BATH

Bath’s Chocolate Church Arts Center has unveiled its lineup for its 2018-19 season, presenting a range of performers, theatre, holiday-themed shows and a celebration of the American piano.

Accomplished American singer-songwriter Dar Williams will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26. Founding member of the classic rock band Youngbloods, Jesse Colin Young will perform solo on Nov. 10. In the spring, the master of physical comedy Avner the Eccentric brings his Defying Gravity show to the main stage on March 23, 2019.

The Christmas season at the Chocolate Church offers an array of holiday music spread across several genres. On Nov. 24, Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations kick off the season with dancing in the aisles to Motown Christmas. The Campbell Brothers’ Sacred Steel Christmas on Nov. 30 presents a variety of material from the African-American Holiness Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist. At 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, Cape Breton’s COIG returns for “Celtic Christmas.” Each musician of this quartet brings something more to foot-tapping, knee-slapping renditions of holiday classics.

The Carpenters’ Christmas is a tribute band that plays Carpenters’ classic Christmas repertoire with a full complement of their most popular songs in hopes of getting everyone in the holiday spirit on Dec. 7. Livingston Taylor returns to the Chocolate Church main stage with a special afternoon show at 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Liv adds his unique pop, folk, gospel, jazz style to seasonal favorites.

American piano music will be showcased in the spring of 2019. George Winston performs his rural folk piano on March 30, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. April 13, the group Ivory and Gold, featuring Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals with Jeff Barnhart on piano and vocals, will perform songs representing a mix of generes and styles. This duo celebrates some of the greatest examples of American jazz, blues, ragtime, Broadway and hits from the Great American Songbook.

Again, to showcase classic forms of entertainment on April 14 at 2 p.m., pianist Jeff Barnhart plays along to silent movies, bringing a vintage form of entertainment back to life for an evening.

The Chocolate Church Arts Center’s 2018-19 season includes a lineup of theatre productions. “Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” opens the season in September. The Studio Theatre of Bath will present “The Assassins” musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman in October. On Nov. 2, The New Repertory Theatre will present “Animal

Farm,” a play based on the acclaimed 1945 novel by George Orwell, which explores themes of power, politics and propaganda.

The Chocolate Church will produce “Santa Diaries” as a holiday gift to the community on the weekend of Dec. 14-16. “Plaza Suite” by Neil Simon will be staged in the Annex Feb. 22-24 and again March 1- 3. In partnership with Shakespeare on the Kennebec, the season will conclude with a Shakespearean classic in June 2019.

For 41 years, the Chocolate Church has presented music, theatre and dance on the main stage and in its annex. Recently, the programming focus has been on highlighting local, regional, national and international musicians, producing community theatre, and offering family entertainment.

The Chocolate Church Art Center’s season typically includes more than 50 performances during a 41- week span. Tickets for all shows are available at chocolatechurcharts.org or calling the box office at (207) 442- 8455.

The center is located at 804 Washington St. in Bath.

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