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.

World-famous Diavolo Dance Company is putting on a masterclass for local dancers. On Thursday, July 29 dancers from Diavolo share their expertise with dancers at the intermediate to advanced levels at the Fascinating Rhythm School of Performing Arts located at 9736 South Virginia Street in Reno. The class is $10 per dancer or FREE with proof of a ticket purchase to the July 30 Diavolo performance. Registration is required and can be made by calling Artown at 775-322-1538.

Watch a demo of some of Diavolo’s works:

Renown Health features Artown performances as part of the network’s Healing Arts Program. Following the performance, Renown Health Representatives will provide brief tours of the Children’s Hospital and other specialty services provided through the healthcare network.

The next performance is Tuesday, July 20 at 6 p.m., in the Mack Auditorium at Renown Regional Medical Center with TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada presenting “The Jungle Book” (free and open to the public). TheaterWorks’ condensed one-hour play is based on the stories by Rudyard Kipling. The play is suitable for all ages. The event is also acting as a book drive for The Washoe County School District’s Read and Succeed Program. Those attending the play are encouraged to bring a book level K-6 for the Community Book Drive Round Up! Books should be in good condition and appropriate for children.