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Right: The Quick Center for the Art’s dance season opens Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. with a celebration of ballroom dancing, “We Are the Champions!” — featuring Iveta Lukosiute and Gherman Mustuc.

“Eclectic” is the word that best describes the 2011-12 season, now opening at Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

So says Gary Alan Wood, who assumed the helm of the center last December.

The 2011-12 performing arts season “is purposefully eclectic; that is, designed to reach many, many interests and tastes,” he says.

“It follows the Quick Center tradition, yet expands the notion in new ways. For example, we have a focus on holidays, bringing performances on or near annual holiday celebrations. Rebirth Brass Band — with the quintessential New Orleans sound — comes to celebrate Mardi Gras with us on Feb. 10th; The Spencer’s Theatre of Illusion comes the night before Halloween; Handel’s “Messiah,” with the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony perform on Dec. 15; and pianist/songwriter Jim Brickman for Mother’s Day, May 13, are some examples of this focus.”

The desire to appeal to a variety of age groups, he says, was also integral to the upcoming season, featuring the gamut from international dance troupes and Chinese acrobats to big-screen broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera and live radio dramas.

“I think that the variety and cross-generational appeal of the performances is quite stunning, if I say so myself. The array of programs reaches across all ages and artistic genres, from drama — John Malkovich starring in “The Infernal Comedy” on Nov. 15 — to super-fun — “Spencer’s Theatre of Illusion” on Oct. 30 — and everything in between.

“Sierra Hull, Oct. 21st, is an up-and-coming star in country and blue-grass music, and I programmed her not only because she is young, near the age of our students, she represents my effort to highlight young artists as they build their careers.

“In the end, programming is about trust with our audience, and I hope that our friends throughout the region continue to have trust that. . . they will walk away happy — even if they take a chance on a performance outside their typical selection,” he says.

At the core of everything offered at the Quick Center is education, he adds. “And programming with international artists in mind helps meet the Global Citizenship initiative of the university; that is, an effort to bring awareness of the world outside of our beautiful campus, and strengthen understandings between people, their beliefs and their dreams.

“The Quick Center is a great gathering place of people from throughout our region, coming together to share in experiences that can have profound effect on their spirits and outlook. People come on to campus for a variety of reasons, but the Quick Center is truly a hub of activity. Community is a word that means a lot here, and to whatever extent the Quick Center can do to build, strengthen, foster and embrace it, we will endeavor to do,” he says.

For more information, call 877-ARTS-396 or visit the Quick Center online. The center is at the 200 Barlow Road entrance to Fairfield University in Fairfield. Parking is always free.