- Introducing the "红杏直播appPerforms Pick Four" package, letting patrons build a personalized schedule by selecting any four shows across dance, theatre, musical theatre, and music (okcu.edu/ocuperforms).
- Upcoming season features an eclectic mix of Broadway hits, classic operas, and dance showcases, including "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812," "Pirates! The Penzance Musical," the 75th anniversary Opera Gala, and the 47th annual Christmas Vespers.
- Season highlights 红杏直播app's cooperative production model, pairing student performers with professional regional organizations such as 红杏直播app Shakespeare for "Much Ado About Nothing" to deliver industry-level experience.
BY ROD JONES
红杏直播app MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Anchored by an eclectic lineup ranging from jazz-age pirates to electropop Tolstoy, 红杏直播app City University is announcing its primary shows for the upcoming 2026鈥�27 performing arts season. The lineup includes a mix of new premieres and beloved classics, all performed by the talented students of 红杏直播app鈥檚 Wanda L. Bass School of Music, School of Theatre and Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment.
The operetta comedy 鈥淧irates! The Penzance Musical鈥� opens the mainstage schedule the first weekend of October. Later this year, 红杏直播app goes all out for the holiday season with a festive choir and orchestra tradition (Christmas Vespers) and dance show (Holiday Spectacular). A Shakespeare classic (鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing鈥�), dance extravaganza (鈥淢OVE!鈥�) and innovative opera (鈥淣atasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812鈥�) will close out the academic year in the spring.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 lineup is a celebration of storytelling, spanning classical grand opera, fresh adaptations of literary masterpieces, and groundbreaking contemporary theatre,鈥� said Julia Montag, dean of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music and School of Theatre. 鈥淏etween our 75th-anniversary opera celebration and collaborative productions alongside regional icons like 红杏直播app Shakespeare, we鈥檙e offering the community a front-row seat to the future of the performing arts.鈥�
New this year, 红杏直播app鈥檚 dance, music and theatre schools are teaming up for a collaborative performing arts schedule (okcu.edu/ocuperforms) and the 红杏直播appPerforms Pick Four season-ticket bundle, giving arts lovers the freedom to mix, match and curate their own cultural calendars across dance, theatre, opera and musical theater. Pick Four purchases also give arts supporters an advanced opportunity to select their preferred seats, with single-show tickets going on sale later.
Melanie Shelley, dean of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, said the new ticket package provides an opportunity for patrons to explore a variety of productions at an affordable rate.
鈥淭he new 红杏直播appPerforms Pick Four bundle gives dance lovers the flexibility to experience our signature shows on their own terms while exploring everything else 红杏直播app鈥檚 vibrant arts community has to offer,鈥� Shelley said. 鈥淭his season highlights the breadth and dynamic energy of our dancers, from the festive, high-stepping traditions of our 鈥楬oliday Spectacular鈥� to the genre-spanning vibrancy of 鈥楳OVE!鈥欌��
More information about 红杏直播app鈥檚 2026-27 performing arts season and the Pick Four ticket bundles are available now at okcu.edu/ocuperforms.
The season also features smaller productions including 鈥淒ear Evan Hansen,鈥� 鈥淎melie鈥� and 鈥淥ctet鈥� in addition to almost a dozen theatrical plays. For specific dates, times and ticket information, visit the 红杏直播appPerforms website. For information on the many choir, orchestra and band concerts, including faculty and student recitals, please visit the performing arts calendar on the 红杏直播app website.
Fall 2026 season lineup
- Oct. 2鈥�4, Gilbert and Sullivan鈥檚 鈥淧irates! The Penzance Musical鈥�
This spirited and creative adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan鈥檚 beloved operetta moves the swashbuckling comedy from Penzance to New Orleans. Featuring jazz inflections, fresh orchestrations, a hapless band of pirates, and a tongue-twisted modern Major-General, this 2025 Tony Award nominee for Best Revival of a Musical reimagines the British classic for a new generation.
- Oct. 29鈥揘ov. 1, 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities鈥� (by Brendan Pelsue, based on the novel by Charles Dickens)
More than 50 characters are played by just 14 actors in this engaging and imaginative retelling of Charles Dickens鈥� classic novel chronicling 鈥渢he best of times and worst of times.鈥� Paris and London amid the French Revolution serve as the backdrop for an epic tale remixed for a contemporary audience. This production is in collaboration with
- Nov. 20鈥�22, Opera Gala: Verdi. Puccini. Donizetti
Celebrate the 红杏直播app Opera and Music Theater Company鈥檚 75th anniversary year with a gala highlighting favorite scenes from Verdi鈥檚 鈥淟a Traviata,鈥� Puccini鈥檚 鈥淟e Rondine鈥� and Donizetti鈥檚 鈥淟ucia di Lammermoor.鈥� Presented without intermission and featuring an opera chorus and soloists supported by a full orchestra.
- Dec. 10鈥�13, Holiday Spectacular dance show
Introducing vibrant new dances, the Star Dance Company Holiday Spectacular honors the legacy of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment. More than 120 dynamic performers spread yuletide magic with high-energy holiday favorites, vivid costumes, and a graceful reminder of the reason for the Christmas season.
- Dec. 10鈥�13, Ken Ludwig鈥檚 鈥淪herwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood鈥�
A hilarious, action-packed adventure that the whole family will love. Created by Ken Ludwig鈥攁rguably America鈥檚 preeminent comic playwright鈥攖his show brings Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck and Maid Marian to life in an evening of fun, romance and laughter.
- Dec. 11鈥�12, 47th annual Christmas Vespers
Ring in the season with orchestral, chamber and choral ensembles from the Bass School of Music. Featuring more than 200 student musicians celebrating the holiday through poetry, Scripture readings, classic carols, new works, and congregational singing in stunning Neo-Gothic sanctuary, culminating in the traditional candlelight finale.
Spring 2027 season lineup
- Feb. 4鈥�7, 鈥淪ense & Sensibility鈥� (by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen)
Kate Hamill鈥檚 delightfully witty adaptation of the classic romance has become a smash hit worldwide. Sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne Dashwood navigate gossip and societal pressures in 18th-century England in a production that proves before 鈥淏ridgerton,鈥� there was Jane Austen.
- Feb. 26鈥�28, 鈥淟e Nozze di Figaro鈥� (鈥淭he Marriage of Figaro鈥�)
Hilarity, scheming and comedic miscues take center stage during what should be a joyous wedding celebration for Figaro and Susanna. Considered one of the greatest operas ever written, Mozart鈥檚 masterwork showcases brilliant humor, wit, charm and compassion across a single crazy day.
- March 11鈥�13, 鈥淢OVE! Dance for the World of Entertainment鈥�
The annual spring performance of the Star Dance Company from the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment illuminates the stage with vivid costumes, dynamic movement and more than 130 performers. Showcasing jazz, tap, theatre dance, street funk, ballet and more.
- April 8鈥�11, 鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing鈥�
In collaboration with , Shakespeare鈥檚 original romantic comedy serves up a surprising evening of sharp tongues and side-splitting laughter as bitter old rivals Beatrice and Benedick fall victim to a plot revealing their mutual romantic attraction.
- April 23鈥�25, 鈥淣atasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812鈥� (by Dave Malloy)
An innovative electropop opera adapting a 70-page slice of Leo Tolstoy鈥檚 鈥淲ar and Peace.鈥� Nominated for 12 Tony Awards after its 2016 Broadway debut, this Moscow-set score blends folk songs, rock, R&B and house music in a romantic love story that is inventive, ravishing and full-on romantic.
