Comedian Jay Leno, host of NBC’s long-running “The Tonight Show,” will christen Western Carolina University’s new Fine and Performing Arts Center in October at an opening night gala for the university’s $30 million, 122,000-square-foot showcase for the arts.

Leno, now in his 14th season as host of the Emmy Award-winning late-night talk show, will provide an evening of his trademark stand-up comedy Saturday, Oct. 22. Popular Asheville blues singer Kat Williams also will perform at the formal, black-tie affair, which will begin at 8 p.m.

Leno’s performance is part of a grand opening series of cultural events at the new center made possible in part by a $100,000 gift from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel.

The Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western includes a 1,000-seat auditorium capable of hosting Broadway-quality productions, four separate art galleries comprising nearly 5,000 square feet to house Western’s permanent collection, and rotating displays of contemporary art and student work. The center is designed as a tribute to the Cherokee people, with signage in Cherokee and English, and a lobby featuring ceramic tiles in the form of a seven-point star representing the seven Cherokee tribal clans.

In addition to the opening night gala featuring Leno, a full schedule of performances is on tap for the 2005-06 inaugural season at the Fine and Performing Arts Center, including three additional events sponsored in part by Harrah’s.

“Hitchcock and Herrmann: Two Legends of Film and Music,” a multi-media performance featuring film clips from director Alfred Hitchcock set to the music of composer Bernard Herrmann as performed live by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, is set for 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. The world-renowned Atlanta Ballet will perform selections from “The Nutcracker” and other works at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The United States Marine Band, America’s oldest professional music organization, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18.

For more information on the inaugural season at Western’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, contact Lormand at 828.227.2479.