The 2025-26 Newman Center Presents Season is Here
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
It is such a thrill to share the 2025-2026 Newman Center Presents season with you. Revealing the next season of compelling, powerful, and thought-provoking performances is one of my favorite moments of the year.
Whether it’s the iconic Branford Marsalis Quartet, global music sensation Fatoumata Diawara, or the virtuoso mandolinist Chris Thile, Newman Center Presents brings talent from around the world you will not find anywhere else in Denver. Many artists, such as Sunny Jain, La Santa Cecilia, and Ephrat Asherie, refuse to be confined to a given genre, instead forging their own path to create singular performance styles. Their melding of styles and genres from around the globe are uniquely American and reflect the best of our country.
Our vision to be the cultural anchor of a dynamic, thriving 21st-century Denver starts with you. We draw inspiration from the cultures found in our community, and bring less-represented traditions to share with our audiences. We cultivate programming that reflects local and national conversations, inspires our patrons, and shines a light on voices and talents that might not otherwise be showcased.
One of my favorite experiences is spending time in the Joy Burns Plaza, connecting with audience members who have been transformed by their experience and are brimming with excitement, lingering long after the performance has ended. As you consider this season’s offerings, I challenge you to consider purchasing tickets to see an artist or two who might be new to you. You never know when that bolt of inspiration might strike. We can’t wait to go on this journey with you.
Warmly,
Aisha Ahmad-Post, Executive Director
THE NEWMAN CENTER PRESENTS 2025-2026 SEASON
Darcy James Argue - October 4, 2025 (JAZZ)
Latin GRAMMY® winner and Guggenheim Fellow Darcy James Argue is “one of the top big band composers of our time” (Stereophile) with an uncanny “ability to combine his love of jazz’s past with more contemporary sonics” (Pitchfork). As bandleader of the acclaimed Secret Society, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Argue blends jazz with contemporary classical and experimental elements through intricate compositions and dynamic performances.
Ballet Hispánico New York - October 11, 2025 (DANCE)
Led by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s premiere Hispanic and Latine dance organization and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. With a mission to celebrate Latinx cultures through dance, the company continues to push boundaries and break new ground in the arts. Their highly anticipated return to the Newman Center will showcase a mixed repertory program featuring works by some of the company’s favorite choreographers, including the talented Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. This performance promises to be a vibrant and dynamic celebration of Latinx culture, movement, and storytelling.
Branford Marsalis Quartet - October 17, 2025 (JAZZ)
GRAMMY®-winning Branford Marsalis has earned global acclaim for his virtuosic mastery. The quartet's influence extends beyond jazz—Marsalis has played with orchestras, composed for Broadway, and toured with iconic artists such as Sting and the Grateful Dead. Whether performing original works or reinventing jazz standards, his performances offer unforgettable experiences that showcase the depth of Marsalis' artistic vision.
Sunny Jain's Wild Wild East - November 8, 2025 (GLOBAL ROOTS)
Sunny Jain is a composer, drummer, and dhol player best known for founding the pioneering Bhangra-jazz-rock band Red Baraat. His project Wild Wild East sources inspiration from Bollywood classics, Punjabi folk traditions, jazz improvisation, and rollicking psychedelic styles described as “furiously propulsive” by the New York Times. Sunny appeared as "Mr. Tambourine Man" in A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet.
Hung Dance: Birdy - November 19, 2025 (DANCE)
Founded in 2017 by LAI Hung-chung, Taiwan's Hung Dance seamlessly fuses Peking Opera, Tai Chi, and contemporary dance. Their award-winning production Birdy has captivated audiences worldwide, with 21 sold-out performances at Avignon OFF and a prominent spot at the 91st American Dance Festival (ADF). The piece incorporates symbolic elements such as the Ling Zi and Rattan pole, delving into profound themes of freedom, constraint, and identity. With its blend of traditional and modern influences, Birdy speaks to the human experience with a poetic intensity, offering a moving reflection on the complexities of personal and cultural expression.
Bria Skonberg - December 10, 2025 (SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS)
Singer, trumpeter, and songwriter Bria Skonberg has been called the “shining hope of hot jazz” (NY Times) and is considered “one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (WSJ). The Juno Award winner brings her take on seasonal favorites this December with her sextet.
Chris Thile - January 15, 2025 (SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS)
Chris Thile, GRAMMY®-winning mandolinist, vocalist, and composer, has worked with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Brad Mehldau and is a founding member of both the Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek. His blend of Western classical, bluegrass, and newgrass has created a distinct new American sound beloved by audiences everywhere.
La Santa Cecilia - January 23, 2026 (GLOBAL ROOTS)
La Santa Cecilia is a GRAMMY® winning band that fuses rock and Pan-American rhythms including cumbia, bolero, mariachi and son jarocho.. The band has become the voice of a new bicultural generation in the United States, fully immersed in modern music, but always close to their Mexican heritage. Their music celebrates humanity through infectious melodies and heartfelt performances.
The Okee Dokee Brothers - January 25, 2026 (SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS)
The Okee Dokee Brothers are five-time Parents’ Choice Award winners and have been featured on PBS KIDS, garnered praise from the likes of NPR’s All Things Considered and called “two of family music’s best songwriters." Their Denver roots inspire the GRAMMY® winning duo’s music with a passion for the outdoors and Americana Folk music.
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble - January 29, 2026 (JAZZ)
Don Was is President of the venerated jazz label, Blue Note Records. Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble celebrate the 50th anniversary of Blues for Allah, the timeless Grateful Dead album. The ensemble will play the album in its entirety to celebrate its profound influence over the last half of a century.
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water - The Gospel of James Baldwin - February 13, 2026 (JAZZ)
A bass player above all else, Meshell brings her warm, fat, and melodic groove to everything she does. Her last two albums The Omnichord Real Book and No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin each earned the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album and she has played alongside The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chaka Khan and many others.
Ephrat Asherie Dance with Arturo O'Farrill: Shadow Cities - February 19, 2026 (DANCE)
In a thrilling collaboration between GRAMMY®-winning pianist/composer Arturo O'Farrill and renowned street dancer/choreographer Ephrat Asherie, Shadow Cities blends street dance with Latin jazz in a vibrant, boundary-blurring performance. This dynamic fusion explores identity, connection, and transformation through rhythm and movement. Asherie’s dynamic movement phrases paired with O'Farrill’s innovative compositions invite audiences into a world that celebrates the beauty and vastness of in-between spaces—whether cultural, temporal, or emotional. The collaboration highlights the power of dance and music as tools for personal and collective expression, telling stories of belonging and the transformative potential of creative unity.
MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT BEING ALIVE with Adam Ben-David on Piano - February 27, 2026 (SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS)
Before he was an Emmy-winning TV star, Mandy Patinkin was already a Tony-winning Broadway legend. Mandy Patinkin in Concert: BEING ALIVE, presents the acclaimed actor / singer / storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer. “Mandy Patinkin is in the business of showstopping,” raves The New Yorker, and that’s exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of song.
Cirque Kalabanté - March 12, 2026 (DANCE)
Founded in 2007 by Guinean circus artist Yamoussa Bangoura, Cirque Kalabanté takes its inspiration from the music, culture, dance, and performance art of West Africa. Now based in Montreal, the organization also maintains education and humanitarian projects in Bangoura’s home country of Guinea. With live Afro-jazz, percussion, and kora, this work vibrates with energy, agility, and joy.
MOMIX - Alice - March 21 & 22, 2026 (DANCE)
Founded by Moses Pendleton (Pilobolus), MOMIX blends dance and acrobatics, creating unique, immersive performances. Alice reimagines Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with movement, acrobatics, and illusions, pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance. The work embodies the whimsy and absurdity of Carroll’s children’s story offering a mesmerizing reimagination of the beloved literary classic.
Fatoumata Diawara - April 2, 2026 (GLOBAL ROOTS)
This performance has been canceled.
Ranky Tanky & Lisa Fischer - April 7, 2026 (JAZZ)
Ranky Tanky, the GRAMMY®-winning group reviving Gullah music with jazz, blues, and gospel, joins forces with powerhouse vocalist Lisa Fischer, known for her stunning vocals with The Rolling Stones and 20 Feet from Stardom. Together, they deliver a soul-stirring performance, blending deep-rooted traditions with electrifying, contemporary energy.