EIU Media Relations

EIU’s Doudna Fine Arts Center releases 2026-27 premier event schedule

Tickets now available for upcoming performances

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center will host a variety of premier-level events and shows throughout the 2026-27 academic year. The Doudna Fine Arts Center’s premier events are meant to entertain regional citizens in and around the EIU and Coles County communities through lively visual and musical performances. According to this season’s promotional items, the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s 2026-27 season will be packed full of extraordinary talents and captivating performances, and also will feature the inaugural Dr. David Glassman Presidential Lecture in March 2027. The full 2026-27 premier performance lineup includes:

• Une Soirée au Cabaret—Saturday, August 29; 7:30 p.m. in The Theatre
  The SHARP Dance Company invites attendees to journey back to early 1900s France with Une Soirée au Cabaret. Experience an electrifying evening reminiscent of the spirited, risqué charm of historic French cabarets. With original choreography from the company’s Artistic Director, Diane Sharp-Nachsin, and guided by a charismatic Master of Ceremonies, attendees will be swept away into the vibrant world of dance, live vocals, and immersive visual art. With a blend of pastiche, parody, and sharp wit, this night of live entertainment is sure to leave guests uniquely engaged. Those interested in continuing the fun after the show can sign up for the VIP post-performance party with the performers!  
• Bill W. and Dr. Bob—Friday and Saturday, September 18 & 19; 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
  See the powerful, funny, & profoundly inspirational true story of the two men who founded Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as the story of their wives who founded Al-Anon. Following the stock market crash in 1929, stockbroker Bill Wilson becomes a hopeless drunk. Surgeon Dr. Bob Smith has been an alcoholic for 30 years, often entering the operating room hungover. After meeting, the two form a relationship and help each other stay sober, beginning their journey from the pain and isolation of alcoholism to the hope and inspiration they find in sobriety and helping others.
• Musae—Friday, October 16; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  Standing at the forefront of the female vocal band scene, Jessie, Angela, Jo, Lily, and Mel are the extraordinary talent behind Musae. With a remarkable journey that began in 2011, these dynamic individuals have graced television screens, captivating audiences on shows like NBC's The Sing-Off and Pop Network's Sing It On, while also achieving recognition at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Finals. Through their unrivaled artistry and boundary-pushing vocals, Musae is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience, and held in conjunction with the 3rd annual ACA Fest (A Cappella Festival) at EIU.
• Counterpoint—Friday, January 22, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  Counterpoint is a collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. Hear Tao play works like the Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations while Teicher tap dances and explores other contemporary dance techniques. The duo explores the dichotomy between their individual perspectives and artistic practices, expanding their expressive capacities through a collective experience. Threading together dance and music, Tao and Teicher find the harmonic, rhythmic, and theatrical counterpoint between their contrasting traditions, driving the imagination and opening the heart.
• John Fedchock (Part of the 67th Annual Jaz Festival at EIU)—Friday, February 5, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  John Fedchock’s illustrious career in jazz has spanned over four decades. Since first emerging on the scene, Fedchock has established himself as a world-class trombone soloist, a heralded bandleader, and a Grammy-nominated arranger. Beginning in 1980 by joining the legendary Woody Herman Orchestra as a jazz trombonist, he toured with Woody’s “Thundering Herd” for seven years as musical director and a featured soloist. Later forming his own band, the critically acclaimed John Fedchock New York Big Band, Fedchock was able to showcase his own talents in trombone and music arrangement, as well as the talents of the band’s all-star soloists. Fedchock is a two-time Grammy Award nominee for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” in recognition of his formidable arranging skills.
  
• Skerryvore—Saturday, February 13, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  Skerryvore is redefining the traditional Scottish music scene for a more modern, multicultural audience, mixing bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, and whistles with guitar and vocals. This contemporary Scottish band communicates in epic melodies and intimate feelings, supported by driving bass, drums, and keys to bring their high-energy performances to audiences across the globe. Skerryvore’s wide range of influences and connection to the roots of Scotland produces a musically expansive, immersive yet intimate set that excites and captivates audiences. For a truly one-of-a-kind experience, attendees can join the band for a pre-show whisky tasting and desserts! The post-concert event will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre, so seating is limited.
• Adaptation featuring Alizé Carrère—Tuesday, March 9, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  This is the inaugural event of the Dr. David Glassman Presidential Lecture Series
  National Geographic speaker and host of the television series Adaptation, Alizé Carrère is a scientist and filmmaker researching and documenting how humans are adapting to climate change. In completing her Ph.D. in ecosystem science and policy at the University of Miami, she examined the rise of “climatopias,” aspirational architecture and urban planning proposals for climate change. In 2013, Carrère received a grant from the National Geographic Society to examine how farmers were unexpectedly adapting to severe deforestation in Madagascar. Through this, her work evolved into a broader film project on human resilience in the face of profound environmental change.
• PROJECT Trio—Friday, April 2, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  PROJECT Trio is a dynamic and innovative chamber music ensemble known for their genre-blending performances and captivating stage presence. With three virtuosic composer/performers hailing from Brooklyn, New York, the group blends their classical training with an eclectic taste in musical styles. They push the boundaries of traditional chamber music with their unique fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, Baroque, nu-metal, and more. Experience their contagious energy and accomplished musicianship to see why PROJECT Trio has gained worldwide acclaim for their electrifying performances that defy categorization and captivate audiences of all ages.
• Sō Percussion—Friday, April 9, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  For 25 years and counting, Grammy-winning percussion quartet Sō Percussion has been redefining chamber music for the 21st century. They have been celebrated by audiences and presenters for their dazzling range of work and how they bring to life their vibrant percussion repertoire. Through a blend of classical music, pop, indie rock, contemporary dance, and theatre, Sō Percussion seeks to explore the immense possibility of art in modern times.
• Seraph Brass (featuring the EIU Wind Symphony)—Friday, April 16, 2027; 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall
  Seraph Brass was founded by trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden with a mission to showcase the excellence of women brass players and to highlight musicians from marginalized groups, both in personnel and in programming. With core artists Mary Elizabeth Bowden, Morgen Low, Layan Atieh, Lauren Casey-Clyde, and Robyn Black, the group has been praised for its “beautiful sounds” (American Record Guide) and “staggeringly high caliber of performance” (Textura). Along with quintet performances and residencies, Seraph performs as a 10-piece ensemble, as soloists with large ensembles, and in collaboration with other chamber artists. 

Groups of four (4) or more will save $5 on each ticket purchased for all the above premier performance events. Interested attendees can explore these premier events and other Doudna Fine Arts Center departmental performances in the 2026-27 season’s digital brochure, available online at go.eiu.edu/Doudna2026-27. 

Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center, located on EIU’s Charleston, Illinois campus, is a cultural beacon for residents of Central Illinois and beyond, presenting performances by EIU students and faculty, and by school and community groups across the region. For tickets to these and other Doudna performances, visit doudnatix.universitytickets.com or call the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office at (217) 581-3110.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.