The Center’s 2022–23 Season Is About Creating Experiences
May 2022
The Center for the Performing Arts has announced its most robust season since its inception and is bringing in commercial “big” shows like Marie Osmond, Michael Bolton, Johnny Mathis, Boney James, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Diana Krall, Kevin Nealon, Lewis Black, Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin and so many more exhilarating performers from all over the globe!
I sat down with the center’s CEO/President Jeff McDermott who shared his thoughts on this upcoming season. McDermott also reflected on how the center has earned a reputation in the industry as a must-play venue.
Creating Experiences for All
The center’s 2022–23 season exudes diversity and boasts a magnificent lineup of talent from all over the globe. While the center is proud to have successfully presented 46 performances in its most recent season, it is even more excited to announce its largest lineup—to date—at its annual season announcement event. Plus, there are even more shows to come and will be announced throughout the season as they become finalized and official!
According to McDermott, the focus is on creating “experiences” and not just booking 70-plus shows.
“There are shows and then then are experiences,” McDermott expressed. “All of our shows are wonderful, but when everything is clicking with the artist and the audience—there’s a feeling in the hall that is an elevated feeling. We’ve had some phenomenal shows, and looking at this season, we’ve never had this many [shows] booked at this point, heading into a new season.”
McDermott added, “We are excited about putting together the most robust season we’ve ever had, and I think we have a reputation in this industry now. It’s been 11 years in the making. We worked for it, the community worked for it, and I think we’re enjoying the benefits of all of those efforts.”
When asked about the process of building the new season’s lineup, McDermott said, “Part of our mission is to bring performances here that give this community a taste of everything that the universe has to offer, and that includes performers who may not be as commercially well known, and big shows like Sting, John Legend and Ben Folds. We announced a big season, which is incredible, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. We’ve got more coming!”
The center’s focus has shifted from surviving 2020 to recovery in 2021 to a return to business as usual in 2022. It is also placing a more intentional focus on diversity—as showcased in its seasonal programming—within its internal operations with staff and board positions in addition to its programming.
“We don’t make widgets here—our products are our performances and educational opportunities,” McDermott stated. “The more diversity we bring to those, the more we drive [diversity] in this community. Our goal is not just the 70-plus shows—that are diverse in every way that you can define diversity—but it is to also create a sense of inclusion and to create experiences for an entire community.”
Get the alerts on newly announced shows first! Visit thecenterpresents.org to become a subscriber! View the entire 2022–23 season online, get tickets and learn about becoming a subscriber or series and/or performance sponsor. You’ll be glad that you did!
Highlights of the Center’s 2022–23 Season
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Faegre Drinker Encore Series
Lewis Black: Off the Rails
Saturday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Comedy Series
Diana Krall
Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Faegre Drinker Encore Series
Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour
Saturday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Hoosier Village & The Barrington of Carmel Songbook Series
All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Holiday Series
Dave Koz and Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour
Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Holiday Series
Performance Sponsor SBC Wealth Management
Marie Osmond: A Symphonic Christmas Tour
Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Holiday Series
Michael Bolton: Greatest Hits & Holiday Favorites
Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Holiday Series
Kevin Nealon
Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Comedy Series
The Four Phantoms in Concert
Friday, April 21, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Hoosier Village & The Barrington of Carmel Songbook Series
Additional Notable Performances
Get Happy: Michael Feinstein Celebrates the Judy Garland Centennial
Saturday, April 29, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Hoosier Village & The Barrington of Carmel Songbook Series
Special Events
Luminare Christmas
Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Holiday Series
Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin Together Onstage
Thursday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Katz, Sapper & Miller Pop/Rock Series
Boney James
Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Drewry Simmons Vornehm Jazz Series
Performance Sponsor SBC Wealth Management
Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine
Friday, Feb. 24, 2023
The Palladium
Printing Partners Classical Series
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall in Concert
Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Drewry Simmons Vornehm Jazz Series
Chris Botti
Saturday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m.
The Palladium
Drewry Simmons Vornehm Jazz Series
U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus
Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
Special Event
Brian Skerry: Secrets of the Whales
Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. (Free student matinee at 10 a.m.)
The Palladium
National Geographic Live Series
Eliane Elias
Sunday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.
The Palladium
Telamon Passport Series
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Courtesy of the Center for the Performing Arts and Janelle Morrison