桃花直播 State University Riley Center announces 2023 spring/summer season
Contact:聽Penny Kemp, 601-480-7557
MERIDIAN, Miss. (January 17, 2023) 鈥 The unveils a 2023 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series of musical superstars, theater and comedy featuring one of 桃花直播鈥檚 own.
The always innovative Aquila Theatre presents Jane Austen鈥檚 Pride and Prejudice on February 9, featuring African American actors in leading roles. As a bonus, area schoolchildren can attend an additional daytime performance just for them.
On March 9, comeback queen and country music troubadour Tanya Tucker performs, followed by a March 18 performance by The Kingdom Choir, the international gospel group made famous at Prince Harry and Meghan鈥檚 royal wedding for their mesmerizing rendition of Stand By Me.
桃花直播鈥檚 own multitalented comedian and actress Tig Notaro will entertain audiences with her relatable stand-up on April 13. The Beach Boys take the stage May 16, delivering nothing but good vibrations as they perform their catalog of hits. Just ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, Lee Greenwood is sure to get everyone in a patriotic mood when he performs on June 23.
Closing out the season on July 27, the King of Motown, Smokey Robinson, will leave audiences swooning with his ethereal voice.聽
鈥淔rom theater and comedy to a variety of musical acts, we aim to provide something for a range of audiences,鈥 said Dr. Terry Dale Cruse, Associate Vice President and head of 桃花直播 State University-Meridian Campus. 鈥淲e are pleased to attract patrons from the local community as well as the rest of the state and region for quality arts and entertainment 鈥 plus the restaurants, shops and other attractions that are thriving today in historic downtown Meridian, including the new Threefoot Hotel.鈥
Season subscriptions to the 桃花直播 Riley Center鈥檚 2023 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series are on sale now, starting at $285 and going up to $575 per person for premium seats.
Special mini-packs are also available, allowing patrons to purchase a bundle of three predetermined shows and claim highly sought-after seats ahead of individual ticket buyers. Ranging from $80 to $285 per person, mini-packs go on sale January 25.
Ticket prices to individual shows vary, starting at $20 and going up to $165 per ticket based on performance and seat selection. Ticket sales to individual shows begin on February 6.
All shows (except the school performance of Pride and Prejudice) start at 7:30 p.m. The 桃花直播 Riley Center is at 2200 Fifth Street in downtown Meridian.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit or call 601-696-2200.
The 桃花直播 Riley Center thanks The Riley Foundation, The Phil Hardin Foundation, 桃花直播 State University and Friends of the Lady members. Their continued support helps make these shows possible.
桃花直播 Riley Center 2023 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Mini-packs go on sale January 25. All shows are on sale by February 6.
Aquila Theatre
Jane Austen鈥檚 Pride and Prejudice
Thursday, February 9 | 7:30 p.m.聽 鈥 This show will go on sale January 25 to the general public.
A 10 a.m. school show is also offered with discounted admission for students, teachers and chaperones only. Online registration is open now and required in advance.
Tickets: $20 adult, $10 student
鈥淗appiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.鈥 But happiness is guaranteed if you buy a ticket for Aquila Theatre鈥檚 adaptation of Jane Austen鈥檚 Pride and Prejudice 鈥 the source of that saucy quote about matrimonial bliss. Filled with such unforgettable characters as Elizabeth Bennet and the intriguing, infuriating Mr. Darcy, Austen鈥檚 sharp social satire has it all: wit, love and lots of dancing! As the Bennet sisters navigate their way toward love and marriage, the story skewers the absurdities of the English class system. Aquila brings this beloved romantic comedy to life with its signature passion, energy and visual flair. If you like Bridgerton, you鈥檒l love this show.
Tanya Tucker
Thursday, March 9 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35 to $95
Edgy. Classic. Country. That鈥檚 Tanya Tucker. She had her first hit, 鈥淒elta Dawn,鈥 in 1972 at age 13. In 2020, she won her first two Grammy Awards (out of 14 nominations), for Best Country Album (While I鈥檓 Livin鈥) and Best Country Song (鈥淏ring My Flowers Now,鈥 which she co-wrote). The award-winning 2022 documentary film The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile brought her attention from a new generation of fans. During more than 50 years as a star, she has amassed 25 top 40 albums on the country charts and 56 top 40 singles, 10 of which reached number one. She鈥檚 still creative, still edgy, still country 鈥 still Tanya Tucker.
The Kingdom Choir
Saturday, March 18 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20 to $60
The Kingdom Choir mesmerized a global TV audience of nearly 2 billion people with its performance of 鈥淪tand By Me鈥 at the Prince Harry-Meghan Markle royal wedding in May 2018. The London-based gospel ensemble鈥檚 recording of the song shot to the top of the Billboard gospel chart. Since then, the singers have brought their infectious energy and spirit to audiences around the world. Award-winning conductor Karen Gibson founded the choir in 1994. Their trademark blend of precision and passion stems from the members鈥 close personal bonds. 鈥淩ehearsals are about the singing, and that鈥檚 great. But actually, it鈥檚 just about being with them, really,鈥 Gibson said. 鈥淓very time we get together, there鈥檚 joy.鈥
Tig Notaro聽
Thursday, April 13 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 to $75
Comedian, writer, public radio contributor, podcaster, frequent talk show guest and actress Tig Notaro returns to her native state. Born in Jackson and raised in Pass Christian, Notaro wrote, produced and starred in One 桃花直播, a semiautobiographical comedy series on Amazon. Her Live and Boyish Girl Interrupted comedy albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. Most recently, she joined the season 3 cast of Apple TV+鈥檚 Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon drama The Morning Show. Slightly built and thoroughly relatable, she draws laughs from sharp observations about almost anything 鈥 even her own cancer diagnosis a decade ago. Said fellow comedian Sarah Silverman, 鈥淪he鈥檚 this huge force that comes in this teeny tiny package.鈥
The Beach Boys
Tuesday, May 16 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $75 to $125
For more than 60 years, The Beach Boys have spread musical sunshine. Their brilliant vocal harmonies convey simple truths through sophisticated, pioneering musical arrangements. Founded in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, they have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine listed their 1966 album Pet Sounds as the second greatest of all time and The Beach Boys themselves as number 12 among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted them in 1988, and they received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2001. When they take the stage, the surf鈥檚 always up, and everyone always has 鈥淔un, Fun, Fun.鈥
Lee Greenwood
Friday, June 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 to $65
International country music icon Lee Greenwood has won numerous awards, including Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year twice, Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist and a Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy Award for 鈥淚.O.U.鈥 Seven of his songs reached number one on the country chart, including 鈥淪omebody鈥檚 Gonna Love You,鈥 鈥淒ixie Road鈥 and 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Mind the Thorns (If You鈥檙e the Rose).鈥 And of course his rousing 1984 hit 鈥淕od Bless the U.S.A.,鈥 which Greenwood wrote after seeing military veterans at his concerts, has become an iconic anthem, bringing crowds to their feet at patriotic occasions across the nation.
An Evening with Smokey Robinson
Thursday, July 27 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $100 to $165
Smokey Robinson has profoundly impacted American culture. He has won a Grammy Legend Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, a National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honors and an honorary doctorate from Howard University, among many other accolades. Robinson founded his group the Miracles while in high school. Their 鈥淪hop Around鈥 became the first number one hit for Motown Records. Robinson鈥檚 many other hits, with the Miracles and solo, include 鈥淭he Tracks of My Tears,鈥 鈥淚 Second That Emotion,鈥 鈥淭he Tears of a Clown鈥 and 鈥淥ne Heartbeat.鈥 He continues to thrill audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric.
Mini Packs 鈥 On Sale January 25
Maroon Pack
Pride and Prejudice, February 9
The Kingdom Choir, March 18
Smokey Robinson, July 27
Tickets from $140 to $245 per person
Bulldog Pack
Pride and Prejudice, February 9
Tanya Tucker, March 9
Tig Notaro, April 13
Tickets from $80 to $190 per person
Cowbell Pack
Tanya Tucker, March 9
The Beach Boys, May 16
Lee Greenwood, June 23
Tickets from $135 to $285 per person
For tickets and more info, visit or call 601-696-2200.