Reston Community Center's new 2013-2014 Professional Touring Artist Series at CenterStage begins in September and continues through June 2014 with performances by an eclectic lineup of singers, comedians, musicians, songwriters, actors and dancers. Tickets became available to Reston residents and employees on Thursday, Aug. 1 and will be available to the general public on Thursday, Aug. 8. 

In planning his first full PTA Series, RCC Arts and Events Director Paul Douglas Michnewicz says that he tried to present a season of talented artists whose work is inspiring and whose personal stories are intriguing.  

Michnewicz noted that tiered ticket pricing has been implemented for the season, with children’s performances available at the lowest cost. He hopes that this new pricing plan will make CenterStage performances more accessible for the entire community.

In addition to the performances, Reston Community Center offers the addition of the Parents Time Out Series. During select PTAS performances, parents will have the opportunity to sign up children ages 4-9 for activity-based childcare while they attend the performance. This option is available for Left Bank Quartet, Red Molly, The Rite of Spring and the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Parents Time Out for 2014 shows will be announced in the 2014 Winter/Spring Program Guide, due out in mid-November.

Tickets will be available for purchase as follows:

• Aug. 1: Sales Open to Reston Residents and Employees

Residents and employees within Small District 5 can purchase tickets. Proof of residence or employment status is required.

• Aug. 8: Sales Open to the General Public; Online Sales Begin

The general public, along with Reston residents and employees, can purchase tickets. 

• Box Office Business Hours are as follows:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4-9 p.m. and Saturday: 1-5 p.m.

Featured performances in the 2013-2014 Professional Touring Artist Series include:

Tig Notaro

Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

Acclaimed comedian Tig Notaro opens the Centerstage season with side-splitting stand-up comedy that has earned her rave reviews and countless late-night appearances. In August 2012, she delivered a now-famous performance at Los Angeles’ Largo which addressed her recent breast cancer diagnosis. Louis C.K. called it “an amazing example of what comedy can be. A way to visit your worst fears and laugh at them.” In addition to appearing on Comedy Central Presents and The Sarah Silverman Show, Notaro is working on a new Showtime documentary, Knock, Knock, It’s Tig Notaro.

Left Bank Quartet

Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

A CenterStage favorite, audiences have grown to love the rich and varied tapestry on which these four DC-based musicians weave their musical magic.

Red Molly, with opening act We’re About 9

Friday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

Since 2004, folk trio Red Molly has brought audiences to their feet with gorgeous three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and a warm engaging stage presence. These singer-songwriters have opened for musical greats such as Willie Nelson. Baltimore, Md.-based folk band We’re About 9 will be the opening act for Red Molly.

2013 National Heritage Award Fellows at the Reston Multicultural Festival

Saturday, Sept. 28, at RCC Lake Anne (Free; open to the public)

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowships are the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Reston Community Center is proud to welcome 2013 fellows to the Festival. Irish fiddler Séamus Connolly and Mexican ceramist Verónica Castillo will be joined by 2004 winner Chum Ngek. A native of Cambodia, Ngek is now a Cambodian music teacher and artist in Gaithersburg, Md.

Turtle Island String Quartet with Nellie McKay: A Flower is a Lovesome Thing

Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 8:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/$40 Non-Reston)

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Nellie McKay joins forces with the two-time Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island String Quartet to present a delightfully kaleidoscopic view of 1920s-style sounds that include the music of Billie Holiday and Billy Strayhorn, as well as some original songs that will have audiences bouncing and tapping along with their infectious rhythm and quirky humor.

David Henry Hwang’s Lost and Found In Translation

Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

A first-generation Chinese American, Hwang is best known for his 1988 Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly. Additional works include Chinglish and his current “dancical” work, Kung Fu, which will debut at New York City’s Signature Theatre Company in February 2014. Hwang will discuss his works, share his writing process and share his philosophy that an artist creates art, but that art recreates the artist.

The Rite of Spring Double Feature

Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. ($25 Reston/$50 Non-Reston)

The CenterStage celebrates the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s ballet and orchestral concert piece with a cabaret-style evening of music and dance. The evening begins in the CenterStage where The Bowen McCauley Dance Ensemble will present a dynamic modern dance to the original four-hand piano accompaniment of this lively musical masterpiece. Audience members will then move to the nightclub-like atmosphere of the Community Room to experience this 14-movement tour de force as Darryl Brenzel conducts the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra in his original 17-piece arrangement, Re-Rite of Spring.

Black ‘n Blue Boys by Dael Orlandersmith

Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ($20 Reston/$40 Non-Reston)

Dael Orlandersmith has received high praise from audiences and critics alike for her work as an artist who is “looking into the abyss.” In this work, she embodies seven male victims of abuse – across racial and socio-economic backgrounds – with compassion and laser-like insights. Strong language and adult situations; suitable for adults only.

Gustafer Yellowgold

Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m. ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston)

Children’s performer Morgan Taylor brings his beloved character Gustafer Yellowgold to life in this multimedia performance that includes live music, animated illustrations, and storytelling. Parents and children alike will enjoy the adventures of Gustafer, who Entertainment Weekly calls “a cross between Yellow Submarine and Dr. Seuss.” Children can come early and enjoy a Pancake Breakfast before the show (Space is limited, registration required).

New York Festival of Song: Cubans in Paris, Cubans in Havana

Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. ($20 Reston/$40 Non-Reston)

Founded in 1988 by pianists Steven Blier and Michael Barrett, NYFOS is hailed for its thematic programming, which The New Yorker said has “reinvented the song recital.” Cubans in Paris, Cubans in Havana features Cuban music that took the world by storm in the 1920s and 30s and found a special welcome in Paris. Audiences will enjoy a trip back in time that straddles the concert hall, night club, opera stage, and theater world.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)

Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ($25 Reston/$50 Non-Reston)

Back by popular demand, the fruitcakes of the RSC take you on an irreverent yet heartwarming trip through the holidays. It’s festive, funny, physical family fun as the Three Wise Guys send up and celebrate your favorite winter holiday traditions. Let the RSC rekindle the joy, inner child and familial dysfunction inside us all.

Sweet Honey In The Rock

Sunday, Jan. 19 at 8:00 p.m. ($25 Reston/$50 Non-Reston)

As part of their 40th Anniversary Season, Sweet Honey In The Rock visits RCC to celebrate the Reston Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration. Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music from the rich textures of the African American legacy and traditions, these five women provide unique perspective in their traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies and jazz improvisation. The performance will be sign language interpreted. A full package is also available for purchase, which includes admission to all Sweet Honey In The Rock’s residency events during the weekend (four total events).

Rennie Harris’ RHAW

Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

Conceived in 2007, RHAW was founded by Dr. Rennie Harris as a youth dance organization driven by outreach and education, as well as mentorship. RHAW will showcase Harris’ newest and brightest street dancers as they bring it back to basics by presenting hip hop in its “RHAW-est” form.

Lúnasa

Wednesday, March 12 at 8 p.m. ($20 Reston/$40 Non-Reston)

This delightful group of Irishmen continues its 20-year tradition at the CenterStage with their famed Celtic music that blends intelligence, innovation, virtuosity and passion.

Mr. Vaudeville and Friends with Mark Brutsché

Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston)

Buddy Silver, the self-proclaimed Mr. Vaudeville and alter-ego of local funny man Mark Brutsché, returns to the CenterStage Motion Picture & Vaudeville House to prove, once again, that nothing can take the place of live entertainment. With help from friends and the audience, it’s an afternoon of fun that will leave the whole family in stitches.

Trout Fishing in America

Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

This duo’s infectious mix of folk/pop and family music is enriched by the diverse influences of reggae, Latin, blues, jazz and classical music. Since forming the duo in 1979, Keith and Ezra have produced 15 albums, received four Grammy Award nominations, and delighted CenterStage audiences several times.

Modern Moves, in partnership with Dance Place

Wednesday, May 28 at 8 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

Three of D.C.’s most prominent choreographers – Daniel Burkholder , Daniel Phoenix Singh and Erica Rebollar – come together to create an eclectic evening of thrilling and fascinating modern dance. Each choreographer brings a different dance perspective, resulting in an innovative and exciting evening of dance.

Raul Midòn

Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ($20 Reston/$40 Non-Reston)

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón has collaborated with legends Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Spike Lee while contributing to recordings by Jason Mraz, Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg. Blind since infancy, Midón uses his songwriting and musical talents to shatter stereotypes while establishing himself as one of music’s most distinctive and searching voices.

SpeakeasyDC’s Born This Way: Stories About Queer Culture in America

Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. ($15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)

One of the region’s premiere storytelling theatres presents an afternoon of entertaining and thought-provoking true stories that showcase a range of perspectives from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community. Their stories of challenges and triumphs will resonate with anyone who has engaged in the universal search for belonging and self-discovery. Strong language and sexual content; suitable for adults only.

Unless otherwise noted, all performances take place at the CenterStage, located at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Additional information about each of the performances is available online at www.restoncommunitycenter.com.