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He's the top: Norton Center to feature Little Richard, Tony Bennett

Herald-Leader Staff Report

The Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College in Danville is coming off its most successful season ever and appears poised to top itself in 2008-09.

Season subscribers will soon receive a brochure with a lineup topped by ­legendary standards singer Tony ­Bennett; pop music legend Little Richard; the New York Philharmonic Orchestra with Lorin Maazel at the podium; the Kentucky ­premiere of The Drowsy Chaperone, the 2006 Tony Award winner for best book and score of a musical; and arguably the hottest ­violinist in the world, Joshua Bell.

Here's the complete lineup, in chronological order. All performances are at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted:

Sept. 20: Little Richard.

Sept. 30: Olga Kern, pianist.

Oct. 3-5: Smoke on the Mountain, Bluegrass gospel musical, 8 p.m. Oct. 3, 4; 3 p.m. Oct. 4, 5.

Oct. 12: Spanish Brass, 3 p.m.

Oct. 14: Altar Boyz, off-Broadway ­musical.

Oct. 21: Cirque d'Or, Chinese acrobats.

Oct. 24: The Beach Boys, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 12: Soweto Gospel Choir.

Nov. 18: Al Green.

Dec. 4: The King's Singers.

Dec. 11: Movin' Out, Broadway musical.

Jan. 12: 100 Years of Broadway, musical revue with Broadway veterans.

Jan. 13: Giselle by the State Ballet of Russia.

Jan. 16: Tony Bennett.

Jan. 26: Joshua Bell, violin.

Feb. 10: Drumline Live, African-American band show.

Feb. 17: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Broadway musical.

Feb. 19: Red Priest, ­irreverent early music group.

Feb. 26: Kodo, Japanese percussion ensemble.

Feb. 28: Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso, oratorio presented with visiting and local musicians.

March 1: Tempesta di Mare, early music ensemble.

March 5: New York Philharmonic with Lorin Maazel, conductor.

March 11: St. Petersburg Male Choir.

March 12: Moscow Cats Theatre, ­acrobatic cat show.

March 15: Orion String Quartet, 3 p.m.

April 11: The Drowsy Chaperone, ­Broadway musical.

April 15: Annie, Broadway musical.

April 23: Garrison Keillor.

April 27: Ain't Misbehavin', Broadway musical.

May 30-31: Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass, presented at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

The performances are sold in a variety of season ticket packages costing $966 to $177, depending on performances. Single tickets already are available for some shows. Single tickets for others will go on sale later, depending on availability. Call 1-877-448-7469 or visit www.nortoncenter.com for information and tickets.