The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association, in cooperation with the Shawnee State University's Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, has announced the schedule for the 2006-07 season performances.

“The 2006-07 Performing Arts Season features the very best in classic and contemporary Broadway musicals, the finest vocal and instrumental ensembles, recitals by world renowned soloists and the 12th Portsmouth appearance of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra,” said Carl Daehler, executive director of SSU's VRCFA.

On Oct. 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. “Jesus Christ Superstar” will be performed with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Sponsored by the Southern Ohio Medical Center, this classic musical premiered in 1971 and depicts the last days of Jesus of Nazareth as seen through the eyes of disciple Judas Iscariot.

Capital City Petroleum will be sponsoring the performance of “Leahy,” a group of eight family members from Nova Scotia who first appeared at the VRCFA in 2004. This concert will take place Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The “Moscow Festival Ballet” will open their United States tour Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. with the production “Sleeping Beauty,” one of the most recognized and beloved ballets of all time.

On Feb. 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m., the national touring production of the celebrated Broadway musical “Aida” will be performed. Sponsored by the Southern Ohio Medical Center, “Aida” is set to the music of Elton John and lyrics of Rice and reinterprets a timeless story of love, yearning, courage and betrayal.

The 23-year-old pianist Chu-Fang Huang will perform March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Anna Margaret Stillwell, Huang was a top performer in the 2005 Van Cliburn Piano Competition and earned first prize at both the 2005 Cleveland International Piano Competition and New York's 2006 Young Concert Artist International Auditions.

Capital City Petroleum also will be sponsoring the “River City Brass Band,” a group of 28 professional musicians who produce a rich symphony of swinging big band sounds. This concert will be on March 24 at 7:30 p.m.

“Chanticleer,” a Grammy award-winning group of 12 male singers, will perform April 17 at 7:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by Capital City Petroleum and by a grant from the Pennsylvania Arts on Tour.

For the 12th consecutive season, the 80-member Columbus Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of associate conductor Peter Stafford Wilson, will be performing to conclude the SOPAA series on May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

“SOPAA is pleased to announce another stellar season of music, dance and entertainment,” said Joyce Grimm, SOPAA president. “Our mission is being accomplished through the strong support of SSU and the financial assistance realized from various grants, corporate sponsorship and the generous gifts received from our individual friends of the arts.'”

Subscription tickets can be purchased at the McKinley Box Office located in the lobby of Shawnee State University's Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.

Single tickets for all concerts went on sale Aug. 28. Special pricing is available for families, senior citizens and students. For more information, call (740) 351-3600.

The Performing Arts Series is made possible by grants from the Ohio Arts Council and Scioto Foundation and by gifts made to Shawnee State University's Development Foundation and the Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association.