by Jacob Oley –

The Diana Wortham Theatre is about to kick off its 2015/2016 Mainstage Series.

From September until the end of May, over twenty colourful acts are scheduled to hit the theatre. The line-up contains a diverse collection of performance genres ranging from jazz to marionettes to tap-dancing.

The series opens with the highly-anticipated Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton on September 18. This is sure to be a powerful demonstration of the soulful vocals of Fischer, who has worked with artists ranging from Tina Turner to Nine Inch Nails, as well as accompanying The Rolling Stones on every tour since 1989. She is featured in the film, 20 Feet From Stardom which will be screened a day before her performance to officially kick off the opening of the season.

Following up Fischer, Red Moon Road plays on September 25. This Canadian folk trio was apparently born from a sailboat wreck that occurred in 2009. Each member of the band has a unique background in music and come together with banjo, guitar, and mandolin to provide a heartwarming pop performance.

If Celtic music is your thing, you are in luck – there are a good number of traditional Irish music acts that will be performing at the theatre in the coming months, each unique in their own way. Most notably, the Swanannoa Solstice will occur on December 20, 2015, which has been an Asheville tradition for over ten years. Other Celtic acts include Lunasa on February 28, Altan on March 10, and Dervish on March 25.

Dance troops are no stranger to the Diana Wortham Theatre and this year looks especially interesting. Catch MOMIX Botanica on November 17 and 18, a performance akin to watching life in the jungle or underwater. In a more traditional modern dance vein, The Koresh Dance Company will perform on January 22 and 23, and Lucky Plush Productions are scheduled for February 26 and 27.

Flamenco nuevo expert Jesse Cook performs April 15. Cook combines musical styles from all over the world, using his own guitar expertise and synthetic additions. Some of the other more eclectic shows include a juggling duo, The Passing Zone, performing on October 3, the Cashore Marionettes on March 5, and Mummenschanz: The Musicians of Silence (who don surreal masks and body shapes for their performance) on February 11.

And if none of that strikes your fancy, there are still plenty of other acts – one of New York’s best jazz bands, The Hot Sardines, play on January 30. Yamato, a Japanese drum troop perform on February 18 and 19, the Aquila Theatre company presents The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on February 5, and so much more. For a season brochure, call the box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.

If You Go: Diana Wortham Theatre 2015/2016 Mainstage Series, September 2015 – May 2016. Featuring Lisa Fischer, Red Moon Road, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, MOMIX, Alison Brown Quartet, Tom Paxton, The Passing Zone, Rhythmic Circus, the Hot Sardines, Lúnasa, and much more!