The Anchorage Concert Association will bring up some of the best-selling acts from previous years for the 2015-16 season, announced on April 27, including Pink Martini, Jake Shimabukuro, Bela Fleck, the Capitol Steps and the musical "Mamma Mia."
The schedule reflects a sort of evolution in ACA programming, said executive director Jason Hodges.
"Traditionally, we've gone with a one and done kind of thing," he said, bringing up a performer or group that Anchorage hasn't seen before. "But things are changing and we're looking at some groups that have proved to be very popular with our audiences."
Pink Martini, for instance, sold out its show in 2012. Shimabukuro came within 100 seats of a sellout in 2013. "These are groups that audiences are excited about," Hodges said. Stand-up comic Eddie Izzard sold out two shows at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium when the UAA Concert Board brought him up in 2012.
Tickets have tended to sell well for performers with a cutting edge yet accessible approach. Hodges mentioned Postmodern Jukebox, which gained a worldwide following on the Internet. "Social media has changed the fact of how performing arts groups get exposed," Hodges said. "Postmodern Jukebox is a Youtube sensation. Most of their songs have more than a million views. Recycled Percussion is another one. I've been trying to book them for six years."
What fans particularly like about these contemporary performers is that they're continually generating new material, not recycling lists of "greatest hits." "Whatever you saw with Pink Martini or Jake Shimabukuro last time, this time it will be completely different." That goes for newgrass master Bela Fleck, too, who has previously played here with his band, the Flecktones, but this time around is touring with his wife Abigail Washburn.
"They just released an album to great acclaim last fall," Hodges said,.
The satire ensemble Capitol Steps, which has performed in Anchorage several times always arrives with brand new material because their songs and skits are based on recent headlines. "We sort of scored a coup this year," Hodges said. "They're booked between Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, so there'll be all kinds of breaking political news regarding the 2016 election."
Family fare will include the musical "Peter Pan," The New Shanghai Circus acrobatic company and "Potted Potter." "Two actors take the complete 'Harry Potter' series and, a la 'Reduced Shakespeare,' run through the whole thing in 80 minutes," Hodges explained.
One of the more unusual acts will be "Letters Aloud," a "curated" show that explores different themes as discussed in letters by historical figures. "It's a really cool project that I saw at a conference last October," Hodges said. "This time the theme is 'Fame: You're not going to live forever.' It's somewhat based on Andy Warhol's quote about everyone being famous for 15 minutes." There's a possibility that the Anchorage performance will include letters from Alaska museum archives, Hodges added.
Season subscriptions are now available at anchorageconcerts.org.
Anchorage Concert Association schedule
Pink Martini, Sept. 18-19
Break of Reality, Sept. 25
The Well Pennies, Oct. 2
Postmodern Jukebox, Oct. 3
Martha Redbone, Oct. 9, 2015 – Discovery Theatre
"My Fair Lady," Oct. 20-25
"Letters Aloud," Nov. 14
Eddie Izzard, Nov. 18
"The Nutcracker" Ballet, Nov. 27-29
Blind Boys of Alabama, Dec. 12
"Mamma Mia," Jan. 12-17
Capitol Steps, Jan. 23
Jake Shimabukuro, Feb. 5
The New Shanghai Circus, Feb. 12-13
Afiara Quartet, Feb. 12
"Potted Potter," Feb. 19-21
Dublin Guitar Quartet, Feb.
Recycled Percussion, Feb. 27
Donald Sinta Saxophone Quartet, March 4
Love Canon, March 11
David Sanborn, March 12
Solas, March 18
Asleep at the Wheel, April 16
Dala, April 23
"Peter Pan," April 26-May 1
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, May 15