Like the Beatles? How about Frank Sinatra? What about Shakespearean plays?

If any of those things sound appealing, then the 2004-05 season at the Butler County Community College Succop Theater is the place to be.

Larry Stock, theater director, has announced some of the entertainment coming up this year.

“And I think it’s going to be an exciting year,” Stock said, smiling.

With two years under his belt as theater director, Stock said he’s learned some lessons about what audiences want and what they can live without.

“I took all that into consideration and I did things a little differently this year,” Stock said.

Among the changes is the separation of the performing arts series, the jazz series and the lecture series into three distinct programs rather than one big one.

“People told me last year there was too much stuff in one brochure,” Stock said. “So instead of putting all my thunder into one announcement, I’m trying to give everyone their due to keep the momentum going.”

Among the first string of announcements is the performing art series, which includes a tribute to the Beatles by a local group called “Come Together” and a tribute to Frank Sinatra by Bo Wagner of the Vogues.

Also featured this season is the Aquila Theater, performing Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” as well as the Koresh Dance Company.

Stock said he’s especially excited to bring the theater and dance company to Butler because of the quality of their performances.

“They’re very well respected and very well known,” Stock said of the group. “I’ve tried to raise the bar a little this year.”

Since Stock realizes unique dance and Shakespeare won’t appeal to everyone, he also has included the ever-popular Christmas concert featuring the North Pittsburgh Philharmonic and a concert with the River City Brass Band.

“I’m very excited to bring them here,” he said of the brass band. “They’re a good group of musicians and they’re playing is really tight.”

As for the lecture series and jazz series, Stock said he didn’t want to give too much away just yet, but promised a big season.

“All I can say is those two programs promise to be very exciting this year,” he said.

Announcements on the lecture and jazz programs will be made later in the fall, shortly before the performances for them are set to begin.

In addition to breaking up the different series, Stock said other changes have been made.

“Some of the changes I made last year worked better and some didn’t,” he said.

One of the changes involved lower-priced tickets.

“That was one thing that did work out very well, so we’ll continue it this year,” Stock said. “We’re not going to get rich with these prices, but the whole point of lowering the prices was to make it more affordable to everyone, and I think we’ve achieved that.”

Other changes include a new laminated season pass for those who choose to buy season tickets.

BC3 spokeswoman Susan Changnon said the laminated passes will replace tickets that had previously been issued to season ticket holders for every event.

The reason for the change is some ticket holders were losing their tickets, as well as the price of printing individual tickets for each show.

“It saves us from printing out all those tickets,” Stock said, adding season tickets will be transferable if season holders wish to share with a family member or friend.

Also, season holders will now be able to just show their pass to get into the theater, rather than wait in line to receive their tickets.

Another new feature this year is the selling of merchandise.

T-shirts, mugs, caps and golf shirts will be available with the BC3 Succop Theater logo. They will be sold in the theater lobby during shows and also daily at the BC3 bookstore.

“It’s something I wanted to do from the get-go, but I’m just now getting around to it,” Stock said.

Stock also hopes to have the students use the theater more, including putting on at least two student-produced shows per year.

Changnon said the biggest part of making that happen will be to make sure every student on campus knows the theater is there and available to them.

“That’s always been one of our biggest concerns since this is a commuter campus,” Changnon said. “We have to try to get their attention.”

The most exciting of all changes Stock said he’s seen in the last two years is the fact that he no longer has to work so hard to find performers for the season.

“The reputation of the theater is getting out there, and people want to come here now,” he said.

For information about the 2004-05 season or for ticket information, call 724-287-8711, Ext. 326, or order tickets online at www.bc3.edu/succoptheater.