Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim musical “West Side Story” and the slick-fingered stylings of banjo player Tony Trischka anchor the 2012-13 season of Portland Ovations.

The performing arts presenter announced details of the upcoming season at a members-only sneak preview party on Wednesday night.

“The season feels robust and very full,” said executive director Aimee M. Petrin. “It feels dynamic.”

The season also includes a performance by the Joffrey Ballet, the jazz trio the Bad Plus and renowned classical pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin.

In addition to “West Side Story,” Portland Ovations’ also will offer the touring production of Disney’s

“Beauty and the Beast” and the national tour of the Tony Award-winnig Broadway musical “Hair” as well as “Rock of Ages.”

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The season begins Oct. 5-6 with a world premiere of the dance piece “Voyeur” by Bridgman/Packer Dance. The dance duo drew inspiration from Edward Hopper paintings, and created this multi-media piece that includes video shot in Maine. Portland Ovations co-commissioned the work, which will tour nationally after its Portland debut.

For the Bridgman/Packer presentation, Portland Ovations will team with the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art. The Congress Street gallery will host the performances, continuing a trend that finds Portland Ovations moving away from its traditional home at Merrill Auditorium and into smaller venues in and out of town.

Most of the events will be at Merrill, but in the coming season Portland Ovations also will present shows at Hannaford Hall at the University of Southern Maine and the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.

“In each of the last two seasons now, we have been at four different venues,” Petrin said. “One reason for branching out is to always make sure the venue matches the artist and the audience. We consider the scale of the show, production elements and intimacy. You want people to have the right relationship with what’s happening on stage.”

The best example of that may be Trischka, who will present the world premiere of the Banjo Project, which highlights the history of the instrument. He will perform April 6, 2013, at Hannaford Hall.

“You want to be up close and see his fingers move,” Petrin said.

Tickets go on sale to Portland Ovations members on Monday. Tickets go on sale to the general public June 18 through PortTix, the Merill box office.

For details, visit portlandovations.com or porttix.com.


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