Theater
Two fall stage productions mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. STAGEtwo Productions’ “Recent Tragic Events” on Sept. 11-13 is set in the shadow of the attacks as a young woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota, tries to locate her twin sister in New York City. On Oct. 16-17, the Jacob Ball Wish Fund stages “Come From Away,” a Tony- and Olivier Award-winning musical telling the true story of a Newfoundland town that welcomed nearly 7,000 airline passengers rerouted as the skies over the U.S. closed immediately following attacks. (Read remarks on the attacks in Final Detail.)
STAGEtwo Productions continues its lineup when “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a popular Halloween tradition, returns Oct. 23-24 and 30-31. “Everybody,” a modern, comedic reworking of the medieval classic “Everyman,” takes the stage Nov. 11-13. On Dec. 4-6, “A Gift to Remember” finds strangers stranded by a snowstorm at a train station during Christmas bonding through shared stories of life’s mêlées.
Evansville Civic Theatre begins its season Sept. 18-21 and 25-27 with “Next to Normal,” Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical about a suburban American family grappling with the mother’s worsening bipolar disorder. Next is “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” on Nov. 13-15 and 20-22. The Underground stage team performs Jane Austen’s 1813 classic “Pride and Prejudice” Dec. 10-13.
The University of Evansville Theatre Department starts its season Sept. 24-27 at May Studio Theatre with “Hedda Gabler,” which explores the mind of a contradictory, funny, and brilliant character. Local child actors join UE students in presenting Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning musical “Merrily We Roll Along” on Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Shanklin Theatre. Rounding out the fall lineup is the journalism-centric “The Lifespan of a Fact,” directed by senior performance major Owen White, on Nov. 19-22 at the May Studio Theatre.
Taking the stage Sept. 24-27 at the University of Southern Indiana’s Performance Center is “First Daughter Suite,” Michael John LaChiusa’s four-part chamber musical following the lives of six former first ladies and their daughters. “The Old Man and The Old Moon,” a musical adventure of a man who must abandon his duties of filling the moon with light to search for his missing wife, is slated for Oct. 29-Nov. 1.
Old National Events Plaza’s 2026-27 “Broadway in Evansville” season includes a Sept. 29 staging of “Beetlejuice.”
A national tour of eight-time Tony winner “Hadestown” makes a stop at Henderson, Kentucky’s Preston Arts Center on Oct. 25 as part of the Henderson Area Arts Alliance’s fall stage lineup.
The high school theater season begins Oct. 23-24 when Signature School students stage the courtroom drama “12 Angry Men.” A pair of productions is slated for Nov. 12-15: the audience-interactive mystery “Murder’s in the Heir” by F.J. Reitz High School, and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” a musical based on Charles M. Schulz’s characters, by Central High School. Benjamin Bosse High School closes the season Nov. 19-21 with “Almost Maine,” presented in nine vignettes examining love and loss.
Dance
The Children’s Center for Dance Education presents several opportunities to see its rendition of “The Nutcracker” ballet. Local children perform the holiday classic Dec. 3 at the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts in Madisonville, Kentucky; Dec. 5 at Illinois’ Olney Central College, with a sensory-friendly performance followed by a full show; Dec. 6 at Thrall’s Opera House in New Harmony, Indiana; Dec. 11-12 at Evansville’s Old National Events Plaza, featuring another sensory-friendly performance; and Dec. 13 at the Preston Arts Center in Henderson.
Ballet Indiana also offers three performances of “The Nutcracker.” Watch it plié onstage Dec. 12-13 at the Victory Theatre. This production features young local dancers performing alongside professional guest artists under new School of Ballet Indiana Artistic Director Sunny Hsieh.
at New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art
Visual Art
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science offers several art happenings, including hosting Artist-in-Residence Tanmaya Bingham on Oct. 29 for a reception opening her latest exhibition, which is displayed through Feb. 14, 2027, in the newly renovated Legacy Gallery. “Clumsy, Colossal” featuring silkscreen prints by Al Sheets is on view through Sept. 27. In the Main Gallery, “Perspectives on America,” featuring a permanent collection of works examining the American identity, goes up on Sept. 13. Meanwhile, an exhibition of plein air paintings by Bloomfield, Indiana, artist Wyatt LeGrand will be hung in the Begley Gallery Oct. 11-Jan. 24, 2027. “Pieces of the Past,” the museum’s tribute to America’s semiquincentennial, closes Oct. 4.
USI shares recent works by regional photographers Jesse Ly and Rachael Banks in an exhibition running Sept. 9-Oct. 30. The 57th Annual Juried Student Art Show returns Nov. 11-Dec. 11.
Fine art exhibitions extend outside of Vanderburgh County. From Sept.12-Nov. 7, the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art presents “Be, Held,” contemporary analog artwork by Johanna Aenderl, Jenny Zoey Casey, and Rachel Singel. A five-week Coleman Stevenson solo exhibition debuts Nov. 14. Multi-disciplinary artist Emily Quandahl’s temporary public artwork, “Untitled (Silent Monitor),” runs through November in congress with bicentennial celebrations of the 1825 Owen-Maclure utopian experiment in New Harmony.
Across the river in Kentucky, the Ohio Valley Art League invites the community to exhibits at locations throughout Henderson. One of the longest displays is from Sept. 28-Jan. 9, 2027, for “Fiber & Metal,” featuring work by Evansville photographers and Indiana Artisan members Karen and Larry Hampton at the Dick & Sheila Beaven Gallery at the Henderson County Public Library. Also in Henderson, the Preston Arts Center displays the 16th biennial Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibition from Sept. 14-Nov. 14. On Nov. 6, Henderson hosts OVAL’s annual Art Hop with original art, food, and dance spread throughout Downtown businesses and sidewalks.
The galleries at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center in Jasper, Indiana, display art pieces by Patoka Valley Quilters Guild members through Sept. 20 and textiles, embroidery, batik, and watercolors by Erin Hochgesang. On Oct. 24, purchase one-of-a-kind pottery, jewelry, textiles, wood, paintings, mosaics, handbags, and more at the juried Autumn Moon Fine Arts Fair. Speaking of fairs …
Festivals
In New Harmony, Kunstfest on Sept. 19-20 marks the region’s German heritage through 200 vendors showcasing art, crafts, gifts, and more. The following month, creators demonstrate their skills in painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, and fine crafts Oct. 17-18 at Arts in Murphy Park.
Angel Mounds, a State Historic Site preserving indigenous mounds built between 1100-1250 A.D., closes summer Sept. 19-20 with the 41st annual Native American Days featuring artists, dancers, and musicians. Oct. 17’s fall YART sale brings together original works by regional artists, all priced to sell for $60 or less, with all sales benefiting the artists directly.
The semi-annual Funk in the City on Sept. 26 in Haynie’s Corner Arts District brings together more than 50 creators showcasing and selling their handmade, one-of-a-kind wares.
Can you believe the Lincolnshire Front Porch Festival turns 10 this year? Oct. 4’s celebration packs in more than musical acts on the Tudor-influenced facades in the East Side neighborhood. Another longtime event, the Henderson Lions Club Arts and Crafts Festival, sets up Oct. 3-4 at John James Audubon State Park and includes one-of-a-kind arts and crafts that are perfect for holiday gifts.
On Nov. 7, Día de los Muertos, an indoor-outdoor event celebrating the Day of the Dead, includes traditional cuisine, music, dancing, crafts, and more at the West Branch of the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.
Live Music
The Evansville Philharmonic’s 92nd season kicks off with Sept. 19’s Classics concert of Quinn Mason’s “Inspiration! A Festival Overture for Orchestra” and Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 “Romantic.” Johannes Brahms’ sweeping Double Concerto for Violin and Cello features guest artists Lucia Micarelli and Eric Byers. Philharmonic musicians then scare up cinematic suspense with selections from Bernard Herrmann’s “Psycho Suite” and Saint-Saëns’ “Danse Macabre” to film scores from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Jaws” Oct. 24 at the Halloween Spectacular Pops concert. On Nov. 14, get ready for a Classical Jukebox, a high-energy tour through selections by Brahms, Mozart, Haydn, Verdi, Handel, Beethoven, and more — no quarters required. The Philharmonic’s youth orchestra musicians flex their talent Nov. 22 at their fall concert. Perennial holiday favorite Peppermint Pops returns Dec. 5-6 with guest vocalist Rachel Potter and performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Evansville Children’s Choir, and North High School’s Huskettes dance team. The Philharmonic Chorus is joined by orchestra musicians and guest vocalists to stage Handel’s powerful “Messiah” at historic Trinity United Methodist Church on Dec. 18; the production travels to Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, the following evening. The Philharmonic’s Eykamp String Quartet also presents works by under-the-radar composers throughout the season at its free New Traditions shows.
Evansville Symphonic Band musicians embrace the holidays at their free annual concert in November.
The UE Music Conservatory touts a robust schedule of performances, including a Fall Faculty Gala Sept. 8, an Ensemble Showcase Sept. 29, UE Choirs show Nov. 3, and UE Jazz Ensemble performance Nov. 10. The UE Symphony and Wind Ensemble takes the stage at the Victory Theatre Nov. 17. Dec. 3-4, the UE Band performs at Wheeler Concert Hall, while the annual Candlelight Vespers concert is staged at Neu Chapel Dec. 4. The season wraps up Dec. 8 with Holiday Pops at the Victory.
The USI Chamber Choir delights with its free Fall Concert Oct. 5 in the reading room at the David L. Rice Library. The university’s celebrated Madrigal Feaste, now in its 55th year, returns Dec. 3-6 in Carter Hall in University Center West.
Concerts coming to the Victory Theatre include Water For People featuring Monsters of Yacht on Sept. 17 and country singer Tracy Lawrence on Nov. 5, plus tribute shows to Fleetwood Mac on Sept. 25, ABBA on Oct. 15, and Billy Joel on Oct. 27.
Out-of-town musical performances include the three-day New Harmony Blues Festival Nov. 6-8 at the historic Thrall’s Opera House. Nov. 20’s “Boy Band Project” will have you dancing through the aisles at Henderson’s Preston Arts Center like it’s 1999. Then, the Henderson Area Arts Alliance showcases an Elvis-influenced rocking production of “Blue Suede Christmas” on Dec. 18.
In Spencer County, Lincoln Amphitheatre’s fall lineup includes three musical performances. On Sept. 13, get a peaceful, easy feeling with On the Border, an acoustic tribute to The Eagles. Sept. 26, spend an evening with Steve Augeri, who sang lead for rock band Journey from 1998-2006. Then, you may think you’re still on vacation when Beach Boys tribute act Sounds of Summer takes the stage Oct. 4. Come early for the craft fair and free wine tastings.
At the Jasper Arts Center in Dubois County, country music singer and “American Idol” Season 10 alum Scotty McCreery takes the stage Sept. 26, followed by the energetic Irish-bluegrass-Appalachian sounds of five-piece band Gadan Oct. 3 and singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton Oct. 30.
