Local audiences can expect love, magic, music and adventure during Red Deer College’s 2012/13 performing arts season.

Prepare to be swept away in the highflying adventure of Peter Pan and fall in love again with Shakespeare’s magical A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There will be spine-tingling drama too, with performances of an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula slated for next February.

Highlights of the music program concert series feature a piano recital by Ruston Vuori and Dr. Dale Wheeler, intimate jazz concerts, cabarets and an eclectic series from RDC’s popular ensembles: the Chamber Choir, Symphonic Winds, Percussion Ensemble and Big Band.

Kicking things off will be, as mentioned, A Midsummer Night’s Dream — a comedy by William Shakespeare. The production runs Oct. 11-20 in Studio A.

Escape to the magical forest just outside of Athens and experience Shakespeare’s most popular comedy. Audiences will delight in this fantastical journey where humans and fairies entangle themselves in twisted and outrageous webs of love and deceit.

Next up, the classic story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 on the mainstage.

The high-flying epic tale of the boy who never grew up features Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys in an action-packed adventure.

Early into the New Year, things take a decidedly spookier turn with Bram Stoker’s legendary tale of Dracula, adapted by Steven Dietz. Performances run Feb. 7-16 on the mainstage.

Dietz’s adaptation of this intense gothic fantasy is full of seduction, suspense and, of course, blood.

Rounding out the theatre season is Summertime by Charles Mee which runs April 17-21 in Studio A. Love is everywhere in this romantic, surreal comedy as a quirky cast of characters express their intimate pasts, current love affairs, and future desires with honesty and vigor. The play does contain mature subject matter and coarse language and is not suitable for children.

Musically speaking, things begin this fall with Alberta Arts Days set for Sept. 28-30 on the mainstage. The Symphonic Winds perform on the mainstage on Nov. 1 in a show entitled Back to the Baton which includes retired guest conductors.

Another popular community tradition is the Rotary Senior’s Concert, set for Nov. 6 on the mainstage as well. This special show is free to seniors, and includes a reception and transportation to and from the performance as well.

Jazz night, featuring the RDC Big Band and an array of student and faculty combinations, runs Dec. 4-5 in Studio A at 7:30 p.m. followed by the traditional holiday favourite Sounds Of The Season on Dec. 7. This year’s version of Sounds of The Season features the Chamber Choir and the Symphonic Winds.

The New Year kicks off with the Faculty Jazz Cabaret on Jan. 12 in Studio A and the Ruston Vuori Piano Recital on Jan. 27 also in Studio A.

Offering audiences an eclectic recital featuring piano, voice and winds including Schumann’s Frauenliebe, the Dale Wheeler Piano Recital is set for Feb. 24 on the mainstage. The Symphonic Winds perform on March 7 and the Percussion Ensemble takes the stage March 8.

The month continues with Jazz Night on March 15 on the mainstage, where the RDC Big Band and guest artists will wow audiences with music of the ‘royal’ families of jazz.

That’s Entertainment showcases the best performances of the year by RDC music students, and this year there are two shows: an evening show on March 23 and a matinee on March 24 – both on the mainstage.

A Touch Of Class, featuring the Chamber Choir and the Symphonic Winds, wraps things up on April 4.

Details for all performances are available at www.rdc.ab.ca/showtime.

Tickets and further information are available online at www.bkticketcentre.ca or by calling 403-755-6626.

-Weber