Arts and Entertainment

Tickets are on sale now for Center for the Performing Arts 2026–27 season events

The Center for the Performing Arts 2026–27 season highlights artists rooted in six continents who represent the variety of creative, cutting edge and classical voices from around the globe. Credit: Center for the Performing Arts / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tickets are on sale now to see artists representing cutting edge, contemporary and classical voices from around the world.

The Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) 2026–27 season includes hit Broadway and theater, classical dance and contemporary circus arts, a jazz giant’s final tour, and free community gatherings and event-adjacent programs.

“Our season offers shared experiences to spark curiosity, connections and renewal,” CPA Director Sita Frederick said.

Buy tickets by calling 814-863-0255 or in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at Eisenhower Auditorium. Purchase tickets online from the Arts Ticket Center or via the app. Prices listed include all fees. Save $4 per ticket when ordering by phone or in person.

Visit Discounts for more information on various ways to save money on event tickets.

Visit 2026–27 events for more details about the season as well as related panel discussions, pre-event activities, community engagement opportunities and the Joyfull series.

Also visit the CPA website for information about related programming, including a Performing Arts and Disability Collaborative, in partnership with the Penn State Humanities Institute; and the Well-Being Concert series, a partnership with Carnegie Hall that blends music and health for a communal, restorative experience.

Fall 2026

Teatro La Plaza, “Hamlet”

7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, Eisenhower Auditorium

A cast of actors with Down syndrome express their desires and frustrations through portrayals of the characters in “Hamlet.” The event starts with the question Shakespeare asks about existence: “To be or not to be?” But what does it mean “to be” for those who are often disregarded?

“The Wiz”

7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, Eisenhower Auditorium

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back and lands at Penn State in an all-new tour. This groundbreaking twist on “The Wizard of Oz” changed the face of Broadway — from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock and '70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Everybody rejoice! This dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road!

Gravity & Other Myths, “Ten Thousand Hours”

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, Eisenhower Auditorium

High-level athletes explore the nuance of physical skill — how we obtain it, how we perfect it and how it can transform our lives. Set to a driving musical score with live percussion on stage, the program follows the physical language of the pursuit of mastery, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary before your eyes.

“Clue”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Eisenhower Auditorium

Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six eccentric guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, “Clue” is a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

Shanghai Ballet, “Giselle,” Xin Lili, artistic director

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, Eisenhower Auditorium

Shanghai Ballet returns to North America for the first time in more than five years with “Giselle.” The classical storybook tale of love and betrayal highlights the company’s hallmarks: pristine technique and unified ensemble work.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, “Marsalis’ Swinging Cities”

4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, Eisenhower Auditorium

Celebrate the global language of jazz and the spirit of place in “Marsalis’ Swinging Cities” in a performance highlighting Wynton Marsalis’ final season as artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center and music director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Penn State School of Music, “Mosaic”

4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Eisenhower Auditorium

The annual immersive experience of sight and sound features performances from Penn State’s finest student music and voice soloists, and ensembles performing a variety of musical styles.

Spring 2027

Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, Eisenhower Auditorium

Accomplished vocalists and musicians will perform a varied program in a soulful celebration of the civil-rights leader. A headliner will be announced.

“Shucked”

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, Eisenhower Auditorium

Corny humor and puns abound in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical comedy featuring an unlikely hero, a lovable con man and an a-maize-ing battle for the heart and soil of Cob County.

Minty Fresh Circus, conceived and directed by Monique Martin

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, Eisenhower Auditorium

The Minty Fresh Circus features an all-Black cast of athletes moving to a recorded score. Named after abolitionist Harriet Tubman, the ensemble performs a variety of movements and rituals that reference the African diaspora and Black American culture.

“Bach: St. Matthew Passion,” Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, Masaaki Suzuki, conductor

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, Eisenhower Auditorium

The program features the second of the passions written by Johann Sebastian Bach circa 1727 for Good Friday services. In celebration of the massive work’s 300th anniversary year, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, conducted by Maestro Masaaki Suzuki, will bring the sacred oratorio live to the stage.

Marvel Studios’, “Black Panther” in Concert, the North American Tour

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, Eisenhower Auditorium

The concert-to-film event features a screening of the groundbreaking film electrified by live performances from world-class Hollywood studio musicians, African rhythm masters and powerhouse vocalists delivering the Academy Award-winning score.

“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, Eisenhower Auditorium

The true story of a Brooklyn kid who became an award-winning American pop music icon is set to chart-topping hits, including “Love on the Rocks,” “Song Sung Blue” and “Sweet Caroline.”

Let’s Dance Movement Workshop for All Ages, All Abilities

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, Eisenhower Auditorium

Sing and dance with members of the For Good Troupe as they perform excerpts from their favorite musical theater productions. Then get on stage to learn some basic choreography and have some energizing fun.

Coffeehouse with Leonkoro Quartet

8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, Lion’s Lair, 008 HUB-Robeson Center

The virtuoso ensemble, featuring siblings Jonathan and Lukas Schwarz (violin and cello), Emiri Kakiuchi (violin) and Mayu Konoe (viola), will perform an intimate, salon-style Coffeehouse program. The event is free, but registration is required. Register online.

Leonkoro Quartet

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, Recital Hall

The Berlin-based quartet was catapulted to global prominence after winning First Prize and nine special prizes at the 2022 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. Catch the ensemble’s Penn State debut with “blazing explorations” of works by Beethoven and Schubert.

The Joyfull series

Savor the cultures of visiting and local artists while nourishing your mind and body with sounds and sights offered by an intimate arts-based experience. The Joyfull series is free and open to the community. Each event will feature a live performance and a menu related to the theme.

Visit the Joyfull webpage for more information. Event details will be announced as they are confirmed. The Joyfull events are free, but registration is required.

Accessibility

American Sign Language

American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for the following 2026–27 events: Teatro La Plaza “Hamlet,” “The Wiz,” “Clue,” “Shucked,” Minty Fresh Circus, Let’s Dance and the Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert and “A Beautiful Noise.” Contact the Arts Ticket Center two weeks before the event by calling 814-863‑0255 or via email to discuss ASL seating preferences.

Audio description

Audio description offers a description of the visual elements of selected performances. The service for those with sight loss will be offered for “The Wiz” and “A Beautiful Noise.” Reservations are required and must be made two weeks before the event. Call the Sight Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania at 814-238-0132 to reserve the service.

Sensory-friendly venue

Eisenhower Auditorium is a designated KultureCity sensory-sensitivity inclusive venue.

Sensory inclusivity is a practice that ensures a welcome and accommodating experience to visitors of all levels of sensory need or neurodisability.

Guests are welcome to visit a designated quiet space on the lounge level; or they may sign out a variety of self-regulation items, including noise-reducing earmuffs, anti-strobe glasses, lap pads and curated sensory tools.

The free KultureCity smartphone app may help to reduce uncertainty by providing patrons tools such as an AI (artificial intelligence) talker and pre-visit social stories, so guests know what to expect and can plan ahead.

Learn more about the center’s Accessibility services online.

Find us

The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, a unit of the College of Art and Architecture, aspires to create connected, sustainable, and equitable communities, where everyone experiences joy, belonging and creativity.

For more information about the season, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online, Facebook and Instagram.

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