Time To Party! Krannert Center's Opening Weekend is September 6-7!
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is preparing to kick off their 2024-25 season in style with an Opening Weekend Party September 6-7. The festivities will include two days of free live performances, plus food, workshops, interactive displays, and family-friendly activities.
“A lot of people think Krannert Center is where you go see the symphony or ballet, wearing your best suit,” says Sean Kutzko, Krannert Center’s Assistant Communications Director. “But we offer so much more than that, as our Opening Weekend Party shows! There’s dozens of live performances all season long that embrace all audiences, and our Weekend Party shows off the diversity and joy in the artists we host all season long.”
The Weekend Party begins on the Quad, as the Pittsburgh-based group Squonk will lead a parade to the Krannert Center outdoor amphitheatre to begin their show. Everyone in the community is welcome to join the procession!
Friday’s musical performances include Brazilian master percussionist Cyro Baptista with his latest project, CHAMA; a beat-filled, heart-pumping dance extravaganza featuring three powerhouse dance companies: Los Angeles' Versa-Style Street Dance Company, New York City's Ladies of Hip-Hop, and Chicago's Era Footwork Crew with special guest DJ Spinn; and the evening’s headliner, chart-topping reggae band SOJA. The evening wraps up with a dance party featuring DJ Spinn laying down the beats.
Saturday’s lineup features two performances by Squonk, including an interactive element where audience members can join the band in helping play giant wind instruments; a meditative workshop, Breathe, featuring the return of pianist Chad Lawson, and a hip-hop and footwork cipher co-led by the Era Footwork Crew, Versa-Style Street Dance Company and DJ Spinn. The Improviser’s Exchange, led by Krannert Center’s own Jason Finkleman, will produce an improvised set of music around the interactive display of Paul Dresher’s Sound Maze, an interactive installation created by composer and instrument inventor Paul Dresher in collaboration with Alex Vittum and Daniel Schmidt. Sound Maze is open to curious, hands-on music-makers of all ages throughout the entire weekend! Pianist Chad Lawson closes our Weekend Party with his program, Classical Music for a Meditative Mindset. Lawson’s set will feature selections from his latest album, Where We Are.
In addition to music, there will be guided canvas painting by Prism Studios, a photo booth from Liv and Joy, and food for purchase from Michael’s Catering, Main Street Creamery, and Krannert Center’s own Intermezzo Cafe and Stage 5 Bar.
“Opening Weekend is always a celebration of everything Krannert Center offers our community,” Kutzko said. “Be sure to stop by, join the joy, and help us launch our 55th season of world-class music, theatre and dance performances from some of the greatest artists around the globe; no tuxedo required!”
Complete information on Krannert Center’s Opening Weekend Party, as well as their entire season calendar of events, can be found online at KrannertCenter.com.
Opening Night Schedule, Friday, Sept. 6
5:15 pm Squonk: Brouhaha - University of Illinois Quad/Krannert Center Amphitheatre
6:15 pm Cyro Baptista - Stage 5
7:00pm Versa-Style Street Dance Company, Ladies of Hip-Hop, & Era Footwork Crew w/ DJ Spinn - Lobby
8:00pm SOJA - Stage 6
9:30pm Dance Party with DJ Spinn – Lobby