Zeiterion Theatre

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, is turning thirty – and they’re throwing a week-long party to celebrate, October 7-13! The fun kicks-off Sunday, October 7th with the glorious 20-piece global group – The Silk Road Ensemble. Then laugh ‘til you drop on Thursday, October 11 when The Z invites you to dance in the streets with Aliens! Yes! Aliens! Scads of outer-space creatures will parade through downtown New Bedford during AHA night and lead people back to the Zeiterion for cake and an out-of-this-world Alien concert by Big Nazo and the Extraordinary Rendition Band.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, downtown New Bedford, presents ABBA THE CONCERT, on August 8 at 8PM. “ABBA THE CONCERT –A Tribute to ABBA”, featuring the band Waterloo, will bring one of the greatest pop phenomenons back to life with their fantastic ABBA-sound and the stunning live “ABBA-esque” performance.

Dweezil Zappa, eldest son of the late Frank Zappa, channels the oddball yet intricate musical prowess of his Dad’s prodigious pop when “Zappa Plays Zappa – Accept No Substitute Tour” hits the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center stage on Sunday, July 1st at 8:00PM.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford celebrates its 2011-12 Season Finale with one of the most unique and breathtaking ensembles in the world—MASS Ensemble—starring global phenom, William Close and featuring his Earth Harp; an architectural marvel and the world’s largest stringed instrument. The climax of the three-day celebration is MASS Ensemble’s multi-media performance at The Z on May 26 at 8:00pm capping this world-class major event!

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) brings power and passion to the The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) on Saturday, April 28 at 8PM. Like Alvin Ailey, DCDC is one of the great success stories in American modern dance, having won international acclaim for its dynamic and magnificent performances rooted in the African American experience.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) presents the 7th Annual DooWop concert, honoring the pioneers of rhythm and blues and doo wop on Friday April 20 at 8PM, in a three-hour extravaganza starring Shirley Reeves, founder and original lead singer of the Shirelles, Charlie Thomas and his Drifters, The Tune Weavers, and the Edsels.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) will present Brian O’Donavan’s 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn sponsored by WGBH on March 17, 2012 at 8 p.m.

The popular Celtic Sojourn features music, dance, conversation, poetry and history from Ireland and the Irish Diaspora. The show will follow the format established for the burgeoning A Christmas Celtic Sojourn series, which played to a sold out crowd at The Z in December.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) will present Japanese Taiko drumming spectacular Tao: The Way of the Drum on Friday, March 23rd at 8PM.

Tao is a fusion of unrivalled Taiko drumming and extraordinary athletes that together create an unforgettable performance. Adding to the performance, the night will begin with a Z Block Party event.

NEW BEDFORD – The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center welcomes you to step through the red stage door on Spring Street to experience the Stage Door Live Series with cabaret singer Dane Vannatter on March 22. Stage Door Live is not the traditional Zeiterion show. Your seat is on-stage.

The artists are on-stage. Come onto the stage and see it transformed into an intimate concert club with great music, food and a full bar. Couches, chairs and tables create an intimate setting where you can view great artist up close. Tickets for all Stage Door Live performances are $20.

This March, The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center welcomes you to step through the red stage door on Spring Street to experience the Stage Door Live Series with Natalia Zukerman on March 8 and Dane Vannatter on March 22.

This is not the traditional Zeiterion show. Your seat is on-stage. The artists are on-stage. Come onto the stage and see it transformed into an intimate concert club with great music, food and a full bar. Couches, chairs and tables create an intimate setting where you can view great artist up close. Tickets for all Stage Door Live performances are $20.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center will present The Joffrey Ballet on Thursday, March 4th at 8 p.m. It will be the company’s only appearance in the Northeast and they will perform three pieces from their repertoire: Age of Innocence, After the Rain and In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.

Ana Moura, whose soulful and riveting interpretation of her land's captivating fado style has made her a star in Europe, brings her magic to The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 4th 2012 at 8 p.m. as part of her U.S. tour.

Back by popular demand! With explosive percussion, resounding brass and dazzling choreography DRUMLINE LIVE,! will march onto the stage of the Zeiterion for two shows on Thursday, December 1 at 7:30pm and Friday, December 2 at 8pm. As a special pre-show bonus on Thursday only, the winning Dartmouth High School Marching Percussion Ensemble will showcase their awarding winning sounds in front of the Z.

The four Stars of Broadway’s mega-hit musical “Jersey Boys” bring their highly anticipated concert - THE MIDTOWN MEN - to New Bedford, after a successful 2010 national tour of nearly 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada. THE MIDTOWN MEN perform two shows the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26 at 2 and 8 p.m., at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, 684 Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford.

New Bedford – Local child actors would agree, there’s “no place like home” -- when looking for Munchkins, that is! THE WIZARD OF OZ is touching down in New Bedford, as the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center presents this national treasure on Sunday, November 6 at 3pm. This national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ has a cast of Broadway professionals, and they have chosen talented Southcoast children as Munchkins for their New Bedford performance. Ten children were selected to play the roles of the diminutive dwellers of Oz in recent auditions held at the Zeiterion.

NEW BEDFORD –The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center presents an exhibition in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Labor Education Center titled “Work in Progress: Workers See Themselves Through a New Lens” in Penler Space at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, Corner of Spring Street and Purchase Street, New Bedford. This exhibit is shown for one-week only, Monday, June 20 through Sunday, June 26, 2011. Opening reception: Monday, June 20, 7:00-9:00 pm.. For more information, call the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center at 508-997-5664.

Just off her appearance on Oprah, Wynonna Judd is taking her critically acclaimed holiday album, A Classic Christmas, to the Z next Tuesday, December 1st.

Spreading festive cheer across the country, Wynonna will combine her smooth vocals and tremendous live presence in an unforgettable performance at the Z that will warm the heart and inspire the spirit.

Coupled with some of her biggest hits, Wynonna will also deliver soulful renditions of such traditional holiday classics like “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland” and her awe-inspiring version of “Ave Maria,” making this a special performance for the entire family.

NEW BEDFORD – The Brotherhood Acoustic Tour featuring Grammy-award winning trio of brothers Los Lonely Boys and Mexican-American singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo will perform live at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD – Country singer/songwriter Phil Vassar will perform a live show at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. Vassar is slated to perform songs from his most recent studio album “Prayer of a Common Man” as well as several of his past hits.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in Downtown New Bedford is pleased to once again be one of the hosts for the Bioneers by the Bay conference this October.

Our belief in growing the community through responsible choices is strengthened through our relationship with the Marion Institute and we are encouraged by the tremendous response to their efforts. The Zeiterion is working to improve our environmentally conscious endeavors through more online advertising, recognizing the importance of communicating through emails, and bringing outstanding performances which celebrate the whole earth as a sacred place such as the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with The Paul Winter Consort on April 23rd and the National Geographic First Person: Stories from the Edge of the World on April 9th.

The songs of Frank Sinatra need to be sung and Frank Jr. has inherited that honor. In song and style, Frank Sinatra, Jr. pays homage to his father, the singer and the music that defines the Sinatra legend. Accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra, the concert features songs that Sinatra sang in over 50 years of performing, many of which Sinatra, Jr. witnessed first hand.

A portion of the show includes a photo gallery depicting Sinatra's “look” throughout each decade, while Frank Jr. sings the songs that best represented the times. The show, like a visit with old friends, features classic after memory-jarring classic, including "I've Got You Under My Skin," "One For My Baby," "New York, New York," "Luck Be A Lady" and "Strangers In The Night."

Through his nationally syndicated television show “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures,” and hundreds of appearances on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Good Morning America” and “Larry King Live,” animal expert and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Jack Hanna has become a household name. Bringing his live animals to the stage, audiences give Jack rave reviews – everyone from the youngest child to the oldest adult is entertained and inspired.

Starring Ruben Studdard of “American Idol”
FRIDAY, MAY 15 AT 8 PM

Starring 2003 “American Idol” winner and recording artist Ruben Studdard along with Frenchie Davis, “American Idol” contestant and star of “Rent” on Broadway, this 30th anniversary tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical is a rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping revue of one of Broadway’s most well-crafted shows of all time. Ain't Misbehavin’ is simply unforgettable!

Live on Stage, Friday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m. New Shanghai Circus takes the stage at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford. The troupe twists, jumps, flips and balances in time with an elaborate, colorful lightshow and part-Chinese, part-Western music for a wondrous show of extraordinary human feats, acrobatics, magic and incredible tricks.

DanceBrazil, has been enthralling audiences across the United States and throughout the world for over 30 years under the artistic direction of the company’s founder Jelon Vieira. This event will take place at the Zeiterion on Friday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m., the same day as Brazil’s own Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.

Loretta LaRoche is one of New Bedford’s favorite comediennes and this year she brings some of her favorite comediennes with her! Sheis an international stress management and humor consultant whose wit and irreverent humor has, for over 30 years, raised the humor potential in all of us.

“Romeo and Juliet,” one of the most romantic ballets in classical repertoire, will be performed by the acclaimed St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre leaps its way onto the Zeiterion Stage on Saturday, May 3 2008 at 8pm.

NEW BEDFORD, MASS (Oct. 17, 2007) – For the first time in history, Iceland’s national dance company will perform in the United States, and they have chosen New Bedford for their first performance. The landmark event will take place at the Zeiterion Theatre (zeiterion.org) on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $32 and can be purchased online, by phone or in person at the box office.

With a career that has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, garnered a remarkable 12 Grammy Awards and stirred music lovers for more than thirty years and counting, Emmylou Harris has been rightfully hailed as a major figure in several of America’s most important musical movements of the past three decades. A steadfast supporter of roots music and a skilled interpreter of compelling songs, she also has been associated with a diverse and dazzling array of admiring collaborators from Bright Eyes to Tammy Wynette and from Neil Young to Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.