Texas Performing Arts Announces 45th Anniversary Season Featuring Branford Marsalis, Audra McDonald & More
International artists, celebrated performers and groundbreaking new works headline TPA’s next season
Texas Performing Arts (TPA) is celebrating a milestone year with the announcement of its 2026/27 Performing Arts Season, marking 45 years of bringing world-class artists and transformative cultural experiences to Austin. The anniversary season features an ambitious international lineup spanning theatre, dance, music and multidisciplinary performance, with 13 productions representing artistic traditions and contemporary voices from around the globe.
“To mark this anniversary, we’re welcoming inventive theatre and dance makers, celebrated musicians, and acclaimed storytellers for a creative passport to the best of American and international performance,” said Bob Bursey, Executive & Artistic Director of TPA.
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A season of International talent and artistic excellence
Season highlights include an extraordinary tribute to jazz legend John Coltrane featuring Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves; an intimate evening with Broadway icon Audra McDonald; and a return engagement from Actors From The London Stage with Shakespeare’s beloved comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.”
International artists bring distinctive perspectives to the season, from New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company and its immersive production “Mrs. Krishnan’s Party!” to the electrifying Japanese taiko ensemble Kodo and the celebrated Limón Dance Company.
Audiences can also experience innovative contemporary works that push artistic boundaries, including Cirque Kalabanté’s fusion of African dance and acrobatics, Sō Percussion and Caroline Shaw’s multimedia collaboration “Who Turns Out The Light,” and illusionist Scott Silven’s theatrical meditation on memory and connection, “The Lost Things.”
New voices and creative collaborations
The season includes the inaugural Terence McNally Festival, presented by the Terence McNally Foundation in association with Rattlestick Theater and the University of Texas at Austin’s Harry Ransom Center. The festival will feature readings of five new plays by emerging playwrights alongside an academic symposium honoring the legacy of the acclaimed American dramatist.
TPA’s ongoing partnership with Fusebox continues with a trio of adventurous new works, including Suzanne Bocanegra’s “Motherhood,” All My Relations Collective’s “Skeleton Canoe,” and Rosas Dance Company’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”
Expanding access through education
Beyond public performances, TPA remains committed to arts education and community engagement. This season will feature a record six School Day Performances for Central Texas students, creating opportunities for young audiences to connect with visiting artists and experience live performance firsthand.
Ticket information
Tickets for the 2026/27 Texas Performing Arts Season go on sale to the public on June 5 at texasperformingarts.org.
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