Garde Arts Center Celebrates 100 Years With Centennial Season & New Flex Pass
The New London, Conn. venue's Moroccan-inspired State Street theatre marks a century as a New England cultural landmark.
The Garde Arts Center will commemorate its 100th season with a landmark lineup of performances and a new audience experience. Beginning May 29, the Garde Flex Pass will go on sale to the public, offering a flexible, one-purchase ticketing option that allows audiences to choose three or five shows from the Centennial Series, select their own seats, and curate their own experience during this historic season.
“This centennial is more than a celebration of a historic theatre — it's a tribute to the incredible arts and cultural community that thrives throughout New London," said Garde Arts Center Executive Director Steve Sigel. “New London saved this theatre, and for 100 years, audiences have filled its seats. The Flex Pass is our way of making it easier for everyone to walk through those doors and be part of what comes next.”
The Garde Flex Pass
The Garde Flex Pass offers audiences a flexible way to experience the Centennial Series, with priority access, preferred seat selection, and one simple purchase. Passholders can choose three or five shows, select their seats, and exchange into newly announced Centennial Series performances as the season expands.
Passes are valid for Centennial Series performances within 12 months of purchase. Cinema and rental events are excluded, and redeemed tickets are non-refundable.
Early access has been offered to Friends of the Garde (donors at the $100+ level), with general public sales beginning May 29. Audiences can also join as Friends of the Garde at gardearts.org/join to unlock advanced and priority access for future season announcements.
Flex Passes and single tickets are available through the Garde Arts Center Box Office. For the full Centennial Series lineup and to purchase, visit gardearts.org/series/flex-pass.
A Theatre Worth Celebrating
Completed in 1926 during the golden era of movie palaces and vaudeville, the Garde was designed to be more than a cinema — it was a gathering place, a community landmark, a space where New London came together. Over the decades, it hosted notorious performances ranging from vaudeville acts and silent films to Johnny Cash, Itzhak Perlman, Bob Dylan, and the London Symphony Orchestra.
When declining attendance forced the theatre to close in 1977, the community refused to let this treasured landmark fade into obscurity. In 1985, a newly formed nonprofit — the Garde Arts Center, Inc. — purchased the building and began the work of restoration and reinvention that continues to this day. The Garde has since grown into an "arts block" of historic buildings in the heart of downtown New London, earned national recognition as the 2022 Outstanding Historic American Theater from the League of Historic American Theaters, and remains Southeastern Connecticut's anchor for performing arts, education, and cultural life.
Now, as the Garde turns 100, it is celebrating with a Centennial Series worthy of the milestone.
The Centennial Season Lineup
The 2026–2027 Centennial Series brings an ambitious and wide-ranging slate of performances to the Garde's 1,420-seat historic stage, including:
OUR HOUSE | The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 | 7:00 pm
Revisiting Creedence
Sun, Aug 23, 2026 | 7:00 pm
MAGIC ROCKS: Illusionist Leon Etienne
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 | 8:00 pm
THE MACHINE Performs Pink Floyd
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 | 8:00 pm
Jim Henson'S FRAGGLE ROCK | Back to the Rock LIVE
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 | 3:00 pm
HARRY CHAPIN'S GREATEST STORIES LIVE | Featuring the Chapin Family
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 | 8:00 pm
A.J. Croce Presents CROCE PLAYS CROCE
Sun, Oct 25, 2026 | 7:00 pm
Paul Mecurio | Permission to Speak
Sat, Nov 7, 2026 | 8:00 pm
AN EVENING WITH SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS | Christmas Caravan
Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | 8:00 pm
New shows will be added throughout the year. Single ticket sales for Centennial Series performances begin June 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
About Garde Arts Center
Southeastern Connecticut's nonprofit home for the performing arts, cinema, and education, the Garde Arts Center was founded in 1985 to save, restore, and operate the historic Garde Theatre and Building in the heart of downtown New London. The Garde strives to engage, enrich, entertain, educate, and inspire the greater New London County region through performing arts, film, education, community programs, and cultural events.
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