Season Playbill
Season Playbill

We welcome you

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is an inspirational gathering place in the heart of downtown New Bedford that connects you with the best in live music, theater, dance, comedy, film, education, and festivals. We are a place where people gather, varied perspectives are welcomed, and the performing arts are celebrated.

Information about the upcoming performance will be available on the day of show.
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New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Sunday
Oct
19
3:00 pm
Saturday
May
16
7:30 pm
Sun
3:00 pm
Oct
19
Sat
7:30 pm
May
16
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
 presents

NBSO 2025-26 Season

2025-26 Season

NBSO Subscriptions go on sale Monday, August 4, at 12pm

Join us for the 2025-2026 NBSO Season.

Concert details are listed below.

Purchase a subscription to three or more concerts and receive a discount for each.

To purchase a subscription to all six concerts, click here.

For a subscription of three, four, or five concerts, click here.

NBSO's 2025-26 SEASON

Music of Renewal
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 3:00 PM

Kilburn Event Center (concert-style seating)

Yaniv Dinur, conductor

Guest Artists:
Laura Shamu, oboe
Nicholas Brown, clarinet
Rachel Juszczak, bassoon
Michael Bellofatto, horn

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for Winds

Evencio Castellanos: Santa Cruz de Pacairigua

Antônio Carlos Gomes: Overture to II Guarany 

Antonio Estévez: Mediodía en el Llano

Arturo Márquez: Danzón No. 2

This program will lift your spirits and renew your soul while overlooking the beautiful waters of Buzzards Bay.

Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Winds is a rare gem showcasing our own principal musicians as soloists on oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn. It is music that breathes—full of dialogue, energy, and grace. A moment to simply sit back and let the sound of Mozart’s genius wash over you.

Overture to Il Guarany by Antônio Carlos Gomes is an exhilarating Brazilian overture bursting with bold brass, sweeping romance, and heroic flair. It’s a dramatic invitation to shake off the everyday and step into something grand.

Venezuela’s Evencio Castellanos composed Santa Cruz de Pacairigua as a riotous, rhythmic celebration of life. With percussive exuberance and colorful soundscapes, it’s music that pulses through your body—reminding us to move, to dance, to feel joy.

With Antonio Estévez’s Mediodía en el Llano, you will experience the orchestra’s lush tones evoking the stillness of the Venezuelan plains at midday. Every note is drenched in sunlight, inviting deep breath and calm reflection.

Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 is a song of pure joy. It blends lively melodies with irresistible dance rhythms and creates connection between cultures, audience and orchestra, and body and soul.

Come let the music move you—from quiet renewal to joyful celebration.

Holiday Pops
Sunday, December 14, 2025, 3:30 & 7 PM
Bronspiegel Auditorium, New Bedford High School

Yaniv Dinur, conductor and emcee
Appearances by the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra and The Showstoppers

Roundup the crew—kids, grandparents, friends who feel like family—and come kick off the season with our Holiday Pops concerts! It’s an all-out celebration filled with jingle-worthy music, belly laughs, and feel-good moments you’ll want to bottle up.

The hall will be decked, the vibe will be merry, and the music? Pure holiday magic. Yaniv and our NBSO musicians will be joined by local favorites The Showstoppers and members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra for a show that’ll have everyone smiling.

The 3:30 PM performance is a breezy, one-hour concert—perfect for little ones (and early bedtimes). The 7:00 PM show runs a bit longer for those who want to soak up every sparkling note. Both performances are delightfully direct—no intermission, just nonstop joy.

Romantic Revelations
February 14, 2026, 7:30 PM

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Jesse Holstein,violin

Samuel Barber: Overture to The School for Scandal

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Violin Concerto

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1

Step into a world of beauty, drama, and deep emotion. Let the power of music celebrate the love and joy in your life. This concert is a musical journey that connects heart and soul.

We begin with Samuel Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandal—a playful, high-spirited burst of wit and charm that sets the tone for a night of bold expression.

Violin soloist Jesse Holstein joins the orchestra for Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto—a lush, soulful work pulsing with lyricism and passion. Written by a brilliant Black British composer whose music was nearly lost to history, this concerto is a rediscovered gem that stirs the spirit and honors resilience.

We close with the sweeping beauty of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1, "Winter Dreams"—a tender, evocative portrait of longing, memory, and the quiet magic of the season.

Let this concert be your midwinter reset—a chance to feel inspired, reconnected, and swept away by music that speaks directly to the heart.

Boldness Unbound
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 7:30 PM
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Cynthia Yeh, percussion

Avner Dorman: Eternal Rhythm, Percussion Concerto No. 2

Charles Ives: Symphony No. 2

This concert invites you to feel music in a whole new way—through bold rhythms and familiar melodies re-imagined that will move, surprise, and transform you.

Internationally acclaimed percussionist Cynthia Yeh takes center stage in Avner Dorman’s Eternal Rhythm, a percussion concerto that never stops pulsing, using 12 different percussion instruments accompanied by the orchestra. It's a high-energy exploration of all the sounds and beats these instruments can produce—at once visceral and transcendent. From thunderous strikes to shimmering textures, you’ll feel every heartbeat of this unforgettable piece.

Then, we turn to American iconoclast Charles Ives and his Symphony No. 2—a musical love letter to the American spirit. Blending classical form with hymn tunes, marching songs, and folk melodies, Ives creates a rich, surprising soundscape that feels both nostalgic and ahead of its time.

Together, these works celebrate invention, individuality, and the power of music to challenge, uplift, and connect us.

Take the plunge and let yourself be swept into the rhythm and melodies of unexpected places.

 

The Human Element
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:30 PM
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Michel Camilo, piano

Missy Mazzoli: River Rouge Transfiguration

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3

Michel Camilo: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1

This concert is a celebration of transformation—of sound, of spirit, and of the boundless possibilities in music that dares to cross borders.

We begin with Missy Mazzoli’s River Rouge Transfiguration—a vivid, pulsing soundscape inspired by Detroit’s industrial heart. It's a musical metamorphosis, where steel and smoke give way to shimmering light and unexpected beauty.

Next, we dive into the rich, emotional landscapes of Brahms’ Symphony No. 3—a masterpiece of tenderness and passion. From its noble opening to its yearning finale, Brahms invites us into a world where strength and vulnerability exist in perfect harmony.

Finally, Dominican-born jazz and classical powerhouse Michel Camilo brings electrifying charisma to the stage with his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1. Blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz spontaneity, and classical grandeur, Camilo’s concerto is a thrilling ride—bold, joyful, and utterly alive. And the slow movement will stir your soul.

Feel the rush. Be transformed. Let the music take over.

 

A Joyous Sound
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7:30PM
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Pedro da Silva, guitar

Pedro da Silva: Concerto for Portuguese Guitar and Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Two worlds meet in a concert of breathtaking contrast and shared humanity.

Virtuoso Pedro da Silva, who is based in New York City but was born in New Bedford, brings the shimmering voice of the Portuguese guitar to the forefront in his own Concerto for Portuguese Guitar and Orchestra—a spellbinding work that blends classical traditions with Iberian flair, improvisation, and global rhythms.

Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9 lifts the evening to transcendent heights. From its stirring opening to the triumphant “Ode to Joy” finale, this is music that celebrates unity, freedom, and the enduring power of the human spirit. This piece never fails to fill you with awe and hope.

A night where passion meets purpose—and joy resounds.

 

For complete details on NBSO season and subscriptions, click here.

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Sunday
Oct
19
3:00 pm
Saturday
May
16
7:30 pm
Sun
3:00 pm
Oct
19
Sat
7:30 pm
May
16
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
 presents

NBSO 2025-26 Chamber Music Series

2025-26 Chamber Music Series

NBSO's 2025-26 Chamber Music Series

TICKETING INFO
$35 general admission (fee free)
$140 Subscription to all five concerts (fee free)
All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Subscriptions available here or through the ticket button above from August 19 through October 3.
For individual show tickets, click the links under the show description below.


CONCERT TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Saturdays, 3 PM
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
124 Front Street
Marion, MA

Sundays, 3 PM
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
351 Elm Street
South Dartmouth, MA

“We welcome our indefatigable audience to a new season replete with beloved chestnuts, coruscating contemporary works, and unexpected delights from celebrated creators. Programs feature piano quintets by Louise Farrenc and Franz Schubert; Rachmaninoff’s huge cello sonata and the “Dissonance” quartet of Mozart; Christopor Najarian’s searing Tale for Two Violins; seldom heard quartets of Stravinsky and Prokofiev; and much more to intrigue and delight our growing circle of ardent music lovers. Thank you for joining us on a new adventure!”

—Janice Weber, Artistic Director


RACH N' SOUL

Oct 4 & 5, 3 PM

Many thanks to Patty Plum Wylde, whose generous Gift of Music has made this concert possible. She dedicates her gift to all teachers of music for their devotion to the art of making music eternal.

Begin in breath, end in brilliance—music that rocks your soul

Reena Esmail: Saans (Breath) (2017)
Sergei Rachmaninoff:
Sonata for Piano and Cello in G Minor, Op. 19
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 "Dissonance"

EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Theo Ramsey, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano

Indian-American composer Reena Esmail’s soulful piano trio Saans (Breath) opens the program with her charismatic fusion of eastern and western traditions. In brilliant contrast, Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, written over a century earlier, is testament to the untrammeled passion and virtuosity for which he is celebrated. What better musical capstone than the elegant “Dissonance” quartet of Mozart, showing a master at the height of his creative powers.

Purchase tickets to Rach N' Soul

QUINTESSENTIALS

November 22 & 23, 3 PM

Warmth, grace, and joy—experience music at its most perfect

Jessie Montgomery: Duo for Violin and Cello (2015)
Louise Farrenc: Piano Quintet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 30
Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 "Trout"

EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Emma Powell, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Peter Zay, cello
Janice Weber, piano
Peter Walsh, bass

Born in 1804, Louise Farrenc was a true French Romantic whose works are earning – again – a huge following. Her unique Piano Quintet (1839), utilizing string bass, reflects and complements Schubert’s immortal “Trout” Quintet, a work employing the same musical forces. Firebrand American composer Jessie Montgomery proves that less is more with her delightful ode to friendship, Duo for Violin and Cello.

Purchase tickets to Quintessentials

WINTER FIRE

Jan 31 & Feb 1, 3 PM

Spark your spirit. Melt the midwinter chill

Igor Stravinsky: Three Pieces for String Quartet
Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 92
Kevin Day: Variation V (Miniature for String Quartet)

EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Emma Powell, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano

Beat midwinter chill with warming string quartets by Stravinsky and Prokofiev, the effervescent Piano Trio No. 2 of Felix Mendelssohn, and a devilish Variation V by American Kevin Day, who based this miniature on a variation from Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 5. Keep the bonfires burning!

Purchase tickets to Winter Fire

STORY TIME

March 28 & 29, 3 PM

Every note tells a tale. Let these stories stir your heart.

Kenji Bunch: Hard Winter/Holler and Stomp
Cristopor Najarian: A Tale for Two Violins
Gabriel Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor , Op. 15
Billy Mayerl: Marigold

EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Emma Powell, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano

Kenji Bunch’s intriguing Hard Winter/Holler and Stomp takes a fresh look at Appalachian fiddling and string band traditions while Cristopor Najarian’s Tale for 2 Violins revisits Turkish, Armenian, and middle eastern folk melodies to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Fauré’s sublime Piano Quartet No. 1 and Billy Mayerl’s jazzy Marigold close the program with ineffable joie de vivre.

Purchase tickets to Story Time

FOURSOMES

May 2 & 3, 3 PM

Four voices. Infinite emotion. A season’s end that leaves you transformed.

Akshaya Tucker: Hollow Flame
Lei Liang: Gobi Gloria
Kareem Roustom: Syrian Folk Songs
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60

EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Theo Ramsey, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano

String quartets by Akshaya Tucker (Hollow Flame), Lei Liang (Gobi Gloria) and Kareem Roustom (Syrian Folk Songs), each only ten minutes, demonstrate the amazing depth of this genre centuries after its first appearance around 1760. Brahms’s tempestuous Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, gigantic in all ways, represents the pinnacle of romantic emotion.

Purchase tickets to Foursomes

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Deals

Free at The Z

The Z is pleased to offer a number of complimentary shows and events each season. You can find these free events by clicking on FREE EVENTS under DEALS section of the EVENTS page.

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Bundle

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Save

Build your own package to experience the shows YOU want — at a discount! Choose from shows marked with the Bundle & Save icon, listed below. Then use code BUNDLE at check-out to save 10% with tickets to 3 or more eligible events.

Use the right arrow to scroll through eligible shows. Not sure which shows are eligible for Bundle & Save? The Z box office staff is happy to help!

Please note: discounts are not available on VIP tickets or tickets under $25.

Not sure which shows are eligible? The Z box office staff is happy to help.

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Come with a group

Bring a group of 10 or more to a Zeiterion performance and save! Groups enjoy discounts up to 20% off tickets to most shows and pay no order or processing fees.

10-14  = 10%
15-19  = 15%
20+  = 20%

PLUS! Earn one free ticket for every 20 tickets purchased for most shows. Special group rates for students are available for most shows.

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra offers no fees, plus 10% of Section C and 15% off Sections A and B with a purchase of 10 or more tickets.

Even if a show isn’t eligible for a group discount, the order and processing fees will be waived.

We’re here to help!

To reserve your seats, give us a call! Group discounts are not available online. Promotional posters and social media graphics are available on request. Recommendations for restaurants, accommodations, and cultural destinations happily offered.

Paula

 

Cardoso

Associate Director of Sales
Payment Information

A deposit is required one week after you reserve your order. Full payment and final ticket count are due 30 days before the performance date. If your final ticket count falls below 10, the regular ticket prices will apply. You may add tickets to your order based on availability. We’ll do our best to seat your party as close together as possible.

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Support The Businesses That Support The Z

3rd Eye Unlimited

Acushnet Company

Allan Smith & Company, CPAs PC

Andrea McCoy Recreation Center

BayCoast Bank

Boutique Fitness

Bristol Community College

Bristol County Savings Bank

Buzzards Bay Brewery

Chase Canopy

Coastal Financial

Coastal Provisions

Cornell Dubilier

Dominos

Dorothy Cox's

Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society

Fabric Festival

Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriott

Green Shuttle

Groundwork

Hawthorn Medical

Horacio's

Lightworks Productions

MLK Day Community Program

Micro Technology Solutions, Inc.

Music Performance Trust Fund

New Bedford Creative

New Bedford Film Society

New Bedford Food Tours

New Bedford Starchasers

Plymouth Event Rentals

Portugalia Marketplace

Portugalia Marketplace

Quahog Republic Whaler’s Tavern

24 North Water St.
New Bedford, MA 02740

Reliable Bus Co

Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum

ServedWell Hospitality

Southcoast Health

Sparrow's Eye

Sylvia Group

T.R.U.E. Divesity

Taunton Federal Credit Union

WNB One Radio

Westport River Winery

Join Our Community of Supporters

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL PREVAIL BECAUSE OF VENUES LIKE YOURS.”

— AGUSTINHO R.

When the curtain came down on performing arts in the spring of 2020, The Z was faced with an enormous challenge. Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community of supporters, The Z reopens its doors for the 2021/22 season.

That said, the road ahead is still uncertain. But we know we can navigate any challenge with your help.

Your support means The Z can continue to...

• Be a safe place for shared experiences that build community bonds and create connections

• Stimulate emotional healing through stories told on stage

• Make an impact on the learning and success of children through Pre K-12 Education Programs

• Offer life-long learning opportunities in The Z’s Creative Classroom

A Lifetime of Learning Through the Performing Arts

Performing arts education plays a vital role at The Z.

We believe the arts are an essential component of a well-rounded education.

From performances for grades Pre K-12 to life-long learning in our Creative Classroom, The Z uses the lens of performing arts to expand the hearts and minds of all ages.

As a place for learning at all ages, The Z offers:

• Classes in performing arts disciplines for many skill levels

• Pre K-12 performances

• Internships for teens

• In-school literacy projects

• Pre- and post-show discussions

For a full list and schedule, visit zeiterion.org/learn.

For a full list and schedule
Learn More

Our Story

Over the last 96 years, the Zeiterion Theatre has been a much-beloved place in New Bedford’s history. In 1923, the Zeitz brothers opened the Zeiterion as a grand Vaudeville house, with the vision of creating a “palace for the people.” At the time, the Zeiterion was one of nearly twenty theaters operating in the city of New Bedford. Shortly after opening, it transitioned to a movie house, and was renamed “The State Theatre.” Countless memories were made as the theater hosted opening nights for films such as “Moby Dick” and “Down to the Sea in Ships.” As time passed and people began seeking their entertainment elsewhere, the theatre fell dark and faced an uncertain future. Thanks to some visionary leaders, organizations like WHALE, and the support of this community, the Zeiterion was saved from the wrecking ball. In 1982, the Zeiterion Theatre was restored and reborn as a non-profit performing arts center, fondly called “The Z.” Today, The Z is a thriving home for live music, dance, theater, and film. It is a beacon for some of the best and brightest artists from around the world, exposing audiences of all ages to the power of the performing arts. Once one of many, The Z is now the last operating theater serving the city and a treasured landmark in downtown New Bedford. With the continued support of the community, The Z will remain at the center of cultural activity, entertaining and inspiring audiences for generations to come.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE Z’S STORY.

Team

The Zeiteiron Staff

Rosemary

 

Gill

she/her

President & CEO

rgill@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 121

Molly

 

Antone

she/her

Marketing Coordinator

mantone@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664

Katelyn R.

 

Begley

she/her

Donor Engagement Manager

Anita M.

 

Berryman

she/her

Development Assistant

aberryman@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 144

Paula

 

Cardoso

she/her

Associate Director of Sales

pcardoso@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 132

Cristina

 

Carrier

she/her

Executive Assistant / Office Manager

ccarrier@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 112

Kayla

 

Conner

she/her

Grants Coordinator

Sarah Jane

 

Ferreira

she/her

Box Office Manager

smulvey@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 116

Lisa

 

Giuffre

she/her

Senior Director Finance & Accounting

lgiuffre@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 145

Jessa

 

Goselin

they/them

Box Office Associate

jgoselin@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 151

Emily

 

Hatstat

she/her

Production Manager

ehatstat@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 117

General

 

Inquiries

Box Office Inquiry

Box Office

 

Inquiries

Box Office Inquiry

Ian

 

Laws

they/them

Graphic Designer

ilaws@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 153

Molly

 

McCarthy

she/her

Director of Development

mmccarthy@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 143

Nicole Downing

 

Merusi

she/her

Vice President of Strategic Advancement

nmerusi@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 111

Greg

 

Morton

he/him

Programming Manager

gmorton@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 125

Debra

 

Nettles

she/her

Graphic Designer

Penny

 

Pimentel

she/her

Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

ppimentel@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 127

Maria

 

Poulos

she/her

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

mpoulos@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 146

Maureen

 

Quail

she/her

Staff Accountant

mquail@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664

Dori

 

Rubbicco

she/her

Director of Patron Experience

drubbicco@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 Ext. 123

Blair

 

Taylor

she/her

Director of Education and Community

btaylor@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 129

Rachael

 

Wise

she/her

Senior Designer

rwise@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664

Emma

 

York

she/her

Associate Director of Education & Community

eyork@zeiterion.org

(508) 997-5664 EXT. 154