Arts and Culture

CPA builds bridges not barriers with 2026–27 presentations and free engagement programs

UNIVERSITY PARK -- 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.

Tickets will be on sale starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, to members and 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, to the public.

"From the catharsis of tragedies such as Teatro La Plaza 'Hamlet,' Shanghai Ballet 'Giselle' and 'Bach: St. Matthew Passion,' to the exuberant joy of 'The Wiz' and mind-boggling feats of Gravity & Other Myths, our season offers shared experiences to spark curiosity, connections and renewal," CPA Director Sita Frederick said.

Tickets will be available to purchase online at the Arts Ticket Center; by calling 814-863-0255; or in person from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at Eisenhower Auditorium. Prices listed include all fees. Save $4 per ticket when you order by phone or in person.

Become a member no later than 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, to buy your tickets before the public and to be invited to exclusive events. Memberships start at $5 for the Student level. Learn more about the membership benefits.

Learn more about the Arts Ticket Center smartphone app, which provides you a streamlined way to buy, store and manage tickets to all of the Center's events. The

Center for the Performing Arts and the Arts Ticket Center are units within the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture.

Visit 2026-2027 events for more details about the season as well as related panel discussions, pre-event activities, community engagement opportunities and The Joyful series.

Also check the website for information about a Performing Arts and Disability Collaborative, in partnership with the Penn State Humanities Institute; and the Well-Being Concerts, 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 final twist.

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 holiday and seasonal songs.

SPRING 2027

Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert

7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 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 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 join Penn State Professor of Dance Michele Dunleavy 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.

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 cuisine buffet related to the theme.

Event details will be announced as they are confirmed.

-- Hispanic Heritage Month Edition, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

-- Feast Edition, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

-- Minty Fresh Edition, 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

-- Women's History Month Edition, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

-- Pride Edition, 6 p.m. Monday, April 12, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

SCHOOL-TIME MATINEES 2026

The School-Time Matinees are open to educators and homeschool parents. They are geared toward integrating the performing arts in programs that fulfill Pennsylvania curriculum standards. Reservations are required:

-- Gravity & Other Myths, "Ten Thousand Hours," 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Eisenhower Auditorium

-- "The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System," A TheaterWorksUSA Production, 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, Eisenhower Auditorium