The stage is set for the 2010-2011 season of entertainment. Saint Joseph Arts, Inc., has their new season lined out with entertainment for everyone this year.

Opening the concert season at the Tensas Parish Arena for the Falloween Festival will be several groups of interests: The Saint Joseph Orchestra, Port City Jazz Quartet, Brain Sivils “The Jimmy Davis Story,” and Easy Eddie & the Partyrockers. Others will be announced later.

There will also be crafts, food and so much more for the festival.

In November, China’s “The Daughter of Dance,” Yu Wei, will be presented to enchant you into other worlds.

Bill Oberst will be back, (he came as Lewis Grizzard in 2002) with “Sherman’s March” in January.

The Saint Joseph Orchestra will have five concerts this year, beginning at the Falloween Festival on Oct. 30. There will be three Christmas concerts again this year. The first will be in St. Joseph, the second in Vicksburg and the third in Concordia Parish with the Alcorn University Choir. The spring concert will be in April.

During the winter months, January into March, SJA is planning surprises to “Warm up your winter” with cooperation from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

We will have exhibits, movies and performances, all with special rates for the members. More information will be given at a later date.

And last, but by no means least, back by popular demand, Hotel California will return on April 30, 2011.

They are the official Tribute Band to the Eagles who made a hit at the 2009 fall Music Festival.

SJA is proud and excited that, during this season, we are in the process of renovating and improving the existing headquarters. The work will include theatrical lighting, increased seating availability, improving the acoustics and building a stage.

“We are able to do this because of funds that were left from a 2005 project our legislators helped us tap into,” said Cecil Evans, business manager.

“On another note, however, state funding for our programs and operations has been cut almost completely, so we will have a very tight year, financially,” Evans said.

She feels that with memberships and contributions SJA, Inc. will be able to keep programming alive for area communities. A membership kick-off party will be at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, starring “The Jazzers.”

If you love to dance to the Big Band Sound, this will be a very special event.

Bring your favorite dance partner and friends and have an exciting evening with “The Jazzers.”

Bob Sasser is the president of St. Joseph Arts, Inc.