The Hot Sardines, photo by Shervin Lainez
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On May 30th, Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen, Executive Director Martin Miller, and Director of Presented Programming Paula Abreu announced McCarter Theatre Center's expanded lineup of live events for the 2024-2025 season, adding to the theatre, classical music, and dance offerings previously announced. The season features a rich variety of multi-disciplinary performances from some of the world’s most celebrated talents in the performing arts.
Highlights of the season include an evening with the acclaimed humorist David Sedaris, a family-friendly sing-along film concert of Disney’s Encanto, and the storytelling phenomenon The Moth. Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal will revisit their album The Wheel and jazz ensemble The Hot Sardines return to McCarter with a spirited classic jazz performance.
“I am thrilled to present work that reflects McCarter’s commitment to artistic excellence,” said Paula Abreu. “I believe these events, along with even more still-to-be-announced, are offering a diversity of experiences that will resonate with our dedicated audiences and attract new ones, creating a space where everyone can feel that they belong.”
This added lineup joins the previously announced events in the upcoming Dance, Theatre, and Classical Music series, as well as, Michael Feinstein’s tribute to Tony Bennett featuring the Carnegie Hall Ensemble. These events include the world-premiere of the musical adaptation of Empire Records, the Grammy-winning chamber choir The Crossing, the 60th anniversary celebration of Twyla Tharp Dance, and more.
More shows will be announced at a later date. For more information and to view the full schedule of events, visit McCarter.org.
Tickets and Choose-Your-Own Packages will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, June 4 at 12:00pm.
2024-2025 Subscriptions are available at McCarter.org or by calling Patron Services at 609-258-2787. Subscribers save 20% on tickets and receive benefits like free exchanges, exclusive pre-sale access, and preferred seating.
MUSIC
Michael Feinstein in Because of You - My Tribute to Tony Bennett featuring the Carnegie Hall Ensemble; September 20, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Joined by the dynamic Carnegie Hall Ensemble, Michael Feinstein celebrates the unparalleled legacy of his late friend Tony Bennett with heartfelt renditions of Bennett’s greatest hits.
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal; October 18, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal will revisit the music and stories behind The Wheel, celebrating the album's 30th anniversary.
The Hot Sardines; November 8, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. The Hot Sardines are bringing their infectious energy to McCarter, promising an evening of timeless jazz music, with a fresh twist that only they can deliver.
COMEDY, SPOKEN WORD, FAMILY
An Evening with David Sedaris; October 3, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Humorist, and Princeton favorite, David Sedaris returns to McCarter following the release of his newest books, A Carnival of Snackery and Pretty Ugly.
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert; October 4, 2024 at 7:00pm; Matthews Theatre. Create magical memories with the whole family. This interactive performance and screening features live music by Banda de la Casita, bringing Disney’s beloved film to life.
The Moth; November 23, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. The global phenomenon featuring true stories told live comes to Princeton.
DANCE
Ballet Hispánico; September 28, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Experience the vibrancy and passion of Ballet Hispánico, a leader in Latinx culture and dance for over 50 years.
SW!NG OUT; October 25, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Swing by for SW!NG OUT, an exhilarating evening of live music and spectacular swing dance culminating in an on-stage jam session inviting the audience to join in on the fun.
Noli Timere; February 7-8, 2025 (February 8 at 2pm will be a Relaxed Performance); Berlind Theatre. Witness the breathtaking aerial dance of Noli Timere, a collaboration between choreographer Rebecca Lazier and sculptor Janet Echelman, where dance meets engineering high above the stage.
Bereishit Dance Company; February 27, 2025 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. The Seoul-based Bereishit Dance Company is celebrated for its athletic precision and creative choreography, approaching Korean traditional culture from a contemporary perspective.
Twyla Tharp Dance – 60th Anniversary Tour; April 17, 2025 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Known as one of the most influential voices in contemporary dance, celebrate Twyla Tharp’s 60 years of choreographic brilliance.
Pilobolus re:CREATION; May 16, 2025 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Pushing the boundaries of human physicality and visual artistry, audiences will journey into surreal worlds inhabited by otherworldly creatures and fantastical visions.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Randall Goosby Returns: Renaissance Quartet; November 21, 2024 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Rooted in tradition yet boldly embracing the spirit of the 21st century, these four virtuosos journey through diverse musical landscapes, infused with jazz influences and remarkable technical prowess.
The Brandenburg Concertos - The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; December 16, 2024 at 7:30pm; Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University. Hailed by the New Yorker as ‘joyous, effervescent, and yes, festive.’ As a pinnacle of Baroque musical art, the Brandenburg Concertos showcase Bach’s unmatched mastery and musical ingenuity.
The Crossing performing David Lang’s poor hymnal; Donald Nally, Conductor; February 4, 2025 at 7:30pm; Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University. A trailblazing and Grammy award-winning chamber choir helmed by the visionary Donald Nally, The Crossing pushes the boundaries of choral music presenting a dynamic fusion of new work.
Czech National Symphony Orchestra; February 21, 2025 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Celebrated for its vibrant interpretations and broad musical repertoire, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) - one of Europe’s leading orchestras - brings the heart of Czech musical tradition to the stage.
Julia Fisher, violin and Jan Lisiecki, piano; March 25, 2025 at 7:30pm; Matthews Theatre. Experience the seamless harmony and technical mastery of these two musical giants in a program that celebrates the legacy and beauty of classical music.
THEATRE
World Premiere Musical EMPIRE RECORDS Music & Lyrics by Zoe Sarnak; Book by Carol Heikkinen; Directed by Trip Cullman; September 6 – October 6, 2024; Berlind Theatre. Overflowing with optimism, ‘90s counterculture, rooftop dancing, and the spirit of punk rock, Empire Records tells the story of a band of idealist misfits fighting to save their beloved record store from a corporate takeover. With tactics ranging from desperate to dangerous, the team comes together during a visit by over the hill pop star Rex Manning to discover the true value of friendship, love, and music—all in one extraordinary, unforgettable day.
DUEL REALITY by The 7 Fingers; October 9 – 13, 2024; Matthews Theatre. An epic, cirque-infused performance that dazzles the senses and stirs the heart. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, two feuding families engage in a battle of skill, each competition more daring than the last – while a pair of star-crossed lovers struggles to escape the showdown. Exhilaration and danger provide a thrilling backdrop to The 7 Fingers’ one-of-a-kind daredevil theatrical extravaganza. For all ages.
HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES by Moisés Kaufman & Amanda Gronich; conceived and directed by Moisés Kaufman; January 24 – February 9, 2025; Matthews Theatre; 2024 Pulitzer Prize Finalist. Hailed as the “best theatre of the year” (Los Angeles Times) this celebrated new production from Tony-nominated director Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project (The Laramie Project), comes to Princeton to launch the play’s national tour with an unmissable, two-week-only engagement. In 2007, a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs arrived at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. As curators unraveled the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon made headlines and ignited a debate that reverberated far beyond the museum walls. Based on real events, Here There Are Blueberries tells the story of these historical photographs—what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and our own humanity.
LEGACY OF LIGHT by Karen Zacarías; directed by Sarah Rasmussen; March 20 – April 6, 2025; Matthews Theatre. What is the science of love? In Princeton, New Jersey, a brilliant astrophysicist tries to become a mother. Meanwhile—300 years earlier, in France—a mathematician, scientist, and lover to Voltaire finds out she’s about to become one. From the writer of Native Gardens and Destiny of Desire—which will premiere on Broadway this fall—Legacy of Light is a bright and funny new play about life, the universe, and parenthood.
PRIMARY TRUST by Eboni Booth; directed by Timothy Douglas; co-production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; May 1 – 18, 2025; Berlind Theatre. 2024 Pulitzer Prize Winner. A New York Times Critics Pick, hailed as a “a five-star, exceptional, buffed-to-gleaming jewel” by the Daily Beast, this play arrives fresh from its acclaimed, sold-out premiere. An absorbing and open-hearted comedy about new beginnings, Primary Trust explores the inner and outer lives of Kenneth, a dedicated loner with a passion for drinking Mai Tais on weeknights. When he begins to face a world he’s long avoided, will he have the courage to embrace a new start in life?
A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens; Adapted and Directed by Lauren Keating; December 10 – 29, 2024; Matthews Theatre. McCarter's annual holiday tradition returns with magic, music, and merriment for all. Starring Joel McKinnon Miller (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as Ebenezer Scrooge, journey on a fantastical adventure through Christmases past, present and future and enjoy this classic story as it comes to life around you. Create magical memories with the ones you love as this festive spectacle ushers you into the spirit of the season with all the delight, wonder, and generosity that Scrooge himself discovers.
McCarter is one of the country's flagship theatres and a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world. The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and in schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
