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Connect2Culture Announces 2022-2023 Performance Season

Joplin, Missouri – Connect2Culture (C2C) announced its highly anticipated 2022-2023 performance season on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. With its move to the new Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex (212 West 7th Street, Joplin, MO 64801), C2C will be expanding its role as a performing arts presenter, offering two new performing arts series in addition to its annual Curtains Up Series.

“We are thrilled to open the doors to our new home, the Cornell Complex, and help welcome guests into this facility with 16 performances across three series,” said Emily Frankoski, Executive Director of C2C. “Along with our fifth annual Curtains Up Series, we will be offering a series that promotes area and regional artists, a series for children and families, and even a piano spotlight performance.”

All performances will utilize either the 435-seat Beshore Performance Hall or the 1,500-person, outdoor Leggett & Platt Green at the Cornell Complex.

The Curtains Up Series, first established in 2016, remains Connect2Culture’s flagship series, offering performances featuring high-quality, nationally touring bands, musicians, and groups. This series knows no bounds and includes a great variety of performance types. The 2022-2023 Curtains Up Series will include:

1. Christmas with the Annie Moses Band

December 17, 2022 | 3:00pm & 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

2. Aquila Theatre in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice

February 22, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

3. Danú

March 9, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

4. The Second City Swipes Right: The Incomplete Guide to the Ultimate Date Night

March 24, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

5. Jessica Vosk

March 25, 2023 | 7:00pm &

March 26, 2023 | 4:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

6. The Reminders

April 7, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

7. Piano Battle

April 29, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

8. BritBeat – A Tribute to the Beatles

June 17, 2023 | 8:00pm

Leggett & Platt Green

The aptly named Ignite Series seeks to ignite a passion for arts and culture outside of the classroom by providing performances that engage, educate, and inspire area students and their families. This series features special performances, masterclasses, talkbacks, and more. The 2022-2023 Ignite Series includes:

1. Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition (Ages 9+)

January 21, 2023 | 2:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

2. Mad River Theatre Works presents Freedom Flight (Ages 8+)

January 28, 2023 | 2:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

3. The Secret Agency (Ages 7-14)

February 14, 2023 | 6:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

4. The Okee Dokee Brothers (Ages 5-10)

June 3, 2023 | 7:30pm

Leggett & Platt Green

The Cornell Series honors the late Harry M. Cornell, a local businessman and champion of the arts. Mr. Cornell’s passion for local artists endures through this series of performances from local and regional artists. Its first year highlights artists from Joplin, St. Louis, and even Texas! The 2022-2023 Cornell Series includes:

1. Glenda Austin

December 10, 2022 | 6:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

2. Miss Jubilee & The Yas Yas Boys

April 22, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

3. Me Like Bees

May 13, 2023 | 7:30pm

Leggett & Platt Green

4. A’lante Flamenco

June 24, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

The Corley Spotlight, generously funded by the W. R. Corley Memorial Trust, consists of a free performance and educational outreach opportunity. This season’s Corley Spotlight showcases the Complex’s 1949 Steinway Concert Grand Piano and an award-winning pianist.

1. Steven Spooner

February 10, 2023 | 7:00pm

Beshore Performance Hall

“We’re looking forward to an amazing, expanded performance season in our new home,” says Frankoski. “And, of course, none of it would be possible without our generous sponsors, including our returning Top Billing Sponsor, Freeman Health System.”

Season tickets go on sale to the public November 12, 2022. Season ticket packages allow you to attend multiple performances within a season at discounted prices. Receive 20% off when you buy tickets to all performances included in a series. Single ticket sales begin December 1, 2022.

Visit connect2culture.org/all-performances to learn more about each artist in our 2022-2023 season. Tickets to all C2C performances are sold exclusively through connect2culture.org, over the phone at (417) 501-5550, or at the box office inside the Cornell Complex. Avoid overpaying through ticket resellers by buying direct from C2C!

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.