Music giant Wynton Marsalis, no stranger to Tallahassee stages for decades, is heading this way again as he says so long as the founding artistic director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis, 64, and the LCO’s farewell tour pulls into Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in late January 2027 as part of the new season of Opening Nights (ON) artist series.
“This is one last hurrah for Marsalis,” ON executive director Kevin Maynard, 38, said. “It’s a big deal, so we started working with the agent last year. I think it was the first thing we booked.”
Florida State University’s ON lineup, themed “Stories Worth Telling,” was officially unveiled Tuesday night, June 16, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens. The itinerary features everything from Broadway stars to the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to an award-winning rapper with a symphony added to the mix.
Hear are some highlights:
Tony-winning ‘powerhouse’
The season kicks off an upbeat note with Americana/Christian music performers Drew & Ellie Holcomb (Sept. 4) at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
Find out why singer-actress Audra McDonald has six Tony Awards on her shelf when the Broadway star visits in late February.
“She’ll be here with a quartet so it will be a small ensemble onstage,” said Maynard, who is marking his second season with the ON series. “She is a powerhouse talent.”
McDonald will also hold a masterclass with college musical theater students while in town.
Oscar-winning rapper Common, who studied for two years with a scholarship at FAMU, is back to collaborate with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra in mid-November 2026 at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park.“Basically, it’ll be Common’s band backed by the symphony,” Maynard said. “The music is Common’s songs.”
The TSO is also backing up singer-actor Leslie Odom Jr., who originated the role of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton” on Broadway, in early March during a stopover in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
“He is a phenomenal performer,” Maynard said. “He is a genuine entertainer who connects with his audience.”
Global outlook
The upcoming ON programing also packs an international scope.
The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine treks a long way to play a program in mid-February 2027 in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
“They will start with a piece by a Ukrainian composer and then they’ll have more of a traditional classical music repertoire,” Maynard said.
“Mrs. Krishnan’s Party” revels in India culture and food. It’s an immersive theater experience being held during a three-night run in a modified rehearsal hall in Westcott during February 2027. At the end, everyone in attendance can dig in on some dal that is cooked during the performance.
“The ticket buyers are not just there to watch a show, they are part of the show,” Maynard said.
One of Maynard’s top picks in the new season is Manual Cinema from Chicago’s live presentation of “The 4th Witch” in late March Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. “The 4th Witch” is based on Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” and uses projectors, multiple screens, Asian shadow puppets, actors, live moody music and more to cast a spooky spell.
“Sometimes it feels like watching a comic book unfold live onstage,” Maynard said. “Sometimes when people hear the concept of it, they go. ‘Oh, this sounds like fun, I will bring the kids.’ It may work for kids, um, just certain kids.”
Shifting to the grassroots level, Tallahassee-born singer-guitarist Katie Skene returns home from Nashville-via-West Coast for an evening of “cosmic swamp Americana” in early November at Goodwood Museum & Gardens.
“I will admit it, I didn’t know who she was,” said Maynard, who arrived in Tallahassee from Illinois last summer. After “going down a rabbit’s hole” listening to Skene’s music on Spotify and YouTube, Skene was quickly added to the roster.
For a complete list of all the acts coming visit openingnights.fsu.edu.
History and tickets
ON has been going for nearly 30 seasons. It was created by then-FSU president Sandy D’Alemberte.
Past visiting performers to the ON series include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singer Mavis Staples, songwriter Randy Newman, blues guitarist Buddy Guy, author Margaret Atwood, violinist Joshua Bell, horror writer Stephen King, humorist David Sedaris, country legend Willie Nelson, TV raconteur Anthony Bourdain, poet Billy Collins, FSU alum and singer Rita Coolidge, comic Joan Rivers, jazz pianist and FSU grad Marcus Roberts (who once played with Marsalis), novelist Salman Rushdie, comic actor Martin Short, singer Aaron Neville, Oscar-winning movie director Jonathan Demme, rocker Elvis Costello and many more.
ON members and sponsors can purchase tickets for the first part of the latest season through January on July 6. Tickets for the public start selling Aug. 3. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu for more.
The remaining performances, February through April 2027, go on sale in November. Ticket prices range from $30 to $125.
Two additional performances — one musical and the other comedic — will be announced shortly, Maynard said.
Schedule for Opening Nights season 2026-2027
Drew & Ellie Holcomb — Hear Dove Award-winning Christian tunes with an Americana-country twist from Nashville. Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Tinsley Ellis — The Louisianna blues dude brings his guitar back to town for another funky hoedown. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 | Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Madeleine Peyroux — The singer hails from Georgia, but she learned her vocal craft in France. She arrives with her French-flecked jazz-pop band in tow. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 | Opperman Music Hall
One Night in Memphis — Soak in the sounds of what Beale Street nightclubs and dance joints must have sounded like in the 1950s. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Adele Myers and Dancers: a world gone FABULOUS — Get ready for an athletic approach to movement when the Miami troupe leaps into town. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026 | Nancy Smith Fitcher Theatre
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band — Crank up the Sousa marches and patriotic tunes when the Marine brass takes the stage. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Grace George — Ethereal Brit artist George makes her American debut with her guitar and tape loops. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 | Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Alash Ensemble — What’s that otherworldly sound? Be transported by Tuvan throat singing when this group makes the long trip from Central Asia. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 | Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Katie Skene and Friends — She learned her blues guitar chops in Tallahassee and honed her musician skills in California, now hear how she puts it all together. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 | Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Common with TSO — After popular concerts with The Flaming Lips, Ben Folds and The Violent Femmes, why not collaborate with a rap/soul star with a national rep? Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 | Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park
Whose Live Anyway? — Improvisational comedy and quick one-liners will be based on audience input during this raucous show. Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Barron Ryan — Get in a festive holiday mood with this piano program of yuletide tunes. Thursday, Dec.10, 2026 | Opperman Music Hall
Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel — The son of Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band) will carry the torch of guitar skills into the present day. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027 | Opperman Music Hall
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra — Horn player extraordinaire Marsalis takes his final lap as the director of the leader of the band. Expect emotional fireworks. Thursday, Jan. 28. 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
“The Pirates of Penzance” — Need a fix of Gilbert & Sullivan fast-moving musical whimsy? Look no further. Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine — The program promises a mix of Ukrainian composers and classical fare with a pianist in tow, Thursday, Feb, 11, 2027 | RubyDiamond Concert Hall
PRISM — The annual, non-stop brass band concert of pop tunes and more returns, including The FSU Marching Chiefs blasting the rafters indoors. One way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
“Mrs. Krishnan’s Party” An interactive theater piece that features audience participation in a celebration of Indian food and festivals. — Feb. 17–20, 2027 | Multiple performances in a rehearsal hall beneath Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in Westcott
Audra McDonald — The “Gypsy” queen of the Broadway stage provides an evening songs culled from the stage and screen. Thursday, Feb, 25. 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Leslie Odom Jr. with TSO — Multitalented Broadway actor-singer is featured with the TSO, which is really stretching out musically. Saturday, March 6, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Manual Cinema’s “The 4th Witch” — The dark side of “Macbeth” gets remade with shadow puppets, multiple screens, live music and more. Monday, March 22, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Vienna Girls Choir — Hit the high notes when female version of the famous choir from Austria travels to town. Tuesday, April 6, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Jamison Ross — Grammy-nominated FSU jazz grad brings his drum kit and vocal chops back to his alma mater to hold court. Friday, April 9, 2027 | Opperman Music Hall
JazzReach: TRUTH. — A tribute to jazz great and saxophonist John Coltrane, who would have turned 100 recently, is spotlighted on the program. Friday, April 16, 2027 | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Mark Hinson is a former senior writer at The Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached at mark.hinson59@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU’s Opening Nights reveals new season lineup for 2026-2027
Reporting by Mark Hinson, Tallahassee Democrat correspondent / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Hinson, Tallahassee Democrat correspondent | USA TODAY Network
