The Marshall Artists Series will celebrate their 80^th year of events this fall.  The Marshall Artists Series at Marshall University is the second oldest artist series in the United States, with the University of Michigan being the oldest.

“We are not having any kind of galore or anything like that,” Angela Jones, the marketing director of the Marshall Artists Series, said about celebrating 80 years. “We are really just presenting a diverse and a collective season to kind of showcase where we are at 80 years old.”

The series will begin by welcoming artist Tony Bennet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Keith Albee Theater. Tony Bennet has sold millions of records worldwide and has won 19 Grammy Awards.

“I am very excited to see Tony Bennett just because he is a legend and being able to see someone of his caliber live at the Keith Albee is going to be very exciting,” Jones said. “Not only for me, but students are excited and the people in the community and the university faculty and staff are excited as well.”

Stand-up comedian, actor, and author Lewis Black will perform the following week Oct. 8. The time has changed for the event and it will now begin at 8 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. and will be at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse.

Andy Grammar and Gavin DeGraw will be performing at the Keith Albee at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21. Gavin DeGraw’s songs include “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through,” and “Chariot.”  Andy Grammar’s songs include “Keep Your Head Up,” Honey, I’m Good,” and “Good to be Alive (Hallelujah).”

The following week, the Marshall Artists Series will present the fall section of its International Film Festival from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30. The film festival has been reduced from one week to four days and the movies will be played twice within the event.

The fall films will include “Mustang”, a film from Turkey, “A War”, a film from Denmark, “Prescription Thugs”, a film from the United States, “The Lady in the Van”, a film from the United Kingdom, “The Last Diamond”, a film from France, and “Viva”, a film from Cuba.

The film festivals are the only events that do not require an advanced ticket, however, a Marshall University student I.D. is required for admission.

In November, the Marshall Artists Series will present RENT, a Broadway show that will be performing on the their 20^th anniversary Nov. 10 at the Keith Albee.

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Choir is set to perform the following week Nov. 17 at the Keith Albee. The group is South Africa’s first official multicultural university choir that intertwines dancing and theatre to reflect different music genres and styles.

The fall season concludes in December with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Keith Albee Theater. Wynton Marsalis blends favorite holiday songs with classical and jazz music.

Student tickets for the Marshall Artists Series are available at the box office located at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Students when they come to the box office need to have a Marshall I.D. with them,” Jones said. “If they have a guest who is a student who can’t come to the box office when they come, they can bring one other student’s I.D. with them.”

Full-time students can receive tickets for free with a student I.D. Tickets are half price for part-time students. For Tony Bennett, Lewis Black and Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammar there is a $10 service fee. The box office accepts cash only.

Krislyn Holden can be contacted at [email protected].