W&L’s Lenfest Center for the Arts Presents 2026-26 Season, ‘Your Gateway to Global Experiences’ Tickets for the entire season will be available to purchase beginning Aug. 15.

By Emily Innes Stanley
August 7, 2025

Washington and Lee University’s Lenfest Center for the Arts is pleased to present its 2025-26 season, “Your Gateway to Global Experiences,” featuring artistic collaborations, innovative outreach and inspiring performances that celebrate creativity, connection and community. Tickets for the entire season will be available for purchase online at my.wlu.edu/lenfest-center beginning Aug. 15, or in person at the Lenfest Box Office starting Sept. 8.

“Your Gateway to Global Experiences” is designed to spark curiosity and foster meaningful connections between the W&L community, local residents and artists from around the world. The season opens with an adrenaline-charged performance by the Beatbox House on Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keller Theatre. “The Missing Element” features an explosive fusion of world-class street dancers and champion beatboxers, creating an electrifying spectacle as the artists embody the elements of earth, wind, fire, water and space in a performance unlike anything you’ve seen before. Tickets are required.

This year’s program will once again offer unique and engaging opportunities to connect with the artists on stage through the Lenfest Center’s Outreach & Engagement (O&E) Series. The O&E series is focused on fostering immersive and collaborative university-community interactions, and audiences will have the opportunity to interact in open dialogue and conversation with artists and speakers during several events presented in conjunction with the performances. The series kicks off with “Native Art & Ancestral Inspiration: Drawing Endurance,” a pop-up exhibition opening Sept. 4 in Kamen Gallery and featuring work by Ethan Brown, a citizen of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and multimedia artist; and pieces from the collection of Harvey Markowitz, professor emeritus of anthropology at W&L.

Four performances comprise W&L’s Concert Guild season this year, bringing professional performing artists to campus for concerts and master classes. New Zealand pianist Nicola Melville will open the series with a recital on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall, as well as lead a master class for students in W&L’s piano program. Tickets are required for the public performance.

W&L’s SonoKlect Series, a program dedicated to bringing modern music to local audiences in Lexington, will open with a performance from Matt Neis and The Capitol Bones All-Brass Big Band on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall. Known for their powerful brass sound and versatility, The Capitol Bones have graced stages from jazz clubs to prestigious festivals and venues, including the International Trombone Festival and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. No tickets are required.

The Lenfest Center’s National Theatre Live series returns this year, bringing the fabulous world of London’s professional theater and entertainment to Lexington. A screening of “Hamlet” will be held on Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons, featuring Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role. Tickets are required.

Other events this season include the Ephrat Asherie Dance Company’s “Underscored,” vocalist Bette Smith, Ukrainian folk group DakhaBrakha, the JACK Quartet, and a student performance of “These Shining Lives.” Performances by the university’s student ensembles will round out the season.

For a full list of performances, visit the Lenfest Center’s website.

The Lenfest Center for the Arts, home of the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies and the Department of Music and Department of Art and Art History is a multi-use facility designed and equipped to accommodate a broad spectrum of the performing arts, including theater, musical theater, opera and operetta, choral and band music, dance and performance art in one energizing complex.