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Announcing the 2024-25 Season at Krannert Center

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign proudly announces the 2024-25 performance season, featuring an exciting mix of both emerging and world-class artists. Events from September to May showcase national and international performers and multiple GRAMMY award-winners, as well as university student performances in music, theatre, lyric theatre, and dance.


Julieanne Ehre, newly appointed Assistant Director for Programming and Engagement states, “In my first year of overseeing programming at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, my guiding light was ‘joy.’ Our team focused on bringing our diverse community together through joyous events that highlight our common humanity.”

 

The season kicks off with the Opening Night Party on September 6, featuring Cyro Baptista, Squonk, and hip-hop dance and music with nationally acclaimed artists Versa-Style, Ladies of Hip-Hop, and Era Footwork Crew with special guest DJ Spinn, followed by the evening’s headliner, reggae band Soja. The celebration continues on September 7 with all ages events throughout the day.

 

Marquee performances include classical music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra October 15, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra November 7, GRAMMY Award-winning soprano Renée Fleming January 25, and the Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra of Moravia February 16. Sinfonia da Camera and the Jupiter String Quartet will continue as Krannert Center artists-in-residence, with several performances this season.

 

Other celebrated musicians appearing at Krannert Center include legendary jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd October 23, Michael Feinstein’s tribute to Tony Bennett November 9. Other GRAMMY Award-winning artists include Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain with Rahul Sharma October 29, Meshell Ndegeocello on January 28, and Terence Blanchard’s excerpts from Fire Shut Up in My Bones on February 27. 10,000 Maniacs plays February 11.  

 

Dance afficionados will welcome LaTasha Barnes’ The Jazz Continuum September 14, Dancing on the Ceiling September 20 and 21, and the famed Mark Morris Dance Group and Musical Ensemble February 20 and 21.

 

Fans of the theatre will enjoy performances by The 7 Fingers cirque troupe September 26-27, Food by Geoff Sobelle March 6-8, Drinking Brecht by Sister Sylvester October 10-12, Second City October 19, Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin with Nathan Gunn April 9, and a conversation with MacArthur “Genius” Taylor Mac April 22.

 

Krannert Center is privileged to host our University of Illinois resident producers as they present their selections for the 2024-25 season: Illinois Theatre returns to the historic Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign for Krannert Center at the Virginia with Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really November 14-16.  Lyric Theatre @ Illinois’ season includes a production of Oklahoma November 12-16, and Dance at Illinois’ October Dance is at Krannert Center October 10-12.  

 

Krannert Center’s Uncorked series will continue to feature the best of the Champaign-Urbana local music scene at Stage 5 in the Krannert Center lobby on select Thursdays from 5-7pm.  The Krannert Center Youth Series will feature four performances for K-12 students, including 7 Fingers, Imani Winds and Boston Brass, Hero: The Boy from Troy and musical group 123 Andrés (also GRAMMY winners for Best Children’s Album 2024).



We are grateful to host the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra as they return to Krannert Center for their 65th season. Stephen Alltop, music director and conductor, will lead the CUSO through four performances: Season Opening: Music and Majesty (October 12); Holiday Concert: Season of Glory (December 11); Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (March 8); and The Rite of Spring (April 12).  They will also perform a Youth Series concert, Carnival of  the Animals, on April 22 and 23.



Krannert Center continues its support of local presenters with the celebration of PYGMALION’s 20th Anniversary September 19-21, the opening night of the Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival October 3, the 10th anniversary of Champaign Urbana Jazz Festival on October 10, and the first anniversary of Illinois Public Media’s new radio station, Illinois Soul, on February 1. 

 

Ticket on-sale dates will be announced later this summer.

 

Since 1969, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has offered a vibrant selection of music, theatre, and dance programming. Fulfilling roles as both a professional venue for internationally touring artists and a hub of education in and through the performing arts, Krannert Center works at the intersection of classroom, laboratory, and public square. Audience members from all walks of life are encouraged to experience the joy and wonder that live performances at Krannert Center can offer. 
 

Complete 2024-25 Season Calendar. All Events Subject to Change.

 

Opening Weekend 

FR SEP 6

SA SEP 7 

 

Marquee Events 

FR SEP 13:  Tonality Chamber Choir: America Will Be

SA SEP 14:  LaTasha Barnes’ The Jazz Continuum

FR SEP 20 - SA SEP 21: PYGMALION: Joe Pera

WE SEP 25:  Las Guaracheras

TH SEP 26 - FR SEP 27: The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality “All’s Fair In Love And War”

FR OCT 4:  WILD UP: Julius Eastman’s Femenine

SU OCT 6: United States Marine Band

TH OCT 10: CU Jazz Festival -Trio M featuring Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, and Matt Wilson

TH OCT 10 - SA OCT 12: Sister Sylvester: Drinking Brecht

TU OCT 15: London Philharmonic Orchestra

WE OCT 16: The Forest with special guest Warren Smith

SA OCT 19: The Best of Second City

SU OCT 20: Jupiter String Quartet with UI Chamber Singers and special guests Robin Wall Kimmerer and Su Lian Tan

WE OCT 23: Charles Lloyd

TU OCT 29: Zakir Hussain with Rahul Sharma

TH NOV 7: Chicago Symphony Orchestra

SA NOV 9: Michael Feinstein Presents Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett

SU NOV 10: Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, piano

TU NOV 12: Jupiter String Quartet

SA NOV 16: Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

TH DEC 5 - FR DEC 6: The Nutcracker

FR JAN 24: Jontavious Willis

FR JAN 24: Renée Fleming: Music and Mind, a panel discussion

SA JAN 25: Renée Fleming, soprano: Voice of Nature– The Anthropocene Recital

TU JAN 28: Meshell Ndegeocello presents No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

TH JAN 30: Imani Winds and Boston Brass

TH JAN 30 - SA FEB 1: Edmar Castañeda Quartet

SA FEB 1: Illinois Soul 101.1 FM First Anniversary Celebration

SU FEB 2: FusionFest: Lunar New Year Celebration

TU FEB 4: Jupiter String Quartet with David Ying, cello and Philip Ying, viola

SU FEB 9: Arcostrum

TU FEB 11: 10,000 Maniacs

SU FEB 16: Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra of Moravia

FR FEB 21 - SA FEB 22: Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble

TH FEB 27: Terence Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones – Excerpts in Concert

SA MAR 1: Hero: The Boy from Troy

TH MAR 6 - SA MAR 8: Food by Geoff Sobelle

TH MAR 13: Aris Quartet and Jupiter String Quartet

SU MAR 30: Krannert Center Debut Artist

TU APR 1: Anne-Sophie Mutter, violinist and Lambert Orkis, pianist

WE APR 9: An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Nathan Gunn

SA APR 19: Quantum Voyages

TU APR 22: Taylor Mac: In Conversation

SA APR 26: Jessie Montgomery + Third Coast Percussion

SU APR 27: 123 Andrés: Actívate

 

Dance At Illinois 

TH OCT 10 - SA OCT 12: October Dance 2024 

TH JAN 30 - SA FEB 1: February Dance 2025 

TH MAR 6 - SA MAR 8: Studiodance 2025 

SA APR 26 -SU APR 27: Dance Senior Thesis Concert 2025 

 

Illinois Theatre

FR SEP 27 - SA SEP 28: The Daniel J. Sullivan Playwright-in-Residence No Puedo, I’m Sorry by Ariel Cipolla

FR NOV 1 - SA NOV 2, WE NOV 6- SA NOV 9: Orlando

TH NOV 14 - SA NOV 16: Krannert Center at the Virginia: Illinois Theatre presents Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really

FR FEB 21 - SA FEB 22: Theatre Studies New Works Project 

FR APR 4 - SA APR 5, WE APR 9 - SA APR 12: The Winter’s Tale 

FR APR 11 - SA APR 12, WE APR 16 - SA APR 19; Plumas Negras 

 

Lyric Theatre @ Illinois  

TH SEP 19 - SA SEP 21: Lyric Under the Stars  

TU NOV 12, TH NOV 14 - SA NOV 16: Oklahoma! 

TU MAR 4: Carnaval! 

TH APR 24 -SA APR 26: Orfeo

 

Krannert Center Youth Series

TH SEP. 26 - FR SEP 27: The Seven Fingers: Duel Reality “All’s Fair In Love And War” 

TH JAN 30: Imani Woods and Boston Brass 

SA MAR 1: Hero: The Boy from Troy 

TU APR 22 - WE APR 23:  Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Carnival of the Animals

SU APR 27: 123 Andrés: Actívate

 

Krannert Center Uncorked 

TH OCT 3: Miguel Espinoza Fusion - in partnership with C-U Folk and Roots Festival

TH OCT 10:  Champaign- Urbana Jazz Festival

TH FEB 6, 13, 20, 27: Illinois Soul 101.1 FM celebration of Black History Month

More Uncorked events for Summer and Fall 2024 will be announced later

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