shows, including a special season event: Blue Man Group.
This year's Performance Series features
• Oct. 4-5-National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China
• Oct. 23- "Anything Goes"
• Nov. 24- "Elf: The Broadway Musical"
• Jan. 17, 2015-"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"
• Feb. 7, 2015-Elvis Lives
• March 28, 2015-Masters of the Fiddle: A Celtic Family Celebration, featuring Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
• April 24, 2015-Centennial Sinatra, featuring Steve Lippia and His Big Band
This year also marks the fifth year of the Family and School Series, featuring programs for all ages, including "ArcAttack" and "ERTH Dinosaur Zoo Live!"
The entire 2014-2015 Belcher Center season is underwritten by Martin Midstream Partners. Marquee sponsors include Transet Company and Joy Global, with each show sponsored by other generous donors.
Season tickets go on sale Monday, June 30. Current season ticket holders have until July 21 to renew their seats, before new season ticket holders can purchase.
Back by popular demand is the "Build Your Own Season" option of getting discounts on ticket packages for four, five, six or seven shows. Purchasing all seven shows in the Performance Series provides a 15% discount. Discounts are not available online, so event package purchases must be made at the box office or by phone at 903-233-3080 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Single tickets will go on sale for all shows Aug. 4.

National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China
7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4
3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5
Direct from Beijing, The National Circus and Acrobats of the People's Republic of China was founded in 1953, making it one of the longest running and most distinguished circus troupes in China. The National Acrobats and Circus of the People's Republic of China is especially acclaimed in China because of the unique acts in their program such as Great Teeterboard, Grand Flying Trapeze, Group Contortion, Straw Hats Juggling, Girls' Balance With Bowls and many other outstanding acts. The show is sponsored by Marge and Tom Dome, and Spencer Orthodontics.
Anything Goes
7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23
Featuring some of Cole Porter's best songs, including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," "It's De-lovely," and "Anything Goes," this new production of the popular musical is coming direct from Broadway, where it has received critical acclaim. When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention get tossed out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love, proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail. The show is sponsored by Southside Bank.
Elf: The Broadway Musical
7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24
Elf: The Broadway Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity and help New York remember the true spirit of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their own inner elf. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award®-nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). The show is sponsored by Longview News-Journal.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015
The musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" tells the story of Millie, a young bride living in the 1850′s Oregon wilderness. Her plan to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage backfires when the brothers, in their enthusiasm, kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides. Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original MGM movie, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is all boisterous fun and romance that harkens back to the glory days of the movie musical. The show is sponsored by Carol and Richard Manley.
Elvis Lives
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015
Elvis Lives! Is a multi-media musical journey across four memorable eras of the life of Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," Featuring four Elvis finalists from Elvis Presley Enterprises' Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, this theatrical concert experience will share his music to a new generation. The show is sponsored by Sidney and Anna Lee Allen.
Masters of the Fiddle: A Celtic Family Celebration featuring Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2015
Two of the world's most celebrated fiddlers are husband and wife, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy. They meld their virtuosities into a whirlwind of fiddle-driven music, dance, and song, combining the best of French, Celtic and American Bluegrass and even Cajun styles. Joined by two highly-acclaimed pianists in their own right, Mac Morin and Erin Leahy, they will present foot-tapping rave-ups, heart-wrenching ballads, and world-class step dancing that have brought audiences to their feet on three (and counting) continents The music, stories and warmth of the Cape Breton lifestyle and hospitality draws visitors from around the world. The show is sponsored by Neiman Marcus and Pelaia Law Center.
Centennial Sinatra, featuring Steve Lippia and His Big Band
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2015
Frank Sinatra would have been 100 years old in December of 2015. Reminiscent of the young Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and Harry Connick, Jr., Steve Lippia moves from crisp, popping swing tunes to lush, poignant ballads with ease. With his natural sound and style, the great composers of the time, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Rogers and Hart: all are honored flawlessly. With great stage presence, charm and ease, a hot, driving band, and a brilliant multi-media tribute to Old Blue Eyes, Lippia pulls his audience back in time to a comfort zone where he delivers his music in a deeply personal way and includes standards permanently engraved in the American History of Music, such as "I've Got You Under My Skin," "The Lady is a Tramp," "Mack the Knife," "Just the Way You Are," and "That's Life." The show is sponsored by Texas Bank and Trust.

SPECIAL SEASON EVENT
Blue Man Group
7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2015
Blue Man Group is best known for wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group's show is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous experience that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. This unique theatrical experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else, guaranteed to be an unforgettable event. The show is sponsored by Longview Regional Medical Center and Eastman.

FAMILY AND SCHOOL SERIES
ArcAttack
7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014
*(School shows at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, and 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1)
As seen on "America's Got Talent," the creators of the original Singing Tesla Coils, the crew of ArcAttack uses high-tech wizardry to generate a truly 'electrifying' performance. What starts out as a lesson about electricity ends with a musical demonstration of two custom engineered hand-built Tesla Coils that throw out electrical arcs up to 12 feet long, each one acting as an instrument with a sound reminiscent of the early days of the synthesizer. One member of ArcAttack engages both the crowd and the Tesla Coils by walking through ½ Million Volt sparks wearing the relatively thin layer of his chain mail Faraday suit. This high power performance is unique in its elements and energy, being at the same time mesmerizing, energetically thrilling and educational. The show is sponsored by Subway Sandwiches of East Texas.
ERTH Dinosaur Zoo Live!
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2015
*(School shows at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, and 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 20)
After 65 million years in the making, ERTH Dinosaur Zoo Live provides a breathtaking tour through pre-historic Australia, where audiences meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance designed to thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations. A talented team of performers and puppeteers, with the help of professional paleontologists, bring this show to life. This entertaining and educational live show is created by ERTH Visual & Physical of Sydney, Australia. The show is sponsored by Subway Sandwiches of East Texas.