THE GLEMA ANNOUNCES THE 2023-24 SEASON

Excitement is in the air at the Glema Center in preparation for the upcoming season!

“We are thrilled with the 2023-2024 Season, and we hope our audiences will be, as well,” said Glema Center Director Brad Downall. “We look forward to welcoming Exile back to the state where they were formed, and bringing in Chapel Hart so soon after they were finalists on America’s Got Talent should be great fun. From the aerial acrobatics of B: The Underwater Bubble Show to the old-world charm of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, and from the hilarity of Elf the Musical to the heart tugging moments in Steel Magnolias, we think this year’s line-up includes a great variety of concerts and events.”

Downall noted changes to ticket pricing this season. Rear floor seats, which had previously been priced midway between front floor seats and balcony seats, are now the same rate as balcony seats. Additionally, student tickets for all four concerts included in the Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series are free for the 2023-2024 Season.

The Center Stage lineup, sponsored by the Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission, the City of Madisonville, the Enduring Legacy of Mrs. Glema Mahr, and Old National Bank, includes Chapel Hart, Collage Dance Collective, A Brass Transit Christmas, Exile, Hooked on Classics (Orchestra Kentucky), and Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute. The Glema’s US Bank Family Series is sure to be a hit with all ages with B: The Underwater Bubble Show and the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

The Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series will present tenor Daniel McGrew & harpist Parker Ramsay, bassoonist Eleni Katz & pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, pianist Brian Woods, and the Eykamp String Quartet. The Evelyn & David Smart Coffeehouse Series features singer and songwriter Scott Mulvahill, Americana trio Damn Tall Buildings, country and bluegrass duo Darin & Brooke Aldridge, and singer and blues guitarist Melody Angel.

First United Bank & Trust’s Proud Partnership brings Hopkins County Schools’ productions of Elf the Musical and Little Shop of Horrors, and the Community Theatre will present Steel Magnolias as a winter weekend of dinner theatre and then a summer musical: Into the Woods. The season rounds out with four Special Events: the Cambridge University American Stage Tour presentation of Romeo and Juliet, A Community Christmas featuring the MCC Singers, the MCC Singers Spring Concert, and a special September surprise soon to be announced.

Season Packages will go on sale Monday, July 10. Single tickets will go on sale Monday, July 17 and may be purchased in person, by phone at 270-821-2787, or online at glemacenter.universitytickets.com. To purchase packages or have a discount applied to the order, visit or call the box office. Ticket Office hours are 9-4, Monday through Thursday in July and 9-4, Monday–Friday beginning August 1.

For additional information visit glemacenter.org, find the Glema on social media, or call 270-821-2787.

Glema Mahr Center for the Arts 2023-24 Season:

Season Packages on Sale July 10, 2023 & Single Tickets on sale July 17. Everything Ticket: 25% discount, 12-22 shows: 20% discount, 4-11 shows: 10% discount. Seniors – 10% discount; Students & Children under 12 – 25% discount unless higher discount noted for specific show.

Center Stage Series – Platinum Sponsors: Hopkins County Tourist & Convention Commission, City of Madisonville, & the Enduring Legacy of Mrs. Glema Mahr; Silver Sponsor: Old National Bank

  • Chapel Hart – Thursday, October 19, 2023 ∙ 7:00 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony)
    Sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle have combined Mississippi roots and Louisiana spunk to create a world class group that captivated audiences of America’s Got Talent. From tender yet powerful ballads to hard-hitting rock and roll, the trio infuses the sweet and southern sound of country with the soulful undertones of their gospel foundation.
  • Collage Dance Collective – Tuesday, November 14, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony); Students & children: half-price
    Recently named a “Southern Cultural Treasure” by South Arts and the Ford Foundation, Collage Dance is one of the largest Black-led performing arts organizations in the South and one of a few professional ballet companies in the world with a roster of BIPOC dancers. Working to inspire the growth and diversity of ballet, the company has presented thirteen full-length seasons in Memphis, with national and international tours exhibiting a diverse range of classical and contemporary choreography. This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kentucky Arts Council. Additional support is provided by the Juanita Badgett Performing Arts Endowment.
  • A Brass Transit Christmas – Friday, December 8, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony); Students & children: half-price
    Enjoy some of the most popular Charlie Brown Christmas songs combined with CHICAGO’S hits in one great night. The Christmas songs are arranged to have the CHICAGO flavor, paying homage to this great American rock band. Combine this with some of CHICAGO’S greatest hits and you have a unique holiday music experience.
  • Exile – Friday, February 16, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony)
    Formed in Kentucky, Exile skyrocketed to rock and roll fame with their 1978 chart-topper “Kiss You All Over.” Shifting to country music, the band had ten number one singles including “I Don’t Want To Be A Memory,” “Give Me One More Chance,” and “She’s a Miracle.” This cross-over band has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry more than 100 times and sold over 8 million records worldwide.
  • Hooked on Classics – Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green – Friday, March 15, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony); Students & children: half-price
    Music you know, even if you don’t know you know it. Enjoy some of classical music’s most popular tunes including the “1812 Overture,” “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” “On the Beautiful Blue Danube,” and “Rhapsody in Blue.”
  • Rumours – a Fleetwood Mac Tribute – Friday, April 19, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $30 (main floor front)/$20 (main floor rear & balcony)
    Widely recognized as America’s premier Fleetwood Mac tribute, this Atlanta-based band consistently sells out leading performing arts centers, amphitheaters, casinos, and clubs throughout the United States.

US Bank Family Series

  • B-The Underwater Bubble Show – Friday, October 27, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $20 (main floor front)/$10 (main floor rear & balcony); Students & children: half-price
    Mr. B, an office worker and creature of habit, discovers a small aquarium that magically appears inside his briefcase. His audience joins him on a journey to Bubblelandia, a wondrous underwater world full of seahorses, dragon fish, starfish, mermaids and more. This modern fairy tale—brought to life with the help of special effects and, of course, bubbles!—is sure to delight all ages.
  • Bindlestiff Family Cirkus – Tuesday, January 23, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $20 (main floor front)/$10 (main floor rear & balcony); All students & children: half-price
    Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founders Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson have traveled the world since 1995, bringing a unique hybrid of vaudeville, circus, and sideshow spectacle to venues of all shapes and sizes. Jugglers, acrobats, contortionists, plate spinning, sword swallowing, brain twisters and other risk-taking feats set to live music combine to create an interactive evening of fun for the entire family. Bindlestiff Family Cirkus harkens back to the heyday of the traditional American Circus while offering its own artistic twist.

Special Events

  • Romeo & Juliet – Cambridge American Stage Tour – Thursday, September 7, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $10 general admission; Students: half-price
    The Glema is thrilled to welcome back the Cambridge American Stage Tour. CAST has been crossing the Atlantic annually for over two decades to tour as a diverse company of undergraduate and postgraduate students up and down the east coast of the United States, visiting colleges, high schools, and professional venues. This production of Romeo and Juliet takes place in a world very different to fair Verona. In a futuristic setting in the year 2123, the rival houses of Capulet and Montague fight to survive and gain control over the territory. In the midst of such chaos and bloodshed is a tender love story that fights against the odds and shows the beauty that can be found in the most unlikely places and situations. Recommended for ages 12 & up.
  • The MCC Singers Community Christmas – Friday, December 15, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $8 general admission; Students & children: half-price
    The MCC Singers’ holiday musical celebration has become a tradition for ringing in the season.
  • The MCC Singers Spring Concert – Saturday, April 27, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Tickets: $8 general admission; Students & children: half-price
    Join us for the MCC Singers’ annual spring celebration!

Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series – This series has been made possible by the Enduring Legacy of Mrs. Glema Mahr. Tickets: $25 general admission; Students: free

  • Daniel McGrew – tenor & Parker Ramsay – harp – Saturday, September 30, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Two of the most promising young artists in classical music share the Glema stage for their program, Forgetful Hearts: Ballads and Songs for Tenor and Harp.
  • Eleni Katz – bassoon with Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner – piano – Monday, October 16, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    In their program, Dance Fever, featuring a double-bill of 2022 CAG Winners Eleni Katz (bassoon) and Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner (piano), the artists traverse the world in an international offering featuring composers from France, Mexico, Germany, Poland, Taiwan, Russia, and the United States.
  • Brian Woods – piano – Tuesday, January 16, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Praised for his stunning musicianship and dazzling stage presence, Brian Woods is an exciting young concert pianist who “represents the new generation of professional touring artists” (Robert Hart Baker). Combining formidable technique and unique artistry with a charismatic presentational style, he delights and inspires audiences across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Guided by a firm belief in music’s power to improve the lives of all regardless of background, Woods’ performances are enjoyed by classical music veterans and newcomers alike.
  • Eykamp String Quartet – Friday, April 12, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Members of the Eykamp String Quartet serve as principal string players of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, as Artists in Residence at the University of Evansville, and as educational ambassadors. The Eykamp String Quartet is made possible by the special underwriting of Rita, Richard and Dorothy Eykamp, friends of the University of Evansville, and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.

Evelyn & David Smart Coffeehouse Series
Tickets: $25 general admission; Students: half-price

  • Scott Mulvahill – Friday, September 22, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. 
    Frontman. Singer-songwriter. World-renowned upright bassist. Multi-instrumentalist. Scott Mulvahill is leaving his unique mark on the intersecting worlds of Americana, bluegrass, folk, jazz, rock & roll, and roots music. Raised in Houston, Mulvahill cut his teeth as a member of Ricky Skaggs’ acclaimed band, Kentucky Thunder. Encouraged by musical mentor Bruce Hornsby, Mulvahill developed a unique approach to his songwriting — one that mixed his chops as an upright bassist with hook-heavy melodies and compelling narratives.
  • Damn Tall Buildings – Saturday, November 4, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M.
    In their early days, Damn Tall Buildings didn’t rehearse – they busked. Now, whether live or on record, the band still radiates the energy of a ragtag crew of music students playing bluegrass on the street. But anchoring that energy is their instrumental chops, their strong songwriting, and their varied influences that stretch beyond bluegrass, even beyond American roots music altogether. “Think of the Carter Family for the millennial generation.” —The Boston Globe
  • Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Friday, January 26, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M. 
    Darin and Brooke Aldridge are excited. And why not? With two new band members, a new record label, and five original songs on their latest album, the bluegrass and Americana duo are back with This Life We’re Livin,’ their ninth recorded project together and first release on Billy Blue Records. This Life We’re Livin’ celebrates the space the husband-and-wife team now occupies: the top of bluegrass music. They have graced the Grand Ole Opry Stage more than 30 times.
  • Melody Angel – Friday, February 23, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M.
    Melody Angel is the complete package: gifted guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, vocalist, arranger, and producer. Along the way Angel found time to launch a successful theater and film acting career and received international acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The Chicago Reader called her “The Future of the Blues,” and the Southside Chicago artist is indeed navigating a forward-looking musical path while integrating the legacy of classic blues.

First United Bank and Trust Proud Partnership

  • Hopkins County Schools Joint High School Production of Elf the Musical– Friday December 1, 2023 ∙ 7 P.M. ∙ Saturday, December 2, 2023 ∙ 2 & 7 P.M. Tickets: $12 general admission; Students and children: half-price. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
  • Hopkins County Schools Joint High School Production of Little Shop of Horrors– Friday, March 22, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M. ∙ Saturday, March 23, 2024 ∙ 2 & 7 P.M. Tickets: $12 general admission; Students and children: half-price. Meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it… BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination! Produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Community Theatre

  • Steel Magnolias – Dinner Theatre- Friday & Saturday, February 9 & 10, 2024 ∙ Dinner 6 P.M. Play 7 P.M. Sunday, February 11, 2024 ∙ Dinner 1 P.M. Play 2 P.M. Tickets: Dinner & Play: $30 ∙ Play only option: $14 . Before the iconic 1989 film broke box office records nationwide, Louisiana salon owner Truvy first set up shop on the stage. The colorful cast of regulars and employees that frequent her establishment include a mother-daughter duo planning a wedding, a woman who’s “been in a bad mood for 40 years,” and a mysterious newcomer. Through laughter, tears, and a thick fog of hairspray, these women face trials and triumphs armed with their greatest strength: each other. Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Dinner will be served in the Anne P. Baker Gallery. Support provided by the Gladys Martin Appreciation of Local Arts Endowment & the Miner Family Arts Endowment. Permanent support for Community Theatre provided by The J.B. & Kiel Moore Community Programs Endowment.
  • Into the Woods – A New Musical  –Friday & Saturday, July 12 & 13, 2024 ∙ 7 P.M. ∙ Sunday, July 14, 2024 ∙ 2 P.M. Tickets: $16 general admission; Students & children: half-price. The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece… and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. Audition dates: Mid-May. Produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Sponsored by Don & Mary Susan Fishman. Permanent support for Community Theatre provided by the J.B. & Kiel Moore Community Programs Endowment.