Connect2Culture Announces Its 2025-2026 Performance Season.
Joplin, Missouri – Connect2Culture (C2C) announced its highly anticipated 2025-2026 performance season during a press conference on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex (212 West 7 th Street, Joplin, MO 64801).
“Our upcoming season promises to inspire and delight,” said Emily Frankoski, Executive Director of Connect2Culture. “We’re excited to share our full season of performances and to bring our community together through shared artistic experiences, something we all need now more than ever. This year’s Curtains Up Series, Cornell Series, and Ignite Series feature exceptional talent and top-notch entertainment. The quality is truly outstanding. Joplin is in for a treat! Don’t miss out—secure your season tickets today.”
All performances in the 2025-2026 season will be held at C2C’s home theatre—the 419-seat Beshore Performance Hall—or its outdoor amphitheater—the 1000-person Leggett & Platt Green—at the Cornell Complex.
Fri, Sep. 5, 2025 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $35 – $40
With four acclaimed albums—Sons of Serendip, Christmas: Beyond the Lights, Life + Love, and Mosaic—and breathtaking live performances, Sons of Serendip has captivated audiences around the world. Known for their soulful, cinematic interpretations of pop and classical music, the quartet has collaborated with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Plymouth Philharmonic, and Grammy-winner Cynthia Erivo. Their credits include a performance at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and representing the United States at Dubai’s EXPO 2020. In 2019, they competed on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, earning accolades from judges and fans alike. Oprah Winfrey also invited them to close her 2020 Vision Tour in Denver.
Fri, Oct. 17, 2025 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Leggett & Platt Green
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $25 – $40
Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the UK’s premier all-male theatre company, as they present Shakespeare’s greatest romantic comedy, Twelfth Night. This vibrant production captures the spirit of Elizabethan performance, with an all-male cast, period costumes, music, and dance performed in the open air—just as audiences experienced in Shakespeare’s day.
Thu, Dec. 4, 2025 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $50 – $55
Get ready for a high-energy holiday treat as Rhythm Street Movement presents Who Brought the Humbug?, an original production that transforms the stage into a holiday party like no other. At this ugly sweater bash, joyful singers, electrifying tap dancers, and high-energy musicians deliver a sleigh-full of swingin’ holiday mash-ups, from Frosty tap dancing to a groove to Santa rapping over horn-band funk. When two singers-turned-investigators uncover that someone brought a “HUMBUG” to the party, the hilarity takes off with beatboxing Grinch remixes, ‘90s nostalgia in “The Ghost of Parties Past,” and a can’t-miss audience dance-off during “Chairol of the Bells.”
Sat, Oct. 25, 2025 | 4:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $25 – $30
Pioneers in four-hands jazz piano, Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi have won international acclaim for their imaginative arrangements, masterful technique, and irresistible charm. This dynamic duo has redefined the possibilities of two pianists sharing one instrument, blending stride piano, ragtime, and boogie-woogie traditions with the sophistication of the Swing Era and the timeless melodies of the Great American Songbook.
Fri, Nov. 21, 2025 | 7:00pm
Sat, Nov. 22, 2025 | 2:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $50 – $60
This season, Ballet Arkansas brings to the stage The Nutcracker, an enchanting holiday favorite that has become a cherished tradition for families across the state. Featuring exquisite choreography, lavish costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, The Nutcracker captures the magic of the season and inspires audiences of all ages. Alongside Ballet Arkansas’ professional dancers, a locally sourced community cast adds to the magic, offering young performers from the region the chance to take part in this cherished holiday tradition.
Thu, Feb. 12, 2026 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $40 – $45
Born in Carthage, Missouri, and raised in Denver, saxophonist Javon Jackson has carved out a celebrated career blending soulful expressiveness with impeccable jazz artistry. At the age of 10, Jackson began playing saxophone, switching to tenor at age 16. He studied at the University of Denver and Boston’s Berklee College of Music before joining Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers in 1986. During his time with the Messengers, Jackson shared the stage with jazz luminaries like Benny Green, Philip Harper, Robin Eubanks, and Peter Washington, remaining with the group until Blakey’s passing in 1990.
Sat, Nov. 8, 2025 | 2:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: Kids $5 | Adults $20
Best friends Maddi and Sofia share everything—until Sofia discovers Maddi has no food in her fridge. Maddi makes Sofia promise not to tell anyone, but Sofia is determined to help. As she sneaks food into her backpack, Sofia learns that while fish and eggs are great for people, they aren’t so great for backpacks. Can Sofia keep her word and still find a way to help her friend? Based on Lois Brandt’s award-winning book, Maddi’s Fridge is a thoughtful and funny play that explores friendship, empathy, and doing the right thing.
Sat, Nov. 8, 2025 | 2:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: Kids $5 | Adults $20
Expect the unexpected as canines and comedy collide in Mutts Gone Nuts, a family-friendly spectacle that’s leaving audiences howling for more. From incredible feats of agility to laugh-out-loud antics, this action-packed show celebrates the talents of some of the world’s most amazing four-legged performers. Each of the nine dogs in the cast was adopted from animal shelters or rescues and now delights audiences as they unleash havoc and hilarity on stage.
Sat, Jan. 24, 2026 | 2:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: Kids $5 | Adults $20
A bubble volcano. A bubble roller coaster. A kid inside a bubble? Anything can happen in Bubble Trouble, Jeff Boyer’s one-man bubble extravaganza that takes bubble artistry to the next level. With hilarious comedy, upbeat music, and jaw-dropping bubble magic, Boyer juggles, sculpts, and builds with bubbles—creating fog-filled bubbles, bouncing bubbles, bubble rainbows with people inside, and even bubbles that blow their own bubbles. It’s an interactive experience where audience members help make volcano bubbles and participate in a sensory-friendly show that delights audiences of all ages.
Sat, Dec. 13, 2025 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $50 – $55
For nearly 30 years, Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas has enchanted audiences nationwide with its joyful celebration of Irish traditions. Featuring a world-class ensemble of musicians, singers, and dancers from both sides of the Atlantic, this critically acclaimed production recreates the magic of the “Rambling House”—a cozy cottage in the west of Ireland where neighbors gathered on Christmas Eve for an evening of music, storytelling, and dance.
Sat, Dec. 19, 2025 | 7:00pm
Cornell Complex, Beshore Performance Hall
(212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)
Tickets: $15 – $30
An Evening in Kringle City brings the magic of Christmas to life with music, storytelling, and festive joy. Set in the heart of the North Pole’s “Kringle City,” this enchanting production invites audiences into Santa Claus’ world, where warmth and wonder abound—even in one of the world’s most inhospitable places. The show recreates the magic of Santa’s legendary toy workshop, where neighbors gather for laughter, song, and a heartwarming celebration of the season.
Connect2Culture Season Tickets:
Enjoy every performance in a series with 15% off—our biggest discount! Season tickets also guarantee you the same great seats year after year. Experience the magic of Connect2Culture from the best seats at the best price.
Already a season ticket holder? We’re holding your seats until July 23, 2025. Our box office will call you before then to finalize your tickets. Call (417) 621-9824 to secure your seats now.
CURTAINS UP SERIES
Established in 2016, the Curtains Up Series remains Connect2Culture’s flagship series, offering performances featuring high-quality, nationally touring artists. This series knows no bounds and includes a great variety of performances.
$369.41 $315.56 – save $51.78!
CORNELL SERIES
The Cornell Series honors the late Harry M. Cornell, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of Leggett & Platt for 50 years and a lifelong champion of the arts. His passion for supporting area artists endures through this series, featuring performances from those with local or regional ties.
$204.67 $174.95 – save $28.58!
IGNITE SERIES
The Ignite Series sparks a passion for arts and culture outside the classroom with performances that engage, educate, and inspire. C2C ensures all visiting artists in this series provide at least one additional free school show for area schools. Some include special post-show talkbacks or Q&As.
Kids (Ages 3-17): $24.96 $22.19 – save $2.77! | Adults: $99.84 $85.84 – save $14!
BUY TODAY!
Visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/35477/store/packages to secure your season tickets. Tickets to all Connect2Culture performances are sold exclusively through connect2culture.org, over the phone at (417) 621-9824, or at the C2C box office inside the Cornell Complex (Tue–Sat | 1–5pm).
For full information, visit https://connect2culture.org/our-season to learn more about each artist in C2C’s 2025-2026 season.
“Season tickets are officially available to the public. Season ticket packages include tickets to all performances in a specific series with a 15% discount, the largest discount we offer. It’s the best way to experience the magic of Connect2Culture from the best seats, at the best prices!” says Frankoski. “And, of course, this season would not be possible without our generous sponsors, including Sharon and Lance Beshore, EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, Debra and David Humphreys, and many others.”
Season tickets go on sale to the public Wednesday, July 23, 2024. Single ticket sales begin Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Tickets to all C2C performances are sold exclusively through connect2culture.org, over the phone at (417) 621-9824, or at the C2C box office inside the Cornell Complex. The box office is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1–5pm.