Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Ina Garten and More Among Dr. Phillips Center's New Series, Shows in 2015-16

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts launches its 2015-2016 season. The Dr. Phillips Center's anchor season of Broadway Across America and the resident companies of the Orlando Ballet and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by new series and festivals including the Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center subscription series, a Flamenco festival and a Chefs at the Dr. Phillips Center series.

The Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center series includes legendary performers Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Feinstein, and Tony Bennett. Chefs at the Dr. Phillips Center stars Emeril Lagasse; Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa; and Guy Fieri.

"Our programming is based on our vision of Arts for Every Life and the dynamic diversity of our Central Florida culture," said Kathy Ramsberger, CEO and president of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. "We are excited to announce these new series and shows. Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center builds on the success of our jazz concerts during our inaugural year, as well as our jazz education programs, including an incredible summer camp."

"At Morgan Stanley our commitment to community drives our decision making and we couldn't be prouder to support bringing these great artists into downtown Orlando for our entire Central Florida community to experience," said Steve Freeman, executive director/Complex Manager Central - North Florida Complex at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

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Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center series:

Arturo Sandoval - October 24, 2015, 8:00 p.m.

Sandoval has 10 Grammy Awards, 19 Grammy nominations, six Billboard Awards, an Emmy Award and was the 2013 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is one of the world's most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer. His dynamic and vivacious live performances have been seen by millions at the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and in concerts around the world.

Michael Feinstein Celebrates Sinatra - January 29, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

The centennial celebration of Frank Sinatra wouldn't be complete without a tribute by Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer. Considered the premier interpreter of American standards, Feinstein earned his fifth Grammy Award nomination for The Sinatra Project and an Emmy nomination for the TV special, Michael Feinstein - The Sinatra Legacy. With Feinstein's more than 200 shows a year from Carnegie Hall to Buckingham Palace, Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center is excited to host Feinstein and his 17-piece Big|Brave Band for an evening of Ol' Blue Eyes' biggest hits.

Patti LaBelle - February 20, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

"Beautiful" simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. The soulful songbird's name is synonymous with grace, style, elegance and class. Belting out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets have created the unique platform of versatility that Ms. Patti is known and revered for. This special evening with Patti LaBelle will be filled with her classic songs, her incredible vocals and her awe-inspiring energy.

Tony Bennett - March 9, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

To say he's a legend doesn't begin to cover this icon's past success and his present popularity as one of the most celebrated artists of all time. From his big break in 1949 when he was discovered by Bob Hope to his 18 Grammy Awards, his Emmy award-winning TV specials, his 24 Top 40 songs, and his legendary duets with everyone from Aretha Franklin to Lady Gaga, no one else in popular American music has recorded for so long and at such a high level of excellence as Tony Bennett. In the last 10 years alone he has sold 10 million records. New York Magazine said, "...his voice is still a technical marvel, and no one else on Earth can make a lyric written eight decades ago sound as natural as a conversation at a coffee shop."

Subscriptions for Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center range from $135 to $339 depending upon seating location and are on sale now. Subscriptions may be purchased by calling the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Box Office at 455 Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday or online at drphillipscenter.org. Online and phone ticket purchases may include handling fees. Dates, times, performers and pricing are subject to change.

NEW SERIES

Chefs at the Dr. Phillips Center:

Emeril Lagasse - December 1, 2015, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

As a national TV personality, Emeril Lagasse has hosted more than 2,000 shows on the Food Network, and is the food correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America. Most recently, Emeril's Florida entered its third season in January 2015 on the Cooking Channel. Lagasse is the author of 18 bestselling cookbooks including his first, Emeril's New New Orleans Cooking, which introduced his creative take on Creole cuisine. His 19th cookbook, Essential Emeril is slated to release in October 2015.

Ina Garten - January 21, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

Ina Garten's first book, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, was published in 1999 and was one of the best selling cookbooks of the year. She has since gone on to write seven phenomenally successful cookbooks. In 2002 Food Network approached Ina Garten to do a cooking show based on her cookbooks and her love of entertaining. Today, her Emmy-winning cooking show, Barefoot Contessa, is one of the highest rated shows on Food Network.

Guy Fieri - February 21, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 6:30 p.m.

Guy Fieri, chef, restaurateur, author and host of Food Network's top-rated show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Since the opening of the first Johnny Garlics, his first restaurant based in his hometown of Santa Rosa, CA with business partner Steve Gruber, Guy has gone on to create a culinary empire as a popular TV host, chef of seven acclaimed restaurants and New York Times Best Selling cookbook author.

Flamenco Festival March 4 - 6, 2016

The Flamenco Festival brings together the greatest living Flamenco artists in a rare two-day event.

Farruquito - March 4, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

Renowned as "one of the greatest flamenco dancers of this new century" (New York Times), Farruquito is a phenomenally popular artist both in Spain and around the world. His precise yet passionate dancing style embodies this rich cultural heritage.

Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía - March 6, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía is the highest institutional representative of flamenco art and has served as flamenco ambassador since its inception 20 years ago.

RETURNING SERIES

School Series:

Teachers and students are invited to this series during the school day as part of their curriculum.

Warriors Don't Cry - November 19, 2015, Walt Disney Theater, 10:30 a.m.

In 1957, the Little Rock Nine risked their lives to end segregation at Central High School. One actress embodies many roles as she leads the audience on an educational, emotional and inspiring journey through this pivotal event in American history. Warriors Don't Cry received the American Library Association Award, 1995 Nonfiction Book of the Year, and the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.

Moon Mouse - January 26, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 10:30 a.m.

Marvin the mouse wants to be popular. Constantly bullied and picked on by the "cool" rats, he is labeled as a looser and a geek. To get away from the continuous badgering, he retreats into his science books and a world of fantasy. He longs to have adventures, to be the hero. Lightwire Theater is proud to present Moon Mouse, a cosmic adventure about celebrating differences.

Kevin Spencer's Hocus Focus - April 1, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 10:30 a.m.

Kevin Spencer's Hocus Focus is a unique fusion of magic and illusion, humor and mystery, and persona and personality. Spencer fuses this student-friendly production with a gamut of science, emotions and with the skills of a master showman.

Florida Blue Concert Series

Free concerts on the Seneff Arts Plaza with a line-up of popular bands and artists.

UCF Celebrates the Arts - April 2016:

UCF Celebrates the Arts showcases UCF's performing and visual arts, demonstrates the university's commitment to partnerships, and illustrates the university's positive impact in Central Florida and beyond. The free festival at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts features an interactive exhibition of student work including studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography, and film.

SHOWS:

Celtic Woman - October 31, 2015, Bob Carr Theater, 3:00 p.m.

The 10th Anniversary World Tour features four sublimely gifted Irish women - three angelic vocalists and a dazzling Celtic violinist - with a full band, plus the Anotas Choir, bagpipers, and Irish dancers all under the direction of Emmy-nominated music producer David Downes.

One Man Star Wars® Trilogy written and performed by Charles Ross - October 12 - October 18, 2015, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Show times vary

One Man Star Wars® Trilogy written and performed by Charles Ross, has been performed over 1,200 times in more than 180 cities across four continents. In this high-energy show, Ross plays all the characters, recreates the effects, sings the music, flies the ships, and fights both sides of the galaxy. The Washington Post says, "Performed by the surprising Charles Ross...it's patently campy, ridiculously unbelievable, sorta mesmerizing - in other words, real 'Star Wars'." One Man Star Wars Trilogy performed with permission of Lucasfilm Ltd. All 'Star Wars' elements property of Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time - October 17, 2015, Walt Disney Theater

Living legends John Cleese and Eric Idle make their must-see return to the US John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time. The 13-city tour will see the British icons perform unforgettable sit-down comedy at premier venues in Sarasota, Ft. Meyers, West Palm Beach, Miami, Clearwater, Orlando, Savannah, Atlanta, Charlotte, Baltimore, and more!* As founding members of Monty Python, Cleese and Idle are unarguably among the godfathers of modern comedy, helping to pioneer an irreverent, absurdist sensibility that is emulated by comics around the world to this very day. In Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time, Cleese and Idle will blend scripted and improvised bits with storytelling, musical numbers, exclusive footage, aquatic juggling and an extended audience Q&A to craft a unique comedic experience with every performance. No two shows will be quite the same, thus ensuring that every audience feels like they're seeing Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time, for the very first time. And now you know why the show is called that, don't you?

*Yes, most of the shows are in Florida. Yes, this is a deliberate ploy by John & Eric to score a free vacation. Yes, they're perfectly okay with you knowing that. England is very dreary come October.

One Man Breaking Bad - December 26, 2015 - January 1, 2016, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Show times vary

LA actor Miles Allen smacks the senses with his super-charged, hilariously accurate renditions of all the iconic characters, including Walter White, Jesse, Saul, Skyler, Hank, Walt Junior, Mike and Gus Fring. With over a million hits on YouTube, and sell-out runs at comedy festivals in Melbourne and Edinburgh, Allen's incredible impersonations break all six seasons down into one, exhilarating, uproarious tour-de-force parody performance.

Paul Anka - January 14, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

Songwriting and performing "are what gave me the confidence to keep going," Anka says. By the '70s, the success of "My Way" and a string of hits like "(You're) Having My Baby" confirmed his status as an icon of popular music. His later achievements as a recording artist included "Hold Me 'Til the Morning Comes," a hit duet with Peter Cetera in 1983, the Spanish-language album Amigos in 1996, and Body of Work, a 1998 duets album that featured Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Patti LaBelle, Tom Jones and daughter Anthea Anka. If this wasn't enough, it was revealed upon its release in 2009, that Anka co-wrote Michael Jackson's posthumous #1 worldwide hit, "This Is It," which has further cemented his place upon the most prolific and versatile songwriters of any generation.

The Temptations and the Four Tops - January 24, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

For more than 50 years, The Temptations have prospered, propelling popular music with a series of smash hits, and sold-out performances throughout the world. "They were the best in my neighborhood in Detroit when I was growing up (and) the Four Tops will always be one of the biggest and the best groups ever. Their music is forever." -- Smokey Robinson

YANNI - February 13, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 8:00 p.m.

A true global ambassador for peace, good will, and understanding, YANNI is one of the most
recognizable composer performers of our time. YANNI has accumulated more than 40 platinum and gold albums globally, with sales totaling over 25 million copies, including the double-platinum 1997 Tribute album, which sold more than a million albums within six weeks of it's release, and his

1994 Live at the Acropolis album, which has sold more than 7.5 million copies worldwide (5 million in North America). He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time.

Dixie's Tupperware Party - March 14, 2016 - March 27, 2016, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Show times vary

America's favorite Tupperware lady, Dixie Longate, hails from Mobile, Alabama. She began selling the fantastic plastic bowls in 2001 and within a year, she was one of the top sellers in the nation because of her unique perspective on the iconic plastic bowls with her hilarious home parties.

Her Tupperware party caught the eye of some New York Theater producers and in 2007, Dixie appeared in the self-titled show off-Broadway for which she earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood LIVE! - May 21, 2016, Walt Disney Theater, 3:00 p.m.

The legacy of the beloved "Mister Rogers" lives on with the hit television series, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, from The Fred Rogers Company and airing daily on PBS KIDS. Now, Daniel and all of his friends are hopping aboard Trolley to delight live audiences with DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE! Donning his iconic red sweater, Daniel takes the audience on an interactive musical adventure as he and his friends explore the vibrant world of their much-loved Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing themes of friendship, helping others, and celebrating new experiences. This live theatrical production filled with singing, dancing, laughter and "grr-ific" surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations.

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The Dr. Phillips Center's relationship with other promoters will continue to provide cutting edge Indie Rock concerts that will be announced when confirmed. Other shows and events will be announced as they are publicized nationally. As new shows are confirmed they will be announced throughout the year.

As each show goes on sale, individual tickets may be purchased by calling the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Box Office at 455 Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday or online at drphillipscenter.org. Online and phone ticket purchases include handling fees. Dates, times, performers and pricing are subject to change.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization operating the new state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Orlando, Florida. With its opening in November 2014, the performing arts center launched its vision of Arts For Every Life by being a gathering place for creativity and discovery; a vibrant urban destination where artists, audiences and students come to experience, explore and learn. The two-block community destination features the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of Arts & Wellness, the DeVos Family Room, and other event rental spaces. Future expansion plans include a 1,700-seat Acoustical theater, rehearsal room and commercial development spaces. The Dr. Phillips Center is a public-private collaboration with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the State of Florida and generous donors.

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