The Smith Center announces diverse schedule for October, November

They’re baaaaack.

Everyone from Betty Buckley to Michael Feinstein to conductor Keith Lockhart, that is.

They are all returning to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in October and November, joining a lineup that also spotlights several first-time performers, from folk icon Judy Collins to Downtown Project visionary Tony Hsieh.

The four Smith Center venues — 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall, the intimate Troesh Studio Theater and Cabaret Jazz club, plus the adjacent Symphony Park — will host more than 20 performances.

Leading the Tony-winning Broadway contingent: Audra McDonald (familiar to TV viewers from her starring stint on “Private Practice”) in Reynolds Hall on Oct. 22 and Betty Buckley, who returns to Cabaret Jazz on Oct. 25-27 with “The Other Woman: Vixens on Broadway.”

Instrumental attractions range from the Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet’s “Kronos at 40” on Oct. 21 to Keith Lockhart leading the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on Nov. 17.

Jazz and blues headliners include Taj Mahal (Oct. 10), “Ladies of Jazz” with Dee Dee Bridgewater (Oct. 23), Grammy winner Keb Mo leading a salute to the blues (Nov. 18) and, in Cabaret Jazz on Nov. 22-23, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, carrying on the tradition forged by their father, late jazz legend Dave Brubeck.

In addition to Collins (Nov. 10), The Smith Center’s roster of vocalists ranges from “The Voice’s” Chris Mann (Cabaret Jazz on Nov. 8-9) to fado singer Mariza (Reynolds Hall on Nov. 11) to Michael Feinstein’s “The Gershwins and Me” on Nov. 16.

Hsieh will speak Nov. 5 at Reynolds Hall as part of the Audi Speaker Series, joining previously announced attractions such as Alan Alda (Sept. 24) and Carol Burnett (Sept. 29).

And in the kids-of-all-ages category, the Zoppe family circus returns to Symphony Park on Oct 31-Nov. 3, while the Troesh Studio Theater hosts the 100-year-old Salzburg Marionette Theater on Nov. 14-17.

Tickets to all shows go on sale Aug. 23 at The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave. For more information, call 702-749-2000 or go online to www.thesmithcenter.com.

Contact reporter Carol Cling at ccling@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.