ECC Arts Center Announces Dynamic New Season Lineup for 2025-26

The ECC Arts Center proudly announces its 2025-26 season lineup, offering an exciting and eclectic mix of performances that promises something for every artistic taste. From high-energy musical showcases and holiday favorites to cutting-edge theatre and globally acclaimed artists, this season is a celebration of imagination, storytelling, and the unifying power of live performance.

“We’re thrilled to unveil the ECC Arts Center’s 2025-26 season with shows that honor the past, embrace the present, and inspire the future,” said Tommy Hensel, Senior Director of Performing Arts at Elgin Community College. “From the timeless elegance of Shakespeare and the retro sparkle of Under the Streetlamp to the showstopping soul of UPTOWN and the sassy squad of fairy-tale princesses in Disenchanted!, this season is an exciting tapestry of culture, creativity, and connection. Extraordinary Experiences await!”

The season kicks off on Friday, September 26, with the wildly imaginative ARTRAGEOUS, a fusion of art, music, theatre, and creativity that’s as colorful as it is captivating. Audiences will also enjoy the witty off-Broadway hit Disenchanted! (Saturday, October 11), a hilarious take on fairytale princesses who are fed up with the storybook status quo.

Musical highlights include the jazz-meets-big band stylings of The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra: Rags to Riches—Celebrating the Life and Music of Tony Bennett (Saturday, October 18), the nostalgic holiday harmonies of Jim Witter’s Christmas Memories (Saturday, December 6), and the retro cool of Under the Streetlamp: Hip to the Holidays (Friday, December 12). Fans of genre-bending guitar work won’t want to miss Luca Stricagnoli (Friday, April 10) an internet sensation known for his innovative techniques and dynamic stage presence.

Classics get a fresh twist with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men performing Twelfth Night (Friday, October 24) in authentic Shakespearean style, with an all-male cast, original practices, and period costumes. Dance enthusiasts can look forward to the internationally celebrated, gender-skewing Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Saturday, January 31), a playful and virtuosic all-male ballet company that’s equal parts comedy and technical brilliance.

The season also features the high-octane R&B/soul revue UPTOWN (Saturday, March 21), which fuses Bruno Mars-caliber stage presence with top-tier vocals and wall-to-wall choreography, and the vibrant, socially conscious fusion sounds of Las Cafeteras (Friday, March 27).

To view the Season Lineup video, click here.

Back by popular demand is the Midday Matinee series, offering daytime entertainment, perfect for groups, seniors, and nostalgic music lovers of all ages:

Hey There: The Music of Rosemary Clooney

Tuesday, October 14

And the Winner Is: The Greatest Award-winning Songs of All Time

Tuesday, November 18

Switchback: Travelin’ Down an Irish Road

Tuesday, March 17

If I Had a Hammer: The Heart of Folk Music

Tuesday, April 7

Club Cabaret returns to the intimate SecondSpace Theatre, showcasing charismatic performers who capture the essence of classic cabaret in a relaxed, yet elegant ambiance:

Make ‘Em Laugh

Nov. 21 & 22

Jo Ann Daugherty Trio and Bruce Henry present Groove Sessions: Pop, Country, Soul & Jazz Hits Reimagined

March 6 & 7

Tickets for all these performances go on sale Monday, August 4, and can be purchased at eccartscenter.org, by phone at 847-622-0300, or in person at the ECC Box Office, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H, Elgin, IL.