Forbes Center Unveils a Stellar 2025-2026 Masterpiece Season Featuring World-Class Performances

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 (Harrisonburg, Va.) – The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at James Madison University (JMU) has announced its highly anticipated 2025-2026 Masterpiece Season. Audiences are invited to experience an inspiring lineup of world-class dance, theatre, and music performances, alongside cherished family-friendly favorites from the popular "Forbes Family Fun" series. Subscription packages and single tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, July 1, at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online at jmuforbescenter.com, by phone at 540-568-7000, or in person at the Forbes Center Box Office. 

Top performances this season include:

• A Solo Evening of Music with Chris Thile: The GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and founding member of the influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek.
• International Guitar Night featuring artists Stephanie Jones, Taimane, Alexandr Misko, and Lucas Imbiriba.
• Jamie Adkins: Circus Incognitus: A captivating one-person “Forbes Family Fun” show blending physical comedy with acrobatics.
• PUSH Physical Theatre presents HYDE: A riveting retelling of the iconic classic Jekyll and Hyde.
• Seán Heely's Celtic Christmas: An enchanting cast of nationally acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical journey through holiday music from Scotland and Ireland.
• Sell Me: I Am From North Korea: A powerful performance written and performed by award-winning South Korean writer and producer Sora Baek.
• Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: The GRAMMY-winning ensemble featuring violinist Stella Chen, the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year, in Seasons of Change.
• Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music from Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt, featuring Christina Vane and Brennen Leigh.

Other exciting Encore performances include:

• The Travelin' McCourys: Pioneering a new path through the bluegrass landscape.
• Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: The GRAMMY Award-winning choir renowned for its transcendent Gregorian chant and baroque repertoire.
• Solas: Celebrating their 30th anniversary as "the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced," as hailed by The Boston Globe.
• The Three Italian Tenors: Making a triumphant American debut with timeless Italian opera arias and beloved songs.
• Emi Ferguson and Ruckus: Fly the Coop!: A collaborative baroque ensemble known for its visceral and playful musical approach.
• Nidia Góngora: A celebrated singer from the Colombian Pacific, blending ancestral rhythms with contemporary sounds.

The Forbes Center is proud to present its "Forbes Family Fun" show lineup, inviting families with children who enjoy the performing arts, including:

• Jamie Adkins: Circus Incognitus.
• HolidayFest 2025: Holiday Pops! featuring favorite songs and readings from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
• Secrets of Space: Direct from Northern Ireland, an interactive journey across the galaxy filled with magical illusions.
• The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac: Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth in Hawaii.
• Cinderella: A Classic Fairytale Opera: Adapted for young audiences with beloved music from two different adaptations of the classic tale.

In JMU’s School of Music, concertgoers can experience:

• The 44th Annual JMU Contemporary Music Festival, spotlighting the talents of Vietnamese-American composer Viet Cuong.
• JMU Opera Theatre performances, including Béatrice et Bénédict (an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing) and Dialogues of the Carmelites, delving into themes of faith, fear, martyrdom, and spiritual courage amid political terror.
• JMU Symphony Honors Concert: A breathtaking concert featuring JMU's Symphony Orchestra alongside the 2025 School of Music Concerto Competition winners.

• JMU's Dance Program headlining the New Dance Festival featuring two acclaimed companies, DanceWorks Chicago and Conflux Dance Theatre.
• The Play That Goes Wrong: A delightful 1920s whodunit.
• The Light in the Piazza: An intense and romantic musical experience.
• Dancescapes: Featuring JMU’s Virginia Repertory Dance Company along with guest artists from across the country.
• PIPPIN: Showcasing an unforgettable score by Grammy and Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz.
• The House of Bernarda Alba: A powerful and provocative drama set in a small Spanish village.
• New Voices in Dance: An inspiring exploration of contemporary dance that showcases innovative choreography by student choreographers, faculty, and guest artists.
• Basement Demons and Trailer Saints: An exciting new work and finalist in STAD’s Madison New Works Lab, an incubator for developing new plays.

The 2025-2026 Forbes Center Masterpiece Season is sponsored by Kathy Moran Wealth Group ( 540-434-7470).

To purchase Subscription and single tickets beginning on Tuesday, July 1, at 10 a.m. or for more information on the Forbes Center, visit jmuforbescenter.com.  

*Denotes a “Forbes Family Fun” event

VENUES

(CH) CONCERT HALL       (RH) RECITAL HALL          (MS) MAINSTAGE THEATRE

(ST) STUDIO THEATRE          (WH) WILSON HALL