BY MERLE MONAHAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
merlemonah@aol.com

COURTLAND—The Franklin-Southampton Concert Association will open its 35th season at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, with Broadway Today.

Featuring three Broadway singers, the show will include hits from “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Nine to Five,” The Phantom of the Opera,” “Hair” and “Jersey Boys.”

On Sunday, Oct. 14, the award-winning quintet “42Five” will perform at 3 p.m. The a cappella group will perform songs from the 1960s through current times.

The Virginia Symphony will make its annual appearance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. The orchestra has performed in Hampton Roads for 90 years, offering more than 140 concerts annually.

Under the direction of award-winning Music Director JoAnn Faletta, the orchestra rose to new artistic heights after being accepted into the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians.

Assistant Conductor Matthew Kraemer will direct the free concert funded by the Camp Foundation.

“We’re very fortunate to have this wonderful orchestra here, and I hope the community will take advantage of the opportunity to hear it,” said Concert Association President Nancy Rowe

The Lettermen will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. The group first appeared in Las Vegas in the late 1950s. During the 1960s and 1970s, The Lettermen garnered more than 25 singles and four gold albums. Although members have changed over the years, founder Tony Butala remains.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, TAP-The Show will celebrate the artistry of tap dance from around the globe. The group will perform to Broadway and big band music, and pop/rock.

Closing the season will be Collin Raye at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20. A five-time nominee for country music’s Male Vocalist of the Year, Raye will perform hits from his five platinum albums. He’s had 16 No. 1 hits over the years.

All performances are held in the Southampton High School auditorium.

Season memberships are $50. Tickets at the door are $30 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information, call Rowe at 653-2498.