Cal Poly Arts celebrates 25 years of performances with a fabulous 2009-10 season.

Stage shows: Lerner & Loewe’s beloved Camelot and Broadway’s Tony Award-winning irreverent musical puppet piece, Avenue Q; John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men; Reduced Shakespeare’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), as well as the dance spectacle Ballroom with a Twist.

Classical music:  Kronos Quartet, Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona, the Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra, Imani Winds with special guest vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and the continuation of the Forbes Pipe Organ recital series. 

The organ will be profiled again as Hollywood’s Bob Mitchell accompanies a screening of Lon Chaney’s silent film tour de force, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

There is also a special holiday performance at the Old Mission in SLO by the Cantus men’s choir of All is Calm.

Comedy is back in a big way with the return of the Capitol Steps and Ryan Stiles and the improv gang in Whose Live Anyway? Classic comedy founders Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin are featured in an afternoon of silent film shorts entitled The Silent Kings of Comedy.

New this season, Cal Poly Arts is presenting a New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash, starring Judy Tenuta and several star comics.

World music is well represented by the Drepung Loseling Monastary Monks’ Mystical Arts of Tibet: “Sacred Music, Sacred Dance.” Hawaii’s Keola and Moana Beamer; the Native American award-winning showcase, and the young African musicians/dancers of the Spirit of Uganda.

Celtic powerhouse Gaelic Storm also returns, as well as A Leahy Family Christmas; the legendary Temptations, Ian Anderson playing An Acoustic Jethro Tull, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, bluesman James “Superharp” Cotton.

Dance enthusiasts can look forward to the modern movement and mastery of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, the physicality that is the Best of Momix, and highlights from the iconic Martha Graham’s repertoire in Essential Graham. 

All Cal Poly Arts subscribers receive priority seating, substantial season ticket discounts, ticket exchange privileges, and advance notification of added events throughout the year.

Create Your Own (CYO) subscriptions:  Patrons need to order just four or more events to qualify as a CYO subscriber and receive all subscriber benefits plus 10 percent off their entire ticket order; orders with 8+ events receive 15 percent off every seat.

Tickets go on sale on Aug. 3. Info: calpolyarts.org or 756-2787.