SHELTER for the SOUL • Midland Center’s 2025-26 Season Affords an Opportunity to Share & Connect

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." - Pablo Picasso

As Midland Center for the Arts prepares to embark upon its  2025-26 Performance Season, continuing with its mission to deliver a high-caliber of divergent world-class entertainment to the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond, an appropriate word to best describe the engaging metamorphosis of both the Season and the Center is ‘transformational’.

Structuring the impressive line-up of their new season under the theme ‘A Season to Share and Connect’, with a cornucopia of programming consisting of Broadway hits, symphonic masterworks, engaging community theatre, and globally unique talent, according the Center’s President and CEO Matt Travis, “There’s something truly powerful about the way the arts bring people together, so this season is an invitation to connect through laughter, music, movement, and storytelling, even as we continue with ongoing major renovation of the Center itself.”

For more than 50 years Midland Center for the Arts has served as a pivotal regional destination point for arts, entertainment, cultural exploration, and learning. Attracting an estimated 116,000 visitors to the Center with last year’s season, its programs range from art classes to interactive art, science, and history exhibits, to top-notch community theater, internationally known performers, and touring Broadway musicals.

With the Center nearing completion of a $47 million capital campaign to fund an innovative, interactive museum that merges the multiple disciplines supported at the Center and fosters learning, creativity and connection, construction began in the summer of 2024 and is expected to be complete next year, with the programming of the new season being staged designed, and thoughtfully presented to engage, inspire, and entertain audiences even as the metamorphosis of the Museum portion of the Center continues throughout the renovation process.

One of the stellar highlights of their current 2024-25 Season was the Center’s exclusive showcasing of Space Explorer: The INFINITE, which drew approximately 15,000 visitors to The Center by offering the world’s most captivating immersive virtual-reality adventure aboard the International Space Station. By using advanced technology this installation gave patrons exclusive experiences of what it’s like to walk and float in space, along with breathtaking views of Earth, creating a life-altering connection to the Universe and an emotional odyssey that left a lasting impression upon each visitor’s unique journey.

As Midland Center’s evolving journey of engagement, here’s a closer look at undeniably unique opportunities patrons will have to connect with different worlds, divergent artists, and theatrical productions far removed from the predictable and mundane, that truly promise to be unforgettable.

Broadway & Beyond

National touring productions will bring Broadway to Midland with a slate of crowd-pleasing shows:

SIX – From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21^st century girl power;  This new original musical is the Broadway touring sensation that gives the six wives of Henry VIII voices of their own, and will have performances Nov. 28-30, 2025.

Mrs. Doubtfire – Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to the Great Lakes Bay Region in this internationally acclaimed hit musical. Based on the beloved film, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. This heartwarming comedy that proves family is worth every disguise will have shows Jan. 23-24, 2026.

Blue Man Group – Blue Man Group performances offer an unforgettable celebration of human connection. Mixing art, music, comedy, and state-of-the-art technology, the show encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child and see the world through a new perspective. In this newest high-tech production, three bald and blue men explore our cultural norms with wide-eyed wonder, poking fun at our collective quirks and reminding us how much we all have in common.  This rhythm-filled, visually arresting theatrical phenomenon will play Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, 2026.

Shucked – This Tony Award-winning musical comedy is a new breakout comedy everyone is talking about. out. Featuring a book by Tony® Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award–winning songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”), and directed by Tony® Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theatre and will take over the stage May 9-10, 2026.

Midland Symphony Orchestra

Now entering its 90th season, the Midland Symphony Orchestra will mark the milestone with a mix of classical power and contemporary creativity:

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto featuring guest violinist Adrian Anantawan will perform Nov. 1, 2025, while Holiday Pops with Broadway star Arielle Jacobs (In The Heights, Aladdin) is set for Dec. 13, 2025.  This will be followed by Cosmic Cycles, a NASA-themed multimedia experience that will play March 7, 2026.

With American celebrating its 250^th Anniversary in 2026, Sounds of Independence will turn the spotlight on Amiri Harewood in a musical tribute to America’s founding, set for April 4, 2026.

Homegrown, the season finale featuring the world premiere of a Trombone Concerto by Carolina Calvache alongside Dvořák’s New World Symphony is set for May 6, 2026.

Center Stage Theatre

Celebrating its 55th anniversary, Center Stage Theatre returns with a slate grounded in community and classic works:

Sense & Sensibility – Jane Austen’s wit and romance brought to life will have performances Nov. 7-9, 14-16 in 2025.

A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry’s enduring portrait of Black family life in mid-20th-century America will be performed Feb. 27 - March 1 and again March 6-8 in 2026.

1776 – A fresh take on the revolutionary musical, presented in partnership with the Midland County Historical Society, will have performances April 24-26 and May 1-3 in 2026.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy, staged as part of the inaugural Great Lakes Bay Theatre Festival, a new collaboration with The Friction Theatre is set for June 4, 6, 12 and 14 in 2026.

MATRIX:MIDLAND

The Center’s boundary-pushing series continues to explore innovation across genres with this series of innovative and captivating programming.

The Lost Things – Prepare to step into a world where reality bends, and the unseen becomes tangible. Through breathtaking illusions and cinematic storytelling, world-renowned illusionist, mentalist, and performance artist Scott Silven invites you into The Lost Things—a boundary pushing theatrical experience that invites you to explore the power in getting lost.  Mark it on your calendars for Feb. 20-21, 2026.

PlayStation: The Concert – A high-octane symphonic journey through iconic video game music will take place March 18, 2026.  Get ready for a truly groundbreaking live music event that blends the awe-inspiring music from PlayStation’s most iconic games with cutting-edge visuals and the latest in production technology.

A troupe of virtuous soloists will bring the music to life in a way that you have not experienced before. The concert will feature fan-favorite games including God of War, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon and others. An innovative multi-screen design, combining advanced LED and projection technologies, will enhance the event and deliver the most iconic moments and imagery from these games.

Coupled with surround sound, the show delivers breathtaking visual and audio depth, creating an immersive experience that will allow the audience to relive their gaming adventures like never before.

The Count Basie Orchestra – In the history of Jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over 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 that 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, won 18 Grammy® Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival, and major concert hall in the world.

This great 18-member orchestra is still continuing the excellent history started by Basie of stomping and shouting the blues, as well as refining those musical particulars that allow for the deepest and most moving of swing. Jazz royalty returns for an unforgettable night of swing and style on May 15, 2026.

Windows on Our World

Global voices and genre-defying performances fill out the season’s international slate:

Sweet Honey in the Rock – SAT, FEB 7, 2026 / 3 PM

The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble marked its’ 50TH Anniversary in 2023 with a powerful three-year celebration that honors its’ storied past and sets the course for the future of the group, which has been described as, “one of the most dynamic, versatile, and still relevant musical collectives today.” Since its’ inception in Washington, D.C. (1973), Sweet Honey in the Rock has thrived as a performance ensemble founded on the missions of empowerment, education, and entertainment.

Skerryvore • February 24, 2026 

From the remote island of Tiree to headlining festivals around the world, Skerryvore has skyrocketed to become one of Scotland’s finest musical exports. Their eclectic fusion of folk, rock, and Americana – with thundering drums and bagpipes, of course – is as rich as a single malt scotch. Since setting sail, Skerryvore has performed in over 25 countries and scooped up Scotland’s “Live Act of the Year” award – three times. With their distinctive mix of fiddle, accordions, pipes, and whistles, alongside guitar and vocals, underpinned by driving bass, drums, and keys, Skerryvore fuses outstanding musicianship with pure joy.

Drum Tao • March 5, 2026

DRUM TAO’s stage is created through phenomenal performances and expressions consisting of incomparable “Wadaiko-drums” and the beautiful melody of Japanese flutes and harps. It is the “Japanese Entertainment” for a new generation that completely surpasses expectations. Precision Japanese drumming with theatrical flair will take the stage to mesmerize.

Alysha Brilla • May 16

Alysha Brilla is a 3X Juno Award nominated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer who weaves together global roots sounds into her unique tapestry; transporting audiences to a place nestled between the earth and the stars. Her distinct and powerful voice, unique melodies, and engaging stage presence invite levity and joy.

Whether sharing intimate storytelling sets of music or headlining festival stages of 30,000 with her all-star band, Brilla always has the audience singing along and leaving with a positive feeling in their heart - a boundary-blending artist merging Indo-Tanzanian roots with soulful pop.

Season subscriptions are now available, offering perks such as priority seating, discounted rates, and flexible ticketing. Interest-free payment plans allow patrons to spread payments over six months, with full balances due by Oct. 15, 2025. More information is available at midlandcenter.org/subscribe.