Actress Bernadette Peters, commentator Fran Lebowitz among next season of MIAC Live performers

Veteran Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters will open the 2022-23 Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture Live Series at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Sept. 17.

MIAC Artistic Director Brett Johnson on April 21 announced the next season of MIAC Live performances, which includes Peters, social commentator Fran Lebowitz, performer Michael Feinstein, diverse dance unit Ballet Hispánico, London’s The Kingdom Choir and more.

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Peters will join the Erie Philharmonic for a special concert in the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, 501 E. 38th St. Peters has had a prolific career on Broadway and in film, television and the solo concert stage for more than 50 years. She has had Tony-winning performances in “Song and Dance” and “Annie Get Your Gun.” Peters also has credits in 17 films to go along with extensive television work, including Emmy-nominated performances in “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” “Ally McBeal” and “The Muppet Show.”

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On Oct. 6, essayist and commentator Lebowitz will speak to the Mercyhurst crowd, offering her views on current events. Recently, Lebowitz has offered her insights in the Netflix documentary series “Pretend It’s a City."

Following Lebowitz, on Oct. 26, will be legendary performer Feinstein celebrating the works of Judy Garland. With input from executive producer Liza Minnelli, "Get Happy! Michael Feinstein Celebrates the Judy Garland Centennial," is a nostalgic and musical journey of Garland’s illustrious career.

The MIAC series will get in the holiday spirit on Nov. 29 with The Hot Sardines, who bring their “Holiday Stomp” to Mercyhurst. The Hot Sardines, a jazzy brass ensemble, add swing to classics like “White Christmas," “Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney" and “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

The final MIAC Live show of the year is Dec. 12, with fiddle virtuosos Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy. The duo has won multiple Juno awards each and will perform "A Celtic Family Christmas," dubbed as an evening of music, dance and storytelling.

The 2023 portion of the MIAC Live season will begin Feb. 10, when Ballet Hispánico performs diverse works spanning the more than 50 years of the company’s history in America. Ballet Hispánico celebrates and explore Latin cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training and community engagement experiences.

On Feb. 21, London’s The Kingdom Choir, drawing from various Christian traditions, will perform a show of traditional gospel songs and popular contemporary music. The Kingdom Choir is best known for their performance at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

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The season continues March 28 with Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti. With multiple gold and platinum albums, Botti has become the nation’s largest selling instrumental artist. He's performed with legends such as Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Andrea Bocelli.

On April 13, five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo, one of the most known voices in international music, will perform a high-energy concert. Kidjo, an accomplished singer and activist, has earned several accolades during her career, including being named “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine and earning a spot on The Guardian’s list of the "Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World."

Aaron Tveit, a Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen, will conclude the MIAC Live season on May 3. Tveit earned a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle award in the world premiere production of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” He also has appeared in several TV series and played Enjolras in the film version of “Les Misérables."

Single tickets will go on sale Aug. 9 at noon, and can be purchased online at miac.universitytickets.com, by phone at 814-824-3000, or at the box office in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Season subscriptions, including tickets to five or more MIAC Live performances, are available beginning June 28.

The 2021-22 MIAC Live season concludes after two more shows: stage and screen star Kelli O'Hara on May 5 and world-traveling musical group Pink Martini on June 4.

2022-23 season schedule

All events start at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at 501 E. 38th St.

• Sept. 17: Bernadette Peters

• Oct. 6: Fran Lebowitz

• Oct. 26: "Get Happy! Michael Feinstein Celebrates The Judy Garland Centennial"

• Nov. 29: "Holiday Stomp" with the Hot Sardines

• Dec. 12: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy present "A Celtic Family Christmas"

• Feb. 10: Ballet Hispánico

• Feb. 21: The Kingdom Choir

• March 28: Chris Botti

• April 13: Angelique Kidjo

• May 3, 2023: Aaron Tveit

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Broadway star Bernadette Peters to open MIAC Live season in September