Looking Back

Who would have thought in 1987 that artists and touring productions from around the world would find their way to the stage at Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, to play for audiences primed for the thrill of live music and theater? Over the years, the Performance Series has brought more than 25 International orchestras, major dance companies, renowned vocalists and musicians, noted jazz celebrities, Americana bands and vocal groups, and over 66 National Broadway touring productions.

International and American Orchestras

East Alabama Arts has hosted performances by orchestras from home and around the world: from Poland, England, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine.

Dance and Acrobatic Companies

David Parsons Dance, Elliot Feld Ballet, Donald Byrd The Group, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Caracas, Bolshoi Ballet Ensemble, Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse, Principal Dancers of NewYork City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Aeros, Cirque Eloise, Diavolo Dance Theater, Ballet de l'Opera de Bordeaux, Paul Taylor Dance Company (2), Savion Glover, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, Tao, Tango Fire, Ailey II, River North Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, Cirque Mechanics, Ballet Hispanico, Pilobolus, and Syncopated Ladies.

Noted Jazz Celebrities & Popular Entertainers

Wynton Marsalis, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli (2), Ken Pepowski, Shirley Horn, Dixie Carter, Billy Taylor, Freddy Cole, Marvin Hamlisch, Lady Chablis, Kevin Mahogony, Margaret Whiting, Gary Morris, Michael Feinstein, Mary Cleere Haran, Peabo Bryson, Peter Cincotti, Barbara Cook, The 5 Browns (2), Rosanne Cash, Garrison Keillor, Dianne Reeves, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christine Ebersole, The Ten Tenors (2), Rhiannon Giddens, Sammy Miller & the Congregation, Patty Griffin, The Simon & Garfunkel Story.

National Broadway Touring Productions

including The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Hair, Spamalot, Sister Act, 42nd Street, Dirty Dancing, Cinderella,  Jersey Boys, The Color Purple, The King & I, Something Rotten, Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Million Dollar Quartet, An American in Paris.

Vocal & Instrumental Recitals

by opera stars Denyce Graves, Angela Brown,  Jerry Hadley, and Jamie Barton; pianists Ignat Solzenitzen, Ji Yong, Cameron Carpenter, Anderson & Roe, Yekwon Sunwoo; Miloš Karadaglić, Guitarist; and Quatuor Ebene.

Bands & Vocal Groups

The Punch Brothers with Chris Thile; Cherryholmes with Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys; The Blind Boys of Alabama, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Leahy, Tiempo Libre, Vienna Boys Choir (2), Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir, Canadian Brass (2), Boys Choir of Harlem, Soweto Gospel Choir, Daniel Heifetz with The Classical Band, the Del McCoury Band, Jon Batiste & Stay Human Band, The Annie Moses Band, Mnozil Brass, The Kingdom Choir, and tenThing.