Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has announced select shows for its 2026–27 season, including Paula Cole, Punch Brothers and a live “Fraggle Rock” experience.
Chris Thile, the mandolinist from Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, gave a solo performance during a previous season and will return for a second 2026 concert with the five-member string band Punch Brothers, which will be touring behind a new instrumental album. Singer-songwriter Paula Cole joins a growing list of 1990s artists who have performed at the center in recent years.
Families seeking an all-ages show will also have the opportunity to see “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE,” a theatrical production from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop tied to the renewed popularity of the franchise following the Apple TV+ revival, according to a press release.
Three longtime series also will return. New York City-based classical pianist Jeffrey Siegel will begin his 48th season of Keyboard Conversations at the Center, Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra will present six themed concerts, and the Dance Series will feature the return of Parsons Dance, the Arizona premiere of BalletX and the center debut of New Zealand’s Black Grace.
The announcement is part of a season preview. A full 2026–27 lineup for the center, a department of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts, will be announced later this summer. These early bookings go on sale May 7:
Paula Cole
Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate 30 years of the album that launched “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait” with an intimate, emotionally charged performance.
An Evening with Punch Brothers
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Punch Brothers both embrace and transcend traditional bluegrass, expanding their sound with a mix of playfulness, technical precision and frenzied vitality that builds from strength to strength.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Roots and Rhythm
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, 4 p.m.
This opening concert of the orchestra’s season celebrates music grounded in tradition and brought to life through rhythm and energy.
Killer Queen – A Tribute To Queen ft Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
From “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “Don’t Stop Me Now,” the living jukebox that is Killer Queen is the best way to experience these beloved hits live.
Underneath the Glittery Moon Film Premiere and Reception
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2026, 7 p.m.
Attend the premiere of a uniquely Scottsdale rom-com, where romance sparks for three couples at a community theatre show. Then meet the cast and crew at the after-party!
Marc Broussard
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Incorporating funk, blues, rock and R&B into his fiery performances, Marc Broussard’s bayou soul unleashes energy in the form of music, and the audience reflects it back.
Parsons Dance
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Returning to the Center after eight years, Parsons Dance delivers heart, athleticism and pure joy in motion, thrilling audiences with bold ensemble work and effortless movement.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Color Comes to Life
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026, 4 p.m.
From beloved classics to modern favorites, the magical music of animation bursts into color — live on stage with the energy and imagination of a full orchestra.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, 4 p.m.
Perfect for first-time theatergoers and fans who remain young at heart, “Fraggle Rock” is a hilarious and heartwarming live experience from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
Voctave | It Feels Like Christmas
Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
If you want to truly feel the shimmering joy of the season, look no further than Voctave’s “It Feels Like Christmas,” a magical evening of nostalgic wonder.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Light in Motion
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, 4 p.m.
Celebrate the warmth, wonder and joy of the holidays through an uplifting blend of beloved seasonal favorites and festive orchestral works.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel | Glorious Musical Jewels—Music of Beethoven and Schubert
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Discover “Glorious Musical Jewels” as Jeffrey Siegel uncovers the human story inside the music of Beethoven and Schubert and unfolds hidden depths.
Mariachi Sol de México presents José Hernández’s Merry-achi Christmas
Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
A vibrant concert experience that blends beloved holiday classics with traditional mariachi music and innovative arrangements, this festive performance has become a beloved tradition.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel | The Romantic Music of Brahms
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Be swept away by “The Romantic Music of Brahms” as Jeffrey Siegel proves the world’s best music sounds even better with a good story.
BalletX
Saturday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the Arizona premiere of BalletX, a company that honors the classical ballet tradition while boldly advancing the art form into exciting new territory.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Circles of Connection
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, 4 p.m.
“Circles of Connection” explores the relationships that inspire great music, celebrating the bonds that shape our lives with unforgettable musical storytelling.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel | Chopin in Paris
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Encounter “Chopin in Paris” as Jeffrey Siegel not only performs the composer’s music but also weaves captivating tales, revealing the drama behind the notes.
Black Grace
Saturday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
Making its Arizona debut, Black Grace brings the raw power and ceremonial depth of Pacific Island movement traditions to the stage as it redefines what contemporary dance can be.
Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel | Virtuoso Variations — Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky
Tuesday, March 9, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Experience “Virtuoso Variations” by the world’s greatest composers as Jeffrey Siegel turns the traditional piano recital on its head with something warmer, funnier and more illuminating.
Mariachi Herencia de México: Honoring Juan Gabriel
Friday, March 12, 2027, 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating the timeless artistry of Juan Gabriel, this powerful tribute to El Divo de Juárez brings his influential catalog to life with passion, elegance and mariachi brilliance.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Winds and Wanderings
Sunday, March 21, 2027, 4 p.m.
From windswept landscapes to bold modern energy, “Winds and Wanderings” carries you across time and place with music that moves, explores and inspires.
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra | Symphony Untux’d—Mahler’s First Revealed
Sunday, May 9, 2027, 4 p.m.
“Symphony Untux’d—Mahler’s First Revealed” blends live performance with insight and demonstration, bringing you closer to the music and revealing its energy, structure and emotion.
