The 2025-2026 University Arts Series features nationally touring performances in the intimate setting of the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. Subscription packages are on sale for current subscribers beginning August 6 and to the general public August 11. The last day to purchase a season subscription by phone or in-person is Friday, August 22, with online subscriptions closing at midnight on Sunday, August 24.
Subscribers get first access to tickets, choose the events they want to see and choose their preferred seat location. Subscription packages begin at four events. Ticket prices vary by event and seat location. Single ticket sales begin August 25 at 10 a.m.
Get more information and purchase tickets online at go.wvu.edu/events and by phone at 304-293-SHOW (7469).
Season events include:
Mountain Stage with host Kathy Mattea – three performances on September 21 (with
guest host David Mayfield), October 19 and January 18 at 7 p.m.
Mountain Stage features performances by five artists ranging from seasoned legends
to emerging newcomers. The genres represented run the gamut from folk, blues and
country to indie rock, synth pop, world music and beyond. Each live performance
is recorded for air on public radio where it can be heard on nearly 300 stations
nationwide and globally via NPR Music. West Virginia native and two-time Grammy
winner Kathy Mattea serves as host. See the list of artists for each performance
at go.wvu.edu/events.
The Addams Family – September 22 at 7:30 p.m.
A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, The Addams Family
is the magnificently macabre hit musical featuring everyone’s favorite creepy,
kooky characters. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown
up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family.
A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides
in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something
he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything
will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's
"normal" boyfriend and his parents.
Mrs. Doubtfire – October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Out-of-work actor Daniel Hillard will do anything for his kids. After losing custody
in a messy divorce, he creates the kindly alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia
Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes
on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for
about how to be a father. A hysterical and heartfelt story about holding onto your
loved ones against all odds, Mrs. Doubtfire is the musical comedy we need right
now – one that proves we’re better together.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet – December 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Share the joy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet with family and friends.
Give the gift of a spectacular holiday experience featuring an international cast,
whimsical puppetry and opulent costumes and sets, hand-crafted by the finest artisans
of Europe. Go back to a simpler time and make memories your family will cherish
forever. Celebrate the season with America’s most beloved Nutcracker tradition!
Tchaikovsky’s timeless score sets the stage for a Christmas your family will never
forget.
Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular – December 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the season with the Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular featuring
dazzling illusions, breathtaking, grand-scale magic, and festive surprises for
the whole family. This high-energy, interactive show blends their signature
humor, jaw-dropping magic, and holiday cheer, creating a one-of-a-kind experience
perfect for the season. Don’t miss this enchanting celebration filled with
wonder, spectacle, and joy!
Chicago – January 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Chicago is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake:
a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz, with one showstopping song
after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. In the whirlwind
of Chicago’s Jazz Age, two of the Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses
—vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart — become fierce rivals
as they compete for headlines amidst a media frenzy.
Kinky Boots – March 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Broadway’s Tony® and Grammy Award®-winning big-hearted musical hit, Kinky Boots,
captivates and entertains audiences around the world with a score by Cyndi Lauper,
book by Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell.
Based on true events, Kinky Boots follows the journey of an unlikely pair who discover that you
change the world when you change your mind.
Riverdance – April 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and
international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The
Grammy award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography
and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as
a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this incredible 30th year milestone,
Riverdance will embark on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences
around the world. Audiences will enjoy a unique and memorable performance which
blends the traditional and the contemporary, showcasing the skill and passion of
the world-class of dancers, musicians and singers in the Riverdance ensemble.
The Music Man – May 28 at 7:30 p.m.
There's trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen
by the town librarian. Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical
comedy The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he
cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a
boys' band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn't know
a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled
when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable
citizen by curtain's fall. Featuring songs such as "Seventy-Six Trombones,"
"Trouble," "'Til There Was You," "Pickalittle" and “Gary, Indiana," The Music Man is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.
The University Arts Series is produced by the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media. Stay connected with the latest event updates through Facebook and Instagram by following @wvuccam.
CONTACT:
Erica Lindsay
Erica.lindsay@mail.wvu.edu
304-293-7016