Music, Theater and Dance Highlight Ford Center's 2025-26 Season

The schedule provides opportunities for cultural and arts experiences to satisfy a broad range of tastes, said Julia Aubrey, Ford Center director and Ole Miss associate professor of music.

"Attending live theatrical performances is a unique experience," she said. "Every show is different because the performers are reacting to the space and energy coming from the audience in real time 

The fall schedule opens with a Sept. 11 performance by The Avett Brothers.

Known for their high-energy performances and heartfelt songwriting, The Avett Brothers meld bluegrass, country, punk, folk and rock 'n' roll. They are four-time Grammy Award nominees and recipients of an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It is quite a coup to bring these superstars to the Ford Center," Aubrey said. "There is lots of great buzz in the community about this event, and we are assured of a sell-out."

The fall schedule also includes: 

• 18: The Doo Wop Project – Broadway veterans backed by a crack band deliver the classic street-corner harmonies of the doo-wop era, along with creative reimaginings of modern hits.
• 17: "Tina – The Tina Turner Musical" – The inspiring story of how Tina Turner went from a humble upbringing in Tennessee to one of the world's biggest rock stars, set to her iconic songs. Recommended for ages 16-plus.
• 19: Soweto Gospel Choir – Peace – Multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winners perform a program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and timeless classics.
• 6: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac – The tribute band performs classic hits by one of rock's most enduring bands in a show personally endorsed by Mick Fleetwood.
• 17: Artemis – A jazz supergroup founded by pianist Renee Rosnes, featuring trumpet, saxophone, bass and drums. The ensemble just won Jazz Group of the Year for the second time.
• 2: "Christmas in the Air" – A holiday dance and variety production featuring Rockette-style precision dancers, singers and actors in a family-friendly production.
• 11: "Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet" – An update of the classic holiday ballet featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry and lavish European sets and costumes. A special feature will be local children dancing alongside the professionals.

The spring schedule features:

• 26: earspace – Chamber ensemble performing immersive new works and rarely heard repertoire for strings, winds, piano and percussion.
• 29: "The Choir of Man" – Nine multi-instrumentalist singers perform well-known pop, rock, folk, Broadway and pub tunes in a show that combines music, dance and a working bar onstage.
• 16: "Tango After Dark" – World tango champion Germán Cornejo, of Argentina, and a company of skilled dancers present an intimate evening of authentic tango.
• March 3: Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Great American Crooners – Celebrate the golden age of jazz with music inspired by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin.
• March 20: "Wizard of Oz on Ice" – A reimagined production of "The Wizard of Oz" retells Dorothy's journey in a skating production with a new custom soundtrack and light show.
• March 29: Verdi Requiem – The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform the dramatic, powerful sacred masterpiece in collaboration with our own University of Mississippi Choirs.
• April 7: Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra – "Stage and Screen Spectacular" – The multi-talented 12-person troupe delivers musical journey through the 20th century, pairing ragtime with classic silent comedy.
• April 12: "Mrs. Doubtfire" – A musical comedy based on the beloved film retells the heartfelt story of a father who will do anything for his children. Recommended for ages 16-plus.

In an age of streaming, on-demand entertainment, the Ford Center lineup offers audiences opportunities to form deeper connections with the arts, Aubrey said.

"There is a direct and immediate connection between the performers and the audience that cannot be duplicated with movies or television," she said. "Live arts enhance our existence by sharing a collective experience with our community.

"A recording is always the same; live performances offer subtle differences. That is what makes it unique and worthy of one's time."

For tickets or more information on any Ford Center production, click here.

Top: 'Tina – The Tina Turner Musical' is among the highlights of the fall season at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The inspiring story of how Tina Turner became one of the world's biggest rock stars, featuring a rousing soundtrack full of the star's iconic songs, comes to the Ford Center on Oct. 17. Photo by Manuel Harlan