Knoxville’s growing entertainment scene promises to ease the transition

back to classes as the social forecast for 1999 looks better than

ever.

Knoxville is certainly prepared to leave its mark on the century as an

up-and-coming mecca of arts and entertainment, and the new year offers the

perfect opportunity to experience the fun our city has to offer. From

theater and opera to bull riding and monster truck shows, Knoxville has

something for everyone.

As always, the Tennessee Theatre will be providing great entertainment for

’99. Some of the highlights for this semester include a performance by Son

Volt on Jan. 27, Junior Brown on Jan. 29, Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Feb. 2,

The Brian Setzer Orchestra on Feb. 8 and Willie Nelson on Feb. 13.

“We’ll have some great shows this semester– right down the alley for

college students,” said Benny Smith of AC Entertainment.

The Theatre kicks off the new year this weekend with Saturday’s Bluegrass

festival. The event, beginning at 5 p.m., includes music by the Nashville

Bluegrass Band, Ralph Stanley and Tony Rice.

Continuing to bring the live music scene to Knoxville, Moose’s Music Hall

will deliver this semester with an impressive line-up of local and national

talents.

“We want people to know that we are a diverse music hall,” said managing

partner Gary Mitchell. “We will do anything and everything.”

Mitchell has big plans for this winter, with an array of artists scheduled

to liven up the strip. Among the top acts this month is Collective Soul,

Big Ass Truck and Jupiter Coyote. Local favorite Gran Torino will kick off

the semester Friday night, while Mel and the Party Hats will give their

final performance on Saturday night.

“We’ve got all our big guns lined up this month,” said Mitchell.

Though Moose’s draws artists from around the country, hundreds of talented

musicians can be found in our own music department.

“We’ve got more going on then ever before,” said Marcy Snapp, public

relations director for UT’s department of music. “There is almost an event

a night.”

Some of the high points for this semester in music include a presentation

of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. The Knoxville

Opera Company and UT Opera Theatre’s collaboration opens on Feb. 5 at the

Tennessee Theatre and features nearly all UT students.

The UT Jazz Big Band will be hosting a Duke Ellington tribute this semester

to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the jazz legend. Numerous

performances by guest artists and UT’s Jazz Big Band, directed by Keith

Brown, will highlight the April 15th event.

Also offering an eclectic cultural opportunity is UT’s theater department.

“We give students a really good opportunity to see quality, broadway-style

shows right here in Knoxville,” said Rick Baldwin, associate director of

marketing for the Clarence Brown Theatre.

The season kicks off this month with Henrik Ibsen’s classic theater drama,

Ghosts. The Clarence Brown Professional Company will present the

play, which centers on a family whose future is threatened by the evils of

its past. Henryk Baronowski of the Academy of Theatre and Film in Krakow,

Poland directs the biting social commentary. Baronowski brings his

world-renowned talents to Knoxville from Jan. 29-Feb. 13.

“It is going to be a pretty amazing show,” said Baldwin.

In the wake of Ghosts comes another theatrical masterpiece as the CBT

will present Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Open auditions

are being held Jan. 25 and 26 for the production which will begin the last

week of February. Also scheduled for this semester is Cabaret and

Always…Patsy Klein.

Punctuating Knoxville’s growing entertainment scene is Thompson-Boling

Arena, which hosts an array of artists this season. Rod Stewart will warm

up fans this winter in a performance on Feb. 23, while professional bull

riders and a motor spectacular will entice a slightly more rowdy crowd.

Information on other scheduled shows will be released soon.

In terms of the entertainment forecast for 1999, the outlook is good.

“With all the venues in Knoxville it looks like there will be a pretty good

variety for everyone,” said Tim Reese, arena manager.

Now is the perfect time to broaden your cultural horizons. It is the

beginning of a new year and the end of a century and Knoxville is a great

place to be. Check out the theater, the opera, a local band, or perhaps the

monster truck show. Whatever your taste, it is all here. Don’t head into

the next millennium devoid of culture. Take this semester to experience new

things. Work hard, play hard and party like it’s 1999.