The Capitol Arts Alliance will kick off its 25th anniversary season, “Celebrating the Silver: Moving Forward to 50,” by marching to the beat of several different drummers.

The River City Drum Corps, a Louisville-based group of young Kentucky percussionists, will perform in a 15-minute celebration at noon Wednesday following the school-day performance at the Capitol Arts Center.

“It’s our birthday, so I thought we should give gifts,” Alliance President/Executive Director Mike Thomas said of the reason for the performance. “We’re also giving away 125 free tickets on a first-come first-served basis for the 11 a.m. school-day performance.”

At 11:55 a.m., the Drum Corps will lead the guests and children outside under the Capitol’s marquee for the rededication of the Capitol and a reconfirmation of the alliance and its mission – to enrich the quality of life in the region through arts experiences as a presenter and arts educator and leader. Local officials, some of the Capitol’s former executives and representatives from local arts groups are scheduled to attend. Twenty-five balloons in the Capitol’s red, white and black colors will be released.

“We’re going to honor people who have served the Capitol through the years and those who may not have been here before,” Thomas said.

Wednesday will also mark the return of the Capitol’s newsletter, “The Marquee,” and the debut of the reconstructed Web site, www.capitolarts.com.

“We want people to know we’re here and will continue to be part of Bowling Green’s arts community,” Thomas said.

Alliance Chairman Rick DuBose agreed.

“There’s a new energy and vitality,” he said. “We want the next 25 years to be even bigger and better than the first 25.”

Instead of traditional performances, the Capitol’s season will consist of Family Classics Series and Class Act school-day performances.

“The Family Classics Series is in an entertaining, safe atmosphere that families can enjoy together,” Thomas said. “They’re an hour long, so they don’t cut into family time.”

The series will also appeal to adults, Thomas said.

“We’re used to saying ‘we’re not just kidding around,’ ” he said. “These are professional touring companies doing classic literature that we grew up with.”

The alliance is continuing its ongoing fund-raising efforts, DuBose said.

“We’re gearing up toward a campaign in the spring that we do every year,” he said.

The Capitol’s Family Classics Series will include the following productions:

• “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Sponsored by Houchens Industries, the musical follows four children of war-torn England who accidentally enter the enchanted land of Narnia by climbing through a magic wardrobe.
• “A Christmas Carol” will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. The production of Charles Dickens’ classic ghostly tale of greed and redemption is sponsored by Fruit of the Loom.
• “The Jungle Book” will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26. The play – sponsored by Bell, Orr, Ayers and Moore – takes place in the jungles of India and is based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic adventure tale.

The Family Classics Series plays will also be part of the Capitol’s Class Act School Day Performances in addition to the following performances:

• River City Drum Corps on Wednesday
• “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Oct. 31-Nov. 1
• Western Kentucky University Jazz Ensemble on Nov. 18
• “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 8-9
• “The Jungle Book” on Jan. 26-27
• “America, We the People” on Feb. 16-17
• “Romeo and Juliet” on March 2-3
• “My Heart in a Suitcase” on March 27-28
• The following artists will be featured in the Capitol’s galleries:
• Lunt Memorial Exhibition – through Oct. 11
• Neil Peterie’s “Junkyard Paintings” – Oct. 14-Nov. 8
• All Kentucky Juried Exhibition – Nov. 11-Dec. 22
• Michael Sprouse – Jan. 6-Jan. 24
• Scholastic Arts – Jan. 30-Feb. 26
• Youth Art – March 6-28
• Laurin Notheisen and Ivan Schieferdecker – March 31-April 21
• Women in the Arts – April 22-May 9
• Ray Cloutier and Diane Braber – May 12-June 6
• Matt Simone, Connie Collingsworth, Jim Madison-Print Mafia – June 9-July 5
• Yvonne Petkus and Donnie Firkins – July 7-31
• Bob Brigl, Norman O’Neal and Antigone St. Clair – Aug. 4-22
• Robin Collins, Faye Phillips and Rhonda Smith – Aug. 25