THE OUTSIDERS, BEETLEJUICE, and More Set For Wharton Center's 2026-27 Season

Wharton Center has announced its 2026-2027 Performing Arts Season, which will include Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer, and Broadway musicals such as Beetlejuice, The Outsiders, and more. Subscription packages for Wharton Center’s 45th anniversary season go on sale Wednesday, April 29, at 9AM.

“As we launch our 45th anniversary season, the 2026–2027 lineup reflects both where we've been and where we're going," shares Wharton Center Executive Director Eric Olmscheid. “We are proud to welcome artists from across the globe, celebrated performers with international acclaim alongside exciting emerging voices, each thoughtfully selected to bring the very best of the performing arts to East Lansing."  

“We kick off our 2026–2027 season with one of Broadway’s brightest stars, Michigan native Sutton Foster, who will be joined by Michigan students participating in the state-wide showcase that bears her name," Olmscheid continues. “Season highlights include Endea Owens and The Cookout (Endea is an MSU alumnus and 2022 Alumni Grand Award winner), Count Basie Orchestra with Carmen Bradford (an MSU Jazz Studies faculty member hired by Count Basie himself as featured vocalist), and What Do You Do With a Problem?: a new work as part of our Act One Family Series, co-commissioned by Wharton Center.”

“This season also marks a milestone with Dance Theatre of Harlem, the company that graced Wharton Center’s stage in the inaugural 1982 season, returning for our 45th Anniversary,” says Olmscheid.

Patrons can choose five or more Performing Arts events to create their own season subscription package and unlock exclusive benefits, including subscriber-only discounts, priority seating, interest-free payment plans, and more. Subscribers can also add Broadway shows to their Performing Arts subscription today. Wharton Center Broadway Series subscribers can also add Performing Arts events to their packages. Individual tickets will go on sale later this summer.

WHARTON CENTER'S 2026–2027 VARIETY

An Evening with Sutton Foster — Oct 3, 2026
Manual Cinema's The Fourth Witch — Nov 11, 2026
Ana Gasteyer: Sugar & Booze Holiday Spectacular — Nov 19, 2026
The Acting Company: A Midsummer Night's Dream — Feb 9, 2027
Yamato – The Drummers of Japan — Mar 16, 2026
Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! — May 6, 2026

2026–2027 CLASSICAL

Yo-Yo Ma & Emanuel Ax — Dec 8, 2026
Berlin Philharmonic Brass — Feb 2, 2027
Midori & Festival Strings Lucerne — Feb 21, 2027
Avi Avital & Ksenija Sidorova — Mar 18, 2027

2026–2027 DANCE

Ballets Jazz Montréal: Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen — Nov 5, 2026
Dance Theatre of Harlem — Feb 17, 2027
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández — Mar 2, 2027

2026–2027 JAZZ

Endea Owens & The Cookout — Oct 9, 2026
Count Basie Orchestra with Carmen Bradford — Jan 12, 2027
Emmet Cohen Trio — Mar 3, 2027

2026–2027 CLUB 750

Club 750 Music: Brittany Davis — Jan 6, 2027
Club 750 Cabaret: Nicholas Rodriguez – Sincerely, Sondheim — Jan 7, 2027
Club 750 Comedy: John Heffron — Jan 8, 2027
Club 750 Music: Layale Chaker & Maeve Gilchrist — Mar 23, 2027
Club 750 Cabaret: Caroline Bowman — Mar 24, 2027
Club 750 Comedy: Leah Rudick — Mar 25, 2027

2026–2027 ACT ONE FAMILY SERIES

What Do You Do With a Problem? — Nov 15, 2026
Three Little Pigs and Other Tales — Feb 13, 2027
The Boy Who Cried Wolf — May 1, 2027

Sensory-Friendly Performances Available

2026–2027 BROADWAY SEASON

Beetlejuice — Sept 18–20, 2026
The Notebook — Oct 27 – Nov 1, 2026
SIX: The Musical — Dec 1–6, 2026
Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen — Jan 19–24, 2027
BOOP! The Musical — Feb 23–28, 2027
Disney's The Lion King — Mar 10–15, 2027
The Outsiders — June 22–27, 2027
The Phantom of the Opera — Aug 25 – Sept 5, 2027

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