Mattie Kelly Arts Center single tickets on sale Saturday

NICEVILLE — An impressive slate of Broadway, Artist and Family Series shows is scheduled to appear for the 2010-11 season at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College.

The season, dubbed “New York in Niceville” to highlight the national touring companies scheduled to perform, is “one of the most impressive in our 14-year history,” according to Dr. Cliff Herron, executive director of the college’s fine and performing arts center.

Season packages are on sale now and individual tickets for all national shows go on sale Saturday by Web and on Monday by phone or in-person from the center’s box office.

“All the 1,650 seats in the main theater at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center are no more than 90 feet from the stage - making every seat the best seat in the house,” said Herron.

 The Broadway Series starts Oct. 10 with a Sunday, 2 p.m. matinee show by MOMIX, a company of dancer-illusionists, who will conjure up the exotic and sensual realm of nature with their national tour of “Botanica,” a show that debuted in Italy to sold-out houses. In the tradition of the cirque shows, the internationally renowned MOMIX dancers re-imagine the natural world, the rhythms of the seasons and the passage of time with a savvy mix of flamboyant costumes, multimedia projections, puppetry and lighting. Tickets are $45 each.

 The national tour of a family show, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” appears on Nov. 11. The show will be presented in daytime performances for school groups and an evening performance for the public. Evening performance tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth age 18 and younger or NWFSC college students with an ID. See the remarkable life of Anne Frank and the courage of this young Dutch Jewish girl, forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation of her homeland, in this production based on the famous diary that has kept Anne’s words and spirit alive for generations.

 The hilarious MGM film “Legally Blonde” is Broadway’s new hit musical and is scheduled Jan. 5, 2011, as part of the first national tour of “Legally Blonde, The Musical!” After turning Broadway hot pink, this feel-good song and dance juggernaut earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations and many other accolades. As on Broadway, Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (“Hairspray”) is director and choreographer for this touring production. Don’t miss sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer, as her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious” and Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before — Harvard Law. Tickets are $50 each.

 “The Color Purple” is the only national show of the college’s Mattie Kelly Arts Center’s 2010-11 season to appear in two performances, both on Jan. 16, 2011, when patrons can enjoy a choice of either a Sunday matinee or an evening show. Based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg, “The Color Purple” is a soul-stirring musical based on the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, “The Color Purple” is a landmark theatrical event. The show also features a Grammy-nominated score of jazz, gospel and blues. Tickets are $50 each.

 Jan. 27, 2011, features an Elvis extravaganza, “All Shook Up.” It’s “Footloose,” “Grease” and “Happy Days” all rolled into one zany story with more than 24 Elvis hits. Mistaken identities, outlandish who-loves-who mix-ups, crazy love triangles and more make up this “laugh-out-loud comedy” that will have audiences rockin’ to Elvis hits such as “Jailhouse Rock,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “That’s All Right,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Burning Love” and many more. Tickets are $35 each.

 A leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, the Dance Theatre of Harlem presents an ensemble of 16 dancers on Feb. 7, 2011. This “classically American” dance company has a four-decade legacy of creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts. Bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country and around the world, including sold-out houses from China to England, Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble is well known for its audience interaction, inspirational content, and performances that expand audience awareness and involvement in classical ballet. A specially priced student ticket is $25 each for students age 18 and younger or NWFSC students with a current college ID. Adult tickets are $35 each.

 Teatro Lirico D’ Europa, the stellar European touring company that performs worldwide, will present Puccini’s operatic masterpiece, “Turandot,” on Feb. 19, 2011, as part of the company’s 12th national tour of the United States. Soloists appearing will come from Opera Bolshoi, Prague State Opera, the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera as well as other major opera companies. The full scale production’s clever sets, lavish costumes and world-class voices beautifully evoke the royal palace pavilion of the ancient “Forbidden City” in Peking and the work’s legendary Chinese characters. A live orchestra and supertitles complete the production. Tickets are $45 each.

 A two-hour Celtic dance and music extravaganza, Rhythm of the Dance appears on March 11, 2011, as the final show of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center 2010-11 national touring season. With a wealth of Irish talent, Rhythm of the Dance is an inspiring epic, reliving the journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. The national tour of this internationally acclaimed Irish step dance production showcases a tale deep from Irish lore. This richly costumed show marries the contemporary and the ancient, combining traditional dance and music with the most up-to-date stage technology. Tickets are $35 each.

 New this year, the Mattie Kelly Arts Center will host the world premier of an original work for children and families on Dec. 3 at 7:30 pm, “Tales of Airn Book I,” presented by the college’s Division of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts and written by James Clinton (aka Clint Mahle), an NWFSC theater faculty member. Through narration, music, dance, puppetry, and acrobatics, “Tales of Airn Book I,” covers the themes of love for family, loyalty, perseverance in the face of adversity, friendship, and brains over violence. Tickets are $6 each for everyone.

To be sent a season brochure or to purchase tickets, contact the Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office at 850-729-6000 or toll free, 1-800-838-ARTS (2787) for those outside the Northwest Florida region.

Season packages are available by phone or in-person only so that box office representatives may provide personal attention to patron requests. Online, phone or in-person ticket sales are available for individual shows.

The online box office will open Saturday for individual tickets to all the season’s shows. Individual show tickets may also be purchased in person or by phone from the box office starting Monday. See the center’s website at mattiekellyartscenter.org.

The Broadway Series package of four events is $175 and a seven-show Broadway/Artist combo package is $265, a discount over single-ticket prices. There is a $5 per ticket discount for groups of 10 or more tickets to individual shows.