Nazareth College Arts Center announces 50th season 

Nazareth College Arts Center on Thursday announced the lineup for its 2017-18 season, its 50th programming season. In addition to a mix of music, dance, theater, comedy, and family performances, the season will offer special pricing and opportunities to win free tickets and VIP parking.

The season opens on Friday, September 8, and Saturday, September 9, with a special performance of Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale," presented as a collaborative performance by the college's music faculty and art, theater, and dance departments. This story -- in which a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil in exchange for great wealth -- will be recreated by a live septet of faculty musicians and student performers against digital scenery created by a student artist. After the Friday evening performance, an anniversary soiree will be held in the sculpture garden.

Music and dance performances fill out the end of 2017 with Rochester City Ballet's "All That Jazz" on September 29 through October 1; Black Violin -- two violinists and a DJ who blend jazz, hip-hop, funk, and classical genres -- on October 12; Los Angeles-based a cappella group, The Filharmonic, on October 21; and Garth Fagan Dance on November 29 through December 3.

An all-ages Christmas spectacular tap dance and musical performance, "Rhythmic Circus: Red and Green," will be held December 8. And on December 31, The Capitol Steps return to the Arts Center for its New Year's Eve tradition of presenting bi-partisan satire based on current events.

Western and African musicians will play traditional instruments in the audience-interactive show "Do You Speak Djembe?" on January 20. Three-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Caribbean ensemble TiempoLibre will perform February 10.

If you're looking for kid-friendly programming, check out the storybook-based family musicals "Pete the Cat" on December 10 and Childsplay's"Go, Dog. Go!" on February 18. Rochester City Ballet will present "Cinderella" on March 9 through March 11. On March 18, the all-ages "MOMIX: Opus Cactus" show will present illusionistic impressions of the American Southwest landscapes and animals using light, shadow, props, and dancers. And on May 5, Vital Theatre Company will present "Pinkalicious," a musical based on Victoria Kann's New York Times best-selling picture book.

On February 22, comedy group "The Best of The Second City" will perform sketches, songs, and improv made famous by Jim Belushi, Tina Fey, Jason Sudeikis, and Stephen Colbert, as well as new content from sold-out club shows in Chicago and Toronto.

"Brass Transit: The Musical Legacy of Chicago" takes you back to the band Chicago's golden age, featuring the hits "Saturday In The Park," "25 or 6 To 4," and "If You Leave Me Now" on March 24.

The season culminates with the completion of the Jane and Laurence Glazer Music Performance Center, a 550-seat venue expected to open in spring 2018.

Single and subscription tickets to the Arts Center's 50th anniversary season go on sale Tuesday, April 25, and can be acquired at naz.edu/artscenter or by calling 389-2170. The Arts Center will offer patrons who order tickets in the first 50 days (through June 13) 10 percent off their order, a backstage tour, and a chance to win free tickets, VIP parking, and other perks.

The Nazareth College Arts Center Box Office is located on campus, at 4245 East Avenue, and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours (May 22 through August 18) are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.