River Campus season tickets go on sale today

Southeast Missouri theatergoers can start planning their year. Season ticket packages went on sale today for the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus 2010-2011 season, with shows like "Spamalot," "Fiddler on the Roof" and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Season ticket orders can be made today through July 9 for the Master Series, which includes all the shows from the symphony, touring and theater/dance series. People may also purchase season tickets for individual series. Tickets for individual shows will go on sale July 14.

Last year, the box office sold 662 season ticket packages. A total of 313 former holders have renewed their seats. Box office manager Ellen Farrow said she has a stack of papers from former ticket holders requesting new seats.

The box office allows former ticket holders to renew their seats, then processes upgrades and then assigns new season ticket purchases. Farrow said the box office provides a seating chart and if the theater is empty, workers will allow people to walk in to see the options so they can name their top three choices.

Farrow said she tries to give everyone their top choice but asks for three options "just in case."

The River Campus has a Jazz Series with several concerts planned, but it is not selling season tickets for that this year.

"People who want to see those, they will come the evening of the show and purchase their tickets," Farrow said.

Two feature performances, a staged reading of "A Christmas Carol" and "Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping," are not included in any series but are available for separate order on season ticket order forms.

"By listing that as a special event, that keeps the series price down," Farrow said, but putting the ticket option on season ticket holder forms allows people to retain their seat for the show.

The River Campus will host more than 90 performances this year, including multiple-day performances of productions by the Department of Theatre and Dance. River Campus assistant director Bob Cerchio said he thinks the 2010-2011 season compares favorably to previous years.

"I think it's a very, very strong season," he said.

The first official show will be a university production of "Once on This Island," a Tony Award-nominated musical of a Caribbean version of "The Little Mermaid." It will run Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. After that show, the Symphony Series starts with "Rhapsody in Blue," and the Touring Series kicks off with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

"That's considered by many the finest big band of any era," Cerchio said.

He said other highlights include "Spamalot" in December and "The Aluminum Show" in April.

While Cerchio said every adult will enjoy "Spamalot," a certain simplistic mentality is needed to enjoy "The Aluminum Show."

"It's one of these things that is really hard to explain," he said, comparing it to Blue Man Group.

The show takes an avant-garde approach to a stage show, using aluminum for everything from the costumes to set to props -- even confetti. Cerchio said the people who do not enjoy the show usually spent their time trying to find a deeper theoretical meaning.

"It's just fun," he said. Children tend to enjoy the show more, he said. because "kids don't question 'what's the meaning behind this?'"

Both shows are included in the Touring Series, which costs $219 or $261, depending on the seat. Symphony season tickets are $118 and $94, while Theatre and Dance Series are $84 and $78. Tickets for the Master Series, which include reserved seats for each of the three series, are $463 and $391.

Season tickets may be ordered by mail, fax or in person between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the River Campus box office. Tickets may also be ordered by phone at 651-2265.

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