Big names, productions booked as Modesto’s Gallo Center announces its new season
To mark its 15th season, the Gallo Center for the Arts will showcase some familiar acts, some new acts and — for its kickoff — a production that combines a little of both.
The Broadway show “Cats” will open the 2022-23 season on Sept. 17. But this is a new production that will use the Gallo Center for technical preparations and rehearsals before it goes out on its national tour.
“It sort of commemorates our anniversary season in that ‘Cats’ was in our first season at the center and has not been back,” Chief Executive Officer Chad Hilligus said. It will be the first time for a Broadway touring company to use the downtown Modesto venue to prepare a show before it will tour.
“Gallo Center audiences will be the very first to see this new production,” Hilligus said.
Ticket sales for the 2022-23 season begin June 6 for the public. Gallo Center donors are able to buy tickets now.
This is the first season booked by Hilligus, who took over the Gallo Center helm from Lynn Dickerson in 2021.
From a season filled with more than 100 shows, Hilligus couldn’t choose which he’s most excited about: “It’s like asking a mother with over 100 children to pick its favorite.”
Among other performers and productions planned for the upcoming season are Go-Go’s frontwoman (and recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) and solo artist Belinda Carlisle (Oct. 23), Kristin Chenoweth (Jan. 28), Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (Nov. 18), comedians George Lopez (Oct. 16) and Jay Leno, (Feb. 25), Broadway show “The Book of Mormon” (Nov. 15-16), Latina pop star Ana Barbara with guest Luis Coronel (Jan. 7), Dave Koz (Dec. 23), Johnny Mathis (Dec. 21), Dionne Warwick (Nov. 30), Brian McKnight (Jan. 20), Itzhak Perlman (Jan. 17) and Amy Grant (Oct. 13).
Other Broadway tours planned are “Fiddler on the Roof” (March 27-28), “Anastasia” (May 9-10) and a new musical based on the story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, “On Your Feet” (Feb. 23).
Classic rock fans can hear REO Speedwagon (Jan. 14), Three Dog Night (Nov. 2) and Air Supply (Oct. 29).
Booking the new season had its challenges, Hilligus said, as some performers weren’t sure they would be able go out on the road because of the pandemic. “It came together later than I’m used to.”
The pandemic also made a mark on the current season. They’ve been forced to cancel more than a dozen shows due to various COVID-19 issues, he said.
“We’ve definitely had our ups and our downs, but what’s remained constant is the community’s support of the Gallo Center,” he said.
Community input important
To gauge what shows to book, Hilligus spent a lot of time listening, learning and “first and foremost, asking questions” to get to know the community, he said. He also took into account what shows have done well in the past.
“To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we’re bringing back many of our most popular, best-selling acts. That said, as a cultural institution serving a diverse community, I also believe we have a responsibility to bring new artists, new shows that break the mold and inspire people to take a risk and think outside the box,” he said.
So audiences will have a chance to see a variety of shows including more jazz, world music and dance productions.
The center also will pay tribute to the late Marie Gallo — who spearheaded the decade-long process to bring the Gallo Center to Modesto — at a 15th anniversary gala Sept. 24 starring Bernadette Peters with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.
“We’re very thrilled and honored that the Gallo family is allowing us ... to honor the legacy of Marie Damrell Gallo,” Hilligus said.
Gala concert-only tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 1.
Returning and expanding will be the free Brown Bag Summer Concert Series held on the venue’s lawn at the Modesto Rotary’s Music Garden.
The Friday noon concerts double to 12 this year and showcase “the best local talent from the San Joaquin Valley,” Hilligus said.
Also returning will be Balcony Talks, which were introduced this current season for dance performances. The free preshow conversations are moderated by Central West Ballet’s Artistic Director Rene Daveluy, who interviews a member of the artistic or creative team performing that evening.
Hilligus said the upcoming season includes acts the center finally was able to bring in after trying to book them for some time, such as Carlisle and Valli.
“We’re incredibly excited,” he said, “about the season we’ve put together.”
.jpg "John Anker Bow as Bustopher Jones and the company of the 2021-2022 national tour of CATS (Photo By Matthew Murphy, Murphymade).jpg")
This story was originally published May 16, 2022 at 3:22 PM.
