URBANA — The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2026-2027 season, which kicks off with an opening night party on September 3. Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield spoke with KCPA’s director, Mike Ross, about the season and its theme “celebrate community.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Interview Highlights
Opening Night Party: Celebrate the start of the season with live music, puppetry, food and beverage and more.
Cirque Mechanics: See a modern circus performance inspired by mechanical and industrial creativity.
Scott Silven: Prepare to be awed by this illusionist, mentalist, and performance artist in his latest show The Lost Things.
One Piece Music Symphony: Experience a musical and visual celebration of the anime One Piece with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.
Renee Elise Goldsberry: Enjoy a spiritual journey through multiple genres by this Broadway star alongside the Illinois Wind Symphony.
September 2026
Opening Night Party: Celebrate Community September 3
Mucca Party September 3
Antibalas September 3
Dr. Nativo September 3
Funkadesi September 3
DJ Silkee September 3
I Hear America Singing September 10-11
Cultura Pesa September 16
Somi September 17
Sinfonia Da Camera September 18
PYGMALION: Mary Helen Specht September 24
PYGMALION: Robby Hoffman September 24
PYGMALION: Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore September 26
ONE PIECE Music Symphony with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra September 26
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra September 29
October 2026
School Performance: Turn Turning Turnt October 1, 2026
Cynthia Oliver Company Dance: Turn Turning Turnt October 2-3
Lyric Under the Stars October 2-3
Third Rail Project: There’s a Ghost in Everything Workshop October 6-8
Sasha Velour’s TRAVESTY October 7
Joshua Redman Quartet October 9
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Mahler’s Third Symphony October 10
October Dance Virtual Performance October 14
Niladri Kumaar presents The Space Between the Notes, honoring Zakir Hussain October 15
Dance at Illinois: October Dance October 15-17
Jupiter Sring Quartet with Ben Roidl-Ward, bassoon October 20
Kojiro Umezaki & Hub New Music: a distance, intertwined October 24
Sinfonia da Camera: Spellbound: Spanish Sorcery October 31
November 2026
Michael Yeung, percussion November 1
Illinois Theatre:Fairview November 5-14
Illinois Theater: Sense and Sensibility November 6-`14
Lyric Theatre@Illinois: Singin’ in the Rain November 9-14
ECHOES Across the Atlantic| APOLLO’s Fire November 10
Aga Khan Master Musicians with Vincent Peirani and Vincent Sega November 12
Raphaël Feuillâtre: An ELLNORA Reverb Event November 17
December 2026
Sinfonia da Camera: Handel’s Messiah: Holiday Grandeur December 4
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Magic December 9
January 2027
School Performance: Step Afrika! presents The Fruits of Our Labor (KCYS) January 21-22
Step Afrika! presents The Fruits of Our Labor January 21
The Neo-Futurists present The Infinite Wrench January 21-23
Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble January 29-30
February 2027
Meyer Marshall, Meyer February 4
Illinois Soul 3rd Anniversary Celebration February 6
Lyric Theatre @ Illinois: Carnaval February 9
Dance at Illinois: February Dance Livestream February 10
Dance at Illinois: February Dance February 11-13
Sinfonia da Camera: From Brahms with Love: Poetry & Passion February 13
Jupiter String Quartet with Jeremy Denk, piano February 18
Scott Silven’s The Lost Things February 19-20
Samara Joy February 24
School Performance: Cirque Mechanics TILT! (KCYS) February 25-26
Cirque Mechanics present Tilt! February 25
Third Rail Projects: There’s a Ghost in Everything February 25-March 6
March 2027
Third Rail Projects: There’s a Ghost in Everything February 25-March 6
KODO presents LUMINANCE March 2
School Performance: KODO March 3
Sam Green presents Trees March 3
Blind Boys of Alabama present Songs in the Key of Life March 5
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Carmina Burana March 6
Poeisis Quartet March 7
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble March 9
Renée Elise Goldsberry with Illinois Wind Symphony March 25
School Performance: Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra March 30-31
April 2027
Chicago Symphony Orchestra April 1
Illinois Theatre: Pippin April 2-10
Krannert Center Debut Artist April 4
Dance at Illinois: April Senior Dance Concert Livestream April 14
Stanley Clarke & Hiromi along with PUBLIQuartet April 14
School Performance: Uncle Jumbo April 15-16
Dance at Illinois: April Senior Thesis Concert April 15-17
Illinois Theatre: Julius Caesar April 15-24
Uncle Jumbo April 17
Sinfonia da Camera: Firebird Finale: Stravinsky & Tchaikovsky 5 April 15
Jupiter String Quartet April 22
Lyric Theatre @ Illinois: Cosi: The School for Lovers April 20-24
School Performance: Honolulu Theatre for Youth April 21-23
Honolulu Theatre for Youth: Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar April 22
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 April 24
Sweat variant presents adaku, part 2 April-May 1
May 2027
Sweat variant presents adaku, part 2 April-May 1
An evening with Audra McDonald May 4
For more information on the 2026-2027 season, including sponsors, visit krannertcenter.com. Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is a financial supporter of Illinois Public Media.