(Columbia, Tenn. - - January 3, 2011) - - - The 2010-2011 First Farmers & Merchants Bank Performance Series presented by Columbia State Community College will ring in the New Year with War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II on Thursday, January 27 at 7 p.m. in the Cherry Theater of the Waymon L. Hickman Building.

War Bonds is a musical journey through a war that redefined the world. This multi-media living history cabaret is interspersed with personal letters from the headline news of the period. The production is a warm reminiscence and a harrowing reminder of a time when the whole world seemed upside down.

Award winning artists David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt fill the stage with wartime memories and tunes. Actual veterans' stories create a sentimental journey through the days when blackouts and rationing were a small sacrifice in order to obtain freedom; a time when Rosie the Riveter discovered she could take care of herself; and when a man's only wish was to be home for Christmas. Twenty-two songs of the period lift the mood -- even as the atrocities of war are described.

Brunnen has served as General Manager for Hedgerow Theatre, Philadelphia Area Repertory Theatre, and PlayMakers Repertory Theatre. He has also served as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Theatre Conference and has received two INDIE awards for enhancing the cultural life in the Triangle area of North Carolina. His performance credits include: New York: Winding The Ball (American Premiere, Mint Theatre), Canada: Nicholas Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby (Stephenville Festival, Canada), Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, National Tour: Elliot Engel's The Night Before Christmas Carol, The Tender Nights of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Wrights of Passage. Brunnen is a member of Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild.

Ebhardt began working in professional theatre as a child. Her career includes television, film, commercial and voiceover work. Her first love is the theatre. After years of working as a producer and actress with many professional theatre companies on the east coast, Ebhardt co-founded EbzB Productions with her husband, David zum Brunnen. Ebhardt's theatre credits include: Off Broadway: Winding The Ball(American Premiere, Mint Theatre): and National Tour: Anne Frank.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. For complete ticketing information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu/performance-series/tickets. To charge tickets by phone, call (931) 540-2879. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted. Tickets can also be purchased at the Columbia State Community College ticket office, located in Warf Science Building, Room 109 Monday-Thursday between noon and 6 p.m. and Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The ticket box office will be open one hour prior to all performances in the Waymon L. Hickman building, room 100A.

The 2010-2011 Performance Series is made possible by First Farmers and Merchants Bank, and the Columbia State Community College Foundation.