BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Auditorium announces its 2025–2026 season schedule that includes Broadway hits, award-winning musicians and performers, and more.

 

The schedule is packed full of Broadway hits and national touring favorites, including the high-anticipated return of the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon, the Bloomington debuts of Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire, and TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, as well as Kinky Boots, and Blue Man Group.

 

In addition to these amazing musicals, IU Auditorium will welcome one of Broadway’s biggest stars as the debut artist for the Curry Family Spotlight, a new program dedicated to bringing the finest performing artists to IU Bloomington. For this program’s inaugural season, Leslie Odom, Jr. will perform onstage alongside his band and the IU Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins.

 

The Auditorium will also host The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of America’s “big five” orchestras, and will be led by a trailblazer for women in classical music, Marin Alsop. Silkroad Ensemble is also on the season schedule and will be joined onstage by their current artistic director and Grammy Award-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens.

 

“We are thrilled to unveil IU Auditorium’s 2025–2026 season schedule with an extraordinary lineup that reflects our continued commitment to bringing world-class entertainment to Bloomington,” said IU Auditorium Executive Director Maria Talbert. “The season features a dynamic mix of Broadway blockbusters, award-winning artists, family favorites, and thought-provoking performances that will inspire and entertain audiences of all ages. We encourage patrons to pick five to subscribe to save up to 22 percent off single ticket prices on most shows. We can’t wait to share these unforgettable experiences with everyone.”

 

Other exciting performances include Jacobs Live at the Movies: The Wizard of Oz, Cirque Kalabanté, Mariachi Herencia de México, and a new dance production titled The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Disney fans won’t want to miss Moana Live-to-Concert featuring a full-length screening of the beloved animated classic backed by a live musical ensemble.

 

And of course, Bloomington favorites and annual traditions Dennis James Hosts Halloween, Straight No Chaser, and The Singing Hoosiers Present: Holiday Chimes return.

 

Purchasing Process in 2025–2026

IU Auditorium subscribers have the opportunity to select their own seats and save up to 22 percent off single ticket prices by picking five to subscribe. Loyalty Points members and new subscribers will be able to place their orders and select their seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. This process is explained online at IUauditorium.com/Subscribe and dates of when subscriptions and pre-orders go on sale are listed below.

 

Dates to Purchase Tickets

June 16–27

Loyalty Points Seat Selection

 

June 30

New Subscribers Seat Selection Begins

 

July 11

The Book of Mormon Single Tickets on Sale

 

August 4–17

Single Ticket Pre-Order Period

 

August 18

Single Tickets on Sale to the General Public

 

The IU Auditorium 2025–2026 season is presented with support from season partners Curry Auto Center, The Herald-Times, Upland Brewing Company, World Arts, Inc., the Cook Family of Companies, Boston Scientific, IU Printing Services, and B97.

 

To see the complete list of events for the 2025–2026 season, visit IUauditorium.com.

 

2025–2026 IU Auditorium Season

 

The Book of Mormon

October 3 & 4

Friday at 8 p.m.

Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m.

 

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” And Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical.

 

This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language.

 

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Tuesday, October 14

7:30 p.m.

 

Hamlet is in a dark place, full of doubt, and perhaps touched by madness. After the death of his father under questionable circumstances, he loses his footing. Is his entourage lying to him? Is his mind, muddled with apparitions, failing? When reason wavers, how can we distinguish between truth and falsehood, how can we distinguish between the faithful and the traitors?

 

Co-created by choreographer Guillaume Côté and director Robert Lepage, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark immerses the viewer in a world of deceptive appearances, where ghosts and humans rub shoulders in a minimalist scenography. Light, shadows, and transparency play a central role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s narrative shared through dance, draws the fine line between what is and what is not in the vagaries of the mind and the movements of the body.

 

Dennis James Hosts Halloween

Thursday, October 16

7:30 p.m.

 

It’s not officially Halloween until Bloomington’s favorite musical mastermind, Dennis James, returns for his annual spooky performance. Dennis James Hosts Halloween returns, as the legendary cinema organist and IU graduate provides the soundtrack to a silent film and a live radio reenactment.

 

The live onstage portrayal of an old-time radio thriller titled Waxworks will kick off the evening and will be performed by actors, including students from IU’s Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance, as James plays the soundtrack on IU Auditorium’s 4,532-pipe organ. This episode comes from a classic radio series titled Suspense, which was one of the most popular and successful radio programs during its run of over 900 episodes, spanning 1946-1962.

 

James will conclude the evening with the backing soundtrack to a screening of a 1924 German silent horror film also titled Waxworks that ties three stories together in an anthology format with the final segment featuring Jack the Ripper.

 

 

Moana Live-to-Film Concert

Friday, October 24

7:30 p.m.

 

Disney Concerts and AMP Worldwide present Disney’s Moana Live-To-Film Concert North American tour coming this fall to IU Auditorium.

 

The event will feature a full-length screening of the beloved movie accompanied by live performances of a unique on-stage musical ensemble of top Hollywood studio musicians, including Polynesian rhythm masters and vocalists, celebrating the music d songs from this award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic.

 

Jacobs Live at the Movies: The Wizard of Oz

November 7 & 8

Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at 2 p.m.

 

Jacobs Live at the Movies comes to IU Auditorium for the first time, in a magical one-of-a-kind presentation of The Wizard of Oz. Experience the beloved 1939 classic like never before with the film shown in its entirety on the big screen as the iconic score is brought to life by a full orchestra of talented students from the world-renowned Jacobs School of Music under the direction of conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos.

 

This unforgettable evening will merge the timeless wonder of Hollywood with the exceptional artistry of IU’s finest young musicians, making it a must-see event for film fans, music lovers, and the entire family.

 

 

The Singing Hoosiers Present Holiday Chimes

Saturday, December 6

2 & 7:30 p.m.

 

Kick off the holiday season with Bloomington’s favorite winter tradition! The Singing Hoosiers Present Holiday Chimes comes to IU Auditorium for two performances and is sure to be full of festive cheer and musical brilliance.

 

This heartwarming celebration features the Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers along with a variety of special guests from the Jacobs School of Music, delivering a dazzling lineup of holiday classics, spirited contemporary songs, and choral masterpieces.

 

With breathtaking vocals, joyful energy, and seasonal sparkle, Holiday Chimes is the perfect way to share the magic of the season with family and friends.

 

Straight No Chaser

Thursday, December 11

7:30 p.m.

 

Look up “holiday music” in the dictionary, and it’s likely that there is a photo of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser instead of a standard definition. For more than two decades, the group that got its start at IU has provided the soundtrack of the season, bringing millions of fans to their feet while putting them in the holiday spirit. Year after year, fans anxiously await the moment they can officially hit play on Straight No Chaser favorites. And this year is no different.

 

Straight No Chaser is back returning to IU Auditorium as part of its Holiday Road tour, serving up an all-you-can-eat buffet of holiday music (with none of the calories). The nine-man act of Walter Chase, Jerome Collins, Seggie Isho, Michael Luginbill, Steve Morgan, Jasper Smith, Luke Bob Robinson, Tyler Trepp, and Freedom Young, has served as a festive blend of harmonious voices for more than 25 years. Even though the group has been together for a quarter of a century, the thrill of performing holiday songs for old and new fans alike is not lost on them, especially when they return to Bloomington, where it all began.

 

Cirque Kalabanté

Sunday, January 25

6 p.m.

 

Afrique en Cirque is a show by Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shares the beauty, youth, and artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes, and staging, it makes any theatre vibrate with energy and represents the strength, agility, and life’s joys of young Africans. The audience will see acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions and prepare for an unforgettable journey.

 

Kalabanté Productions was founded in 2007 by Yamoussa Bangoura, a multidisciplinary artist of Guinean origin, who dreamed of establishing a circus arts school and his own African arts company. Growing up in Conakry, Guinea, he practiced circus skills inspired by European TV performers and the Nyamakala tradition before joining Circus Baobob and touring Africa and Europe. Recruited to Canada in the early 2000s, he performed with Cirque Eloize, Cirque du Soleil, and Cavalia before launching Kalabanté Productions in Montreal. The company has grown from performing in Quebec to touring worldwide.

 

Blue Man Group

Wednesday & Thursday, February 4 & 5

7:30 p.m.

Get ready to experience a whole new beat with BLUEVOLUTION, the new world tour from Blue Man Group.

 

Blending art, invention, and mind-bending curiosity, Blue Man Group is a euphoric celebration of human connection. At the Bloomington performances, you will be introduced to “The Musician.” This new character will be joining the group on its journey as she showcases her drumming and percussion skills throughout the show.

 

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see BLUEVOLUTION live at IU Auditorium.

 

Kinky Boots

Tuesday & Wednesday, February 10 & 11

7:30 p.m.

 

The boots are coming back to Bloomington! Kinky Boots will lift your spirits to high-heeled heights. Winner of every Best Musical award, including the Tony, Grammy, and London’s Olivier Award, Kinky Boots captivates and entertains audiences around the world with a Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell.

 

Based on true events, Kinky Boots follows the journey of two people with nothing in common—or so they think. The unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized and discover that you change the world when you change your mind.

 

Leslie Odom, Jr. with IU Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, February 15

6 p.m.

 

Leslie Odom, Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy, and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter, actor, and a New York Times bestselling author. His Bloomington performance will be alongside the IU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Thomas Wilkins.

 

Well known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom is set to make a highly-anticipated return to his award-winning role in fall 2025. He recently made his long-awaited return to Broadway in the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch. Odom was Tony-nominated for his performance, and the production received six nominations and one win.

 

Odom has continued to captivate audiences across film and television including his star turn as legendary soul singer Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami, along with numerous other film and television credits. He is also an author of two books and has released five full-length albums.

 

The IU Symphony Orchestra, which consists of students from the Jacobs School of Music, will join Odom onstage for this performance. This all will be under the baton of Thomas Wilkins, a current faculty member at the Jacobs School of Music and principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

 

Mariachi Herencia de México

Thursday, February 19

7:30 p.m.

 

A new generation takes mariachi to whole new heights as two-time Latin Grammy nominee Mariachi Herencia de México pushes the boundaries of traditional mariachi music. Simultaneously honoring the past, celebrating the present, and creating the future of mariachi music, Mariachi Herencia de México will present an electrifying and unforgettable night of Mexican music and culture on the IU Auditorium stage.

 

The historic tradition of mariachi music has its roots of origin in cities such as Guadalajara and Mexico City. As the ever-evolving genre’s influence spread, it reached Chicago and birthed Mariachi Herencia de México. The band has issued five chart-topping albums and has performed across North America paving the way for a new generation of mariachi musicians.

 

This young, virtuosic band is composed of 14 musicians, representing a new bicultural generation in the United States.

 

Mrs. Doubtfire

Saturday, February 28

2 & 8 p.m.

 

A musical comedy about the things we do to stay together.

 

Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Bloomington for the first time in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film, Mrs. Doubtfire tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune—one that proves we’re better together.

 

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

Thursday & Friday, March 5 & 6

7:30 p.m.

 

An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters.

 

One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.

 

Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.

 

Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens

Thursday, March 12

7:30 p.m.

 

The Silkroad Ensemble’s latest flagship program with Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens is Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual. In this program, Giddens and the ensemble explore how to experience music to better understand the world, find comfort, process loss in a changing environment, and rebuild community based on humanity. Historically, when people have found themselves in a time of conflict or stress, they have always turned to music.

 

The idea of trance, something that can bring a deep peace that is hard to find in modern society, is profoundly tied to the communal music-making traditions found in many different cultures, from Morocco to India to Ireland, and is a way to build a stronger human connection amidst all the noise. In Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual, the musicians will delve deeply into one another’s music and traditions, such as Sicilian tarantella with Mauro Durante and Francesco Turrisi, Moroccan gnawa with Mehdi Nassouli, Indian classical music with Sandeep Das, American old-time with Giddens on banjo, and more, and invite audiences to join them as partners and participants in the performance, instead of solely as passive bystanders.

 

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Wednesday, March 25

8 p.m.

 

The world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world. For their Bloomington performance, they’ll be led by principal guest conductor Marin Alsop, a pioneering force in classical music and the first woman to serve as the head of major orchestras in the United States, South America, Austria, and Great Britain.

 

Alsop will lead a program filled with brilliance and heart: Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, a powerful tale of courage and triumph; Brahms’s Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, full of wit and wonder; and Schumann’s radiant Symphony No. 2, music that soars with hope and resilience. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to orchestral music, this concert promises to captivate.

 

Beetlejuice

April 10–12

Friday at 8 p.m.

Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m.

Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m.

 

He earned his stripes to Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is making his Bloomington premiere!

 

It’s SHOWTIME! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “screamingly good fun” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

Recommended for ages 13+. Parental discretion advised.