Another season, another reason to come back to DPAC––here we are at the start of our 15th anniversary season! For those who were around when our doors first opened in 2004, this milestone marks a poignant moment. Fifteen years is (literally) an odd point to mark in the history of an organization in that it does not necessarily beg for a blowout celebration but it is a time in which we can firmly assert our identity as an established institution in our community. As new buildings open on campus, we see our teen years as a time when our community can look to us for opportunities to explore the best in the performing arts. We take that responsibility very seriously and offer you a season that we hope will inspire and ignite your passion for the arts!
This year, we are proud to continue in our ongoing relationship with esteemed arts organizations such as the Irish Theatre of Chicago (back for two productions including a stirring adaptation of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt), Trike Theatre, Fischoff National Chamber Music Association, and UZIMA! We are also excited to bring back the beloved ensemble, Danú, for an evening of traditional Irish music along with Limerick’s Goitse, your next favorite Celtic music sensation.
We are also pleased to inaugurate a new collaborative project with the Department of Music. Last year, we took new steps with our organ series which included performances at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Recognizing the value of extending our programming beyond the walls of our building, we present a new chamber music series with performances at the LaBar Recital Hall in O’Neill Hall of Music. This series has been co-curated with Music department faculty and promises a rich slate of offerings as we remain committed to presenting the best in chamber music in a stunning new venue.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a season at DPAC without some true headliners. The Leighton Concert Hall will be the room where it happens when Leslie Odom, Jr., Tony Award-winner for his star-making turn as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, joins us for an evening of Broadway showstoppers and jazz and R&B favorites. Opera diva, Kathleen Battle graces us with an inspired performance of songs based on the stories of the Underground Railroad. The Paul Taylor Dance company celebrates the legacy of its acclaimed founder and his towering impact on American modern dance. Finally, we close out our season with a triumphant performance from the Boston Pops on Tour with Keith Lockhart featuring the beloved works of composer John Williams.
For those who have been with us for the last fifteen years, thank you very much for supporting us by voicing your enthusiasm for the arts at Notre Dame. For those new to DPAC, we hope this season gives you many reasons to celebrate what’s next!
Ted Barron is executive director of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and Judd and Mary Lou Leighton Director of the Performing Arts. Barron previously served as senior associate director overseeing the center’s cinema program during which time he led visits to Notre Dame by renowned filmmakers such as Claire Denis, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Larry Karaszewski, Margarethe von Trotta, Benny Safdie, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Barron also teaches courses on global cinema history, documentary film and German film in Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre. Read more
