The Burlington Performing Arts Centre Announces 2018/2019 Season

Executive Director Tammy Fox announced her inaugural season of programming at BPAC's annual season launch event Wednesday, May 16. Joining Fox to introduce the 2018/19 Season, and sample what audiences can expect, were Indigenous contemporary folk band Twin Flames, Andrew Burashko from Art of Time Ensemble, hip-hop artist and creator of the 'Unauthorized Biography Series' Shaun Boothe, and the evening's host comedian Elvira Kurt.

Fox lauded the exceptional diversity the season has to offer the community "I'm incredibly proud of the collection of performances I have curated for our 18/19 Season. It's our most diverse and inclusive season to date." BPAC's commitment to learn about other cultures while being wildly entertained will be on full display at the inaugural Cultural Diversity Festival, September 29-30. Included in a series of free and ticketed events will be Ali Hassan's Muslim Interrupted, and a cast of new Canadians in Enana Dance Theatre's Julia Domna.

BPAC welcomes the deaf community to experience the beauty of live music when Raine Hamilton presents her concert with live ASL interpretation and Ahuri Theatre's This is the Point will challenge audiences to change their perception of people with disabilities. International Women's Day will be celebrated with Evalyn Parry's SPIN, a captivating play with music inspired by the bicycle's role in women's emancipation, and the smash-hit Hot Brown Honey - a tour-de-force celebration of woman fighting the power. "It's the most high-energy, empowering evening you can imagine!" says Fox.

Canada's most celebrated musicians take center stage for a line-up of incredible concerts including; The Jim Cuddy Band, Whiskey Jack presents The Stories & Songs of Stompin' Tom, MAGIC!, Cowboy Junkies, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Royal Wood, I Mother Earth & Finger 11, Gowan, Holly Cole, Jesse Cook and Moon vs Sun - a new venture with powerhouse couple Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida.

Audiences will find continuity with past programming with the Family Series, Classical Matinees, Holiday programming and the ever-popular Classic Albums Live concerts. Families will be enthralled with Carousel Players' Peter Pan, and the immensely popular One Thing Leads to Another, a play for babies. Michael Kim, Art of Time Ensemble, Gryphon Trio and Anagnoson & Kinton celebrate the majestic piano in BPAC's The Art of The Piano Series. Enduring classics ring in the Holiday season with John McDermott, A Next Generation Leahy Christmas and The Nutcracker ballet from The State Ballet Theatre of Russia.

Contemporary and traditional dance is well represented with Dreamwalker Dance Co: Memory is the History of Forgetting with Andrea Nann and Andy Maize from The Skydiggers, Toronto's acclaimed Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Irish dance spectacular Murphy's Celtic Legacy, Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba: Made in Cuba, and The State Ballet Theatre of Russia's Sleeping Beauty.

New for this season are film screenings with live musical accompaniment. Alicia Svigals plays the klezmer violin to the silent film The Yellow Ticket and Antonio Sánchez drums up his Grammy-winning percussion score to the Academy Award Winning film BiRDMAN in BiRDMAN LiVE. Fox is also introducing a play reading series with Canadian Rep Theatre and its Artistic Director Ken Gass. "It's a fantastic way to bring Canadian Theatre to audiences who may be unfamiliar with the work. You get lost in the story and imagine the sets and costumes for yourself- it's addictive!" Garage Sale and How Do I Love Thee will begin what will become a staple series at BPAC.

"We love to laugh at BPAC! It's so important to not take ourselves too seriously!" Fox notes and comedy in different forms proves that. Thank You For Being a Friend - The Ultimate Golden Girls Experience is a hilarious live action puppet show featuring Miami's most famous senior citizens. Bringing the house down with their famous improv comedy is the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company and BPAC will get the best of The Toronto Sketch Fest featuring Gavin Crawford and Bruce McCulloch, and stand-up comedian Jeremy Hotz.

Rounding out the season are evening appointments with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, The Guess Who's Carl Dixon, and famous showman Tony Danza with his song and dance act.

BPAC has reintroduced its Member program for the 2018/2019 Season, sponsored by Lexus of Oakville, offering patrons discounts, access to the Discovery Ford Members ' Lounge and exclusive insider benefits.

"Our patrons have been essential to all we have accomplished so far, and to all that is still possible. I look forward - with great anticipation - to experiencing together our 2018/2019 Season and beyond." Tammy Fox, Executive Director, BPAC.

The full 2018/2019 Presenting Season line-up schedule can be found at www.BurlingtonPAC.ca

Tickets go on sale to the public May 23, 2018. Order online at www.BurlingtonPAC.ca at 11am and in person or by phone at 905-681-6000 at noon.