Big Names on Tap as Greek, Universal Set Season Schedules

Frank Sinatra and Tracy Chapman are among more than 30 attractions that will help the Greek Theatre celebrate its 60th anniversary season, while 1990 Grammy winners Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt will be part of the Universal Amphitheatre’s summer and fall season. Both schedules were announced Wednesday.

Chapman will be at the Greek on May 23, while Sinatra, who played the Greek in 1987, returns to the outdoor facility on Sept. 6 and 7.

Raitt will be at Universal on Sept. 27 and 28, while Ronstadt will be there for five nights beginning Oct. 9. The Amphitheatre will also host Milli Vanilli on May 27 and 28.

Other highlights at the Greek range from a pairing of Rickie Lee Jones and Lyle Lovett on July 11 to Julio Iglesias on Aug. 30-Sept. 2 to a reggae festival on May 26 and 27, Los Lobos on Aug. 25 and a world music festival featuring Michelle Shocked and Billy Bragg on Aug. 29.

The Universal’s offerings include children’s singer Fred Penner on May 12, Midnight Oil on June 19 and 20, Harry Connick Jr. on July 13 and a Dec. 28-31 stand by Kenny G.

Each will be adding shows throughout the season. Executives at both theaters say that ticket buyers are increasingly interested in a variety of styles, and they see many of the same people attending a wide range of performances.

“In my experience talking to people in their 30s and 40s, because we were raised in the age of rock ‘n’ roll, we are open to enjoy different kinds of music,” said Susan Rosenbluth, the Greek’s general manager. “I know people who go see both hard-rock shows and Sinatra.”

Larry Vallon, executive vice president of MCA Concerts, which operates the Universal Amphitheatre, agrees. “We’ve always felt that if you walk into someone’s house and look at their record collection, most people have got the works.”

Both are also, as in the past, offering early-purchase programs allowing people to select custom ticket packages in advance of general-public sales of shows.

Members of the Greek’s Premiere Club can buy tickets starting today for six or more of the shows now being announced, and also may purchase mail-order tickets for a Bolshoi Ballet appearance at the Shrine Auditorium on Aug. 7-19. Universal subscribers can pick any eight shows.

The first individual-show sales date for the Greek is Monday, when tickets for the Stylistics and the reggae festival go on sale. Availability of tickets for all individual shows at both theaters will be announced regularly.

The rest of the Greek Theatre schedule:

May 12, the Stylistics, Ray, Goodman & Brown, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes; May 19, Air Supply; June 8, Taylor Dayne; June 22, Hank Williams Jr.; June 30, Gordon Lightfoot; July 13, Alabama, Clint Black; July 14-15, Santana; July 19-21, Johnny Mathis, Dionne Warwick; July 26, Spyro Gyra; Aug. 2, Allman Brothers Band; Aug. 3, the Judds; Aug. 4, Michael Franks, Yellowjackets; Aug. 10-11, the Temptations, the Four Tops; Aug. 12, George Strait; Aug. 17, Jean-Luc Ponty; Aug. 18, Steel Pulse; Sept. 4, L.A. Dance Festival; Sept. 8-9, John Denver; Sept. 14, David Benoit; Sept. 18, Little Feat; Sept. 21-23, Anita Baker; Sept. 27, Roger Whittaker; Oct. 5-6, “Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll”; Oct. 7, “All City Traditional Arts Festival”; Oct. 27, Anne Murray. Also on the schedule are Richard Marx and the Gipsy Kings, with dates to be announced.

The Universal schedule also includes:

May 13, David Peaston, Miki Howard; June 15, “Classic New York Doo Wopp”; June 17, Stevie B, Seduction; June 27-28, Engelbert Humperdinck; July 6-7, Smokey Robinson; July 15, Reba McEntire; July 24-25, Basia; July 27-28, the Whispers; Aug. 2, Steve Miller Band, Lou Gramm; Aug. 5, 6, 8, 9, Gloria Estefan; Aug. 11, Howie Mandel; Aug. 17, Jeffrey Osborne , Dianne Reeves, Gerald Albright; Aug. 18, Larry Carlton, Stanley Jordan; Aug. 25-26, Emmanuel; Aug. 27-28, the Moody Blues; Aug. 31, America; Sept. 8-9, K.T. Oslin, Ricky Van Shelton; Sept. 14-15, Peter, Paul & Mary; Sept. 21-22, Chicago; Oct. 23-27, James Taylor; Nov. 8-10, Juan Gabriel; Nov.30-Dec. 2, the Pointer Sisters; Dec. 19-20, “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.”

Dates are to be announced for Roseanne Barr, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dwight Yoakam and Bruce Hornsby.