Madisonville Community College’s Glema Mahr Center for the Arts has established a reputation for presenting a wide array of artistic genres, from string quartets to rock & roll. “This season is no exception,” explains Center Director Brad Downall.  “The audience will be wowed with the magic of Jason Bishop, floored by the brilliance of the Eykamp String Quartet, and taken on a trip down memory lane with The Guess Who, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, and The Masters of Soul.”

The Center Stage Series, the Family Series, all three Special Events, both community theatre performances, and Hopkins County Combined High Schools’ productions will be set in the Glema’s 929 seat auditorium, while the Chamber Music and Coffeehouse Series has the audience seated on the stage in an intimate setting.

The Center Stage lineup, sponsored by the City of Madisonville, Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission, the Enduring Legacy of Mrs. Glema Mahr, Old National Bank, and Baptist Health-Deaconess Madisonville, includes The Masters of Soul, The Guess Who, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Kingdom Choir, and Deana Carter. The Glema’s US Bank Family Series is sure to be a hit with all ages with the Children’s Nutcracker and illusionist Jason Bishop.

The Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series will present Eykamp String Quartet, Empire Wild, and flutist Adam Sadberry. The Ideal Market/Rocket Oil Coffeehouse Series features comedian Tommy Ryman, singer/songwriter Tommy Womack, and popular jazz vocalist Jaimee Paul with Leif Shires on trumpet.

First United Bank & Trust’s Proud Partnership brings you Hopkins County Schools’ production of Seussical and an evening of cabaret style entertainment with “Songs and Scenes: A Night with the Arts,” and our Community Theatre will present two musicals: The Last Five Years and The Addams Family Musical.  We will round out the season with three Special Events:  Cornbread & Tortillas – a folk opera, A Community Christmas, featuring the MCC Singers & area ensembles, and the MCC Singers Spring Concert.

Season Packages & Single Tickets will go on sale August 2, 2022. Single tickets may be purchased in-person, by phone at 270-821-2787, or online at https://glemacenter.universitytickets.com. To purchase packages or have a discount applied to the order, visit or call the box office. Ticket Office hours are 9-4, Monday – Friday.

For additional information visit the Center’s webpage, www.glemacenter.org, find us on Facebook, or call 270-821-2787.

Glema Mahr Center for the Arts 2022-23 Season: Season Packages & Single Tickets on sale August 2, 2022. Everything Ticket: 25% discount, 12-20 shows: 20% discount, 4-11 shows: 10% discount. Seniors: 10% discount; Students & Children under 12: 25% discount unless higher discount for specific show.

Center Stage Series – Platinum sponsors: City of Madisonville, Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission, & the Enduring Legacy of Mrs. Glema Mahr; Silver Sponsors: Baptist Health Deaconess-Madisonville, Old National Bank

Masters of Soul – Saturday, October 1, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets from $15 & up. In the early 60’s some of the most iconic names in the history of popular music were discovered in the Motor City of Detroit, MI, better known simply as MOTOWN & SOUL. MASTERS OF SOUL is a celebration of these artists, their music, and their style. The show features stylishly costumed, fully choreographed tributes to both male and female groups backed by a live band.

The Guess Who – Saturday, October 29, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets from $40 & up. Founding member Garry Peterson brings this 1970s super group to the Glema Center with mega-hits such as “These Eyes,” “No Sugar Tonight,” “Clap for the Wolf­man,” and “American Woman.”

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party – Friday, December 9, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets from $20 & up. For 28 years, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s unique take on American swing and jazz music has thrilled audiences around the world. Their unique and spirited “Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party” has become an eagerly anticipated annual family event. Singer and band leader Scotty Morris says, “If you’re going to go to a holiday show with your family, this is the one! It really does offer something for everyone.”

Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone – Saturday, January 21, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.  Tickets from $25 & up. At the age of fifteen, Peter achieved international fame as “Herman,” lead singer of the legendary pop band Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits include “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” “Silhouettes,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” “Wonderful World,” “Just A Little Bit Better,” “There’s A Kind of Hush,” “A Must To Avoid,” “Listen People,” “No Milk Today,” “The End of the World,” “Leaning On A Lamp Post,” and “Dandy.” Ultimately, Herman’s Hermits sold over fifty-two million recordings. In all, fourteen singles and seven albums went gold.

Kingdom Choir – March 7, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.  Tickets from $15 & up (all students and children: half-price). London’s The Kingdom Choir™ is best known for their show-stopping performance at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The group’s performance of “Stand By Me,” seen by a global audience of over two billion, instantly catapulted the Choir to worldwide fame.  Founded in 1994 by award-winning conductor Karen Gibson, the choir draws from various Christian traditions and is dedicated to creating a sound that reflects the community they share through their warm energy and enthusiastic performances. Support provided by the Anne P. Baker Endowment for Sustained Excellence in the Arts.

Deana Carter – Friday, May 12, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets from $25 & up. Nashville native Deana Carter did not take an easy route to stardom. Instead, she chose to defy conventional expectations of the typical Nashville artist blueprint and to make her own mark, taking the industry (and fans) by storm with her wildly successful multi-platinum international debut Did I Shave My Legs For This? Anchored by the dreamy, debut super-hit, ”Strawberry Wine,” Carter showcased her own blend of country and retro-rock, sprinkled with the folksy singer/songwriter qualities that have garnered Carter well-deserved, lasting respect and wide acclaim.

Special Events

Cornbread & Tortillas – Saturday, October 22, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets: $10 general admission (all students and children: half-price). Cornbread & Tortillas is a collective of Appalachian and Latino artists whose mission is to build community by sharing art, music, dance, and cultural heritage. Through outreach events, educational shows, workshops, and performances, they celebrate our similarities and differences to create unity in a diverse world. The centerpiece of their work together is the CORNBREAD & TORTILLAS theatrical show, a dynamic bilingual production that features stories, music, and dancing. Audiences will journey from the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky to Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and beyond, exploring connections and celebrating our shared human experience all the while!  This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kentucky Arts Council. Additional support provided by the Juanita Badgett Performing Arts Endowment.

MCC Singers Community Christmas – Friday, December 16, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets: $8 general admission.

The MCC Singers’ holiday musical celebration has become a tradition for ringing in the season.

MCC Singers Spring Concert – Saturday, April 29, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets: $8 general admission. Join us for the MCC Singers’ annual spring celebration!

US Bank Family Series

A Children’s Nutcracker presented by the Children’s Center for Dance Education – Friday, December 2, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.  

Tickets: $10 & up (all students & children: half-price). Children’s Center for Dance Education and local dancers celebrate this timeless Holiday Classic. Founded in 1995, The Children’s Center for Dance Education has forged a new model for a ballet organization through innovative programming, artistic excellence, and extensive community outreach. Auditions for local dancers: Sunday, October 2, 2022, 1:30 p.m.  Call 270-824-8652 for more information. Additional support provided by The Juanita Badgett Endowment.

Jason Bishop (illusionist) – Thursday, March 2, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets: $10 & up (all students & children: half-price).

From his breathtaking Double Levitation to his innovative Op-Art and Plasma illusions, Jason Bishop features stunning and original state of the art magic. One thing that distinguishes Bishop is his virtuosity. Each show features award-winning sleight of hand, exclusive grand illusions, and close-up magic projected onto a huge screen. No other touring illusionist displays such a diverse array of talents.

Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series ∙ Tickets: $25 (General Admission)

Eykamp String Quartet – Thursday, September 15, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Members of the Eykamp String Quartet serve as principal string players of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestral Corporation and as Artists in Residence at the University of Evansville. The Eykamp Family established the quartet and vision in 2002. This dynamic quartet provides classical music performances of artistic excellence and passion and is committed to ensuring that both chamber and orchestral music are a vital part of our community and beyond. The Eykamp String Quartet is made possible by the special underwriting of Rita, Richard and Dorothy Eykamp, friends of the University of Evansville, and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.

Empire Wild – Saturday, March 4, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Empire Wild is a genre-bending, crossover trio founded by Ken Kubota, Brandon Ilaw, and Mitch Lyon. Ken and Mitch bring all the cello has to offer – bowed, plucked, chopped and more. Brandon can be found singing and playing anything he can get his hands on – often a cajon, sometimes a guitar or piano, maybe some ankle bells. All classically trained, the three musicians met at Juilliard and formed Empire Wild as a vehicle for their love of musical exploration, fusing the sounds of pop, folk, Broadway and more into their songwriting and composition.

Adam Sadberry (flute) – Tuesday, May 2, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Memphis Symphony Orchestra acting principal flutist Adam W. Sadberry is known for his radiant, lyrical playing, and his commitment to expanding the Black diaspora in the classical music world through promoting equity, representation, music education, and commissioning music that tells stories of the Black diaspora – in other words, creating musical journalism. Adam is extremely motivated to continue the legacy of his late grandfather L. Alex Wilson, an important journalist and unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

Ideal Market/Rocket Oil Coffeehouse Series ∙ Tickets: $25 (General Admission) 

Tommy Ryman (comedy) – Friday, September 23, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tommy Ryman grew up with a new-age, folk singing mother and a traditional, Lutheran insurance-agent father. This XY equation evidently equals acclaimed comedian. Ryman has earned the title of Semifinalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, where judges raved about Tommy saying, “they had never seen anything like him, one of a kind, fantastic!” Ryman’s act can be described as absurdist and clever, masked behind a very likable and innocent demeanor, often thought of as disturbingly adorable.

Tommy Womack (singer/songwriter) – Saturday, November 19, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Western Kentucky native Womack has a long history as a songwriter and as a musician with many bands and recording artists. His recordings span multiple genres: folk, rock, country, alt-country, and indie music all being represented in his repertoire. Tommy’s songwriting talents have been adopted by many touring and recording artists.

Jaimee Paul & Leif Shires – Saturday, March 18, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. Jaimee and Leif are internationally acclaimed artists who make old songs shine with the luster of a current radio hit, and make legendary music into the current obsessions of today’s music lover. Jaimee began as a first-call studio singer, then singing live as backing vocalist for the likes of Wynonna and Kelly Clarkson. Leif’s career has flourished working with artists as varied as Kelly Clarkson, Jack White, Shania Twain, Barry Gibb, Wanda Jackson, and as part of the most influential horn section in music history, The Memphis Horns. Leif and Jaimee continue to keep legacies alive, while having fun and reinventing the classics for a new generation of music enthusiasts.

First United Bank and Trust Proud Partnership

Hopkins County Schools Joint High School Showcase – “Songs and Scenes: A Night with the Arts”

Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12, 2022 ∙ 7 P.M. Tickets: $8. Hopkins County Central and Madisonville North Hopkins renew their partnership with a cabaret style performance.

Hopkins County Schools Joint High School Production of Seussical

Friday, April 21, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. ∙ Saturday, April 22, 2023 ∙ 2 & 7 P.M. Tickets: $12 (all students half-price).

One of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and Jojo, a little boy with a big imagination. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Community Theatre

The Last Five Years – Friday and Saturday, February 17 & 18, 2023. Dinner at 6 P.M. Play at 7 P.M. ∙ Sunday, February 19, 2023. Dinner at 1 P.M. Play at 2 P.M.  Tickets: Dinner & Play: $28 ∙ Play only option: $14. This modern musical ingeniously chronicles the five-year life of a marriage, from meeting to break-up and from break-up to meeting. Produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Dinner will be served in the Anne P. Baker Gallery. Play seating will be in the auditorium. Support provided by the Gladys Martin Appreciation of Local Arts Endowment & the Miner Family Arts Endowment. Permanent support for Community Theatre provided by The J.B. & Kiel Moore Community Programs Endowment.

The Addams Family Musical – Friday and Saturday,July 14 & 15, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. ∙ Sunday, July 16, 2023 ∙ 2 P.M. Tickets: $16 (all students: half-price). THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story. It is every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. If that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he has never done before: keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Audition dates: Mid-May. THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. Sponsored by Don & Mary Susan Fishman. Permanent support for Community Theatre provided by the J.B. & Kiel Moore Community Programs Endowment.