It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and that means music legend Kenny Rogers will once again be embarking on his highly acclaimed annual holiday tour, bringing his exceptional talent and signature sound to stages across America. The 2009 edition of the Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour featuring Rebecca Lynn Howard will launch on November 27 in Bossier City, LA at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome. The tour will make a stop at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University on December 6th. The 20-city tour will wrap two days before Christmas on December 23 in Westbury, NY at The Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury.
Rogers' annual Christmas Tour has become tradition over the course of the artist's storied career. Always a highly anticipated treat for the whole family, the production will feature performances of heartwarming traditional and original holiday songs from Rogers - many that can be found on his numerous holiday recordings - such as "Let It Snow," "White Christmas," and "O Holy Night" as only the Grammy Award-winning artist can deliver, with the help of local choirs and children chosen to be part of the production in each city. Rogers will also perform classics such as "The Gambler," "Lady," "Islands In the Stream," "Lucille," and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town."
The back-up choir for the Christmas portion of the concert at the Luhrs Center goes by the name "The Shippensburg Singers." Comprised mostly of Shippensburg University Madrigal Singers, the choir is being augmented by 8 singers from the community, most of whom are alumni of the University and the Madrigal Singers. Also, included in the program are five elementary school students who were selected to participate in the production. The choir is under the direction of Dr. Blaine Shover, professor of music at Shippensburg University.
"I've always loved this season," remarked Rogers. "I think because people in general, are truly different. Look around...they smile more, they're more gracious, and generally seem happier. It's funny how things in your life change as you get older - especially when you have children. All the things that seemed so important before, somehow no longer matter, and those that once felt so trivial, now are the only things that count. My house, for instance, has been decorated for the holidays since before Halloween, so to say my family is ‘In The Spirit Of The Season' is a bit of an understatement! I promise you the holidays will never be the same for me. And so I say to you, have yourself a Merry, Merry Christmas and know that I wish for you, what I wish for myself - that you spend this and every holiday season with those you love the most."
This year's Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour will be sponsored by World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization that is working in nearly 100 countries to serve the poor and those in need.
"We are honored to be sponsoring the Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour this season. It is a tremendous opportunity to be working closely with such a legendary artist as we join forces together to help children and their families around the world," says Jenny Lockwald, World Vision's Executive Director for Artist Associates & Sponsor Engagement.
A beloved, universally-known icon of American entertainment, Kenny Rogers is a living legend with an extensive history of success, including 20 platinum, 26 gold records and a Diamond-certified Greatest Hits album that has sold more than 24 million copies worldwide. In the span of nearly five decades, Kenny Rogers has recorded more than 65 albums, which have sold more than 105 million units worldwide. Rogers is the only artist to chart a record in each of the last six decades and has three Grammy Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and 11 People's Choice Awards. He's also ranked #8 on the R.I.A.A.'s list of Top Selling Male Artists of all time.
For the latest news and tour updates, please visit Kenny Rogers' official website: www.kennyrogers.com. For information about the performance at the Luhrs Center on December 6, 2009, call the Luhrs Center Box Office at 717.477.SHOW (7469) or visit the Luhrs Center website at www.luhrscenter.com.
Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour Dates:
November 27 Bossier City, LA Horseshoe Casino Riverdome
November 28 Biloxi, MS Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
November 29 Fort Pierce, FL Sunrise Theatre
November 30 Kissimmee, FL Silver Spurs Arena
December 01 St. Petersburg, FL Mahaffey Theater at Progress Energy Center
December 03 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
December 05 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort - Arena
December 06 Shippensburg, PA H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center
December 07 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort Casino - Showroom
December 10 Sandusky, OH The Sandusky State Theater
December 11 Jamestown, NY Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
December 12 Elmira, NY First Arena
December 13 West Point, NY Eisenhower Hall Theatre
December 15 Youngstown, OH Covelli Centre
December 17 Bloomington, IL US Cellular Coliseum
December 18 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
December 19 Johnstown, PA Cambria County War Memorial
December 20 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium
December 22 Rochester, NY Auditorium Theatre
December 23 Westbury, NY The Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury
About the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center's 2009-2010 Season:
This season's performances include: Mike Super - Magic & Illusion (Sept. 12), LOGGINS & MESSINA (Sept. 17), Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone (Oct. 1), Ben Folds and special guest Kate Miller-Heidke (Oct. 4), FRANKIE VALLI & The Four Seasons (Oct. 8-SOLD OUT), AMERICA (Oct. 17), Legends of Country Rock - POCO, Pure Prairie League & Firefall (Oct. 23), YAMATO - The Drummers of Japan (Nov. 4), Brian Regan (Nov. 6-SOLD OUT), The Ten Tenors (Nov. 12), Junie B. Jones (Dec. 5), Kenny Rogers - 2009 Christmas & Hits Tour (Dec. 6 - SOLD OUT), Canadian Brass Christmas (Dec. 10), Aga-Boom (Jan. 29 & 30), Mardi Gras Mambo - The Neville Brothers with Dr. John & The Lower 9-11 (Feb. 11), Charlotte's Web (Feb. 13), The Pink Floyd Experience (Feb. 16), Jesus Christ Superstar (Feb. 21), Dr. Benjamin Carson - Lecture (Feb. 25), The Peking Acrobats (Mar. 2), The Pirates of Penzance (Mar. 18), Leahy (Mar. 23), Etta May and The Southern Fried Chicks (Mar. 27), Thank You Gregory! a tribute to the legends of tap (Apr. 6), An Evening with George Benson (Apr. 9), Diva Nation - Where Music, Laughter & Girlfriends Reign! (Apr. 22), LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (Jun. 5), and the Festival 2010 Celebration Series special guest artists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Christopher Parkening & Elisabeth Turchi (Jul. 8, 15 & 22).
About the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University
The mission of the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University is to support and enhance the University's role in academic and cultural enrichment for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Luhrs Center's 1,500-seat state-of-the-art Grove Theatre is where programs to educate, enlighten and entertain are presented. Benefits of the Center to the region include expanding opportunities to participate in a wide range of cultural programming including full-scale Broadway companies, musical groups, symphonies, dance troupes and internationally known speakers. In addition, it adds options for professional training programs, youth programs and senior citizen programs; attracts regional and national business conferences, professional meetings and planning sessions; and additional visitors to the area which will result in a positive impact on the local and regional economy.
