After the lights dim on the stage at Wingfield Park and July’s arts and culture festivities come to a close Artown continues its stream of performances with a world-class lineup for the 2010-2011 Artown Encore series. Blending bluegrass and Broadway, dance and spoken word, the series brings six evenings of art to Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre stage. 

2010-2011 Artown Encore series runs October through April and features:

Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers: An Evening of Bluegrass and Banjo, Oct. 5, tickets $40, $55, $70. Following his successful 2009 tour in support of his Grammy Award-winning album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, Steve Martin is once again joined by the award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers for an evening of bluegrass.   

John Lithgow’s Stories By Heart, Oct. 28, tickets $30, $45 and $60. In his one-man theatrical memoir, Stories By Heart, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor John Lithgow explores storytelling as the unacknowledged tie that binds humanity. 

Ailey® II, Jan. 25, tickets $25, $35 and $45. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers.  

An Evening with Bernadette Peters, Feb. 14, tickets $40, $55 and $70. Throughout her illustrious career, Tony Award-winning actress and Broadway’s brightest star Bernadette Peters has sizzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert and on recordings. 

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, April 10, tickets $25, $35 and $45. Founded in 1986 by the charismatic baritone Max Raabe, Max Raabe & Palast Orchester embodies the high style and musical glory of the 20s and 30s and has been heard in venues the world over. 

Arlo Guthrie, “The Journey On” Tour featuring The Burns Sisters, April 16, tickets $35 and $45. As a masterful storyteller, humorous philosopher and uncompromising artist, Arlo Guthrie proves that folk music is alive and well. He reunites with The Burns Sisters whose Siren song brings evocative, exquisite support to his seasoned and celebrated performances. 

All performances are at 8 p.m. at Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre. Members of Friends of Artown receive advance ticketing privileges through July 30 and a 10 percent discount on tickets. Friends need to contact the Artown office at 322-1538 to receive the pre-sale purchasing code. Tickets for the Oct. 5 Steve Martin performance are already on sale to the general public.  

Tickets go on sale to the general public July 31 and are available online at www.RenoIsArtown.com, by phone at 800-648-3568 or in person with no service fees at the Grand Sierra Resort box office.

Artown presents Grammy Award-winning South African vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo March 15 hosted by Grand Sierra Resort.  Ladysmith Black Mambazo has performed internationally for nearly 30 years, recording 40 albums and performing alongside musical giants including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban and Paul Simon.  Their harmonized traditional Zulu music, born in the mines of South Africa, is called Isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya), and was highlighted on Simon’s 1986 album “Graceland,” attracting the group a world of new fans.  Just one year later they earned the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for their premiere U.S. release, “Shaka Zulu.” Considered South Africa’s cultural emissaries, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has performed at notable events including two Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, the 1996 Summer Olympics and Queen Elizabeth II’s “Party at the Palace” 50^th Anniversary bash. Their collaborations include work in film, television and theater as well.

Ladysmith Montage:

Performance w/ Paul Simon: