In 1996, the UGA Performing Arts Center opened with a gala week of performances, including a recital by superstar soprano and Georgia native Jessye Norman, and a concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The center’s 25th anniversary season contains another gala week bookended by an appearance by six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and the return of the Atlanta Symphony.
Here are the four events of the gala week.
An Afternoon with Audra McDonald
25th Anniversary Gala Concert
Sun, April 24, 3:00 pm
Hodgson Concert Hall
“She is probably the most talented person on this planet.” —New York Times
McDonald is a Broadway legend and TV and film star. Join her and pianist Brian Hertz for a concert of show tunes and standards from the Great American Songbook. Then enjoy a party with food trucks and DJ Dan Geller on the quad!
Arts Chat: City on a Hill
Tue, April 26, 4:00 pm
Performing Arts Center Lobby
Georgia Museum of Art Director William U. Eiland and Deputy Director Annelies M. Mondi give an insightful — and free — look at the ceramic work and paintings that have greeted patrons for a quarter century. These include a pair of canvases by Lamar Dodd, founder of the art school at UGA.
UGA Symphony Orchestra
Mark Cedel, conductor
Pyeongkang Park, assistant conductor
Thurs, April 28, 7:30 pm
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Hugh Hodgson School of Music performs Mahler’s epic Fifth Symphony — with its sublime slow movement — and the world premiere of Fizzle, Sweep, Crash by doctoral candidate Daniel Karcher.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles, conductor
David Coucheron, violin
Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp
Sun, May 1, 3:00 pm
Hodgson Concert Hall
The gala week concludes with Beethoven’s mighty Third Symphony (“Eroica”) and Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, in which Celtic melodies come to life with solo violin and harp.
For each of these UGA Presents performances, 25 tickets are available for just $25, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Performing Arts Center. Tickets for UGA students are always $10.
For a complete list of UGA Presents performances, click here.
Three Ways to Order Tickets
- Purchase tickets online 24/7 online here.
- Call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (5 minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
COVID protocols
For information about the Performing Arts Center’s current COVID-19 protocols, click here. Flexible ticketing will be in place for all performances occurring through May 2022. Patrons may exchange tickets for another performance or receive a full refund until 12:00 p.m. on the day of the performance, if occurring on a weekday, or by Friday at 5:00 p.m. if occurring on a weekend.