(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Penn Live Arts, known for its presentation of thought-provoking and transformational performances across multiple genres, announces its 2026-27 season. Curated by Executive & Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits, the season explores the concept of belonging, reflecting on how people experience change and find acceptance in new worlds while longing for the community and traditions of home. This season-spanning thematic thread shines a light on migration and immigrant experiences.
"In our 26/27 season, Belonging, we explore how people navigate change while holding onto the traditions, histories and communities that sustain us," said PLA Executive & Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits. "Artists across disciplines will examine the tension between longing for home and building connection in new worlds, revealing the many ways culture is carried, transformed and passed on across generations. Their artistry reminds us that belonging is not static or inherited, but something we must continually create. Throughout the season, we celebrate the power of the performing arts to foster these connections while expanding our understanding of community and what it means to belong."
The 2026-27 season is bookended by two special events, opening with Broadway star John Cameron Mitchell and closing with famed vocalist and actress Audra McDonald. The season also commemorates the 100th birthday of jazz giant John Coltrane; observes the upcoming 90th birthday of groundbreaking American composer Philip Glass; and introduces PLA audiences to new artists while welcoming back time-honored friends through a wealth of dance, music, theatre, and family-centered programs.
Belonging centers artists as both keeper and maker, preserving heritage while also forging new cultural convergences—an idea brought to life through two distinctive artist residencies. World-renowned banjoist Béla Fleck will trace the roots and innovations of Appalachian and bluegrass music, while Irish choreographer John Scott will collaborate with new citizens in Philadelphia to construct a dance-theatre piece shaped by their personal journeys of migration. Extending this exploration, a multiweek Arts of India Festival, presented in partnership with Sruti, showcases the vital impact of Indo-American arts and culture today.
Subscriptions are on sale now at PennLiveArts.org; single tickets go on sale in early August.
Béla Fleck: Bluegrass Roots | Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation | The Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation links notable visiting artists to the Penn and Philadelphia communities, emphasizing interdisciplinary work and experiences for broad audiences. The 2026-27 season Brownstein Artist-in-Residence is Béla Fleck, the world's premier banjo virtuoso and celebrated musical adventurer. Exploring the roots and evolving traditions of Appalachian and bluegrass music, Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart will bring together the genre's legends with the best of a new generation of talent. In February 2027, Fleck will help curate a weekend-long Americana Festival and perform the world premiere of a Penn Live Arts commission. Through this array of creative voices, classroom visits and community engagement activities, Fleck's residency will trace the cultural evolution of this beloved music.
John Scott Residency | Ancestral Movements | Known for his devised choreographic methods and acclaimed work with immigrant and refugee communities, Irish choreographer John Scott will embark on a multi-session creative process with new American citizens and other Philadelphians whose lives reflect the impact of immigration. Together, they will construct a dance‑theatre work inspired by personal histories, languages and everyday movements—a collective journey through identity, resilience and cultural lineage. Featuring an ensemble of professional dancers and community members, the world premiere of Ancestral Movements offers an intimate expression of migration's imprint on bodies, memory and belonging. This residency is made possible with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program.
Arts of India Festival | The Arts of India Festival, presented in partnership with Sruti, the India Music and Dance Society of Philadelphia, showcases a renowned dance ensemble, a tribute to Zakir Hussain, cutting-edge jazz and more to explore India's rich cultural heritage. The Festival will also feature a community day spotlighting local artists and participatory experiences and then culminates with Diwali, offering an exceptional look at the brilliant array of Indian and Indo-American arts today. Featured artists include TM Krishna, Arun Ramamurthy Trio & Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, Niladri Kumaar, and Nrityagram Dance Ensemble. Full programs appear below.
Special Events | Penn Live Arts welcomes two very special one-night-only guests to open and close the season. John Cameron Mitchell, Tony Award-winning star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Oh, Mary! fame performs in Philadelphia for the first time in an evening of songs and stories from his extraordinary career spanning off-Broadway, Broadway and beyond. A true icon of stage and screen, Audra McDonald makes her Penn Live Arts debut in an unforgettable evening of song. Winner of multiple Tony and Grammy® Awards, in addition to an Emmy Award, this versatile soprano possesses a remarkable gift for dramatic storytelling, bringing her signature emotional nuance to a mix of Broadway favorites and classics from the Great American Songbook.
Dance | As one of America's foremost presenters of contemporary dance, Penn Live Arts holds longstanding relationships with the most important and innovative dance companies of today, presenting companies that are beloved by Philadelphia audiences as well as those making first appearances. In the 2026-27 season, dance companies appearing for the first time in Philadelphia include the Alonzo King LINES Ballet, performing Ode to Alice Coltrane, a tribute to the jazz icon, and the Gibney Company showcasing works by choreographer Lucinda Childs, set to the music of John Cage and Philip Glass. Renowned Irish choreographer John Scott makes his Penn Live Arts debut with the world premiere of Ancestral Movements. Compagnie Hervé Koubi returns to Philadelphia for the first time in over a decade making its Penn Live Arts debut with Sol Invictus.
Companies returning to the Penn Live Arts stage include Ballets Jazz Montréal with the final tour of Dance Me – The Music of Leonard Cohen, Nrityagram Dance Ensemble as part of the Arts of India Festival, Caleb Teicher's A Very Sw!ng Out Holiday, New Zealand's renowned Black Grace, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Music | From early music to new music, cutting-edge jazz to world music, the 2026-27 season artists offer an extraordinary range of styles and perspectives.
Jazz | With a season focus on vocalists, some of the hottest jazz artists of this generation make their Philadelphia debuts. Grammy® Award-nominated multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato, joined by his trio, brings his eclectic range of songs with a sound shaped by jazz, funk, blues and soul. Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Philadelphia headline debut with a special holiday tribute to the music of Vince Guaraldi, best known for composing the score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Diné trumpeter and composer Delbert Anderson joins his quartet in a program featuring the world premiere commissioned work Beyond Belief, a multi-part meditation on Navajo history and the tribe's broken relationship with America. New to the Penn Live Arts stage, in a special double bill, violinist Arun Ramamurthy and his trio offer a fusion of jazz and South Indian Carnatic traditions followed by the Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, as part of the Arts of India Festival; Endea Owens & The Cookout serve up a high energy mix of jazz, soul and funk; gifted songstress Sarah Elizabeth Charles brings her magnetic vocals infused with neo-soul and jazz; and Michael Mayo and his quartet perform a dynamic mix of standards and originals from his two-time Grammy® Award-nominated release, Fly. In a historic, first-ever performance together, icons Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves share the stage to celebrate the legacy of one of the most renowned voices in jazz. These NEA Jazz Masters and multi-Grammy® Award-winners, perform music from their latest release, a tribute to John Coltrane's groundbreaking 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman.
Early Music | PLA's early music series features two ensembles making first Philadelphia appearances. I Fagiolini, Britain's celebrated early music vocal ensemble, makes a rare U.S. appearance with a program centered on the rich variety of Claudio Monteverdi's secular and sacred works, and France's Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu is joined by charismatic soprano Roberta Mameli for The Ghosts of Hamlet, a revival of forgotten Baroque treasures. Closer to home, and set in the historic Powel House, mezzo-soprano and Penn artist-in-residence Meg Bragle leads Handel at Home, an intimate program inspired by Philadelphia's lively colonial salons, featuring opera, oratorio and keyboard works by one of the most eminent composers of the era.
New Music | In a Philadelphia debut, innovative percussion ensemble Third Coast Percussion and renowned drummer Glenn Kotche team up to celebrate Philip Glass' 90th birthday with a program including Glass' Aguas da Amazonia and Steve Reich's Music for Pieces of Wood. Later in the season, Glass' birthday is further observed with Koyaanisqatsi: Live with Film, a powerful fusion of concert and cinema. This landmark in minimalist music will be performed by the renowned Philip Glass Ensemble.
World Music | Making his Penn Live Arts debut as part of the Arts of India Festival, sitar maestro Niladri Kumaar, a frequent collaborator with tabla icon Zakir Hussain, performs the Philadelphia premiere of The Space Between the Notes, a musical concert journey based on the documentary film recording of the duo's last performance together. Artists returning to the PLA stage include TM Krishna, one of India's most celebrated Carnatic vocalists and also part of the Arts of India Festival, forging a dynamic dialogue between ancient tradition and modern sensibility. Vibrant Afro-Cuban singer Daymé Arocena brings her lively genre-blending fusion of jazz, pop, and R&B, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo returns by overwhelming demand, following a highly successful performance in 2024, delivering a resonant message of peace and love through their joyful, high-energy performance.
Choral | After an unforgettable Penn Live Arts debut last season, Choir! Choir! Choir! returns at the holidays to lead the audience in UnSilent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-Along, a festive mix of seasonal classics and pop favorites.
Theatre | PLA presents the East Coast premiere of UnRavelled, a powerful synthesis of theatre, music, science and visual art that tells a poignant story of scientist-turned-painter Anne Adams and composer Maurice Ravel, both affected by frontotemporal dementia. Revealing a surprising link between neurological disease and creativity, UnRavelled sheds a new, empathetic light on dementia. UnRavelled is presented in partnership with Penn Medicine as part of the International Conference for Frontotemporal Dementias.
Cirque and Family | Families will find expanded opportunities to experience the joy of live performance together in the 2026-27 season. Additional family-oriented theatre and music performances complement the popular cirque programs and the annual Philadelphia Children's Festival, bringing more moments of discovery and fun throughout the year. Programs include Australia's boundary-pushing contemporary circus company, Gravity & Other Myths, making its Philadelphia debut with its acclaimed hit Ten Thousand Hours; family music favorite Ants on a Log performing its high-energy Alphabugs; Hot Peas 'N Butter celebrating music from every corner of the globe; London's Tall Stories Theatre Company in a musical adaptation of the award-winning book The Gruffalo; and Cirque Éloize, in a highly anticipated Penn Live Arts debut where trampoline, aerial hoop, trial bike, breakdancing and more collide in a striking urban ballet.
Penn Live Arts (PLA), headquartered at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, is the leading presenter of innovative and transformative performing arts experiences in Philadelphia. A vital resource for the performing arts at the University of Pennsylvania, PLA is an artistic crossroads joining Penn and the greater Philadelphia region through world-class music, dance and theatre on campus and at venues throughout the city, serving an annual audience of over 80,000. Penn Live Arts emphasizes artistic and intellectual excellence in its offerings; prioritizes broad inclusiveness in the artists, audiences and groups it serves; and expands arts access by actively engaging a wide range of audiences and communities from campus, the West Philadelphia neighborhood and the surrounding region.
2026-27 PROGRAM CALENDAR
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Friday, September 25, 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 26, 2 PM
Saturday, September 26, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
The Alonzo King LINES Ballet performs in Philadelphia for the very first time with a program that includes Ode to Alice Coltrane, a tribute to the jazz icon. This spiritually charged work spotlights King's evocative style, the dancers' impeccable technique and the sonic expansiveness of Coltrane's masterpieces. The debut of this trailblazing ensemble promises a transcendent experience, as King's "ballets have a way of sailing through sensations, of calming the nervous system, of realigning the body and mind" (The New York Times).
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
An Evening with John Cameron Mitchell
Sunday, September 27, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
John Cameron Mitchell is the Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen who gave us the cult classic Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Most recently, Mitchell appeared in Broadway's Oh, Mary!, hailed by The New York Times as "one of the best comedies in years." Now, he performs in Philadelphia for the first time in an evening of songs and stories from his extraordinary career spanning off-Broadway, Broadway and beyond. This performance is a one-night-only chance for an intimate encounter with one of alt-culture's boldest and most original voices.
Michael Mayo
Friday, October 2, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Called "one of the most creative and commanding singers" by WRTI, Los Angeles-based vocalist and composer Michael Mayo makes his Penn Live Arts debut. A sought-after collaborator among jazz and pop greats, Mayo brings his quartet for a dynamic mix of standards and originals from his two-time Grammy® Award-nominated release, Fly. Moving fluidly through jazz, neo-soul and R&B, Mayo's commanding vocalese reveals "an inventiveness and versatility that already establish[es] him as one of the voices to watch in the creative jazz scene of tomorrow" (Jazz Magazine).
This performance is sponsored by Joseph B. Glossberg and Madeleine Condit Glossberg.
UnRavelled
By Jake Broder
Thursday, October 8, 7 PM
Friday, October 9, 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 10, 2 PM
Sunday, October 11, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A powerful synthesis of theatre, music, science and visual art, UnRavelled explores the complexities of the human mind through the parallel lives of scientist-turned-painter Anne Adams and composer Maurice Ravel, both affected by frontotemporal dementia. With a cast of 10 actors and musicians, this East Coast premiere follows Adams, a gifted biologist whose life unravels as she abandons her career, consumed by the desire to paint and an obsession with Ravel's iconic Boléro. As Adams' cognitive decline accelerates, her art flourishes, revealing a surprising link between neurological disease and creativity. "An exquisite example of epic theatre" (Colorado Boulevard), UnRavelled sheds a new, empathetic light on dementia.
UnRavelled is made possible in part with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program. UnRavelled is presented in partnership with Penn Medicine as part of the International Conference for Frontotemporal Dementias.
Arts of India Festival
TM Krishna
Thursday, October 15, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Hailed for impressively "scaling heights in music" (The Times of India), TM Krishna is one of India's most celebrated Carnatic vocalists. He has redefined Indian classical music with his technical mastery and philosophical depth, forging a dynamic dialogue between ancient tradition and modern sensibility. Recently awarded the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi, considered the highest accolade in Carnatic music, Krishna brings his formidable artistry to the Penn Live Arts stage for an unmatched evening with his quartet.
This performance is part of the Arts of India Festival, which is co-presented with Sruti, The India Music & Dance Society, Philadelphia. This performance is co-sponsored by Penn's Department of South Asian Studies.
Gravity & Other Myths
Ten Thousand Hours
Saturday, October 17, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Australia's boundary-pushing contemporary circus company, Gravity & Other Myths, makes its Philadelphia debut with its acclaimed hit Ten Thousand Hours. Accompanied by live percussion, eight elite acrobats blend daring physicality with playful comedy in this ode to the time and dedication it takes to truly hone a skill. Each gravity-defying leap, hold and fall tells a story of discipline and discovery. After a sold-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this "superhuman squad" (The Guardian) delivers a love letter to the human body and the extraordinary things it can do.
Ants on a Log
Alphabugs
Sunday, October 18, 10 AM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
An un-bee-lievably fun collaboration between family music favorite Ants on a Log and author Mélissa Smith (Insects & Me A-Z), the high-energy, interactive Alphabugs uses humor and harmony to share fascinating bug facts and uplifting affirmations in this participatory program. FREE family performance
Ballets Jazz Montréal
Dance Me – The Music of Leonard Cohen
Friday, October 23, 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 24, 2 PM
Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Ballets Jazz Montréal returns to Philadelphia in its final tour of Dance Me, an homage to famed poet and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. With "virtuoso dancing and an unbeatable soundtrack" (Broad Street Review) of Cohen's iconic songs, choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Andonis Foniadakis and Ihsan Rustem evoke the cycles of human existence explored in his insightful music and poems. "Leonard Cohen's art and soul shine on in this stirring tribute" (The Telegraph) that reveals new meaning in favorites like "Hallelujah" and "Suzanne."
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Arts of India Festival
Arun Ramamurthy Trio & Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio
Friday, October 30, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
In this special double bill of Penn Live Arts debuts, violinist Arun Ramamurthy and his trio offer "a beautiful, exotic, ear-opening listening experience" with its fusion of jazz and South Indian Carnatic traditions. Performing music from his latest album, New Moon, as well as other originals and reimagined Carnatic repertoire, Ramamurthy's set will be followed by the Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, known for "exceptional vitality and an unmistakable chemistry." Mahanthappa is one of the era's definitive alto saxophonists, topping DownBeat's critics' polls for eight years with bold reinterpretations of jazz classics and an eclectic mix of songs from across the musical landscape. (All About Jazz)
This performance is part of the Arts of India Festival, which is co-presented with Sruti, The India Music & Dance Society, Philadelphia.
Arts of India Festival
Niladri Kumaar
The Space Between the Notes: Honoring Zakir Hussain
Sunday, November 1, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Sitar maestro Niladri Kumaar is a maverick musician and acclaimed ambassador for Indian music. A frequent collaborator with tabla icon Zakir Hussain, Kumaar makes his Penn Live Arts debut in the Philadelphia premiere of The Space Between the Notes, a musical concert journey weaving centuries-old tradition with creative innovation, all based on the documentary film recording of the duo's last performance together. With an ensemble of Indian and American musicians, this heartfelt tribute to Hussain and the special bond these two masters shared is not-to-be-missed.
This performance is part of the Arts of India Festival, which is co-presented with Sruti, The India Music & Dance Society, Philadelphia.
Arts of India Festival
Arts of India Festival Community Day
Sunday, November 1, 1-4 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Details to be announced.
Arts of India Festival
Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
KHAṄKHAṆĀ: the sound of dancing feet
Friday, November 6, 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 7, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Nrityagram, the renowned and "most exciting Indian classical dance ensemble" (Fjord Review), returns to Penn Live Arts with the Philadelphia premiere of KHAṄKHAṆĀ: the sound of dancing feet. Featuring live music, KHAṄKHAṆĀ journeys through three decades of acclaimed works by artistic director and Odissi choreographer Surupa Sen, showcasing her unique sensibility of thought and movement.
This performance is part of the Arts of India Festival, which is co-presented with Sruti, The India Music & Dance Society, Philadelphia. The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Béla Fleck
My Bluegrass Heart
Saturday, November 14, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Béla Fleck, the world's premier banjo virtuoso, is Penn Live Arts' 2026-27 season artist-in-residence. With 18 Grammy® Awards across nine different genres, Fleck is a celebrated musical adventurer who returns to his roots with My Bluegrass Heart. For this homecoming in sound, Fleck brings together bluegrass legends with some of the genre's newer talent, creating an exciting mix of generations, ideas and styles. Featuring Michael Cleveland, Dominick Leslie, Jeff Partin, Mark Schatz and Jake Stargel, these musical greats draw on a long and joyful history, infusing tradition with fresh energy, masterful musicianship and the boundless spirit of bluegrass.
The Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation for the 2026-27 season is Béla Fleck.
Handel at Home
Sunday, November 15, 3 PM
Sunday, November 15, 7 PM
Powel House | 244 South 3rd Street
Step into the musical world of the early American republic, when private gatherings for music, poetry and conversation were central to social and cultural life. Mezzo-soprano and Penn artist-in-residence Meg Bragle leads Handel at Home, a program inspired by the talent, curiosity and hospitality of the 18th-century women who were at the heart of these flourishing artistic circles. Joined by soprano Mary Wilson and harpsichordist Hanbyeol Lee, and set in the historic Powel House, this intimate performance offers a taste of Philadelphia's lively colonial salons through opera, oratorio and keyboard works by George Frideric Handel, one of the most celebrated composers of the era.
Compagnie Hervé Koubi
Sol Invictus
Friday, November 20, 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 21, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
The fearless and powerful Compagnie Hervé Koubi returns to Philadelphia for the first time in over a decade to make its Penn Live Arts debut with the kinetic Sol Invictus. A fusion of contemporary dance, hip hop, capoeira and martial arts, this new work champions love as the guarantor of peace—affirming that, despite conflict, unity will triumph as humanity's saving grace. Super-charged in both meaning and movement, the piece is set to a driving score by Mikael Karlsson, Steve Reich and Maxime Bodson. Sol Invictus takes its name from the "invincible sun" deity and Koubi's dancers "could be mistaken for gods" (The New Yorker): fierce, weightless and seemingly a step beyond human.
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Hot Peas 'N Butter
Sunday, November 22, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Hot Peas 'n Butter, the award-winning family band, celebrates music from every corner of the globe. Frequently heard on Nick Jr. and Sesame Street, the group delights kids and grownups alike with its "hot and mellow multicultural groove" (Los Angeles Times). Sung in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Korean and Hebrew, this concert features songs from the group's latest album, Back to the Land, which honors connections to one another and the planet, alongside hits from across the years.
Louis Cato
Sunday, November 22, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
"There is something special about Louis Cato's ability to captivate an audience." Charismatic with a sound shaped by jazz, funk, blues and soul, this Grammy® Award-nominated multi-instrumentalist is best known as the final bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He has an innate talent for crafting rich sonic landscapes into timeless gems, from original compositions to his popular Cato Covers series, where he reimagines an eclectic range of songs. Praised for his "immense musicality" and "honest, thoughtful, and vulnerable storytelling," Cato joins his trio for a Philadelphia debut performance that's not to be missed. (NPR Music)
Isaiah J. Thompson
A Guaraldi Holiday
Sunday, December 6, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Philadelphia headline debut with this special holiday tribute to the eclectic music of Vince Guaraldi, best known for composing the score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. A rising star in the jazz world, Thompson's crisp piano and contemporary creative fire promise a heartwarming celebration of an iconic childhood soundtrack.
A Very Sw!ng Out Holiday
Friday, December 11, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 12, 2 PM
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Tap superstar Caleb Teicher, "one of the brightest lights in tap today" (The New Yorker), and his jubilant cast of stellar dancers put a fun holiday twist on Teicher's hit show, Sw!ng Out. Lindy Hop champions take to the stage, dancing to festive classics performed live by the Eyal Vilner Big Band. This swingin' little Christmas celebration concludes with a jam session where performers and audience alike can make merry on stage.
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Choir! Choir! Choir!
Un-Silent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-Along
Friday, December 18, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Back by popular demand after an unforgettable Penn Live Arts debut last season, Choir! Choir! Choir! celebrates the holidays by uniting strangers through communal music-making. Directors Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman lead this festive participatory event, turning the audience into the performers, with a merry mix of holiday classics and seasonal pop favorites. No experience is necessary and all voices are welcome.
Cirque Éloize
ID EVOLUTION
Saturday, January 23, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
"One of Canada's national treasures" (Toronto Star), Cirque Éloize has been redefining contemporary circus for more than three decades, earning a reputation as "Cirque du Soleil's hipper, sexier cousin" (The Stage). In this highly anticipated Penn Live Arts debut, the city becomes both setting and character in the Philadelphia premiere of ID EVOLUTION, where trampoline, aerial hoop, trial bike, breakdancing and more collide in a striking urban ballet.
Delbert Anderson Quartet
Sunday, January 24, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Delbert Anderson, a Diné jazz trumpeter and composer, is "at the forefront of a vibrant Native American jazz scene." (The New York Times) Anderson and his innovative quartet blend traditional Diné spinning songs with jazz and funk in a program featuring the world premiere commissioned work Beyond Belief, a multi-part meditation on Navajo history and the tribe's broken relationship with America. Anderson's much-anticipated Philadelphia debut "skillfully braids Indigenous melodies and syncopated grooves in a way that can appeal to purists in either camp." (Grammy.com)
Daymé Arocena
Friday, January 29, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Afro-Cuban singer Daymé Arocena draws on the rhythms of Latin traditions, nimble athleticism of jazz and catchy hooks of pop. Frequently compared to icons like Aretha Franklin, Celia Cruz and Nina Simone, this Grammy® Award-nominated vocalist "unites cosmopolitan musicianship with deep roots" (The New York Times), bringing a genre-blending creativity to her virtuosity. Arocena makes a welcome return to the Penn Live Arts stage for the first time in over nine years.
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
Friday, February 5, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Two icons share the stage to celebrate the legacy of one of the most renowned voices in jazz. Recording and performing together for the very first time, saxophonist Branford Marsalis and vocalist Dianne Reeves, both NEA Jazz Masters and multi-Grammy® Award-winners, perform music from their latest release, a tribute to John Coltrane's groundbreaking 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman. Backed by Marsalis' longtime quartet—pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner—these legendary artists honor Coltrane's 100th birthday with an unforgettable evening of jazz.
Third Coast Percussion & Glenn Kotche
Sunday, February 7, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
An innovative percussion ensemble and renowned drummer team up to celebrate Philip Glass' 90th birthday. Known for pushing the genre "in new directions, blurring musical boundaries and beguiling new listeners" (NPR Music), Third Coast Percussion makes its Philadelphia debut alongside Glenn Kotche, composer and drummer of Wilco, hailed as one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. A collective Penn Live Arts debut, these Grammy® Award-winners perform an exhilarating program including Glass' Aguas da Amazonia and Steve Reich's Music for Pieces of Wood, arranged for two drum sets, plus original compositions and more that expand the depth and musical possibilities of percussion.
Americana Festival
February, specific dates and times to be announced.
As part of the Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation, Béla Fleck will help curate a weekend-long Americana Festival and perform the world premiere of a Penn Live Arts commission.
Tall Stories Theatre Company
The Gruffalo
Saturday, February 13, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
On a daring adventure in the deep, dark woods, Mouse encounters the sly Fox, an eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will Mouse's story of a terrible Gruffalo save him from becoming dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? Brought to life by London's Tall Stories, this magical, musical adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler celebrates its 25th anniversary, following sold-out runs on Broadway and in the West End. An "irresistibly charming tale told with refreshing simplicity" (The Times), this much-loved monster of a show is full of songs, laughs and scary fun for the whole family.
Black Grace
Friday, February 19, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 20, 2 PM
Saturday, February 20, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
One of New Zealand's leading contemporary dance companies, Black Grace makes a long-awaited return to the Penn Live Arts stage after wowing audiences worldwide. Masterfully blending contemporary and Samoan dance, the company embodies "incredible speed and stamina, and exhilarating, seemingly inexhaustible energy" (The New York Times). The program features two Philadelphia premieres—abridged versions of If Ever There Was A Time and Paradise Rumour—highly physical works rooted in the rich storytelling traditions of the South Pacific and performed with raw finesse, beauty and power.
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
I Fagiolini
Thursday, February 25, 7 PM
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral | 19 South 38th Street
I Fagiolini, Britain's renowned early music vocal ensemble, makes a rare U.S. appearance for this special Philadelphia debut performance. The group marks its 40th anniversary with Il divino Claudio, a program centered on the rich variety of Claudio Monteverdi's secular and sacred works, the very heart of a cappella genius. Performing madrigals and intimate trios and duets, I Fagiolini reveals Monteverdi's remarkable emotional range, delivering "startlingly intense surround-sound baroque" (The Guardian).
Philadelphia Children's Festival
Sunday, March 7-Tuesday, March 9
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
The Philadelphia Children's Festival has inspired and delighted generations of Philadelphians for over 40 years and continues the tradition in 2027 with three days of thought-provoking children's theatre, music and interactive activities.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sunday, March 7, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Grammy® Award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo returns by overwhelming demand after a sold-out PLA performance in 2024, performing South African classics and gospel favorites. Renowned around the globe as the undisputed kings of South African a cappella, this vocal powerhouse delivers a resonant message of peace and love—"their warm-centered presence and harmonics both soothe and offer hope for a more empathetic world" (The Chicago Tribune).
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Friday, March 12, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 13, 2 PM
Saturday, March 13, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Laugh-out-loud satire meets expert pointe work in the gender-bending Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Revered by dance aficionados as well as those who don't know a plié from a jeté, the Trocks are an all-male troupe that honors ballet classics such as Swan Lake, while also poking fun at every artistic conceit. "Equalizing the space between comedy and serious dancing is a delicate balance, but that's what makes the Trocks sing." (The New York Times).
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Endea Owens & The Cookout
Thursday, March 18, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Bassist Endea Owens is among the most vibrant emerging artists in jazz. A member of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert band, Owens is a dynamic force who has already earned Emmy, Grammy® and George Foster Peabody Awards and collaborated with greats including Wynton Marsalis, Jazzmeia Horn, Jon Batiste and Dee Dee Bridgewater. In a Penn Live Arts debut, Owens and her high-octane ensemble, The Cookout, serve up a mix of jazz, soul and funk in performances celebrated as "literally sparkling" with "masterful playing and exuberant charm" (NPR).
Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu
The Ghosts of Hamlet
Thursday, April 8, 7 PM
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral | 19 South 38th Street
Known for reinvigorating early masterpieces, France's Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu is joined by charismatic soprano Roberta Mameli for a revival of forgotten Baroque treasures. The medieval Danish legend of Prince Hamlet inspired not only Shakespeare's tragedy but also several 18th-century Italian operas—works that survived only in scattered fragments. This Philadelphia debut performance brings to life the romantic Veremonda (Shakespeare's Ophelia) and Hamlet's conflicted mother, Gerilda (Gertrude), through newly reconstructed arias by Scarlatti, Gasparini, Carcani and Vignati. "Mameli and Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu display a harmonious kinship of intriguing repertoire and felicitous musical expressivity." (Gramophone)
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Sunday, April 11, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
With her "soulfully articulate vocal style" (The New York Times), Sarah Elizabeth Charles commands attention. The rising star has demonstrated her "impeccable technical prowess" and "boldly uninhibited expression" (JazzTimes) across several critically acclaimed albums, charting a singular course through neo-soul and jazz. The gifted songstress brings her magnetic vocals to Penn Live Arts for the first time.
Gibney Company
Friday, April 16, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 17, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
An acclaimed fixture of the New York dance world, the Gibney Company, with "its strong and versatile dancers, artists who appear to be physically capable of anything" (The New York Times) performs in Philadelphia for the first time. The company, known for bold commissions, rigorous physicality and expressive storytelling, performs a program of works by resident choreographer Lucinda Childs. Exploring the interplay between music and movement, Three Dances (for prepared piano) John Cage showcases Childs' signature minimalist precision and reverence for structured repetition. Then, premiering in 2027 in celebration of Philip Glass' 90th birthday, Another Look sets choreography to Another Look at Harmony, Part 4, offering a rare artistic convergence of two defining figures in American minimalism.
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Philip Glass Ensemble
Koyaanisqatsi: Live with Film
Sunday, April 25, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
In 1975, filmmaker Godfrey Reggio joined forces with composer Philip Glass to create Koyaanisqatsi, an experimental, non-narrative film that explores the balance between humanity, technology and the environment. This cult classic's score is a landmark in minimalist music, hailed by The New York Times as "one of the most startling and original soundtracks ever written." In a rare Philadelphia appearance, the acclaimed Philip Glass Ensemble performs this hypnotic and haunting music live, creating a powerful fusion of concert and cinema. With a message as resonant today as it was at the film's debut, this immersive experience unfolds as an unforgettable journey.
John Scott Dance
Ancestral Movements
Friday, April 30, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 1, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Renowned Irish choreographer John Scott makes his Penn Live Arts debut with Ancestral Movements, a powerful exploration of identity, resilience and belonging. A 2026-27 season artist-in-residence, Scott will collaborate with new American citizens and other Philadelphians whose lives have been impacted by migration to co-create this evocative dance-theatre work. Performed by an ensemble of professional dancers and community members, this world premiere weaves personal histories, traditions and everyday movements into a common physical language, a profound reflection on how we carry the past, and imagine a future, together.
John Scott's residency is made possible with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program. The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Friday, May 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 8, 2 PM
Saturday, May 8, 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 9, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
The iconic Dance Theatre of Harlem, led by Philadelphia native Robert Garland, is a frequent New York Times Critic's Pick, showcasing "Garland's many choreographic gifts, from his sparkling musicality to his ability to seamlessly weave classical ballet with influences from modern and social dance" (The New York Times). This audience favorite returns to the Penn Live Arts stage with a program highlighting its unparalleled artistry, athleticism and enduring brilliance.
The 2026-27 season dance series is co-sponsored by Arthur Kaplan and Duane Perry alongside Lynn Jerath and Kunal Jerath.
An Evening with Audra McDonald
Saturday, June 5, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A true icon of stage and screen, Audra McDonald makes her Penn Live Arts debut in an unforgettable evening of song. Winner of a record-breaking six Tonys, along with two Grammy® Awards and an Emmy, McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry, captivating audiences through acclaimed roles in Carousel, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime and more. This versatile soprano possesses a remarkable gift for dramatic storytelling, bringing her signature emotional nuance to a mix of Broadway favorites and classics from the Great American Songbook. This intimate performance by one of the most celebrated artists of our time is one night only!
