Aug 26, 2026
2026-2027 Wharton Center Line Up
Fall has arrived, and that means a new season of unforgettable performances at Wharton Center. The 2026–2027 season brings an exciting lineup of Broadway musicals, legendary musicians, world-class dance companies, and captivating theatrical performances.
Whether you're searching for the best Broadway shows in Michigan, looking for a night out in East Lansing, or planning your 2026–2027 performing arts calendar, there is something for everyone this season.
Here are some of the performances we're most excited to see.
Broadway coming to East Lansing
The Notebook - Oct 27- Nov 1
Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.
THE NOTEBOOK is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s “This Is Us”), and choreography by Katie Spelman.
Alicia Key's Hell's Kitchen - Jan 19-24, 2027
HELL’S KITCHEN, the award-winning Broadway musical created and inspired by 17-time Grammy Award-winning Alicia Keys, takes you on the journey of Ali: a 17-year-old girl full of fire.
Relatable, raw, and refreshingly fun, it’s a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose, and the people who lift you up. The music—a mix of Keys’ greatest hits and new songs written exclusively for the show—and exhilarating choreography bring to life a story that speaks to you no matter where you’re from, where you’ve been, or where you’re going.
BOOP! The Musical - Feb 23-28, 2027
For almost a century, the Betty Boop® character has won hearts and inspired fans around the world with her trademark looks, voice, and style. Now, in BOOP!® The Musical, Betty’s dream of an ordinary day off from super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to a “bright and bubbly” (Time Out New York) adventure of color, music, and love in New York City. “A show-stopping rainbow of joy” (The Daily Beast), BOOP! is the new Broadway musical-comedy extravaganza that’s fun for everyone – bringing heart, laughter, and a whole lot of Boop-oop-a-doop to the stage!
BOOP! is the Broadway musical that is perfect for audiences of all ages.
Disney's The Lion King - Apr 8-25, 2027
Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to Wharton Center!
More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular—one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.
Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, THE LION KING brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award® winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. THE LION KING also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award® winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award ® winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.
The Outsiders - Jun 22-27, 2027
Adapted from S.E. HINTON’s seminal novel and FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’s iconic film, this thrilling new musical features a book by ADAM RAPP with JUSTIN LEVINE, music and lyrics by JAMESTOWN REVIVAL (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Tony Award® winner JUSTIN LEVINE, music supervision, orchestration, and arrangements by JUSTIN LEVINE, choreography by RICK KUPERMAN & JEFF KUPERMAN, and direction by Tony Award® winner DANYA TAYMOR. Entertainment Weekly says, "THE OUTSIDERS has the power to inspire an entire generation."
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. THE OUTSIDERS navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, THE OUTSIDERS is a story of friendship, family, belonging … and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
The Phantom of the Opera - Aug 25- Sep 5, 2027
The Phantom is back to thrill audiences once again in Cameron Mackintosh’s revitalized new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! Based on the brilliant original production seen around the world, this romantic and haunting tale about a disfigured musical genius, known only as ‘The Phantom,’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House, returns to East Lansing “more spectacular than ever” (Sunday Express).
Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, the Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness, and passions collide.
More performing arts shows that are a MUST see
An Evening with Sutton Foster - Oct 3
A Broadway megastar, Sutton Foster is a Tony Award® winning actress, singer, and dancer whose Broadway credits include starring roles in Once Upon a Mattress, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Music Man, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes, Shrek, Young Frankenstein, Little Women, and Les Misérables, among many other theatrical roles.
On television, Sutton Foster led the critically acclaimed series Younger, as well as Bunheads, and appeared in roles on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and much more. As a solo artist, she has toured the country with her hit solo concert and released multiple lauded recordings.
A Michigan native, don’t miss the chance to see Sutton Foster when she returns to her home state for an unforgettable night of songs.
Ana Gasteyer Sugar & Booze Holiday Spectacular - Nov 19
Ana Gasteyer is a celebrated musician, comedian, and actor known for her dynamic and versatile career across music, television, and Broadway. A natural performer with a powerhouse voice, she has captivated audiences for decades with her wit, warmth, and extraordinary talent.
Every holiday, Ana delights fans nationwide with her cheeky holiday tour featuring tunes from her critically acclaimed album, Sugar & Booze. The retro-inspired album, which reached the Billboard Jazz Top 5, was called “an uproarious homage to Christmas albums of old” by Billboard. Both playful and soulful, the album showcases her formidable vocal chops and earned rave reviews from critics, with the Los Angeles Times noting, “’Were Frank, Dino, or Sammy still with us, any or all would pounce on the delightfully swaggering title track.”
Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax - Dec 8
In the early 1970s, two Juilliard students met and became close friends. The two, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax, would go on to become legends of the music world in their own right. In a friendship spanning half a century and musical collaborations over the decades, their performances together are truly something special to experience.
Count Basie Orchestra with Carmen Bradford - Jan 12, 2027
In the history of jazz music, only one bandleader has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold-out concerts around the world, with members personally chosen by him, for nearly 40 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was, and still is, an American institution who personifies the grandeur and excellence of jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, received 18 Grammy Awards, appeared in movies, television shows, and at every major jazz festival and concert hall in the world.
The Orchestra is joined by MSU’s own Carmen Bradford, 2019 Grammy Award winner and faculty member with MSU Jazz Studies. Ms. Bradford was discovered and hired by Count Basie himself and was the featured vocalist for many years. An audience favorite, she joins the ensemble in this special performance for a night of electrifying rhythms and unstoppable swing.
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Feb 17, 2027
Having graced Wharton Center’s stage during the inaugural season, Dance Theatre of Harlem returns for our 45th Anniversary. One of America’s most celebrated and treasured dance companies, Dance Theatre of Harlem features an exhilarating mixed repertory program of classics and contemporary work that embodies founder Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Now in its fifth decade and under the artistic direction of Robert Garland, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández - Mar 2, 2027
For over seven decades, Amalia Hernández's Ballet Folklórico de México has positioned itself as the most emblematic folk dance ensemble in Mexico and around the world. The Ballet brings together music, dance, and costumes of Mexican folklore from pre-Columbian civilizations to the modern era.
YAMATO- The Drummers of Japan - Mar 16, 2027
YAMATO drummers return to East Lansing by popular demand after a nearly 10-year absence. Their acclaimed performances of Japanese Taiko drumming and music have captivated audiences of millions in 53 countries around the world. The drummers challenge and push to their absolute limits in a staggering display of physical strength as they use their entire bodies to produce thunderous music. YAMATO will leave audiences exhilarated by this visually spectacular, high-energy, and explosive show.
Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! - May 6, 2027
Emmy-Award® winning Actor and 2025 Theater Hall of Fame Inductee Richard Thomas brings to life “the nation’s one true comic genius” (The New York Times) in Mark Twain Tonight!, written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook. Join the millions who have cheered for the legendary one-man show, bursting with Twain’s “uproariously funny” and “pungently wise” (Time Magazine) humor.
Most recently seen on Broadway in Our Town, on tour as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and on Netflix’s Ozark, Richard Thomas will return to Broadway in Spring 2026 in David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters, directed by Kenny Leon. Beloved to generations as John-Boy Walton, Richard Thomas is the first and only actor authorized to perform Mark Twain Tonight! since the original.
Plan Your 2026–2027 Season at Wharton Center
From Broadway blockbusters and iconic stories to legendary musicians, international dance, jazz, comedy, and one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences, the 2026–2027 season at Wharton Center offers an incredible variety of ways to experience the performing arts.
Which shows are you going to see?