The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts announces its 2008-09 season

The 2008-09 RiverCenter for the Performing Arts season has everything from opera and ballet to a jazz big band and Gilbert & Sullivan operetta to the Neville Brothers and Natalie Cole.

"I think it's a great season . . . that's if everything falls into place," said executive director Enoch Morris with a laugh. "Things like this come together like a great, big crossword puzzle."

I think it's a great season, too.

The Variety Series includes pop/jazz singer Cole with the ever-popular Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas show and Ricky Skaggs' Skaggs Family Christmas. Returning from the 2004-05 season are the Ten Tenors, the Australian singing group that blends classic opera arias with popular songs.

I had tickets that concert, but for some reason, I couldn't go. I sent one of my sisters with my mother. They both loved it.

Another big-name group coming in the Variety Series are the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. Both the Nevilles and Dr. John are quintessential New Orleans musical acts.

The new series is called "The Edge Series," and offers a different take on familiar musical genres. Opening that series is a Latin jazz group Tiempo Libre on Oct. 4, followed by a "Stomp"-like act called Scarp Arts Music. Then a modern dance company, "Ronald K. Brown Evidence" and the Mingus Big Band fill out that series.

"That's what gets you very excited," Morris said of the modern dance company. "It's not the big pop singers that you know bring in masses of people. It's the fun, artistic events. Those are the things that get me jazzed."

He's been working with Shirantha Beddage, the director of jazz studies in the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, to bring back the CSU Jazz Festival. The Mingus Big Band will anchor that festival.

Paul Vander Gheynst, the retired director of jazz studies at CSU, used to do a huge jazz festival back in the 1980s. It's great news to hear that it's coming back.

Here's the information on the season.

SERIES AND TICKET INFORMATION
All shows are at 7:30 p.m. in the Bill Heard Theatre, except for Cantus Columbus Christmas, which is in Legacy Hall. The Knology Discovery Series start at 7 p.m. Season tickets will go on sale in June. Single tickets go on sale in August.

VARIETY SERIES
An evening with Natalie Cole: Oct. 18
L.A. Theatre Works: Recreating Orson Welles' radio broadcast of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World," Nov. 1
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: Nov. 22
A Skaggs Family Christmas: Dec. 5
The Neville Brothers and Dr. John: Feb. 26
Matt Dusk: March 6
The Ten Tenors: A return engagement by the Australian singers, May 19
Season subscription: $214-$280

CLASSICS SERIES
Pirates of Penzance: By the Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Nov. 14
The Irish Tenors: Dec. 6
Cantus Columbus Christmas: Dec. 22
Aida: By Teatro Lirico d'Europa, Jan. 31
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra: March 12
Don Quixote: By the Russian National Ballet Theatre, April 14
Season subscription: $191-$220

KNOLOGY DISCOVERY SERIES
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley: Oct. 30
Seussical: Nov. 21
Junie B. Jones: March 19
Bob the Builder: April 28
Season subscription: $44-$74

THE EDGE SERIES
Tiempo Libre: Oct. 4
Scrap Arts Music: Oct. 28
Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, One Shot: Feb. 17
Mingus Big Band: April 3
Season subscription: $99

SPOTLIGHT SPECIALS
Kenny Loggins: Sept. 18
Drumline: Jan. 30
Season subscription: None; single tickets only

Box office: 706-256-3612.