For its eighth season, the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Wickenburg has developed a schedule of performances to appeal to all age groups and interests.

"We are confident we are going to do great this season," said Cathy Weiss, director of the center. "Even in these uncertain economic times, I think people will seek entertainment - reasonable entertainment - and a night out."

Weiss and Ivan Shustak, program services manager, said advance ticket sales have broken all records for the Webb Center. Ticket sales for individual sales began Aug. 4 and business has been brisk for those sales as well.

One way the Webb Center tries to make live entertainment more reasonably priced for families is its policy of $5 ticket prices for children.

"We're happy to do it," Weiss said. "I remember every live performance my parents took me to see."

Children who experience live performances, Weiss said, grow up to be adults who attend live performances and who support the arts, keeping the circle going.

"We just need to find a better way to publicize our $5 tickets," she said.

The Webb Center season begins with a new entry. Jungua: Descendants of the Dragon, a two-performance event that melds martial arts with high-energy dance, acrobatics and music. Weiss said the Chinese martial arts masters have a show that's appropriate for all age groups, "a family fun event," she said.

Performances are 3 p.m. Oct. 19 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Adult tickets are $32.

In every season, the Webb Center seeks to bring entertainment to the Northwest Valley that may be a little beyond what people might expect. These "sleeper" shows offer ticket holders a new experience. Weiss named the American Ballet Theatre and The Spaghetti Western Orchestra as two such shows. ABT, she said, is different from many ballet performances in that the company mixes traditional and contemporary choreography. Its artistic director, Wes Chapman, will join Weiss for a "Conversation with the Artist" the weekend before the performance. The company also will interact with local students, demonstrating the athletic ability needed for ballet in a special visit. ABT takes the Webb Center stage at 6 p.m. Nov. 21. Adult tickets are $38. The conversation with the artist is Nov. 16 at Los Caballeros Golf Club and costs $25. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres are included.

The Spaghetti Western Orchestra, an Australian group, is on its first U.S. tour. The group presents theme music from classic Western movies whose soundtracks are compositions of Ennio Morricone - "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "For a Few Dollars More." With a musical grab bag of more than 170 instruments, the orchestra not only delivers the musical theme, but also creates all the sound effects - punches, gunshots, shuffling boot steps and jangling spurs - that make the movies so memorable. And "instruments" may be a generous description, given that they use nail clippers, corn flakes, coat hangers and other less common sound-effect implements. The group rides into town for a 7:30 p.m. show Nov. 6. Adult ticket price is $35.

What would an entertainment season be without a stage musical? The Webb Center presents two this season. The first, on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., is the Tony award-winning "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." The show, which is an active Broadway production, includes audience interaction and participation. Weiss describes the show, which illustrates how six young people learn winning isn't everything and losing doesn't make you a loser, as "sweet, dear, entertaining and funny." Adult ticket price is $42.

The second musical is the 10th anniversary tour of "Footloose," the musical based on the movie that starred Kevin Bacon and features the classic '80s hits "Holding Out for a Hero," "Let's Hear it for the Boy" and the title tune. The show tells the story of a Chicago teenager, Ren, who moves to a small Midwest town where rock music and dancing have been banned. Ren and his friends want to have a prom, and this is the story of how they reach their goal. The show runs twice at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23. Adult price is $40.

True to its Wickenburg Western roots, the Webb Center doesn't ignore country music, with a set of shows that include bluegrass queen Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Bryan White, Riders in the Sky, Riders of the Purple Sage and a return visit by Kathy Mattea.

White and the two Riders groups are part of Wickenburg's Fringe Festival, with White performing Feb. 6, Riders in the Sky Feb. 7 and Riders of the Purple Sage closing the weekend with a free concert Feb. 8, in the Wickenburg Community Center.

Other musical entertainers are Natalie MacMaster, Cape Breton's favorite fiddler and step dancer; the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, celebrating 40 years of entertaining country, folk and rock fans; relative newcomer Matt Dusk, who's part of the new wave of crooners that includes Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum, but who takes The Great American Songbook one step further, adding his own compositions to the show; and The 5 Browns, a set of Juilliard-trained siblings who make their Steinways sing with music selections from classical to jazz. Celtic Legends, under the direction of "Riverdance's" Michael Londra, performs Irish step dancing to Celtic folk music and ethereal songs from an on-stage band. A fund-raising concert for the Webb Center Feb. 19 features Wickenburg's own Grammy award-winning vocalist Caroline Markham. Markham is donating her time, so all proceeds benefit the Webb Center.

Jazz and blues fans will find a pair of concerts, Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour and the Brubeck Brothers Quartet nicely fill the bill for jazz music this season. Blue Note Records produced and recorded with nearly every major jazz performer. This national tour features an all-star band playing popular songs and demonstrating the various jazz styles. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet was the choice of the Wickenburg Guys Who Like Jazz group. The brothers, Dan on drums and Chris on bass and trombone, bring along friends Mike De Micco on guitar and Chuck Lamb on piano for an evening of original compositions mixed with masterpieces from their father. The Brubecks also participate in a "Conversation with the Artist" the day before their concert.

In the "defying categorization" category are The Reduced Shakespeare Company with "The Complete History of America (abridged)," just in time for the presidential election; and 3 Redneck Tenors "Holiday Spec-tac-yule-ar." Billy Joe, Billy Bob and Billy Billie haul their trailer back into town for three shows full of holiday cheer. Hold onto your Christmas stockings, ‘cause this trio likely will knock them off if you don't.

Closing out the season's presentations is Big Big Band: Jazz with the Phoenix Symphony at 3 p.m. April 5. Under the direction of Lawrence Golan, the orchestra will play favorites from Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, among other numbers.

The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts is at 1090 S. Vulture Mine Road, on the campus of Wickenburg High School.

To purchase tickets for any of the shows coming to the Webb Center, call the box office at 928-684-6624, go online to www.delewebbcenter.org or, if you're in the neighborhood, drop in to the box office, at 2001 W. Wickenburg Way, Suite 3 in Wickenburg.

Claudia Sherrill may be reached at 623-876-2511 or csherrill@yourwestvalley.com.

WEBB CENTER 2008-09 SEASON

• Jungua — Descendants of the Dragon, 3 p.m. Oct. 19 and 7:30 Oct. 20, $32.

• Natalie MacMaster, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, $40.

• Special Election Edition: The Complete History of America (abridged), 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, $35.

• The Spaghetti Western Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, $35.

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, $42.

• Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15, $42.

• American Ballet Theatre II, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22.

• 3 Redneck Tenors: Holiday Spec-tac-yule-ar, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 12 and 13, $38.

• Footloose: the Musical, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23, $40.

• Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary on Tour, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29, $42.

• Matt Dusk, 7:30 Feb. 6, $28.

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and 13, $45.

• Caroline Markham, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, $28.

• Celtic Legends, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, $40.

• Brubeck Brothers Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, $38.

• Bryan White, 7:30 p.m. March 6, $45 and $35.

• Riders in the Sky, 7:30 p.m. March 7, $42.

• The 5 Browns, 7:30 p.m. March 14, $45.

• Kathy Mattea, 7:30 p.m. March 25 and 26, $38.

• Big Big Band: Jazz with the Phoenix Symphony, 3 p.m. April 5, $38.