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Kung Fu masters Shaolin Warriors will perform in the Center for the Arts on Nov. 29.

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  “Shrek the Musical,” which brings everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre to the stage, will be at the Center for the Arts Dec. 13-14.

By DAVE WEDEKINDT

Published: August 9, 2012

The Western New York premiere of the Broadway musical “American Idiot” will kick off the Center for the Arts’ 2012-13 season with performances on Sept. 8 and Sept. 9.

The season also includes musical performances—including a stop on country legend Glen Campbell’s farewell tour—as well as comedy and dance, and cultural performances.

Based on the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling Green Day album of the same name, “American Idiot” tells the story of three lifelong friends forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia.

Also on tap is another Broadway musical, “Shrek the Musical,” which brings everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre to the stage in a hilarious, irreverent romp. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.

In the spring, the CFA also will present The Acting Company in “Of Mice and Men.”

In addition to Glen Campbell’s performance on Oct. 24, musicians performing at the CFA this season include Grammy Award-winning artist Bruce Hornsby in a solo set on Sept. 26 featuring popular favorites, new pieces, choice covers and audience requests. Among the other fall concerts are guitar virtuoso Steve Vai (Sept. 22), Irish and world music group Clannad (Sept. 23) and the WYRK Acoustic Show (Sept. 30).

In support of the CFA’s ongoing Arts in Healthcare Initiative, cellist Stephen Katz will spend two weeks as an artist-in-residence at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He will give a special performance at UB on Oct. 14.

Spring performances include the ultimate Elvis tribute, “Love Me Tender” (Feb. 8), as well as two of the world’s most celebrated fiddlers: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy in “Masters of the Fiddle” (Feb. 23). British a cappella group VOCES8 will perform on March 6.

This season will not be without its share of laughs. Returning by popular demand, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy-nominated “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” will team up on Sept. 29 to bring a night of extraordinary improvisational comedy driven completely by audience participation.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, stars of ABC’s “Modern Family” will perform on Oct. 20 as part of UB’s True Blue homecoming weekend.

The CFA is Western New York’s premier presenter of dance, and this season’s M&T Bank Dance Series features performances on Nov. 17 by Pilobolus, an iconic and imaginative dance company now entering its 41st year, as well as Buffalo’s own LehrerDance on Oct. 6.

Also returning will be “Back to Buffalo 4: UB Dance Alumni All-Star Concert” (Sept. 22), in which noted UB dance alumni give a benefit performance for the CFA’s dance residency program.

New York City’s Dance Theatre of Harlem and jazz-based contemporary dance company River North Dance Chicago will make their first visits to the CFA on Feb. 6 and March 22, respectively.

The Russian National Ballet Theatre will round out the dance series with its performance of the timeless classic “Swan Lake” on March 26.

And the holiday season would not be complete without the American Academy of Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.

Buffalo’s own Peter McGennis will premiere his latest film, “Queen City,” at the CFA on Nov. 14. Shot entirely in Buffalo, “Queen City” celebrates the gritty struggle of two detectives and a jazz singer in the wake of the steel plant closings. The incredible ensemble features Grammy-winning and nominated talent, including Susan Tedeschi, James Cotton and Sharon Jones. Following the premiere, soul/funk sensation Sharon Jones, blues legends James Cotton, Toni Lynn Washington and Surprise Guests will perform.

Each season, the CFA offers a number of unique cultural performances. Fall attractions will include African percussionists Royal Drummers & Dancers of Burundi (Oct. 13), the 72-piece National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba (Oct. 22), Kung Fu masters Shaolin Warriors (Nov. 29) and The National Circus of the People’s Republic of China in Cirque Chinois (Nov. 20).

In the spring, two of Britain’s finest military regiments—Pipes & Drums of the Black Watch and Royal Band of Scots Guards—will perform on Feb. 2. Surreal Swiss theatre troupe Mummenschanz will perform Jan. 25.

Tickets for all CFA events may be purchased at the CFA box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Online and phone orders for events prior to Oct. 1 can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com or at 1-800-745-3000. For events on Oct. 1 and later, tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or at 1-800-223-6000.

For more information, call 645-2787 or visit the CFA’s website.