RICHMOND — Wynonna Judd, who spent part of her childhood in Madison County while her mother, Naomi, studied nursing at Eastern Kentucky University, will help launch the first season of EKU’s Center for the Arts.

Judd will be coming home as she kicks off the center’s Show Place Series on Saturday, Sept. 24, said Debra Hoskins, center director.

Wynonna has enjoyed more than 20 number-one singles and 13 additional Top 10 hits, and has won more than 60 industry awards, including five Grammys.

In addition to Wynonna, the center’s first season will offer great variety and “a sparkling array of internationally-known popular entertainers,” Hoskins said, from Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and Peter Frampton to the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Riverdance and the Moscow Festival Ballet.

The center, under construction south of the Eastern Bypass, is scheduled for completion in early September. Its state-of-the-art Grand Hall seats 2,100, making it Kentucky’s second largest performing arts venue.

“The Grand Hall will provide the ideal setting for two primary series as well as a number of special events,” Hoskins said.

Other headline attractions of the initial season include the Mannheim Steamroller, “Spamalot,” Garrison Keillor, Wynton Marsalis, the Temptations and the Four Tops.

The popular National Public Radio quiz show “Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me!” also will come to the center.

“This new center is a gem in the heart of Kentucky that will be the home for outstanding performances and other events to enrich the lives of people throughout the region and beyond,” Hoskins said. “We look forward to beginning the exciting new season in September.”

Grand Hall Series

World-class music and dance, hit Broadway favorites and a visit by America’s favorite humorist will come to Richmond for the Grand Hall Series.

The Munich Symphony Orchestra, led by legendary pianist and conductor Philippe Entremont, opens the series as the orchestra begins its North American tour at the EKU Center on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The 80-piece orchestra will be joined by the Gloria Dei Cantores chorus in a performance that features the Mozart Requiem.

Mannheim Steamroller makes a stop on its annual holiday tour on Tuesday, Nov. 15, just in time to begin the festive season. With more than 35 million albums sold, Mannheim Steamroller’s spectacular show, with its new interpretations of beloved holiday music and sparkling multimedia effects show, is one of America’s favorite holiday traditions, Hoskins said.

The smash Broadway hit “Beauty and the Beast,” nominated for nine Tony Awards, comes to life on the Grand Hall stage on Sunday, Dec. 4. Filled with memorable music, enchanting sets, and fantastic costumes, the celebrated Disney hit is a treat for all ages. Curtain time for “Beauty and the Beast” is a family-friendly 7 p.m., an hour earlier than usual.

“Mark your calendar for a Valentine’s Day to remember as Garrison Keillor comes to the EKU Center on Thursday, Feb. 14,” Hoskins said.

The star of “A Prairie Home Companion,” Keillor is an American favorite, and his folksy and hilarious anecdotes about growing up in the Midwest with his delightful stories of Lake Wobegon are a not-to-be-missed experience.

Jazz superstar Wynton Marsalis performs with his Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, Feb. 25.  Winner of nine Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Music — the first ever awarded to a jazz artist — Marsalis is a contemporary pioneer in the evolution of jazz, and a tireless advocate for jazz as America’s classical music.

One of the hottest items on the current New York City classical music scene is The Knights, a company of adventurous musicians whose collaborative style and innovative programming have engaged audiences in a completely new way, Hoskins said. The 40-piece chamber orchestra comes to the Grand Hall on Thursday, April 12.

After a recent performance with the orchestra, cellist Yo-Yo Ma described his experience with The Knights as “vibrant” and “energetic.”

On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, the Grand Hall Series continues with the Moscow Festival Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Featuring the beloved music of Tchaikovsky and the classical Russian choreography of Marius Petipa, the company’s fully-staged performance takes the entire family to a fantasy world filled with enchanting dancers, sparkling sets and beautiful costumes. 

Riverdance, the spectacular international phenomenon, concludes the Grand Hall Series on Friday, May 4. One of the most successful shows in entertainment history, the company’s avant-garde interpretation of traditional Irish dance intertwined with contemporary music has enthralled millions in sold-out performances throughout the world.

Show Place Series

The Show Place Series brings together an array of performances that will appeal to anyone who enjoys great popular entertainment. From great country music to classic rock and roll to hilarious comedy, this lineup is guaranteed to please.

Following Wynnona’s opening performance in this series will be the dynamic comic duo of Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, who will come to town on Friday, Nov. 18. Known to millions of television viewers through the enormous success of ABC’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” Mochrie and Sherwood are two of the hottest comics in the business.

“Join them for an evening of hilarious live improvisational comedy that will have you in stitches,” Hoskins said.

Acclaimed for her signature rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the 2004 movie “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,” Jane Monheit is one of today’s most gifted jazz vocalists. Her romantic interpretations of the great American songbook have made her a favorite in the cabaret and jazz worlds. She performs in Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 28.

It will be an evening of pure fun as “Spamalot,” winner of the 2005 Tony Award for best musical, takes the Grand Hall stage on Friday, Feb. 3. The outrageous musical comedy — lovingly ripped off from the classic film, “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” — drew over two million people during its Broadway run of more than 1,500 performances. 

The incredible Chinese acrobats of Cirque D’Or make the impossible look easy with amazing feats of treacherous balancing, trick cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. The company’s captivating performances have thrilled audiences around the world, and now Cirque D’Or comes to the EKU Center on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Direct from the Emerald Isle, Celtic Crossroads brings its high-energy evening of music and dance to EKU Center on Saturday, Feb. 18.  It is an explosion of youthful energy and dazzling musicianship as the seven charismatic musicians of Celtic Crossroads explore the fusions of traditional Irish music, bluegrass, gypsy and jazz while pulsating with the rhythms of exciting Irish dance percussion.

The unique talent of Chris Botti has earned him a place as one of the world’s smoothest and most famous trumpet players. Botti, who recently teamed up with the Boston Pops for a wildly-successful PBS Special, has sold nearly three-million albums worldwide. He performs at the EKU Centeron Friday, April 6. 

The Show Place Series continues on Saturday, April 14, as The Temptations and the Four Tops claim the spotlight. These two legendary groups will rock the Grand Hall with their fantastic list of hits, including “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch,” “Reach Out,” and “My Girl.”

The hit songs keep coming and coming on Tuesday, June 5, as urban soul legends Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, Bobby Hendricks’ Drifters, and The Platters bring the season to a close.  It’s an evening filled with some of the greatest music from the 50s and 60s, including hits such as “Yakety Yak,” “On Broadway,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” and “Under the Boardwalk.” 

Special events

The EKU Center will sparkle as some of the biggest names in popular music take the stage in the season’s special events.

Co-founder of Humble Pie, one of the first super groups, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Peter Frampton is one of the most-celebrated artists in rock history. Frampton comes to Richmond on Tuesday, Oct. 4 as a part of Michael Johnathon’s Troubadour Series.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of his landmark multi-platinum recording, Peter will perform the entire “Frampton Comes Alive!” album on stage, including the hit songs “Baby I Love Your Way,” “Do You Feel Like We Do,” and “Show Me the Way.”

Produced in cooperation with The Troubadour Concert Series, the concert will be recorded, and fans can buy a DVD of the event the night of the show.

The King of Blues takes center stage on Saturday, Oct. 15, as international superstar B.B. King comes to the Grand Hall.  With hit songs like “The Thrill is Gone,” “When Love Comes to Town,” and “Everyday I Have the Blues,” this 15-time Grammy winner is revered as the most important Blues guitarist of the last half century, and his heart-felt musicianship has defined Blues for audiences worldwide. 

The legendary Willie Nelson — singer, songwriter, and film star — will be live and in person on the EKU Center stage on Wednesday, October 19. With more than 2,500 songs and close to 300 albums to his credit, Willie is considered one of the greatest contemporary cowboys. He has transcended musical genres and remained relevant through five decades and is still going strong. 

Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, and she’s coming to the EKU Center on Saturday, Oct. 22.  She recently captured the national spotlight when she surprised Oprah for her farewell show, and now she’s ready to perform her greatest hits on Kentucky’s newest stage. Aretha’s hits such as “Think,” “Chain of Fools,” and “Respect,” are sure to have you and the other members of the audience on their feet and loving every minute of this special concert.

Favorite regional performers will also be featured in special performances at the new EKU Center. The holidays are not complete without a beautiful performance of “The Nutcracker,” and The Lexington Ballet will bring its production of this holiday classic to the Grand Hall on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The Lexington Singers and the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra then share the stage in a extraordinary concert of Carl Orff’s masterpiece “Carmina Burana” on Friday, March 30.

Tickets on sale now

Subscriptions for the Signature Series, which combines tickets for both Grand Hall Series and the Show Place series. Grand Hall, Show Place or special events packages, as well as individual tickets, are now on sale.

For details, call the EKU Center for the Arts box office at 1-855-EKU-SHOW (358-7469) or 622-SHOW (7469).

Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Performance information is online at www.EKU Center.com.