How to see Yo-Yo Ma, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Austin for the first time in years
Two colossal names in the arts — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Yo-Yo Ma — headline the upcoming Texas Performing Arts season.
On March 7, 2024, superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to Bass Concert Hall on the University of Texas campus for the first time in 12 years. The dance troupe founded by the late trailblazer Ailey — who was born near Rogers, Texas — has not stopped here in more than a decade. Along with other dances, the company will perform its iconic "Revelations" on March 2-3, 2024.
Other highlights of the upcoming season include excerpts performed in concert of Terence Blanchard's jazz opera, "Fire Shut Up In My Bones," which took the Metropolitan Opera by storm in 2021; it arrives Nov. 9. Singer Lila Downs' "Día de los Muertos," a movement and sound piece inspired by Mexican traditions related to Day of the Dead, plays on Oct. 20; and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, an outrageously funny troupe of men who, with great skill, mock the conventions of ballet, tiptoes into town on Jan. 19, 2024.
Season performances go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. May 12 at texasperformingarts.org
What are other highlights in 2023-2024 Texas Performing Arts season?
"Love In Exile" — the trio and new album of the same name — showcases Grammy Award–winning vocalist Arooj Aftab, pianist Vijay Iyer and lionized instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. They play Sept. 29.
A holiday gospel and jazz concert with Samara Joy, winner of this year’s Grammy Award for best new artist, who performs "A Joyful Holiday" on Dec. 3.
The beloved dance company, Momix, blends dance, acrobatics and illusions in "Alice" by Moses Pendleton and inspired by Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" on Sept. 20.
More: 'A call to wake up': What to expect from Austin arts in 2023
Texas Performing Arts teams with Fusebox
A true Austin one-of-a-kind, Fusebox, a presenting group that has introduced cutting-edge performance from around the world for years, is now a full partner with Texas Performing Arts in what is being called "TPA x Fusebox" events.
That series will include Geoff Sobelle’s interactive dinner party, "Food" (Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2024); Abby Z’ and the Unew Utility's genre-twisting dance, "Radioactive Practice" (April 12-14, 2024); and "Tremble Staves" by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon & the Living Earth Show's, presented in partnership with the Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria with musicians from UT’s Butler School of Music (Oct. 13).
More: What to know about seeing summer musicals 'Grease,' 'Matilda,' 'Wizard of Oz' in Austin
Once again, Texas Performing Arts and Fusebox will provide a residency for an Austin-based artist of national renown: Playwright Lisa B. Thompson will develop "The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body," which will premiere in the 2024 Fusebox Festival at the Vortex Theater.
But wait, where are the Broadway in Austin shows?
The above shows could be labeled the "global arts" part of the Texas Performing Arts 2023-2024 season. Already announced has been its Broadway in Austin line-up at Bass Concert Hall. The third part of the yearly campus mix are the high-profile, one-off comedy and music shows that are announced individually.
The eight Broadway touring shows next season will be "Six" (Oct. 3-8), "Book of Mormon" (Nov. 14-19), "My Fair Lady" (Dec. 5-10), "Tina:The Tina Turner Musical" (Jan. 9-12, 2024), "Beetlejuice" (Feb. 6-11, 2024), "Wicked" (March 13-31, 2024), "Girl From The North Country" (April 23-28, 2024) and "Disney's Frozen" (June 5-16, 2024).
To peruse different Broadway subscription packages for this series, go to austin.broadway.com.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Performing Arts brings back Yo-Yo Ma, Alvin Ailey Dance and more
