Tickets for the Kent Arts Commission’s 2018-2019 Spotlight Series are on sale now.

The performing arts series brings exceptional entertainment to Kent. The upcoming season features nine performances, beginning October 13 and running through April 5, 2019.

Here’s the schedule:

Skerryvore and We Banjo 3

Saturday, October 13

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28 general, $26 senior, $15 youth

Skerryvore, a renowned folk-rock band from Scotland and award-winning quartet We Banjo 3 from Ireland join forces for an unforgettable night of Celtic folk, rock, pop, and bluegrass. Sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Parks Foundation, co-sponsored by Judy Woods


Kaki King “The Neck is a Bridge to the Body”

Friday, October 19

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25 general, $22 senior, $15 youth

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a genre unto herself,” composer and guitarist Kaki King is a true iconoclast. This innovative, immersive, multi-media production uses the guitar as a projection screen to tell a story.


An Evening with Molly Ringwald

Friday, November 30

Kentwood PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $32 general, $28 senior, $18 youth

Along with her quartet, actress, writer, and singer Molly Ringwald delivers a crowd-pleasing jazz concert. The New York Times says, “The spin she brings to the American Songbook is thoroughly contemporary.” An actress of stage and screen, Ringwald earned a Golden Globe nomination at age thirteen, and went on to star in numerous films, including the iconic films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. Sponsored by the Pete and Pat Curran Family in memory of Regan Curran


Magical Strings 32nd Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert

Sunday, December 2

Kent-Meridian PAC, 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: $26 general, $24 senior, $15 youth

The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a festive and memorable tradition. Once again, Pam and Philip Boulding are joined by their children, grandchildren and guests for an afternoon of Yuletide music, Irish step dancing, drumming, and storytelling.


An Evening with Peter Yarrow

Saturday, January 19

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior $15 youth

Peter Yarrow is a folk legend with a contemporary message. His talents as a creative artist—both with the legendary trio Peter, Paul & Mary and as a solo performer—are frequently directed at using music to convey a message of humanity and caring. Sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Parks Foundation and Curran Law Firm


Seattle Rock Orchestra performs The Beatles: Number Ones

Saturday, February 2

Kentwood PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

Taking inspiration from the popular Beatles compilation album “1,” Seattle Rock Orchestra celebrates the band’s broad swath of No. 1 hits, along with their charming B-Side companions (many of which are hits in their own right). Featuring the songs “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Eight Days A Week,” “Yesterday,” Penny Lane,” “Hey Jude,” “Something,” “Let It Be,” and many more. Sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Parks Foundation, co-sponsored by the Haffner Family


Letters Aloud “Love Me or Leave Me”

Friday, February 15

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25 general, $22 senior, $15 youth

Letters Aloud reads private letters in public – real letters by real people, read by great actors. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this special edition featuring letters of loving, longing, and leaving. From awkward courtship, to horrible breakups, to loves of a lifetime, and lifetimes of love, we’ve got it all in these letters that range from steamy to sweet.


International Guitar Night

Friday, March 1

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

International Guitar Night is North America’s premier traveling guitar festival. This tour features Luca Stricagnoli, Italy’s explosive showman, as guest host. He will be joined by two of France’s acclaimed young prodigies, Swing guitarist Antoine Boyer and Flamenco guitarist Samuelito, as well as the ground-breaking Turkish fretless guitarist Cenk Erdogan.


Piano Battle: Andreas Kern vs. Paul Cibis

Friday, April 5

Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

In this comedy/classical show, internationally accomplished pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, each with distinctly different performance styles, go head-to-head on stage. This is serious classical music in a whole new context – and the audience decides the winner.


Tickets for all Spotlight Series performances are on sale now.  Tickets may be purchased online at kentarts.com, by calling 253-856-5051 or in person at the Kent Commons, 525 4th Ave. N.  Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Box office is closed on Sunday.

Spotlight Series is presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services and partially funded by 4Culture, WESTAF, National Endowment for the Arts, and a variety of business and individual sponsors.  For information call 253-856-5050 or visit kentarts.com.

Scott Schaefer

Founder/Publisher/Editor. Three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy”), Director, Producer, Journalist and more...