Shining a Light on the Best Entertainment

Join us this 2024/2025 Season for our Spotlight Series featuring the following events:

Magical Strings 38th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert

Sunday, December 8
3:00 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $30 general | $28 senior | $20 youth

The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a treasured tradition in Kent. Once again, Pam and Philip Boulding are joined by their children, grandchildren, and guests for an afternoon of enchanting Yuletide music. The Bouldings perform on Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, strings, percussion, and harp-like instruments from around the world. Guests add Irish step dancing, drumming, and storytelling for a festive and memorable performance.

Jazz at Lincoln Center presents New Orleans Songbook

Friday, January 24
7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $30 general | $28 senior | $20 youth

Sponsored by: Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Community Foundation
Co-sponsored by: Judy Woods

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS brings the soul of New Orleans and the spirit of Mardi Gras to this amazing evening, celebrating the composers and inspired songs of the Crescent City, the historic epicenter of jazz. From Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to Ellis Marsalis and James Black, New Orleans has long been an apex of innovation and inspiration. Led by pianist, Luther S. Allison and vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs, New Orleans Songbook immerses audiences in the captivating and timeless spirit of this vibrant city.

International Guitar Night

Friday, February 7
7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $30 general | $28 senior | $20 youth

Sponsored by: Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Community Foundation
Co-sponsored by: Curran Law Firm

International Guitar Night is North America’s premier traveling guitar festival, bringing together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists. For International Guitar Night's 25th year, featured guitarists include an IGN favorite and three exciting newcomers. Lulo Reinhardt (Germany) is well known to IGN audiences. The grandnephew of legendary Django Rainhardt, Lulo plays Latin Swing music, a combination of Gypsy Swing with Latin rhythms. Alexandra Whittingham (England) is a dynamic classical guitarist with a repertoire ranging from the classics to contemporary composers. Niwel Tsumbu (Ireland) has kept his unique Congolese percussive style alive over the past 25 years living in Ireland. Soenke Meinen (Germany) is a leading contemporary fingerstyle guitarist, mixing the incredible dexterity of his high-speed compositions with sensitive ballads.

Karla Bonoff

Friday, March 14
7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $30 general | $28 senior | $20 youth

Karla Bonoff has been described as one of the finest singer/songwriters of her generation, and that description is not hyperbole. She has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity, and the unwavering respect of her peers. Her songs have been hits for Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, and Linda Ronstadt, and many of Bonoff’s ballads are classics.

Lúnasa

Friday, March 21
7:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $30 general | $28 senior | $20 youth

Sponsored by: Pete and Pat Curran Family
Co-sponsored by: Haffner Family

Formed in 1997, Lúnasa has long been one of contemporary Irish music’s leading voices. Named after an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, the group that Folk Roots magazine once called an “Irish music dream team” was formed from members of some of Ireland’s greatest bands and over the years has proven its mettle time and again, having sold over a quarter of a million records, and collaborated with notable artists outside the tradition such as Natalie Merchant and Mary-Chapin Carpenter. They have performed more than 2,000 shows across 36 countries including high-profile concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, National Concert Hall (Dublin), and many leading festivals.

POLICIES & INFORMATION:

Senior and Youth Tickets -
• Age 60 and older qualifies for senior ticket rates.

• Age 25 and younger qualifies for youth ticket rates.

Refunds/Exchanges -

• No refunds or exchanges. All ticket purchases are final.

Seating -

• All seating for Spotlight Series events is assigned/reserved.

• Seating will begin 30 minutes prior to performance time.

• Late seating is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the performers and House Manager.

Special Needs -

Please let us know in advance how we might be able to help and we will provide reasonable accommodations to those needing special assistance. For wheelchair seating, please advise when purchasing tickets.

Children -

• Spotlight Series is family friendly and offers some performances that are especially well-suited for kids and families. Other performances may not be appropriate for young children. Please use discretion when choosing performances for young patrons.

• Spotlight Series does not allow “Babes in Arms.” Children over 12 months must have a ticket.

DIRECTIONS:

Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center are on Kent’s East Hill, a short drive (approximately 30-40 minutes from Seattle and Tacoma).

For directions see kentarts.com or call (253) 856-5051.

PARKING:

FREE parking is available at Kent-Meridian. Please keep in mind, however, that the venues are located within busy high school campuses and sometimes activities in other parts of the school (gyms, athletic fields, etc.) can make parking challenging. Please allow yourself plenty of time to find parking before the start of the show.