All tickets for theatre, music, and national Broadway tours are now on sale to the general public and Friends of Convocations.

Purdue Convocations presents its 122^nd Season with a lineup of innovative projects and performances from around the world. The 2024-2025 Convos Season includes the 29^th West Lafayette Global Fest, award-winning jazz and chamber musicians, a curricular integration theatre residency, thought-provoking lectures, family-friendly engagements, and award-winning Broadway musicals and major attractions in Elliott Hall of Music including Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert, Dear Evan Hansen, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Hadestown, Pretty Woman: The Musical, and Chicago. The buying schedule and events calendar are available below or by visiting convocations.org/tickets.

All tickets for 2024-2025 events are available for purchase by the general public and Friends of Convocations beginning June 26 at 7:00 p.m. EDT by visiting convocations.org/tickets. An allotment of tickets for each performance is available for the Friends of Convos Priority Points ordering period June 26 through July 12. For priority seating, Friends of Convos must use the online order form at convocations.org/tickets to ensure the best seats.  

General public single and group tickets are also on sale June 26 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Patrons may purchase tickets online at convocations.org/tickets, by phone at (765) 494-3933, or by visiting the Stewart Center Box Office at 128 Memorial Mall, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during Purdue’s summer schedule. 

Importantly, since Convos is self-supporting, it is your enthusiastic ticket purchases and generous gifts that enable us to bring the world-class culture that this community has loved for the past 122 years.

“Convos has always been about finding powerful stories and putting them on stage, and this season is no different. Whether it is a classical Greek myth, a contemporary tale of youth today, or the music of the creative giants throughout the centuries, these are experiences that bind us together as people—regardless of our age or circumstances,” said Purdue Convocations executive director Todd Wetzel. “Importantly, since Convos is self-supporting, it is your enthusiastic ticket purchases and generous gifts that enable us to bring the world-class culture that this community has loved for the past 122 years.” 

Friends of Convos members are given priority seating using the Priority Points system. New and renewal Friends of Convos memberships of $100 or more annually qualify for priority seating and other perks, and provide crucial support for performances, education, outreach, and special programs. Revenue from ticket sales only covers less than half of the true costs of programming, so gifts from generous individuals, corporations, and foundations help Purdue Convocations close that gap. All patrons may add an annual Friends of Convos membership gift of at least $100 to immediately avail themselves of these benefits by visiting convocations.org/friends. For best seating, Priority Points orders must be received by July 12, 2024 for PICK5 discounted subscriptions and single show tickets.

General public and Friends of Convos may build a custom subscription PICK5 package to save an average of 10% off single-ticket prices. Patrons have the flexibility of designing their own package by selecting five or more shows when ordering. The PICK5 discount is automatically applied at checkout when ordering 5 or more paid events in a single order.

Groups of all kinds and sizes are welcome at Convos performances. Additionally, groups of 15 or more will receive a 10% discount on tickets as well as 1 complimentary ticket for every 15 paid tickets to be used for tour organizers, chaperones, or bus drivers. Qualifying performances vary. Call (765) 494-3933 for details or visit convocations.org/group-sales.

Convos applauds and appreciates the generosity of our Friends of Convos and these partners whose support ensures that incredible arts experiences are possible in our community: Purdue University Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Purdue University Office of the President, Westminster Village, MatchBOX Coworking Studio, WLFI TV-18, Purdue Student Concert Committee, University Place, Purdue University John Martinson Honors College, Star City Broadcasting, Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette, 8Eleven Bistro and Union Club Hotel, Barash Law, NeoVision Optical, Zebra Landscape, Lafayette Media Group, Purdue University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Center, Holiday Inn Lafayette City Centre, East End Grill, Ripple & Company, Mad Mushroom, Purdue University Bands & Orchestras, Based in Lafayette, Purdue Federal Credit Union, Arni’s Restaurants, The Lobby by Greyhouse, M.P. Baker Electric, Q106.7 FM, TBIRD Design Services, City of West Lafayette, Rubia Flower Market, Purdue Black Cultural Center, Purdue Latino Cultural Center, Purdue Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center.

2024-2025 Purdue Convocations Season

Buying schedule and ticket purchase links available online at convocations.org/tickets

Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert

Sunday, September 15, 2024, 6:00 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $26
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

Building on the success of the sold-out global shows of the first Oscar®-winning Spider- Man™ animated Spider-Verse film, comes the highly anticipated sequel: SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE LIVE IN CONCERT, set to captivate audiences in concert venues worldwide. 

These films have garnered immense popularity, largely due to their groundbreaking animation and innovative soundtracks that fuse orchestral and electronic elements alongside scratch DJ techniques. 

The upcoming spectacle will feature the movie showcased on a colossal HD screen, complemented by a diverse ensemble of musicians and instrumentalists performing the film’s iconic score and soundtrack live. This extraordinary lineup includes a full orchestra, a master scratch DJ on turntables, as well as percussion and electronic instrumentalists. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from WLFI-TV 18, Convocations Innovative Performance Fund, Purdue Student Concert Committee, and Friends of Convos Endowment.

29^th Annual West Lafayette Global Fest

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 3:00 p.m. ET
Downtown West Lafayette, FREE admission

Experience a celebration of cultures at the 29th Annual West Lafayette Global Fest! Join us for an unforgettable day filled with vibrant performances, mouthwatering international cuisine, and engaging cultural exhibits and activities. Bring your friends and family to immerse yourselves in a tapestry of global heritage right in the heart of West Lafayette.

Brazilian singer and activist Bia Ferreira spreads messages of feminism, love, and social justice across her native Brazil and beyond. Her powerful performances amplify her voice for a global audience,

uniting listeners in her message of empowerment and love. Yemen Blues infuses a rich blend of Jewish and Arabic cultural traditions into their music, creating a fusion that resonates with a deep appreciation for humanity. Capping off the night is Balkan Paradise Orchestra, originating from Barcelona, Spain. They mesmerize audiences with their innovative fusion of Balkan roots and global rhythms, as heard in their latest album “Nèctar,” which explores themes of teamwork, intensity, and savoring life’s moments. As outreach artists-in-residence, Balkan Paradise Orchestra will also give free pop-performances on Purdue’s campus Friday, September 20. More details to follow at convocations.org.

Mark your calendars and join us for a day of unity, diversity, and pure celebration at West Lafayette Global Fest!

Presented by the City of West Lafayette, the International Center of West Lafayette and Purdue Convocations with support from dozens of community partners.

Dear Evan Hansen

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $39
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

Declared “theatrical magic” by The Washington Post, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the first musical to take a groundbreaking look—from the point of view of both the parents and young people—at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. 

Evan Hansen is a high school student who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Evan finally gets what so many of us are searching for—the chance to finally fit in. What follows is a poignant, funny, and powerful musical about how even though it can be hard, we can find each other—and ourselves— along the way. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Union Club Hotel, 8Eleven Bistro, Bob and Patti Truitt, and Purdue Student Concert Committee.

A Conversation with Yo-Yo Ma

Presented by Purdue Presidential Lecture Series
Moderated by PBS NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Brown
Powered by Purdue Convocations

Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2:00 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, FREE tickets with RSVP

Purdue President Mung Chiang and the Purdue Presidential Lecture Series present the renowned cellist, recording artist, and humanitarian leader Yo-Yo Ma in a special engagement moderated by PBS NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Brown. Through personal anecdotes, thoughtful inquiry, and musical interludes, Yo-Yo Ma explores how culture can help us all seek truth, build trust and act in service of one another. RSVP for this free event at convocations.org/events.

Presented by Purdue University Office of the President and powered by Purdue Convocations.

The Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet

Saturday, October 12, 2024, 8:00 p.m. ET
Loeb Playhouse, tickets start at $17

Isaiah J. Thompson, 2023 American Pianists Awards winner and recipient of the Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz, hails from West Orange, NJ. Beginning his musical journey at The Calderone School of Music, he later studied at The Juilliard School, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Thompson has collaborated with jazz luminaries like Ron Carter and John Pizzarelli and made his recording debut on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records. Beyond performance, he contributed to the Golden Globe®-nominated soundtrack for Motherless Brooklyn and earned accolades including the Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. Thompson’s artistry radiates love, spirit, and personal experiences, reflecting his enduring passion for jazz. 

Thompson’s spirit-filled jazz artistry reflects his passion for jazz, as he joins the long list of amazing pianists to perform on Purdue’s magnificent Steinway D concert grand piano.

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Janet Nine, Robert B. & Patricia Petyon Truitt Piano Performance Endowment, Convocations Piano Giving Circle, University Place, Friends of Convos Endowment, and Q106.7 FM.

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $39
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters. 

One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy® Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize- winning playwright Katori Hall. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from University Place and Bob & Patti Truitt.

Purdue University Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging presents the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Event

Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones Excerpts in Concert

featuring Terence Blanchard and The E-Collective, The Turtle Island Quartet, and Special Guest Vocalists 

Libretto by Kasi Lemmons
Based on the book by Charles M. Blow
Visuals by Andrew F. Scott

Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, FREE tickets with RSVP
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

Rewind to September 2021 when the Metropolitan Opera (NYC) had been shuttered for over a year, the storied institution opened its season with the first work in its 138-year history written by an African American composer—Terence Blanchard’s new masterpiece, Fire Shut Up In My Bones. 

The production, remounted from the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis premiere in 2019, was experienced by 30,000 people, not to mention hundreds of thousands more around the world who watched The MET: LIVE in HD rebroadcasts. Notably, The Met restaged “Fire” again in the 2023-2024 season as a testament to its unparalleled success and achievement. 

Blanchard is already a celebrated artist with seven Grammy® Awards, two Oscar® nominations, numerous acclaimed film scores and albums, and his recent appointment as Executive Artistic Director for SFJazz, but with this work, he created a new cultural paradigm, breaking barriers along the way. Based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by The New York Times columnist, Charles M. Blow, the story is an excavation of a painful past and the desire to move beyond it. 

This “concert excerpt” version, adapted for Terence Blanchard and his band, the E-Collective, features the intrepid Turtle Island String Quartet and guest soloists, plus visuals by Andrew F. Scott. This work reveals the depths of Blanchard’s capacity to create a new musical world filled with pathos, humanity, and resilience. RSVP for this free event at convocations.org/events. 

Presented by the Purdue University Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. Powered by Purdue Convocations with support from NeoVision Optical, 8Eleven Bistro, and Union Club Hotel.

Mingus Big Band

Friday, January 24, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
Loeb Playhouse, tickets start at $27

Charles Mingus, born in 1922, was a virtuoso bassist, prolific composer, and legendary bandleader. Influenced by Duke Ellington, Mingus blended the essence of gospel music, New Orleans jazz, and New York vibrancy into a joyous jam. The Mingus Big Band, formed posthumously in 1979, embodies his legacy with a decades-long residency at iconic NYC jazz clubs. With numerous Grammy® nominations and ten albums, the band honors Mingus’s ethos by keeping each performance fresh and spontaneous. Beyond accolades, the band nurtures emerging talents, reflecting Mingus’s impulse to constantly evolve. Whether captivating critics or dazzling audiences worldwide, The Mingus Big Band stands as a testament to the enduring brilliance of Charles Mingus.

The Mingus Big Band will headline the 35th Annual Purdue Jazz Festival. Complete schedule and details at convocations.org.

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from East End Grill, Ripple & Company, Drs. Marshall & Berdine Martin, Dr. Sandra Sydnor, Barash Law, Westminster Village, Purdue University Bands & Orchestras, TBIRD Design Services, and M.P. Baker Electric.

Hadestown

Thursday, February 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $39
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today… and always. 

Intertwining two mythic tales—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone— HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations. Support for this performance comes from Star City Broadcasting, Friends of Convos Endowment, and MatchBOX Coworking Studio.

Pretty Woman: The Musical

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $39
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

Pretty Woman: The Musical, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde). 

Featuring an original score by Grammy® winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ‘69”, “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette, Davis Family Endowment, Holiday Inn Lafayette City Centre, and Lafayette Media Group.

Hamlet

Friday, February 28, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET
Loeb Playhouse, tickets start at $26

Regarded as one of Shakespeare’s finest works, Hamlet continues resonating with modern audiences some 400 years after it was originally produced. Set against a backdrop of murder, scandal, and the supernatural, Hamlet contains more than a few of Shakespeare’s most famous passages concerning “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” 

Actors From The London Stage return to Purdue for an encore week-long residency, deftly combining minimal staging with essential props and simple costumes. Each actor shares responsibility for the direction of the play and performs two or three major roles (as well as several minor ones). Through imagination and collaboration, the cast conjures Shakespeare’s immortal words and worlds into being. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Arni’s Restaurants, Westminster Village, Barash Law, Leonora & Harold Woodman Endowment for Theatre, Purdue Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts, and Based in Lafayette.

Chicago

Thursday, April 3, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
Elliott Hall of Music, tickets start at $39
Pre-Show Club powered by The Lobby by Greyhouse, see convocations.org/preshow for details

CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy- shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one showstopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. 

In the whirlwind of Chicago’s Jazz Age, two of the Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses—vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart— become fierce rivals as they compete for headlines amidst a media frenzy. 

Broadway’s longest-running musical has been razzle dazzling audiences for 28 years, and after more than 10,000 performances, 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards, and a Grammy®, we’re just getting started. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Westminster Village, Davis Family Endowment, 8Eleven Bistro, Union Club Hotel, and Purdue University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Center.

Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300

Thursday, April 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
Loeb Playhouse, tickets start at $31

Baroque superstars Les Arts Florissants are joined by fast-rising violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte in “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300,” commemorating the work’s original publication in 1725. The program frames these iconic masterpieces afresh, setting them alongside music Vivaldi would have known in Venice and compositions which were in turn inspired by his bold vision. 

Les Arts Florissants, founded in 1979 by William Christie, are celebrated pioneers in the revival of Baroque music. Renowned for their period instrument performances, they excel in interpreting the works of composers like Vivaldi, Handel, and Monteverdi. 

Violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte is renowned for his captivating performances and deep musical sensitivity. With a repertoire spanning from Baroque to contemporary works, he enchants audiences worldwide with his exquisite artistry and profound interpretation. 

Presented by Purdue Convocations with support from Janet & David Elmore, Gordon & Harriet Coppoc, Zebra Landscape, Jeanne Compton Endowment for Artistic Excellence, University Place, 8Eleven Bistro, Union Club Hotel, Mike & Pam Luenz Classical Music, and Rubia Flower Market.

About Purdue Convocations

Purdue Convocations catalyzes the curriculum, energizes the community, and distinguishes Purdue through powerful performances, illuminating discourse, and extraordinary learning encounters. 

Purdue University has a rich history of bringing concerts, lectures, and performances to campus. In 1902, the “Lecture and Concert Course” was first offered, creating the earliest iteration of what is now Purdue Convocations and placing it amongst the oldest collegiate performing arts presenting organizations in the country. Over the years, the names and formats have changed, but one thing has remained constant—the great Convos tradition of amplifying the power of a Purdue education through arts and culture. Now, powered solely by ticket sales and generous gifts, Convos is an award-winning cultural leader that makes Purdue a dynamic place to study, work, live, and play.

Source: 

James Britton, director of marketing, Purdue Convocations

(765) 494-5045, jamesbritton@purdue.edu.

Related websites:

Purdue Convocations:  convocations.purdue.edu

Note to journalists:

Publication-quality photos are available at convocations.org/press