Todd Burge will kick off ArtsLink’s 2018-19 Concert Series on Sept. 13

ArtsLink’s 2018-19 Concert Series will kick off in mid-September and continue through April, offering versatile and expressive interpretations of both American music and dance.

Season tickets for the six-concert series are now on sale through ArtsLink, the arts council for Wetzel and Tyler counties.

The season begins Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Parlor Theater at the Doolin Center with a concert by singer/songwriter Todd Burge. He has been a repeat guest on NPR’s Mountain Stage and has been called West Virginia’s premier songwriter by its host, Larry Groce. The 7:30 p.m. show is sponsored by David Bridgeman.

There will be a master class for adult guitarists following the performance.

The next concert features Danika and The Jeb on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Tyler Consolidated High School at 7:30 p.m. Danika & the Jeb are dynamic, uplifting, and fun, while their music is a soulful combination of artfully written songs and powerful musical phrasing. This free concert is sponsored by the Stealey Community Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Inc.

The highly energetic story of Beauty and the Beast will be presented by the Oglebay Institute Youth Ballet on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Lincoln Theatver. The 3 p.m. matinee performance will be enjoyed by young and old alike as the familiar tale is brought to life through the artistry and timeless beauty of ballet. The show is sponsored by Marble King.

The Christmas season will be ushered in Monday, Dec. 3 with the Mid Ohio Valley Ballet classic presentation of The Nutcracker. This whimsical ballet brings beautiful fantasies, sugar plum dreams, and waltzing snowflakes to the classic American holiday experience. The 7 p.m. show at the Lincoln Theater is sponsored by Marble King.

The series continues with a concert on Thursday, March 14. Charlie Chaplin has been making audiences laugh for over a hundred years now, and you’ll find out why in Funny Bones, hosted by renowned physical comedian Dan Kamin. Dan trained Robert Downey Jr. for his Oscar-nominated performance in Chaplin and created Johnny Depp’s comedy moves for Benny and Joon.

In Funny Bones he’ll screen a newly restored print of The Pawnshop, Chaplin’s 1916 comic masterpiece, then peel the layers of the film to reveal its surprising secrets. The 7:30 p.m. event at the Lincoln Theater is sponsored by Mensore Distributing. The engagement of Dan Kamin is made possible through the West Virginia Special Presenters Initiative Program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

Pianafiddle conclude the series on Tuesday, Apr. 2 at the Gold Derrick Gallery in Sistersville. Is it bluegrass? Is it jazz? Is it classical, old time, ragtime, or blues? If Pianafiddle is performing, the answer is YES! Beginning only with a familiar tune, violinist/fiddler Adam DeGraff and pianist Randy Morris improvise as they go, blending the traditional, the unwritten, and the spontaneous in compelling performances that range literally from Bach to Bluegrass. This 7:30 p.m. performance is sponsored by Logan Hassig.

Season ticket prices for 2018-19 remain the same as last year. For ArtsLink members, tickets are $45 for individuals and $90 for families; for non-members, $60 for individuals and $120 for families. Please make your check payable to ArtsLink and mail to 141 Main Street, New Martinsville, WV, 26155. Indicate “season ticket” on the memo line.

“By purchasing a family season ticket, you save $30 over the single event ticket price; an individual season ticket will save you $15,” said Barbara Vincent, ArtsLink president. “You don’t want to miss this season of varied and exciting performances!”

Funding for these programs is made possible with financial assistance from the City of New Martinsville Parks & Recreation Commission, West Virginia Northern Community College, WETZ/WYMJ Radio, and Ohio Valley Online.

This concert series is presented with financial assistance from the WV Department of Arts, Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts. ArtsLink is committed to providing universal accessibility wherever possible. Persons with special needs, or for additional information, call the ArtsLink office at 304-455-2278.