Something for everyone: Wharton Center's performing arts season marked by diversity

Correction: The Wharton Center has created a new event dubbed Club 750. The name was incorrect in the headline of an earlier version.

Wharton Center's 2023-'24 performing arts season has something for everyone, with a lineup that includes jazz, theater, dance, classical and even spoken word.  The only things missing are rock, standup comedy and maybe monster trucks.

The highlight of the season is the creation of a new event, Club 750. Wharton will be reimagining the popular Jackson Lounge into an intimate 100-seat nightclub with refreshments and an unusual selection of music. Something fresh and original that could turn into an audience favorite.

Classical performances

Classical concerts have been sparse in the last several years and this season is no different.  The quality of the concerts is high, but there are only three of them.

On Jan. 31, cellist Yo Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist Leonidas Kavakos will perform a all-Beethoven show.

Australian Ray Chen, a violinist praised for his elegant playing, will feature Bach in his concert in March.

Wharton has not hosted an American orchestra for many years.  It will do just that when it welcomes the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on May 2, 2024. This concert will feature their relatively new (2020) conductor and music director, Jader Bignamini.

Dance events

The dance series has two events for this season.

The World Ballet Series last performed Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and this year will present “Cinderella.”  They are a Wharton favorite.

Step Afrika! is a contemporary American group of men and women presenting step dancing from around the word.  It is hip, interesting, full of energy and rhythm.  They will be in residence at Michigan State University for the week.

Theater shows

Only one event here (since there is the Broadway series). The Acting Company, a familiar group at Wharton will present the classical “The Odyssey” in Pasant Theater on Oct. 28-29..

Jazz concerts

“When You Wish Upon a Star” is a jazz group with two vocalists highlighting 100 years of Disney.  This proves to be an interesting program if you begin to think about all of the memorable music that has been written for the dozens of Disney movies — both live action and animated — over the years. The show is Oct. 18.

Maria Schneider Orchestra, a highly respected 18-piece jazz orchestra that wanders into classical as well as jazz, will perform Feb. 23.

Catherine Russell is a well-known jazz and blues singer who will be performing with a small jazz combo on April 16. Russell has an eclectic musical background and her father, a band leader in the early jazz years, discovered Louis Armstrong and was his band leader.

Club 750 events

This is the new idea for the season, turning the Jackson Lounge into a relaxed jazz club. They will serve drinks and refreshments and maybe food.  Wharton is still putting the finishing touches on this. But it is surely something that is different and imaginative for a big hall like Wharton.

How did they get the name “Cub 750”?  It’s the address of Wharton Center – 750 E. Shaw Lane.

This new series begins on Nov. 9 with Gabriel Royal, a jazz and classical cellist and songwriter who began by playing the New York’s subway stations.  He’s original, irreverent and talented.

Immanuel Wilkins is a young hot jazz saxophone player who will appear with his quartet. Only 25 years old, Wilkins is building a strong reputation through his recordings and performances.

Martha Redbone Roots Project is a unique musical offering. Redbone’s heritage is both black and native American and she has a folk, roots, soul style.

This new series ends with the PUBLIQuartet: “What is an American” on April 25. This is a contemporary string quartet playing a wide variety of American music.

Variety events

There are nine concerts in this grouping and we won’t go through them all. Writer David Sedaris, who always fills the Great Hall, is a funny and disrupting writer. His distinctive speaking style gives his stories even more humor. His show is Oct. 24.

An interesting change, Wharton on Nov. 17 will be producing the Lansing Symphony Orchestra in a concert with the movie version of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.” This is a traveling production and will bring their own conductor.

Small Island Big Song is an evening of music of the Pacific Islands, with the mission of highlighting the islands that may disappear due to climate change. The show is March 21.

Subscription tickets are now available by going to whartoncenter.com/events.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Wharton Center announces 2023-'24 performing arts season