New acts and old favorites are on the calendar as the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts prepares to begin its seventh performance season.

Fresh faces at the center will include Crystal Gayle in concert as the season opener, a one-man play about Charles Lindbergh and ‘70s rock band Firefall, which performed at Peanut Fest in 2005.

Returning favorites will include “The Nutcracker Suite” by Ballet Virginia International and the Sugarplum Tea preceding it, the musical “Pinkalicious” and performances by the Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads.

Executive Director Jackie Cherry said there’s no particular theme to this season.

“It’s more about trying to reach every group, every age range,” she said. “We listened to the customer last year to what they wanted to see at the center. I think the variety will meet what the community has asked for.”

The center also will have a speakers’ series for the first time, featuring John Martin, CEO of the Boomer Project, who will speak on the changing generational mindset, and Shela Dean, a relationship coach who will speak on getting along with others.

“The topics are something for everybody, and they’re fun, they’re light, and yet they’re educational,” Cherry said. “We’ve had requests (for speakers) the last couple of years, and there’s lots of good topics that I think this market would enjoy.”

Cherry said she is excited about the Crystal Gayle show. The first tickets went to patrons in Ohio and Pennsylvania, she said.

“I think she’s going to be phenomenal,” Cherry said, adding shows that bring out-of-town visitors help economic development, because the visitors are buying food, gasoline and hotel rooms.

“It’s not just a ticket that night,” Cherry said.

Another performance Cherry is excited about is Handel’s “Messiah,” which will be performed Dec. 4 by the Chowan University Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra.

“It’s holiday time, and folks will be out doing things on the weekend,” she said. “This is a Tuesday night when they can come down and really get into the spirit of Christmas.”

The entire schedule follows. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org.

 

• Oct. 27 — Crystal Gayle Live in Concert
• Nov. 2 — “Hansel and Gretel” with Virginia Opera
• Nov. 9 — “Charles Lindbergh: The Lone Eagle,” a one-man play written and performed by Steve Carroll
• Nov. 17 — “My Really Weird Thanksgiving,” performed by the Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads
• Dec. 1-2 — “The Nutcracker Suite” performed by Ballet Virginia International, with Sugarplum Tea preceding
• Dec. 4 — Handel’s “Messiah,” performed by the Chowan University Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra
• Dec. 8 — Holiday Movie: Disney’s “A Christmas Carol”
• Dec. 15 — “Uncle Wiggily’s Christmas Carol,” performed by the Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads
• Jan. 18 — Speakers at the Center Series: John Martin, CEO of the Boomer Project and president and CEO of the Southeastern Institute of Research, speaks on “The Changing Generational Mindset”
• Feb. 9 — “She, Called Moses,” performed by the Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads
• Feb. 17 — “Tuskegee Love Letters,” written and directed by Kim Russell, performed by the Suffolk Players, followed by a screening of the film “Tuskegee Airmen”
• Feb. 28 — The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
• March 9 — Celebrating 200 Years of “Pride and Prejudice”; screening of 2005 film followed by special guest speaker Margaret Sullivan
• March 15 — Step Afrika!
• March 16 — Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads Family Show
• March 23 — “Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi”
• April 10 — “The Pirates of Penzance” with the Virginia Opera
• April 12 — Speakers at the Center Series: Shela Dean, relationship coach, speaker and author, speaks on “Getting Along with Everyone: It’s Easier Than You Think”
• April 20 — Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads Family Show
• April 20 — Firefall Live in Concert
• May 11 — “Pinkalicious” the musical
• May 18 — Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads Family Show
• June 15 — Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads Family Show