Ware Center Announces New Season

The Ware Center for the Arts, Millersville University's satellite performing arts center, announces its 2026-2027 Visual & Performing Arts Season, featuring more than 50 opportunities to experience the arts. This year's lineup brings nationally recognized performers and local artists together with family programs, documentary films, gallery exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and free community events.

New this season, the Arts for Health & Wellbeing series explores the role of the arts in health, healing, and quality of life. Highlights include an immersive performance by Grammy-winning Indian classical musician Sandeep Das, where audience members can experience the music from a cushion onstage or from seating in the auditorium.

This season at the Ware Center, experience…

World-class performances: Experience artists including jazz legend Branford Marsalis, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, country-pop trio DEK of Hearts, and Celtic supergroup Cherish the Ladies, along with performances spanning flamenco, zydeco, rhythm and blues, marimba, and more.

Local and regional artists: The Lancaster Loves series returns for its second year, pairing artists with shared musical DNA. This season includes Harrisburg singer-songwriters Jeffrey Gaines and Meaghan Farrell, folk artists Rivers and Big Sky Quartet, and performer/director Reji Woods in a cabaret celebrating music from the silver screen.

Film and community conversations: The free On Screen/In Person series pairs documentary films with panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As. This season includes Redemption Time, a multimedia performance film about a formerly incarcerated poet and jazz violinist, and A Long Way to Go, which explores the stories of three migrant nurses.

Family fun: Family Fun Fest offers programs for children and families, including an hour of free crafts and activities from campus and community organizations before each performance. Upcoming shows include the dynamic dog circus Cirque Du Canines, Milo the Magnificent, a wordless puppet show about a magician whose tricks don't always go as planned, and Japanese drumming sensation TAIKOPROJECT.

Community connections: Free We the People First Friday events pair live performances with new gallery openings. This season includes a musical tour of African culture with the McCaskey Combined Choirs and The Places We Go II, a mixed-media exhibition by Ghanaian artist Ross Junior Owusu exploring migration, memory, resilience, and cultural identity.

Hands-on arts experiences: Arts Workshops offer opportunities for all ages to learn and create, with topics ranging from swing dancing to relief printing to drawing like Georgia O'Keeffe.

With free programming, family activities, educational opportunities, and accessibility services throughout the season, the Ware Center continues to make the arts accessible to the entire community.

Tickets go on sale August 24! Reserve tickets online, by phone, or in person at the SMC Box Office.

Learn more at ArtsMU.com