Wolf Trap's Summer of Big Names

Cast members perform Mamma Mia!

By Elizabeth Coe

ALEXANDRIA, VA. – Wolf Trap has big plans for the summer.

They’re so big, Wolf Trap is calling this its “grandest summer season” – and that’s a tall order, since Wolf Trap is always pretty grand.

Among the artists coming to Vienna are Counting Crows, Harry Connick Jr., Jackson Browne and Abba—The Music. The full schedule runs the gamut from the Temptations to Chris Isaak, and from the Beach Boys to the Backstreet Boys. You can catch Aretha Franklin, Julio Iglesias or Willie Nelson, or maybe Pat Benatar, B.B. King or Sheryl Crow.

Harry Connick, Jr.

This week, the summer season opens with a big goodbye – from “Riverdance,” which comes to Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on its farewell tour.

This tour is the last chance to see the show that popularized Irish music, song and dance for more than a decade.

Shows are Wednesday, June 2, to Sunday, June 6, and tickets are $20-$70.

Wolf Trap is at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. For more information, call 703-255-1868.

For tickets, visit the box office on-site, call 877-WOLFTRAP, or visit http://www.wolftrap.org.

If You're Going...

Wolf Trap’s Summer 2010 schedule

June

“Riverdance,” Wednesday, June 2 through Sunday, June 6, 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6, 2 p.m.

Jeff Beck, Monday, June 7, 8 p.m.

Jethro Tull, Procol Harum, Tuesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m.

Backstreet Boys, Wednesday, June 9, 8 p.m.

Jimmy Cliff, Sly and Robbie, Thursday, June 10, 8 p.m.

Cirque Dreams – Illumination, Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12, 8:30 p.m.

Wolf Trap’s 21st Annual Louisiana Swamp Romp, Marcia Ball, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Beau Soleil, Michael Doucet, Rosie Ledet and The Zydeco Playboys, Sunday, June 13, 2 p.m.

Harry Connick Jr., Tuesday, June 15, 8 p.m.

John Butler Trio, State Radio, Angus and Julia Stone, Wednesday, June 16, 7 p.m.

Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat, Thursday, June 17, 8 p.m.

“Cats,” Friday, June 18 through Sunday, June 20, 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20, 2 p.m.

Earth, Wind & Fire, Monday, June 21, 8 p.m.

Chick Corea Freedom Band with Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Roy Haynes; Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer trio, Tuesday, June 22, 8 p.m.

Yes, Peter Frampton, Wednesday, June 23, 7 p.m.

Natalie Cole, Thursday, June 24, 8 p.m.

Rain—A Tribute to the Beatles, Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26, 8 p.m.

Gordon Lightfoot, Sunday, June 27, 8 p.m.

Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon and Keaton Simons, Tuesday, June 29; 7:30 p.m.

Jackson Browne

July

Pat McGee Band, Thursday, July 1, 8 p.m.

Gipsy Kings, Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3, 8 p.m.

“Mamma Mia!” Wednesday, July 7 through Sunday, July 11, 8 p.m., Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11, 2 p.m.

Chris Isaak, Marc Broussard, Monday, July 12, 8 p.m.

Julio Iglesias, Tuesday, July 13, 8 p.m.

The B-52s, Supercluster, Wednesday, July 14, 8 p.m.

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Thursday, July 15, 8 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: “Romeo and Juliet,” Emil de Cou, conductor, Friday, July 16, 8:15 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: Idina Menzel & Marvin Hamlisch, Saturday, July 17, 8:15 p.m.

B.B. King, Sunday, July 18, 8 p.m.

The Go-Go’s, Monday, July 19, 8 p.m.

Paul Taylor Dance Company, Tuesday, July 20, 8:30 p.m.

The Levon Helm Band; John Hiatt & The Combo, Wednesday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: Around the World with Joshua Bell Emil de Cou, conductor, Thursday, July 22, 8:15 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: A Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration, Emil de Cou, conductor, Friday, July 23, 8:15 p.m.

Eddie Fromohio, Dar Williams, Saturday, July 24, 8 p.m.

Beach Boys, Sunday, July 25, 2 p.m.

Crowded House, Lawrence Arabia, Monday, July 26, 8 p.m.

Steve Miller Band, Tuesday, July 27, 8 p.m.

Bachman & Turner, Wednesday, July 28, 8 p.m.

Aretha Franklin, Thursday, July 29, 8 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: Distant Worlds, Arnie Roth, conductor, Friday, July 30, 8:30 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: The Planets in HD, Emil de Cou, conductor, Saturday, July 31, 8:30 p.m.

August

Reggae 2010 Starring: Beres Hammond, Inner Circle, Kenyatta Hill of Culture, Lenya Wilks, DJ Inferno, Sunday, Aug. 1, 3-7 p.m.

Alejandro Sanz, Monday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m.

Willie Nelson, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 8 p.m.

Chris Botti, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 8 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: The Music of James Bond, Carl Davis, conductor, Mary Carewe, vocalist, Thursday, Aug. 5, 8:15 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, George Daugherty, conductor, Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7, 8:30 p.m.

Hippiefest, Jack Bruce of Cream, War, Mitch Ryder, Rare Earth, Sunday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m.

Counting Crows, Monday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m.

George Thorogood & the Destroyers; The Robert Cray Band, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m.

“Legally Blonde—The Musical,” Thursday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, and Sunday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m.

Lyle Lovett, Ryan Bingham, Tuesday Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Al Jarreau & The George Duke Trio; Marcus Miller; Christian Scott, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m.

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eliza Gilkyson, Thursday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.

The Irish Tenors; Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright, Karl Scully, Friday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m.

The Temptations, The Four Tops, Saturday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m.

Great Big Sea, Sunday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m.

Train, Need to Breathe, Monday, Aug. 23, 8 p.m.

Rodrigo y Gabriela, Xavier Rudd, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m.

Anita Baker, Thursday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.

Tony Bennett, Friday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m.

The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show, Saturday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m.

Donna Summer. Sunday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m.

September

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” Tuesday, Aug. 31, through Sunday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 5, 2 p.m.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” film in HD, with live orchestra and soloists, Friday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Sunday, Sept. 12, 8 p.m.

ABBA—The Music, Friday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m.

Golden Dragon Acrobats from China, Saturday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m.

Elizabeth Coe writes for The Loudoun Times-Mirror, from which this is excerpted.