Smith Center announces new attractions

Singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie's tribute to his legendary father, Woody Guthrie.

A visit with vintage Vegas veteran, and Oscar-winning songwriter, Burt Bacharach.

A meeting of two great instrumentalists: Chick Corea on piano, Bela Fleck on banjo.

Stories from renowned radio tale-spinner Ira Glass.

Classical melodies from acclaimed pianist Lang Lang.

Q: What do these eclectic attractions have in common? (Besides the fact that they're showbiz notables, that is.)

A: They're all expected this spring at The Smith Center's Reynolds Hall.

From Grammy-winner Bobby McFerrin to the campy dancing dudes of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, The Smith Center's newly announced attractions join a lineup that includes previously announced Broadway tours of "Shrek the Musical " (March 19-24), "Beauty and the Beast" (April 16-21) and "Billy Elliot " (May 14-19).

In chronological order, the newly scheduled performances include:

■ An Evening With Burt Bacharach (March 28) - The top pop songwriter, Oscar-winning composer and showroom headliner returns to Vegas. As Mike Myers' "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" would (and did) say, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach."

■ Chick Corea and Bela Fleck (March 29) - Pianist Corea and banjo-playing Fleck perform their most recognizable tunes, plus selections from their Grammy-winning album "The Enchantment!" that touch on jazz, bluegrass, rock, flamenco and gospel.

■ Bobby McFerrin: SpiritYouAll (April 7) - Don't worry, be happy, as Grammy-winner McFerrin celebrates spirituals, giving such traditional favorites as "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Down by the Riverside" the improvisational treatment.

■ Here Comes the Kid: Arlo's Solo Tribute to Woody Guthrie's 100th Birthday (April 11) - Singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie honors his father, the legendary Woody Guthrie, with music and stories that confirm that his dad's folk spirit is alive and well.

■ Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (April 23) - Dancing along the fine line between high art and high camp, the all-male comedy dance troupe satirizes classical ballet with fleet-footed flair.

■ Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass (April 27) - The NPR host and producer ("This American Life") visits as part of The Smith Center's Audi Speaker Series.

■ Lang Lang (April 29) - The Chinese concert pianist continues his "Journey of a Thousand Miles" (the title of his 2008 autobiography) in his Smith Center debut.

■ Frank Abnagale: Catch Me If You Can (May 30) - The Broadway musical version of "Catch Me If You Can" won't arrive at The Smith Center in June, but its real-life inspiration - con artist-turned-security consultant Frank Abnagale Jr. - tells his story as part of the Audi Speaker Series.

■ The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band (May 31) - A summit of two musical styles, as Preservation Hall's New Orleans jazz meets McCoury's bluegrass.

Tickets for the newly announced presentations go on sale Jan. 25; more information is available by calling The Smith Center box office at 749-2000 or visiting online at www.thesmithcenter.com.

Contact reporter Carol Cling at ccling@
reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.