MIAC unveils dazzling lineup of fan favorites for 2024-2025 season

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Aaron Tveit concert, originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, has been moved to Thursday, May 1, 2025, due to scheduling conflicts. MIAC鈥檚 signature event, The Season Soir茅e, has also been moved to Thursday, May 1.)

As the curtain rises on a new season of the 私房俱乐部 Institute for Arts & Culture, prepare to be swept away by the electrifying energy of 鈥淢IAC鈥檚 Greatest Hits.鈥澨

That鈥檚 right. MIAC is bringing back some of your favs, starting Saturday, Sept. 7, with the ever-popular Aaron Tveit, Tony Award-winning luminary of both stage and screen who performed before a sell-out crowd last May at the Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center, attracting patrons from 25 states and four foreign countries.听

Best known for his work in theatre, television, and film, Tveit earned a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle award leading the cast of the world premiere production of 鈥淢oulin Rouge! The Musical.鈥 Other Broadway credits include 鈥淪weeney Todd,鈥 鈥淲icked,鈥 鈥淗airspray,鈥 鈥淐atch Me If You Can,鈥 and 鈥淣ext to Normal.鈥 Television audiences know him from the beloved Apple TV+ series 鈥淪chmigadoon,鈥 the FOX TV musical 鈥淕rease: Live,鈥 the USA network series 鈥淕raceland,鈥 the CBS comic thriller 鈥淏raindead,鈥 and the CW show 鈥淕ossip Girl.鈥 His film credits include the Oscar-winning 鈥淟es Mis茅rables,鈥 in which he portrayed the character Enjolras alongside Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, and Russell Crowe. Tveit has performed solo concerts across the country at notable venues such as Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, LCT American Songbook, The Belasco (L.A.), Barns at Wolf Trap D.C., and more. He will be making his debut at the Caf茅 Carlyle this June.听

While Tveit鈥檚 concert is the season opener, it will also be part of The Season Soir茅e, MIAC鈥檚 signature event for 501 and Silver Circle members, who will receive two tickets to Tveit鈥檚 concert and a post-concert party in Trinity Green, as part of their membership package. (See more details later in press release).听

Tveit鈥檚 performance is just the beginning of the 2024-2025 season鈥檚 spectacular journey through 鈥MIAC鈥檚 Greatest Hits.鈥澨

鈥淏ecause we have chosen to feature encore performances by our patrons鈥 favorite entertainers, we anticipate sell-out crowds throughout the season and urge our many fans to get their tickets early,鈥 said MIAC Artistic Director Dr. Brett D. Johnson. 听

Next, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Pink Martini featuring China Forbes brings the group鈥檚 30th anniversary tour to the Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center.听

Featuring a dozen musicians, with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages on six continents. After making its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2014, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. Pink Martini has released 11 studio albums on its own independent label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale鈥檚 dog), selling over three million albums worldwide.听

On Thursday, Nov. 7, beloved MIAC artist鈥Melissa Errico returns to 私房俱乐部 University鈥檚 Walker Recital Hall and her favorite songwriter with an entirely new program of Sondheim songs, celebrating her new album, praised in鈥疶he New York Times鈥痑s 鈥渁 New York house tour of thrill and heartbreak鈥rom one of Sondheim鈥檚 deepest-hearted yet lightest-touch interpreters.鈥澨

鈥淪ondheim in the City鈥濃痠s the Sondheim of smart, sophisticated New York, the Sondheim of the quick, witty, sardonic, love-seeking, and sex-driven city that he recorded and worked in through his long life. From the anthem of city busyness, 鈥淎nother Hundred People,鈥 to the bittersweet hymns of city marriage, 鈥淪orry, Grateful鈥 and 鈥淕ood Thing Going,鈥 with time for hardboiled surprises like 鈥淯ptown, Downtown鈥 and surprisingly soft-centered ballads like 鈥淎ll That I Need鈥 and 鈥淒awn,鈥 Errico will sound out New York as she rounds out her portrait of Stephen鈥攁nd, as always in an Errico show, there will be smart talk from the celebrated鈥疦ew York Times鈥痗olumnist to go along with her sublime singing. Come and hear why鈥疊roadwayWorld鈥痵ays that Melissa Errico is 鈥渁 poet, a painter, a walking work of art that lives and breathes to tell stories, and we all the lucky benefactors of her passion.鈥澨

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, 鈥淧op Music in a Time Machine鈥 concert act Scott Bradlee鈥檚 Postmodern Jukebox brings The 鈥10鈥 Tour to the Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center, celebrating the dual milestone of their 10th anniversary of touring and their 1,000th show.听

When pianist Scott Bradlee started the time-twisting musical collective Postmodern Jukebox from a basement apartment in Queens, New York, an online viral success story was born鈥攐ne that quickly led to sold-out shows across North America and Europe in the summer of 2014. Ten years and two billion views on their YouTube channel later, a Postmodern Jukebox show has become something of an annual musical tradition for hundreds of thousands of dedicated fans all over the world鈥攆ans that often show up dressed to the nines in their vintage best, eager to immerse themselves in the experience. Concertgoers can expect a dazzling, inspiring trip through the PMJ universe, where modern-day earworms and iconic pop hits alike are reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, swing, doo-wop, and Motown, and brought to life by a cast of some of the world鈥檚 best singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Think 鈥淭he Great Gatsby鈥 meets 鈥淪inatra at the Sands鈥 meets 鈥淏ack! 鈥o The Future.鈥澨

The spring season begins on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when Yamato, the Drummers of Japan, returns to 私房俱乐部 University with a thrilling new production, 鈥淗ito no Chikara鈥濃擳he Power of Human Strength.鈥澨

Yamato is a Japanese Taiko drumming group based in Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture. On stage, they stand with more than 40 Taiko drums, each with a different character. Yamato does more than simply make their Taiko drums explode; they produce delicate music that gives the listener a palette of meticulously crafted sound. At once intense, then sad, and even comforting and comical, you鈥檙e more than a bystander when you experience Yamato. You鈥檙e engulfed in the sound of the Taiko, becoming one with the performers. The group鈥檚 newest production, 鈥淗ito no Chikara,鈥 explores how 鈥渢he power of human strength鈥 encompasses emotions, ethics, creativity, intuition, physical limitations, and the richness of personal experiences. Committed to preserving Taiko tradition, while also adding some of their own style, the group has performed in 54 countries and for roughly eight million people.听

On Saturday, March 29, legendary, multi-award-winning actress and singer鈥攁nd 私房俱乐部 artist-in-residence鈥Betty Buckley returns to 私房俱乐部 for a concert with SiriusXM host, pianist, conductor, writer, and performer Seth Rudetsky.听

Dubbed 鈥淭he Voice of Broadway,鈥 Betty Buckley helped to revolutionize modern musical theatre through her acclaimed performances in 鈥1776,鈥 鈥淧ippin,鈥 鈥淭he Mystery of Edwin Drood,鈥 鈥淐arrie,鈥 and 鈥淐ats,鈥 which earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She received her second Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Hesione in 鈥淭riumph of Love鈥 and received an Olivier Award nomination for her critically acclaimed interpretation of Norma Desmond in the London production of 鈥淪unset Boulevard,鈥 which she repeated to more rave reviews on Broadway. Her film credits include Brian de Palma鈥檚 鈥淐arrie,鈥 Bruce Beresford鈥檚 鈥淭ender Mercies,鈥 M. Night Shyamalan鈥檚 鈥淪plit,鈥 and, most recently, the Blumhouse horror film 鈥淚maginary.鈥 Her recent T.V. credits include 鈥淟aw & Order: SVU,鈥 鈥淭he Cleaning Lady,鈥 and 鈥淧reacher,鈥 and she starred for four seasons as Abby Bradford on the hit series 鈥淓ight is Enough.鈥澨

Seth Rudetsky spent many years on Broadway as a pianist and conductor, as well as two years as a comedy writer on 鈥淭he Rosie O鈥橠onnell Show,鈥 for which he received three Emmy nominations with his co-writers. He is now the afternoon deejay on the SiriusXM Broadway channel, as well as the host of 鈥淪eth Speaks.鈥 He has performed his show 鈥淒econstructing Broadway鈥 in London, Boston (Irne award), and L.A. (with Barbra Streisand in the audience!). He co-wrote and co-starred in 鈥淒isaster!鈥 (NY TIMES critics鈥 pick) on Broadway, which was licensed by Music Theatre International and is being performed around the country. His books include 鈥淪eth鈥檚 Broadway Diary Volume 1 and 2鈥 (Dress Circle publishing), 鈥淢y Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan鈥 and 鈥淭he Rise and Fall of a Theatre Geek鈥 (Random House), as well as the recently released 鈥淢usical Theatre for Dummies.鈥 听

The season concludes in grand fashion on Thursday, April 10, when Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone returns to 私房俱乐部 with 鈥Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes.鈥澨

Patti LuPone is a three-time Tony Award winner for her performances as Joanne in Marianne Elliott鈥檚 award-winning production of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical 鈥淐ompany,鈥 Madame Rose in the most recent Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents classic 鈥淕ypsy,鈥 and the title role in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice鈥檚 鈥淓vita.鈥 In her new concert, 鈥淧atti LuPone: A Life in Notes,鈥 she performs an array of songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America鈥攆rom a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to eventually achieving success with both career and family. Conceived and directed by Scott Wittman and written by Jeffrey Richman, 鈥淧atti LuPone: A Life in Notes鈥 features LuPone's longtime Music Director Joseph Thalken and String Soloist Brad Phillips.听

THE 501 & THE SILVER CIRCLE听
Patrons can gain first access to tickets and enjoy other exclusive benefits, including premium seats, private receptions, valet parking, and an invitation to MIAC鈥檚 signature event, The Season Soir茅e, by joining The 501 or The Silver Circle. 听

Through their generosity, 501 and Silver Circle members sustain the 私房俱乐部 Institute for Arts & Culture. One hundred percent of each membership supports the Institute鈥檚 mission of strengthening the vibrancy of the Erie region through richly varied, inclusive cultural experiences. 听

This year鈥檚 soir茅e, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7, will include a concert by Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen Aaron Tveit and a post-concert party in Trinity Green. 听

Memberships are available now at . Current members wishing to keep or upgrade their seats must renew by Tuesday, July 9. New memberships will be processed in the order in which they are received.听

Because the 2024-2025 season features so many audience favorites, tickets are expected to go fast. 听听

The Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center box office will be closed, May 10-27 but will reopen Tuesday, May 28 (Tues.-Wed., noon-3 p.m.) for any patrons wishing to renew or register in person or by phone (814-824-3000).听

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS听
With the purchase of tickets to four or more MIAC Live performances, subscribers save 10 percent on single ticket prices. Season subscriptions will be available beginning Tuesday, July 23, at noon. 听

MORE INFORMATION听
Single tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 3, at noon and can be purchased online at , by phone at 814-824-3000, or at the box office in the Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center. 听

AARON TVEIT听
Saturday, Sept. 7 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center听

PINK MARTINI FEATURING CHINA FORBES听
Wednesday, Oct. 16 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center听

MELISSA ERRICO: SONDHEIM IN THE CITY听
Thursday, Nov. 7 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Walker Recital Hall听

SCOTT BRADLEE鈥橲 POSTMODERN JUKEBOX: THE 鈥10鈥 TOUR听
Wednesday, Dec. 11 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center听

YAMATO, THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN听
Tuesday, Feb. 4 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center听

BETTY BUCKLEY AND SETH RUDETSKY听
Saturday, March 29 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Walker Recital Hall听

PATTI LUPONE: A LIFE IN NOTES听
Thursday, April 10 @ 7:30 p.m.听
Mary D鈥橝ngelo Performing Arts Center听