The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 2016-17 Season Will Feature 37 Performances by 26 Artists

The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Presenting Series will celebrate 12 seasons of programming contributing to increasingly dynamic initiatives in the arts at the University of Notre Dame.

The 2016-2017 season was announced July 30 at an invitation-only season launch party with nearly 300 patrons and community members present. The season features more than 50 performances and community and student engagement events, ranging from popular, classical and contemporary music to dance, theater, children's musical theater and a unique cine-concert experience screening a beloved animated classic to a live performance of the Oscar nominated film score.

Composer celebrations take center stage beginning with Third Coast Percussion teaming with eighth blackbird to perform Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians on Sept. 30 to honor the composer's 80th birthday. Beethoven rises to the fore later in the season when Jerusalem Quartet, Elias String Quartet, Curateto Casals and Philharmonia Quartett Berlin include one of his quartets in their programs for a rich survey of Beethoven's masterworks.

The season also features two commissions, both having their world premiere at Notre Dame, and one commission reconstruction from the 2009-2010 season.

Ted Barron, formerly the center's senior associate director and appointed executive director in May 2016, expressed his excitement about the lineup and his appreciation for Anna M. Thompson, the previous director, who was able to complete curating the season prior to her departure last fall.

The majority of ticket prices will largely remain unchanged with single tickets for 12 artists priced at $20 or less and an average ticket price of $26. Also, two season ticket options offer either a 15 percent or a 25 percent discount on eligible events. Season ticket sales begin Monday, August 15. Single ticket sales begin Monday, August 29.

In addition to $10 family shows and Notre Dame student ticket programs, the center will offer the following new audience-engagement initiatives:

A Listening Party of the Terrace after The Triplets of Belleville Cine-Concert with music by Hot Club of Notre Dame and light refreshments.

A Karaoke After Party following Vocalosity.

Baltimore Consort's program The Food of Love: Songs, Dances, and Fancies for Shakespeare, includes a pre-talk and the opportunity to engage with the performers.

A panel discussion is planned to accompany L.A. Theatre Works presentation of Judgment at Nuremberg by Abby Mann.

The third "Higher Ground: Artists Inspiring Community," an interactive campaign to create engagement and dialogue leading up to January's MLK Week celebration. This season's event is Complexions Contemporary Ballet (January 20−21).

Its third holiday open house after the Sunday matinee performance by Eileen Ivers of her holiday program An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas.

"Words with Friends," a special series of pre-talks one hour prior to the spring season's chamber music recitals designed to make the genre accessible and interesting for young adults and others experiencing small ensemble classical music for the first time, and enhance the recital for expert Audience members.