OXFORD, Miss. – The month of April will bring more than showers to the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi.
At 7 p.m. April 25, audiences can expect daring escapes, grand adventures and drama en pointe when the Russian National Ballet Theatre performs “Don Quixote.” Three days later, at 3 p.m. April 28, the Oak Ridge Boys will perform a bevy of hits, including country-pop chart-topper “Elvira,” as well as “Bobbie Sue” and “American Made” in an afternoon matinee than should please audiences of all ages.The ballet is the final performance this season of the university’s acclaimed Artist Series.
“We are proud to be able to bring this excellent company, a favorite for the Artist Series audience, to our community,” said Norm Easterbrook, Ford Center director.
“April is an exciting month for our campus community and especially for the Ford Center where we go from classical ballet to classic country with the Oak Ridge Boys. Variety is what it’s all about and we hope everyone will consider joining us to try out these great performances.”
Tickets for the ballet are from $28 to $33.50 for various seating, and tickets for the Oak Ridge Boys: 40th Anniversary Concert are from $41 to $70 for various seating. All tickets are available by visiting the UM Box Office in the Student Union or by calling 662-915-7411.
“Don Quixote” is based on the epic masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes. The choreography for the ballet was created by Marius Petipa at the height of his career.
The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s, when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union’s ballet institutions were exercising their newfound creative freedom by starting new, vibrant companies dedicated not only to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet but to invigorate this tradition as the Russians began to accept new developments in the dance from around the world.
The Oak Ridge Boys have one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The quartet’s four-part harmonies and upbeat tunes have spawned dozens of country hits and a No. 1 pop smash, plus earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards.
For a complete list of shows and showtimes, visit http://www.fordcenter.org.