Carpenter Center Announces Schedule for 1998-99 Season

The 1998-99 season at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts at Cal State Long Beach will offer more than 30 events, in addition to the center’s annual WideScreen Film Festival, its annual Blues Unplugged concert and special performances by both Richard Carpenter and by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Executive director Peter Lesnik says that, in addition to the center’s own events, it will again host performances by the American Jazz Philharmonic, Long Beach Opera, Henry Mancini Institute, Musical Theatre West, South Coast Chorale, CSU Summer Arts and the Cal State Long Beach College of the Arts departments.

Among classical ensembles appearing this season will be the Munich Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Poppen, with soprano soloist Julianne Banse (Feb. 7), Spoleto Festival/USA Chamber Music (March 6) and the Juilliard String Quartet (May 1). On the four-event musical theater series are Ben Vereen (Feb. 5) and Davis Gaines (April 9).

The Superstars! series includes appearances by Richard Carpenter (Sept. 12), Blood, Sweat & Tears (Sept. 26) and Blues Unplugged IV (April 17). Included in the All That Jazz series are the Great American Music Company, with Stephanie Haynes, Dewey Erney and Jack Prather (Oct. 3), “A Latin Jazz Christmas,” with Bobby Rodriguez (Dec. 13), “A Night at the Cotton Club” (Feb. 12 and 13) and “Turn Out the Stars: A Tribute to Bill Evans” (April 2).

Dancing for Joy presents three attractions during the season: Ballet Arizona: “Dias de Muertos” (Oct. 17), “Do Jump!” (Nov. 14) and River North Dance Company (March 13). The Family Matinees series offers six events, all on Sundays at 2 p.m., Oct. 18-May 9.

Information: (562) 985-7000.