The Whatley Center for the Performing Arts at Northeast Texas Community College is gearing up for its 26th year as the entertainment hub of the area. The exciting lineup of events will kick off October 14 with a concert by the popular a cappella country music group Home Free on October 14.
?I am thrilled about the quality of shows we are offering for the 2017-2018 season. It is a nice mixture of genres that really offers something for everyone,? Carolyn Franks, Director of the Whatley Center, said.![home free press[1]](/uploads/2017/07/home-free-press1.jpg)
This is the first year that tickets for Whatley Center events will be available for purchase online at†www.whatleycenter.com†beginning August 15. Season ticket packages are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Whatley Center box office at 903-434-8181 by August 1.
Shows featured in the Friends of the Whatley season ticket packages include: Home Free (October 14), Vienna Boys Choir (November 6), The Celtic Tenors Christmas sponsored by Cypress Bank (December 11) and Travis LeDoyt, World?s Best Young Elvis (February 9). Packages range from $250 up. Individual tickets for these shows are $30 for adults and $10 for students.
?Season tickets are a great option for businesses and others who plan to attend multiple shows. You also have the benefit of having the same seats for each event,? Franks said.
NTCC will host two special country music concerts in 2018. Lee Greenwood (sponsored by John and Betty Traylor) will perform March 23 and all seats are $35. The Bellamy Brothers (sponsored by J.T. and Kaye Brison) will take the stage April 9. Tickets for the Bellamy Brothers are $30 for adults and $10 for students.
?We anticipate that several shows will sell out quickly, so we encourage folks to reserve their tickets as soon as possible. We are a smaller venue, which means every seat is great, but you need to plan ahead,? Franks said.
Additionally, the Whatley Center is bringing back its popular Sounds of Northeast Texas concert series in 2018. The Wiley College A cappella Choir will perform Jan. 21, Dr. Ron Clinton will perform a solo piano concert February 18 and Dr. Andrew Daniel will perform a solo guitar concert April 15. Tickets for these events are $15 for adults and $5 for students.
Theatre Northeast, NTCC?s outstanding student theatre group led by Martin Holden, will perform shows to be announced later in October, November, March and April. The NTCC Art Department will feature six exhibits in the foyer of the Whatley Center, which are free to the public. Maurya Beth Holland?s work in graphite and etched glass will be featured September 4-27; watercolors by Mollie Jones will be on display Oct. 2-25; local quilters will host a show November 6-29; ceramics by Kathy Murphy will be on display February 5-21; the Mount Pleasant Art Society show will be March 10-30 and the annual NTCC Student Art Show will be April 5-24.
?I encourage you to mark your calendar to come out and see these outstanding exhibits. Not only are we showcasing talent from professional artists, but we will also feature the excellent work of local artists and our very own students,? Debbie Strong, NTCC Professor of Art, said.
For more information about upcoming events at the Whatley Center, call 903-434-8181 or e-mail†cfranks@ntcc.edu. The full season brochure with more details will be available at whatleycenter.com in early August.
