The UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center has announced the lineup for its 2023-24 performing arts season. Continuing a near half-century tradition of excellence, Fine Arts Center programming draws its strength from a roster of diverse and high-quality performers to present a calendar of exciting and sophisticated concerts, dance, theater and conversations.

The mainstage season begins on Sept. 28 with Step Afrika!, the first professional company dedicated to the art of step dance as historically practiced by African American fraternities and sororities. Other cultural dance and theater company performances as part of the season include the crowd-favorite Momix’s take on “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland” on Oct. 25, family-friendly circus troupe Cirque Mechanics’ new ecologically-based presentation “Zephyr” on Feb. 15, Trinity Irish Dance Company’s invigorating Irish step show “JIG” on Feb. 28, the pop jukebox musical “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” on March 1, and flamenco dance from New York City’s Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana on April 20.

Late Fine Arts Center Director Emeritus Frederick C. Tillis, in whose honor the Fine Arts Center's main performance hall is named, was known for presenting the most robust jazz programming on the college circuit. Following in his footsteps, this year’s schedule features concerts with legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his quartet on Oct. 5; the innovative and prolific jazz pianist Emmet Cohen on Oct. 19; hot jazz specialists The Hot Sardines performing their “Holiday Stomp” concert on Dec. 7; modern jazz stars Joel Ross, Emmanuel Wilkins, Gerald Clayton, Matt Brewer and Kendrick Scott celebrating the 85^th anniversary of Blue Note Records on Feb. 22; and the Mingus Dynasty band, playing the compositions of the great Charles Mingus on April 6.

The UMass Fine Arts Center also offers exceptional contemporary and traditional classical performances from some of the world’s best companies and soloists, featuring classical saxophonist Steven Banks on Feb. 24, Grammy award-winning chamber ensemble Attacca Quartet on March 7, classical guitarist JIJI on April 11, and crossover superstar violinist Ray Chen on April 19. The popular UMass ¡Guitarra! series showcases classical wizards on the guitar with René Izquierdo on Nov. 18 and Bokyung Byun on March 16.

One of the 2023-24 season’s emphases is on global inclusivity, which is reflected in the center’s selection of musicians from around the world, including Indonesian indie rock singer-songwriter Stephanie Poetri on Oct. 11, avant-garde art-pop singer-songwriter Sirintip on Oct. 14, Gullah music folk rockers Ranky Tanky alongside R&B singer Lisa Fischer on Nov. 8, Japanese taiko drum theater company Drum Tao on Feb. 1 and instrumental family ensemble Heart of Afghanistan on March 13.

The university’s Codemakers series initiates conversations and open discussions with the great creative minds of our generation. This season’s participants include Chilean singer-songwriter Nano Stern on Oct. 2, choreographer Rennie Harris on March 27, vocalists and composers Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat on March 29 and theater director Peter Sellars on May 1.

All dates, times and lineups are subject to change. Tickets to all events are on-sale now for UMass Subscription purchasers and will be available to the general public on June 29. Ticket discounts for Five College students and attendees under the age of 17 are available for most shows.

For more information, tickets or to sign up for a 2023-24 UMass FAC Subscription, please visit https://fac.umass.edu/.