Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Scottsdale Arts announces a fresh lineup of performances for its 2025–26 season, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition to exciting acts spanning American roots, jazz, pop, rock, dance, comedy and theater, Scottsdale Arts offer the full package, with amenities like free parking, an idyllic outdoor space filled with public art, nearby dinner spots, comfy theater seats and unique gift shopping, to enhance the event experience.
Grammy-winning Phoenix Chorale, originally called the Bach & Madrigal Society, performed during the center’s first season in 1976 and will return this 50th anniversary season with a contemporary choral-orchestral experience, “TRANSCENDENCE.” More returning legends like Fran Lebowitz, Rita Rudner, Rufus Wainwright, and Ballet Hispánico will perform at the center to honor a long legacy of iconic artists in Scottsdale.
And first-time performers look toward the center’s future at Arizona’s premier venue. Drew and Ellie Holcomb make their Arizona debut during The Memory Bank Tour supporting their full-length duo record. Additionally, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting will perform his chart-topping hits with a live string quartet.
Americana band Trampled by Turtles delivers a high-octane folk-rock fusion concert thanks to a fast‑paced, relentless energy that will leave audiences dancing, clapping, stomping and singing along.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is part of the multidisciplinary nonprofit Scottsdale Arts. Below is the schedule of previously announced concerts and events, alongside those just announced, which are now on sale at the newly revamped ScottsdaleArts.org (subject to change):
Sippin’ Series: Craftsman Spirits
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, 7 p.m.
Sample specially designed cocktails made with small-batch, locally hand-crafted spirits from Craftsman Distillers.
Sippin’ Series: Kokomo Rum
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, 7 p.m.
Taste artisan-crafted, award-winning rums and ready-to-drink canned cocktails from Club Kokomo Rum.
The Scottsdale Chorus
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, 3 p.m.
The Scottsdale Chorus delivers genre-spanning performances, from timeless barbershop to contemporary hits, that aren’t just award-winning, they’re heart-winning.
An Evening with Jeremy Jordan
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17, 2025, 7:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Experience “Newsies” and “Supergirl” star Jeremy Jordan’s dynamic blend of powerhouse vocals and heartfelt storytelling, on the heels of his 2025 Tony nomination for the title role in “Floyd Collins.”
Julia Chacón Flamenco Theatre | Braided Roots
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
“Braided Roots,” explores what it means to be a United States American artist practicing flamenco within the layered histories of empire, migration and cultural inheritance that shape life in the Southwest today.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
Echoes of a New World: Reflections on Resilience and Renewal
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, 4 p.m.
Celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary through powerful music of resilience, renewal and identity — bridging European Romanticism with bold American voices in a moving tribute to national spirit.
Five For Fighting with String Quartet
Supporting Artist Lace and Lee
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
From “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” to “100 Years,” experience the music of Five for Fighting in a lush, cinematic setting, backed by a live string quartet. Folk-rock duo Lace and Lee opens the show.
Rufus Wainwright
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
At once introspective and grand, playful yet profound, Rufus Wainwright’s cabaret-style shows weave a tapestry of sound that draws from opera, folk, rock and Broadway influences.
Dreamy Draw
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, 3 p.m.
Dreamy Draw is a weekend of music, art and connection under wide-open Scottsdale skies. From sunlit melodies to desert-born rhythms, awaken your desert spirit and be a part of our journey.
Lea Salonga
Stage, Screen & Everything in Between
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Musical theatre royalty and Disney Legend Lea Salonga brings her powerful voice to stage and screen classics from iconic roles in “Miss Saigon,” “Les Misérables,” “Aladdin” and “Mulan.”
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
Legends and Legacy: Myth, Heroism, and the American Spirit
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, 4 p.m.
Iconic music by Richard Wagner and John Williams — from the Harry Potter and Star Wars series — explores how epic storytelling shapes American spirit and cultural imagination.
Hung Dance
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
“BIRDY” combines Tai Chi, mythology, contemporary dance and Taiwanese traditional opera aesthetics and instrumentation with electronic textures for Hung Dance’s Arizona debut.
An Evening with Rita Rudner
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
With her signature deadpan delivery, impeccable timing and pithy one-liners, Rita Rudner is a true legend of stand-up comedy.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
A Season of Light: Holiday Traditions and Togetherness
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, 4 p.m.
Celebrate the season with festive favorites, a holiday sing-along, joyful traditions and a visit from Santa Claus in this family-friendly musical celebration.
Keyboard Conversations️ with Jeffrey Siegel | Beethoven—The Young Genius
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Discover the genius of a young Beethoven through his passionate “Sonata Pathetique,” humorous “Rage Over a Lost Penny” and deeply moving “Largo e Mesto.”
Squirrel Nut Zippers present Jazz from the Back O’ Town
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Travel to the birthplace of jazz as Squirrel Nut Zippers take you on a devilishly entertaining voyage to the New Orleans of yesteryear!
Mariachi Sol de Mexico presents “José Hernández’ Merry-Achi Christmas”
Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Be swept away by the humor, heartache and romance of mariachi in this special performance of holiday favorites and treasured selections from the mariachi songbook.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel | Chopin—The Romantic
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Meet the romantic side of Chopin through exhilarating polonaises, dreamy nocturnes, charming waltzes, poignant mazurkas and the narrative Ballade in A Flat.
Arizona Concours d’Elegance
Sculpture in Motion
Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, 9 a.m.
A professionally curated assembly of 100 rarely seen dream cars in the atmosphere of a stylish garden party, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance celebrates the beauty of “sculpture in motion.”
Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
With playful exuberance and spontaneous charm, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and pianist Bill Charlap bring new life to American Songbook classics and jazz standards.
Phoenix Chorale
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, 2 p.m.
Immerse yourself in “TRANSCENDENCE,” a contemporary choral-orchestral experience from the Grammy-winning Phoenix Chorale, where music, visuals and place converge in a sweeping journey through contemporary landscapes.
Ballet Hispánico
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Inspired by Bizet’s opera, “CARMEN.maquia” is a bold reimagining of the classic story, full of unrelenting energy and explosive movement that will leave you breathless.
Cheyenne Jackso
Signs of Life
Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, 7 p.m.
Prepare for a perfectly imperfect night of shared experience, whimsy and joy as Cheyenne Jackson invites audiences on an uproariously funny exploration of the universe’s subtle cues.
Gunhild Carling – Sweden’s Queen of Swing
with New Guard Big Band
Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Whether she’s singing swinging jazz standards, playing one of 11 instruments or juggling and tap dancing, Gunhild Carling — a frequent Postmodern Jukebox collaborator — transports audiences to another era.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
Voices of Courage: Struggle and Defiance
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, 4 p.m.
“Voices of Courage” explores themes of oppression, defiance and hope — echoing our nation’s historic and ongoing fight for freedom, equality and the triumph of the human spirit.
Keyboard Conversations️ with Jeffrey Siegel | Poetic Tone Pictures
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Watch Jeffrey Siegel create “Poetic Tone Pictures” — music inspired by words and visions — through the compositions of Liszt, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Grieg and Ravel.
Chris Thile
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
With just his mandolin and a boundless musical imagination, an evening with Chris Thile (Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers) is both intimate and epic.
GALLIM
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
With its signature blend of athleticism and artistry, GALLIM is a fresh, fearless dance company that’s truly in a league of its own. It’s new, it’s cool, it’s daring, it’s electric — and it is exactly why live performance is so thrilling.
Sun & Sounds
Every Sunday in March 2026, noon
Free Sunday concerts return to the outdoor spaces at Scottsdale Civic Center. Sun & Sounds brings the best music Arizona has to offer in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, surrounded by unique artist vendors, cold drinks at the bar and plenty of good company.
Paquito D’Rivera
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
A true citizen of sound, Paquito D’Rivera’s dazzling command of both the clarinet and saxophone is full of rhythmic complexity and lyrical beauty.
Fran Lebowitz
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Step into the razor-sharp world of cultural icon Fran Lebowitz, where every observation is laced with wit and an old-school New York attitude.
Trampled by Turtles
Supporting Artist Wild Horses
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
With banjos blazing, fiddles howling and harmonies soaring, Trampled by Turtles deliver fiercely folky jams and heart-tugging bluegrass ballads. Americana band Wild Horses will open.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
The Wayfarer’s Hope: A Nation’s Journey
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 4 p.m.
Take a musical journey through struggle, identity, and triumph — featuring Mahler, Sibelius and a powerful new American overture, composed for the orchestra in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary.
Keyboard Conversations️ with Jeffrey Siegel | Music of Joy and Peace
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Experience “Music of Joy and Peace” with the uplifting and sublime works of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin and Gershwin.
Jacob Jonas The Company
Saturday, March 28, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Known for blending contemporary dance, acrobatics and street dance influences, Jacob Jonas The Company presents a new work commissioned by Scottsdale Arts with original music composed by Imogen Heap.
Drew and Ellie Holcomb
The Memory Bank Tour
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Drew and Ellie Holcomb blend heartfelt intimacy, musical storytelling and harmonic craft, turning their signature brand of Americana into a sing-along celebration of togetherness and family.
HOMEGROWN
An Arizona Choreographer Showcase
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
This inaugural program highlights four accomplished choreographers — Liliana Gomez, Alicia Nascimento, Candy Jimenez and Halley Willcox. “HOMEGROWN” is an evening dedicated to celebrating the strength and creativity of Arizona’s rich choreographic landscape.
David Sedaris
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Witness a masterclass in observational storytelling from the author of “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” delivered with intimate candor, sharp comedy and precise timing.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra
Dreams of Freedom: The American Experience
Sunday, May 10, 2026, 4 p.m.
Take a stirring orchestral journey through American spirit, struggle and sound, featuring Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue,” Beethoven, Copland and Barber.
