URBANA — The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2025-2026 performance season, which officially starts this September.
IPM’s Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield spoke with the center’s director, Mike Ross, about the upcoming performances.
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
KIMBERLY SCHOFIELD: Mike, this year’s title for Krannert’s season is Come Be Here. Where did that come from and what does it mean?
MIKE ROSS: The idea of Come Be Here was sort of a pillar comment that could be enhanced by various other descriptors. For example, ‘come be inspired, come be entertained, come be yourself.’ And so that’s the basic gist of it. There are many different kinds of experiences for people to partake in at Krannert Center over the course of any season. But that’s the nature of the theme.
SCHOFIELD: Mike, to get into some of the events — and I know we talked about bouncing around, which I will definitely do, — one of the big events is ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival and it’s the 20th anniversary.
ROSS: It is the 20th anniversary of this wild and crazy thing we call ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival.
SCHOFIELD: And ELLNORA has Roseanne Cash, Jeff Tweedy, Samantha Fish, just to name a few.
ROSS: The opening night party, September 4th, the Thursday night after Labor Day, opens our entire season. It’s also the opening of the Guitar Festival.
SCHOFIELD: There are other ‘opening’ things. Herbie Hancock is opening his North American tour at Krannert.
ROSS: It’s such a tremendous privilege to be able to have Herbie Hancock grace our season. One of the things that I feel has always been important for us at Krannert Center is to acknowledge and lift up the elders in these different fabulous art forms that gives so much to those who have the opportunity to partake in them. And Herbie is just so iconic.
Also, I just have to mention that at the same time, 2026 is the 100th birthday anniversary of both John Coltrane and Miles Davis. To celebrate that huge moment, Terence Blanchard, the trumpeter who has been inspired by Miles Davis, ever since he was young, and Ravi Coltrane, son of John Coltrane, will be joining us in the season.
SCHOFIELD: Also, is there a cirque event? Something that is acrobatic?
ROSS: So we actually have two very brilliant physical movement events. The Cirque Kalabanté, this incredibly newly formed, nouveau Cirque, new cirque performance that will … not just delight, it will be jaw-dropping in its effect. And later in the season, we have 360 ALLSTARS, which is a combination of celebrated athletes and acrobats from around the world. That’s sort of an urban circus experience. Very, very, very cool stuff.
One of the killer highlights, so to speak, of the Edinburgh Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, was a production we’re bringing here. It’s called Burnout Paradise … they’re just physically exhausting themselves in the most hilarious kind of and creative competition.
SCHOFIELD: There are also so many musicians, pianists, there’s a banjo player. The banjo, to me, is wildly impressive. People don’t realize how heavy they are, either.
ROSS: Absolutely. And if you’re thinking of Rhiannon Giddens, she was one of the founding members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who we had at Krannert Center a number of years ago. She’s become such a huge pioneer figure, ambassador. She’s a singer-songwriter, fiddler, banjo player. She is breaking all kinds of new ground, but always with the Americana roots, celebrating the artists who have gone largely unrecognized over time in the Americana music.
SCHOFIELD: One thing that also stood out to me, especially, is the return of the Versa Style Street Dance Company and the other hip-hop artists. I think they were there last year. What was the response like from the public when they were there?
ROSS: Oh, boy, the public response to Versa Style and the other hip-hop artists that we presented around our opening night celebration and the following week [was] just a tremendous, tremendously enthusiastic response. And it’s a real joy to welcome them back. They’re going to be doing youth series performances and they’re going to be part of the Hip-Hop Convene. And also, just on the dance [side], we will joyously be welcoming back the Mark Morris Dance Group The Dance Theatre of Harlem will be coming to Krannert Center for its debut.
SCHOFIELD: In the marquee season, the University of Illinois will have performances there. There are so many events from so many different aspects, even locally, that happen at Krannert.
ROSS: One of the most special and unique aspects of Krannert Center as it was being conceived back in the 60s, was to be a place where … the academic performing arts programs … it would be a home for their productions, their students, their faculty alongside the guest artist seasons that Krannert Center produces. The performances that we present in our lobby at Stage Five, the Uncorked series…
SCHOFIELD: And, of course, with Uncorked or the Juneteenth event. I mean, I was there a lot because of Illinois Soul, but also because of Krannert, and I really loved the collaboration.
ROSS: Oh my goodness, it’s hard for me to think of another collaboration that Krannert Center has had the privilege of being part of that has been more impactful than the Illinois Soul collaboration. What an amazing thing for this beautiful new station to come into reality in this community. And we are so looking forward to celebrating the second anniversary of Illinois Soul this season. The amazing smooth jazz singer, performer Maysa will be the featured artist and every Uncorked in February will be dedicated to our collaboration with Illinois Soul.
I hope your listeners will also just check in and see what’s coming up on a Thursday from 5p to 7p. I also just want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all of [Krannert Center’s] wonderful and generous supporters. None of what we’ve been describing can take place without that financial support, volunteer support, advocacy and moral support as well.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is a financial supporter of Illinois Public Media. Illinois Soul is sponsoring multiple events at the Krannert Center this upcoming season.