© 2024 WMKY
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry set to open summer season

Mountain Arts Center

The 28th Summer Season for Billie Jean Osborne’s legendary Kentucky Opry kicks off with its premier performance on Saturday, June 16 in the Willard and Lucy Kinzer Theater of the Mountain Arts Center (MAC), the Prestonsburg venue that has been home to the Opry since the facility opened in 1996.

The Kentucky Opry cast is currently preparing various themes, medleys, and individual songs for the new season. As usual, the antics of resident comedian Munroe will be in full force as he continues to pursue his dream of becoming the star of the show.

Kentucky Opry producer and emcee Clayton Case notes that the cast is eager to get back on stage.

“Coming back together to discuss details, create the new show, and rehearse gets everybody excited,” Case observes. “This cast and band never cease to amaze with the pure talent and work ethic they exhibit year after year.”

Once again, the opening act for all shows will be the talented youth of the Kentucky Opry Jr. Pros, as the Opry also continues a tradition of inviting former members and other vocalists and musicians to share the stage as special guests for six of the eight scheduled shows.

This year’s special guests will include:

June 23  Brittany Taylor

June 30  Troy Burchett

July 7  Clarke Sexton

July 21  Nathan Arnett

July 28  Jason Goble

Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry 2018 Summer Season opens June 16 and continues every Saturday through August 4, concluding with a special showcase featuring the Jr. Pros on Saturday, August 11.

Tickets range from $12 to $16 and can be purchased by visiting http://www.macarts.com or by phone at 1 (888) MAC ARTS.

The Mountain Arts Center is the premier performing arts venue in eastern Kentucky.  Located in the heart of the bloodline of the Country Music Highway, the facility features a 1,050-seat auditorium, conference/meeting facilities, instruction rooms and a state-of-the-art recording studio. Operations are through a partnership between Prestonsburg, Ky. and Big Sandy Community & Technical College.

For more information, call 1-888-MAC-ARTS or visit http://www.macarts.com

(provided by Mountain Arts Center)

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."