For the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s Brian Goesl, the upcoming Perot Theatre season is his first as executive director.

And heading into the season’s menu of shows, Goesl sees a focused roster of theatrical presentations on the way for enthusiasts of the arts on stage. There’s everything from classic country singers to the magical moves of acrobats, and from a premier African-American dance troupe to a gripping Southern drama.

For TRAHC, audience appeared to be strongly in mind when selecting what shows to bring to Texarkana this season. Many tastes should be satisfied by the Perot’s lineup.

“I think what we’ve done this year, and I think we’ve done it previous years, is we’ve narrowed our focus as far as shows. We have something for family. We have something for adult comedy. We’ve got a very strong musical, Broadway kind of show with ‘Sweeney Todd,’” said Goesl, discussing this year’s season before tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday.

The season’s first show, “Tuna Does Vegas” from Oct. 3-5, comes in for a five-show, Friday to Sunday run in the midst of a 21-day national tour. Joe Sears and Jaston Williams make up the “Greater Tuna” team and this is a new installment of the continuing story revolving around the fictional Tuna, Texas, citizens.

“What’s cool about ‘Tuna Does Vegas’ is that they have a cult following. There are people who come back multiple times. There are people who will travel here just to see ‘Tuna,’” said Goesl, noting every show is a little different.

“What’s happening on stage is sort of based upon how the audience is reacting. There’s some ad lib that takes place sometimes,” he said. “A lot of what they do has grown almost as an improv situation.”

Shows are staged at 7:30 p.m. all three days and also for 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

“Sweeney Todd” won’t be gory in the way the recent Johnny Depp film was, but it’s probably “PG-13” fare. The second show in the season, it comes to town on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

Goesl says “Sweeney Todd” isn’t like the film, but it’s not a show for younger kids. He sees at as akin to “Chicago” in the musical world.

“This is a fabulous (Stephen) Sondheim musical. It’s a great story. Nobody sees blood or anything ... but it’s an incredibly rich musical,” Goesl said.

Direction and design are from John Doyle, who has won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. Ten actors and musicians perform the tale of Sweeney and meat pie maker Mrs. Lovett. In this production, which opened on Broadway in 2005, actors also constitute the orchestra, playing their own music.

And there are also more traditional concerts at the Perot in addition to the theatrical fare. Rita Coolidge with “A Rita Coolidge Christmas” is set for Tuesday, Dec. 9, also at 7:30 p.m. And Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers appear Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

“With the Gatlins we know that that’s going to be a romantic evening. It’s Valentine’s Day. The Gatlins have always done well here. It somewhat satisfies our country western group of people who we do have,” Goesl said.

The Gatlins latest album, released in 2004, was a collection of the trio’s gospel favorites. They’ve delighted country music fans since teaming up in the late 1970s.

TRAHC also landed an entertainer they’ve wanted to have perform here for years.

“We knew that we wanted to have something at Christmas time that would attract kids and also involve kids. We’d looked at Rita Coolidge for a couple years as an entertainer who would bring family entertainment but also involve kids ... this year we’re involving school kids from the area to sing with her on stage,” said Goesl.

Local kids will be the opening act for Coolidge and then accompany her for a few songs.

“It’s that whole concept of having a professional entertainer come in and involving our local community in the presentation itself,” said Goesl.

Expect Coolidge to perform some of her classics like “Higher and Higher,” in addition to singing seasonal fare and other favorites in her own way, such as the Cherokee version of “Amazing Grace.”

The colorful, dreamy dynamic world of “Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy” plays in Texarkana on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

“We’ve got something that’s strictly big and broad and presentational for family, which is ‘Cirque Dreams.’ It’s big, it’s broad, it encompasses a lot of different, very talented people. It’s very visual, the costumes are very, very colorful ... there’s music so it’s very magical.”

Put on by Cirque Productions, “Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy” takes theatergoers on an exotic journey with aerialists, contortionists, musicians, acrobats and jugglers.

Similarly, there’s also the fun music and theater show of another sort aimed at squarely at the youngsters. “Bob the Builder” has a special 6:30 p.m. showtime on Monday, Feb. 23.

“I wanted to have a special that would draw people who would normally not get here for the school shows, so that’s why we brought in ‘Bob the Builder,’” said Goesl. “It’s an opportunity for little kids to have an experience with a classic performer that they’ll recognize.”

The stage show is a spinoff of the popular TV program, which started in Great Britain in 1998 and then came over to America in 2001. PBS and PBS KIDS Sprout both show “Bob the Builder” here in the states.

The ticket prices for that show are $25 and $17, and Goesl believes that reflects a commitment to more affordable entertainment right here at home for Texarkanians.

“We made everything as affordable as we could this year ... I held all of the prices down for that very reason. I knew based upon what I was seeing economically and then with the gas prices as we were finalizing contracts, that people are going to have less opportunities to go to Dallas or Little Rock or even Shreveport because that’s a tank of gas, that’s $85,” he said. “So this way you have an opportunity to come to the Perot Theatre at a much more affordable price.”

On Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m., Montana Repertory returns for a production of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Christopher Sergel’s adaptation of the Harper Lee novel. Horton Foote directed the acclaimed film that featured Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch.

It’s the story about Finch fighting for justice in a small, Southern town in the 1930s.

“The wonderful thing about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is this is bringing traditional theater to the Perot Theatre. Fabulous story, a story that many people can identify with in this area,” said Goesl.

The production will be augmented by an educational effort from young, local lawyers to speak in local schools about the play and what it takes to be a lawyer.

And in Montana Rep, it’s a theater company that’s performed in Texarkana.

“Strong company, great sets, strong stories, good adaptation of the plays themselves ... this is going to be a phenomenal story and message. When you go to this you’ll be very moved,” Goesl said.

The Perot season concludes with a special show as the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble comes to Texarkana on Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.

“Then Dance Theatre of Harlem with a beautiful, beautiful show—the dancing is beautiful, the choreography is phenomenal, it’s got an incredible history to it,” said Goesl.

He said Dance Theatre of Harlem will do a free public performance and TRAHC hopes to get it on the steps of the Downtown Post Office so the dance troupe can perform in two states.

“We think it would be a terrific visual,” said Goesl, calling their show a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The troupe will also be in the schools to discuss dance with students.

“As an arts organization, a regional arts center with a humanities component, we’re always looking for those opportunities of outreach, of inclusion,” he said.

Goesl calls the Dance Theatre of Harlem the premier black dance organization in the world. It was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook as a school to give Harlem children a chance to learn dance.

In addition to those eight productions, TRAHC has four plays scheduled for young audiences. One, “Seussical,” is sold out, but “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” on Wednesday, Sept. 24, “Blues Journey” on Friday, Feb. 20, and “The Ant and the Elephant” on Monday, March 2, all have tickets available.

Of “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters,” Goesl said “Visually it’s going to be strong. Dallas Children’s Theatre has such a strong outreach program for young theatergoers.”

And “Blues Journey” is brought to town by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

New this year for the Perot season is the depth of local financial support for the productions. It doesn’t cover the costs entirely, but helps to keep prices down.

Goesl sees it as a major statement about the level of arts support in Texarkana.

Except for “Tuna,” all the shows have been underwritten. “I think it’s phenomenal so I certainly want to thank all of our business partners who’ve made that possible,” said Goesl. “Again, it’s built on trust, it’s built on relationships and it’s the quality of the shows that we’ve brought in this year”



(Tickets go on sale Monday for the general public. For ticket purchasing, prices for each show, and more information, call the Perot Theatre box office at 903-7924992 or visit www.trahc.org.)