Back in Bettersworth: Music of Whitney Houston, ‘Great Gatsby’ production headline 2021-22 Lyceum season

2021-22 MSU Lyceum Series brochure with images from Aquila Theatre's "The Great Gatsby," the Syncopated Ladies tap dance group and Showtime Australia's "The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids" STARKVILLE, Miss.—This year’s much-anticipated Lyceum Series at ��ɫ��Ƶ returns to Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium and welcomes live audiences after being shuttered last season during the pandemic.

MSU’s long-running performing arts program opens with Paragon Ragtime Orchestra on Dec. 1. Audiences will be entertained across a spectrum of theater, dance and vocal performances that also include a concert featuring the Grammy Award-winning music of Whitney Houston and Aquila Theatre’s production of the American classic, Jazz Age novel “The Great Gatsby.”

Lyceum organizers are offering traditional season-ticket packages. A mini-series ticket option also is available and features guaranteed reserved seating at a discounted rate. Mini-series purchases include attendance to three programs.

Ongoing Lyceum patrons can renew their season tickets until July 11, and new season ticket packages can be purchased July 12-30. Mini-series tickets will be on sale Aug. 3-20; individual tickets, Aug. 23.

General public season tickets are $150 per person; $135 for MSU employees and senior citizens. Mini-series tickets are available to the general public for $75 and $65 for MSU employees and senior citizens.

Individual tickets are available for the general public at $30 for adults; $25 for MSU employees and senior citizens; $10 for children age 3-12 or with school I.D./uniform; and free for MSU students with valid student I.D.

Purchases can be made online at . If available, individual tickets may be purchased at the door before each program.

Doors open approximately 30 minutes before the curtain rises at 7 p.m. for all shows.

The Dec. 1 season premiere features the world’s only year-round, professional ensemble recreating “America’s Original Music”—the syncopated sounds of early musical theater, silent cinema and vintage dance. In addition to the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, 2021-22 Lyceum events include:

—Feb. 15, Showtime Australia presents “The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids.” Featuring the breathtaking vocals of South African songstress Davids accompanied by a six-piece live band and dancers, the critically acclaimed live concert celebrates one of the world’s most revered singers.

—Feb. 23, Aquila Theatre presents F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” as part of its 2021-22 U.S. National Tour. The company is one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the United States and has performed at the White House and for the U.S Supreme Court.

—March 1, Los Angeles tap dance band Syncopated Ladies, created by Emmy-nominated tap dancer and choreographer Chloe Arnold. The group has worked with superstar Beyoncé, performed on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Good Morning America” and at the U.S. Open, and has viral videos amassing more than 50 million views.

—March 9, ETHEL string quartet with Grammy Award-winning Native American musician Robert Mirabal. Established in New York City in 1998, ETHEL is regarded as one of America’s most adventurous string quartets and has been described by The New York Times as “indefatigable and eclectic.”

In addition to these five productions, the Performing Arts schedule includes shows presented by MSU’s jazz, symphonic and community bands, the Wind Ensemble, MSU Choral concert groups, as well as Theatre MSU. Details on these performances can be found online at or by phone at 662-325-2713.

For more MSU Lyceum Series information, contact the Center for Student Activities at 662-325-2930, visit or email lyceum@msstate.edu. To make a contribution to the Lyceum Series, contact Lynn Durr at 662-325-8918.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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