What do “Legally Blonde”, “Romeo and Juliet” and the OSU Marching Band have in common? They can all be seen at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts this coming year.

The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association will have nine performances for the 2010-2011 season, and the lineup is out. Bob Mascari, SOPAA president, is excited about the entertainment scheduled for this year.

“It looks great,” Mascari said. “We’ve got some really big shows coming in. We’ve got ‘Legally Blonde’, Fiddler on the Roof, and I’m especially excited about Monty Python’s Spamalot. That ought to be a blast.”

Mascari said SOPAA includes an Ohio orchestra each year, and this year the Toledo Symphony Orchestra will be at the Vern Riffe Center for the first time.

The turnout hasn’t lessened, according to Mascari, even during the tough times people are facing financially.

“We’ve been fortunate, especially in these economic conditions, to maintain our audience,” he said. “We offer a great value. In Columbus or Cincinnati it would be twice as much to see the same show.”

Mascari expects the biggest turnout to be for one of the performances for the Broadway series. “Probably ‘Legally Blonde’ or ‘Spamalot’,” he said. “The older crowd will be attracted to ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, which is a great story. And the OSU Marching Band is always a sellout.”

Season tickets are on sale now, and individual tickets will be available Aug. 23. Mascari said season tickets are the best value.

“You’re going to save somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 percent,” he said. The price for season tickets for all nine performances is $270 in the upper tier and $288 in the lower tier.

He said seniors and students can get them even lower with their reduced rates.

“Come on out and enjoy the fun,” Mascari said. For ticket information, contact (740) 351-3600.

Schedule of events:

Sept. 16 – The Toledo Symphony Orchestra

Oct. 12 – Legally Blonde, the Musical

Nov. 9 – Mark O’Connor: American String Celebration

Nov. 16 – The OSU Marching Band

Jan. 13 – Fiddler on the Roof

Feb. 8 – Romeo and Juliet

Apr. 7 – Mariangela Vacatello

Apr. 12 – Russian National Ballet Theater

Apr. 26 – Monty Python’s Spamalot