Check out all the wonderful Abilene arts events happening in September!

September 2016 News & Updates

Our arts partners are gearing up to begin their new seasons this fall, with plays, musicals, comedies, dances, and vocal performances that are sure to wow audiences.

Season tickets are on sale for the "Broadway in Abilene" series with packages starting at $110 for all four shows. This season's shows are sure to sweep you off your feet with "Elf the Musical," "Saturday Night Fever," "Cirque loize Saloon" and Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella."
And tickets for the 2016-17 Children's Performing Arts Series season are going quickly start at $27 for three shows!

Please put Oct. 12 on your calendar for "Celebrate the Arts in Abilene." We have combined our annual Abilene Art Awards with the annual HeARTS for the ARTS luncheon. This will allow us to spend more time honoring the special volunteers who help the organizations that benefit from HeARTS grants. We'll be having a terrific, radiant, grand time at the Abilene Christian University's Hunter Welcome Center with music and entertainment and an opportunity for you to help support a wide array of arts programming. Tickets are $20. Don't miss out on the fun!


Artfully Yours,
Lynn Barnett
Executive Director
Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

ArtWalk: The Shape of Things to Come

The Center for Contemporary Arts presents this monthly, family-friendly event downtown, this month celebrating sculpture and architecture of Abilene. Also featuring the sculpture and paintings of Danville Chadbourne. There will be children's art activities and walking tours of the down town sculptures and significant buildings.

SEPTEMBER 8


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Marlo Whetsel opens "Sugar Punk" exhibit   

Abilene artist Marlo Whetsel will exhibit work she has created that was inspired by the Day of the Dead in a new exhibit titled "Sugar Punk." The exhibit opens ArtWalk night at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. at Cockerell Galleries & Studios downtown. There will also be actual sugar skulls to see as well! Outside, Painting With a Twist will have free painting projects for children.

SEPTEMBER 8

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Paramount Film: "Bringing Up Baby"

The Paramount Film Series presents "Bringing up Baby." Katharine Hepburn and Vary Grant star in this lively romantic comedy about an heiress with a pet leopard who lures a paleontologist to her home to romance him. 1938, black & white, 102 minutes, Not Rated. Paramount Film Series tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, military and children. To purchase tickets for this film online, click here. To see the complete list of the 2016 Paramount Film Series schedule, click here. To view this film's trailer, click here.


SEPTEMBER 9-10


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Free showing of "Charlotte's Web" kicks off year-long events

Stop by the T&P Depot, 1101 N. 1st St., to pick up your free tickets! The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council kicks off "The Year of Garth Williams" in the Abilene area with a free showing of the 2006 live action movie "Charlotte's Web" starring Dakota Fanning at the Historic Paramount Theatre at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 and seating is limited. See costumed characters and shop the Storybook Store. Events throughout the year will take place at Abilene Public Library locations and other arts venues and at schools. The year will culminate with the Garth Williams art exhibition opening at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature on June 8 and the start of the 2017 Children's Art & Literacy Festival celebrating Williams. 
 
SEPTEMBER 11

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Philharmonic celebrates Oktoberfest    

Beer, Brats, Beethoven - The Abilene Philharmonic hosts a German-style Oktoberfest starting at 4 p.m. with food and drink vendors outside and eating areas inside the lobby of the Abilene Civic Center. Musical entertainment and games for the kids! The pre-event is free. Be sure to get tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert inside the civic center. The Philharmonic season opens with the fire and passion in three of Beethoven's masterworks - Overture to the Ruins of Athens, Piano Concerto No. 3 and Beethoven Symphony No. 7 - and the "incontestable brilliance" (American Record Guide) of pianist Adam Wodnicki. Performed at the Abilene Civic Center.

SEPTEMBER 17

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New sculptures will be installed along N. 1st railroad tracks for SculpTour

The 34th Biennial Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition SculpTour hosted by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council and sponsored by the Texas Commission on the Arts features four new outdoor sculptures along the N. 1st Street railroad tracks by artists Peter Mangan, Meredith Jack, Noah Edmundson and Stephen Daly. Meet the artists that weekend at various receptions over two days and attend other sculpture exhibitions opening in Abilene to meet additional sculpture artists Dewane Hughes, Elizabeth Akamatsu, Maura Schaffer and Danville Chadbourne. ("Mentoring" by Daly, pictured) 


SEPTEMBER 23-24

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Spanish Texas exhibit explores state's roots

Explore the history of Texas as a unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American traditions through "Spanish Texas: Legend & Legacy" exhibitions at The Grace Museum. Trace Spanish exploration and colonization (1527-1690) of Texas through early maps, art and artifacts on loan from prestigious museums and collections from across the state. Santos, retablos, art, vestments and artifacts from several of the state's 17th and 18th century Spanish missions will retell the story of faith on the Texas frontier. The opening reception is Sept. 24. The exhibit runs through March 11.

SEPTEMBER 24     

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ACT presents "Deadwood Dick"
Return to the days of old with Abilene Community Theatre's fun melodrama "Deadwood Dick" by Tom Taggart. The show includes long-lost daughters, stolen gold mines, kidnapped heroines and hairbreadth escapes! Tickets are $15 general admission and $12 for seniors, students and active military with an ID.


SEPT. 29-OCT. 8


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BOOK BUZZ:
West Texas Book Festival


The 16th annual West Texas Book Festival at the Abilene Public Library and Abilene Civic Center from Sept. 19-24 is sponsored by Friends of the Abilene Public Library. Events include presentations and workshops featuring local and regional authors, the Cookbook Gala, Culinary Cuisine Luncheon and Boots & Books Luncheon. Presentations are held throughout the week, and all day Saturday.

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See the whole calendar!

Go to our website for a complete list of Abilene arts events for the coming months. Don't see your event? Email [email protected] the details!

There you will find shows, performances, concerts, art exhibits, art receptions, family programming, art classes and workshops and more!

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  Abilene Cultural Affairs Council | A division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce
 325-677-1161| [email protected] | www.abilenecac.org
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