MERIDIAN, Mississippi — The Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts (MSU Riley Center) announces a new slate of shows for the 2022-2023 fall/winter season. The season is full of headlining musical acts, complete with a Broadway star and ubiquitous comedian.
The season kicks off September 17 with The Gatlin Brothers, followed by Jessica Vosk on September 30. Better known as Elphaba, the green-skinned witch from the Broadway hit Wicked, Vosk’s powerful voice is sure to shine when paired with the theater’s unparalleled acoustics. . Jay Leno, a man who needs no introduction, will deliver his stand-up on Friday, October 7.
Blurring the lines between funk, soul, R&B and psychedelic rock, New Orleans musical legend Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue will take the stage on November 19. Released in the spring of this year, Lifted is her first new album in five years. After much anticipation, the album is a great indicator of what to expect onstage.
Singer-songwriter and beloved folk icon Emmylou Harris will perform with her band, filling the Grand Opera House theater at MSU Riley Center with wise wisdom and eloquent lyrics as only she can on Friday, December 9. Wrapping up the season on January 21, The Temptations and The Four Tops are sure to pack the house with Motown mania.
The MSU Riley Center announces this season on the heels of an impressive string of sold-out shows, including an additional performance by Bob Dylan in the spring and Boz Scaggs on July 23. The beauty of the theater is matched only by its acoustics, which makes it an idyllic place for artists and patrons.
“We’re selling more tickets each season than ever before, far exceeding pre-pandemic levels,” said Dr. Terry Dale Cruse, associate vice president and principal of Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus. “Although we have been performing regularly for over 15 years now, the energy and renewed interest in downtown and our community’s collective artistic and cultural offering is palpable. To anyone planning a show or coming downtown for a weekend, my advice is don’t hesitate.
Since the opening of the MSU Riley Center in 2006, downtown Meridian has seen an influx of investment, particularly in arts and culture. The addition of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience and the new Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian provide unique enrichment opportunities for adults and children that complement MSU Riley Center’s annual performing arts series and school shows. The official opening of the Threefoot Hotel in early 2022 firmly positions Meridian as a destination for arts and culture across the state and region.
Season passes to MSU Riley Center’s 2022-2023 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series are on sale now and start at $210 and go up to $540 per person. Special mini-packs are also available, allowing customers to purchase a set of three pre-determined shows, claiming highly sought-after seats before individual ticket buyers. Ranging from $95 to $340 per person, the mini packs go on sale August 1. Ticket prices for individual shows vary, starting at $20 and going up to $150 per ticket depending on performance and seat selection. Ticket sales for individual shows begin Tuesday, August 9, following a one-day presale to Friends of the Lady members on Monday, August 8. For more information and to purchase, visit www.msurileycenter.com or call 601.696.2200.
The MSU Riley Center thanks the Riley Foundation, Phil Hardin Foundation, Mississippi State University, and members of Friends of the Lady. Their continued support helps make these shows possible.
MSU Riley Center 2022-2023 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series All shows start at 7:30 p.m.
Larry, Steve and Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers Saturday, September 17, 2022
Celebrating their 67th anniversary in the music business, Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin are delighting audiences with one of the biggest greatest hits lists of all time. The Texas-born brothers first performed as child gospel singers. Their harmonious vocal harmonies launched a career that generated a Grammy Award, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 33 Top 40 records. Their breakthrough 1976 single, “Broken Lady”, launched a series of hits, including “All the Gold in California”, “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You)”, “I Don’t Wanna Cry” , “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love”, “Heartless Statues”, “Love Is Just a Game”, and “Night Magic”.
Jessica Vosk Friday, September 30, 2022
Broadway comes to Meridian in the person of Jessica Vosk. The singer and actress became one of the most famous Elphabas (the green-skinned witch) over the musical Wicked. Last November, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in a sold-out solo performance titled “My Golden Age,” celebrating the worlds of pop, rock and musical theatre. Stephen Mosher of Broadway World called it “the event of the season”. She now takes the show on the road, showcasing her powerful voice and heartbreaking sense of humor. For each performance, Vosk chooses a fan via social media to perform with her on stage. Expect an enchanting evening.
Jay Leno Friday, October 7, 2022
Jay Leno, acclaimed television host, comedian, children’s book author, corporate speaker, voiceover artist, car enthusiast and philanthropist, has earned the title of the hardest working man in show business. He is also perhaps the funniest. Even while hosting The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for two decades, he played more than 100 comedy shows a year. This fall, he and co-host Kevin Eubanks will bring back classic comedy game show You Bet Your Life, teaming up with two strangers to answer trivial questions. Leno’s many accolades include Emmy Awards, the Mark Twain Award, a Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Trombone shorts Saturday, November 19, 2022
Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews in New Orleans, led his own marching band when he was 6 years old. He has toured and recorded with stars such as Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Beck, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pharrell and Bruno Mars. A born showman, he commands the audience with effortless charisma. He has performed at major music festivals, at the Grammy Awards and the White House, as well as on dozens of television shows. His latest album, Lifted, features the blistering “I’m Standing Here”. “If I was a wrestler, ‘I’m Standing Here’ would be the song they played when I got in the ring,” Shorty said. “It’s about standing tall no matter what life throws at you.”
An Evening with Emmylou Harris Friday, December 9, 2022
Her eloquently simple songwriting and incomparably expressive singing over a 40-year career have made Emmylou Harris one of the most admired and influential women in music. The winner of 13 Grammy Awards and winner of the Billboard Century Award has recorded more than 25 albums. She has received three awards from the Country Music Association and four awards from the Americana Music Association. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Few artists have achieved such honesty or revealed such maturity in their writing. Harris continues to share the hard-earned wisdom that comes with aging. And, as always, she resolutely continues to look to the future.
Temptations and the Four Peaks Saturday, January 21, 2023
Soul music royalty will grace the stage as The Temptations and The Four Tops perform their staggering treasure troves of classic American songs. Billboard magazine named The Temptations the best R&B/hip-hop artists of all time. The late David Ruffin of Whynot, Mississippi sang lead on some of their biggest hits, including “My Girl”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, and “I Wish It Would Rain”. The Four Tops had an equally long streak of iconic singles, including the highly romantic “Reach Out I’ll Be There”, “Standing in the Shadows of Love”, and “Bernadette”. For those who knew the heyday of Motown Records, and those who would like to, this concert is a must.
Mini Packs – On sale August 1
Brown pack 1 The Gatlin Brothers (September 17) Jay Leno (October 7) Emmylou Harris (December 9)
White Pack 2: Jessica Vosk (September 30) Trombone Shorty (November 19) Emmylou Harris (December 9)
Gray Pack 3: Jessica Vosk (September 30) Trombone Shorty (November 19) The Temptations and The Four Tops (January 21)
Season passes on sale now. Mini packs go on sale August 1. The Friends of Lady member presale takes place August 8, with all shows on sale August 9. For tickets and more information, visit www.msurileycenter.com or call 601.696.2200.
