uac011310001.jpg Hoping to start the new year off with some interesting entertainment?

Look no further than Givens Performing Arts Center at UNC Pembroke. They’ve got an assortment of productions that cover a variety of tastes.

“We really have a world class line up for the end of our season,” said Givens Performing Arts Center Director of Marketing Tasha Oxendine. “We scan the globe for great entertainment and we have a lot of really fun things coming up. There is truly something for everyone.”

The lineup kicks off Jan. 19 with a performance by the Band of the Irish Guards at 8 p.m. Queen Victoria formed this group in 1900 to commemorate the bravery of the Irish Regiments who fought in the South African campaigns. With 49 musicians, the band plays for the Mounting of the Queens Guard at Buckingham Palace and on other ceremonial occasions like Royal Weddings, State Visits and the 01-13-10-band-of-irish-guard.jpgQueen’s Birthday Parade.

“The Band of the Irish Guard — the Queens band — is an opportunity to see one of the best bands in the world,” said Oxendine. “They performed for Queen Victoria at royal functions, and have a distinguished history.”

The band has toured around the world visiting many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Switzerland and Japan to name just a few. This tour marks their debut in the U.S.

Tickets are priced between $5 and $33. The performance starts at 8 p.m.

On Jan. 21, former WNBA all-star Sheryl Swoopes will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series.

Swoopes has an impressive athletic resume. She’s a three-time gold medal winning Olympian, a four-time WNBA all-star leading vote getter, three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, the 2002 WNBA MVP and the fi rst female athlete to receive a shoe endorsement from Nike – the Air Swoopes. She’s also the founder of the Sheryl Swoopes Foundation for Youth.

As part of the Nostalgia Concert Series, Let’s Get Down Tonight, featuring the Boogie Wonder Band will be rockin’ the night away on Jan. 23. Think bell bottoms, disco balls, platform shoes and leisure suits as the the performers bring back the greatest hits of the ‘70s. 01-13-10-boogie-wonder-2.jpg

The 10-piece band features singers Stardust, Kat Brown and JJ Martinez, backed by Boogie Cindy (bass), Luke Andersen (drums), Eddie Toussaint (percussion), Jack Wrangler (guitar), Erotic Eric (sax), Dr. Tony Fever (trumpet) and Chico Murphy (keys), playing “I Will Survive,” “Jungle Boogie,” “That’s the Way I Like It,” “I Love the Nightlife,” “It’s Raining Men” and much more. In their 11 years of touring more than 300 cities, the Boogie Wonder Band has shared the stage with Kool and the Gang and the late Ric01-13-10-blue-logo.jpgk James.

Tickets cost between $5 and $24. The performance begins at 8 pm.

Return to the ‘80s with Robbie Hart — everyone’s favorite wedding singer. That is until he is left at the altar. Broken hearted, he turns every wedding performance into a disaster. Enter Julia, a charming waitress who wins his heart — unfortunately she is already spoken for. Can Hart win the girl of his dreams away from her successful stockbroker fi ancé? 

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “among the most ingenious and amusing musical adaptations of a Hollywood fi lm ever to reach Broadway,” The Wedding Singer is based on the 1998 hit fi lm starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. 

There will be a faux wedding reception following the performance. The show begins at 8 p.m. on Jan 28. Tickets are between $12 and $32.

The On Stage for Youth Series features the children’s classic Are You My Mother? A baby bird hatches. Her mother is no where to be found. Baby bird sets off to fi nd her mom. Based on P.D. Eastman’s book, this program is for the K-2 audience. Tickets are $7-10. Show time is 10 a.m. on Feb. 5.

The Web site www.uncp.edu/gpac has plenty of details and info about other upcoming events at Givens, or give them a call at 521-6287.