Vermont Public Community Calendar

On October 22, 2023, at the Grande Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, singer/producer/star of The Beat Goes On Lisa McClowry walked away with Tribute Artist of the Year honors from the Josie Music Awards (the world’s largest international independent artists awards ceremony) for her portrayal of Cher in this theatrical extravaganza celebrating six decades in the life and career of the Goddess of Pop.

One of the iconic divas of the 20th century, who parlayed her music stardom into success on movie screens and TV, Cher is a living legend. Having sold 100 million records to date, she is one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Her achievements include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Cannes Film Festival Award, the Billboard Icon Award, and awards from the Kennedy Center Honors and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She is the only artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s.

A singer, composer, and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers.

Whether touring as a ‘Duo’ or with his ‘Acoustic Group’ or his ‘Large Band,’ Lovett’s live performances show not only the breadth of this Texas legend’s deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences, making him one of the most compelling and captivating musicians in popular music.

A master lyricist and satirical storyteller, John Hiatt delivers songs filled with tales of redemption, relationships, and surrendering on his own terms. Hiatt’s finest album is 1987’s Bring the Family; other catalog highlights include the pop and rock of 1983’s Riding with the King, the rough-hewn blues-rock of 2008’s Same Old Man, and 2021’s Leftover Feelings.

The Machine has forged a 30+ year reputation of extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. The New York-based quartet performs a diverse mix of The Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, complete with faithful renditions of popular hits as well as obscure gems.

With stellar musicianship and passionate delivery, The Machine explores collective improvisation rivaling that of an early 1970’s Pink Floyd, while their use of expanded theatrical elements and elaborate stage displays and lighting continues The Floyd spirit of the 1980’s. The band is also known for recreating entire albums as a part of their show, accepting requests from fans, and for taking an A – Z approach in which one song is played for every letter of the alphabet.

The band features founding member Tahrah Cohen (drums), longtime bandmates Scott Chasolen (keys, vocals) and Ryan Ball (guitar, vocals), and newest member Chris DeAngelis (bass, lead vocals). The band continues on to celebrate the music of Pink Floyd and to honor the life of Joe Pascarell, who co-founded the band with Tahrah in 1988.

Professor Beverly Gage of Yale University will be drawing on her forthcoming book for a lecture on “This Land is Your Land: Grappling with the American Past on the 250th anniversary of the Nation’s Founding.” Professor Gage is the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century."

The First Annual Vermont Chocolate Festival debuts March 14–15, 2026, in downtown Middlebury in the new wing of Town Hall Theater. Presented by Adagio Chocolates, the Festival celebrates fine and craft chocolate with chocolate tastings, demonstrations, and educational presentations. Highlights include vendors, live demos, guided tastings, s’mores in the Maloney Plaza, games, raffles, and, of course, so much chocolate! A screening of the documentary film Peace by Chocolate kicks off the Festival Saturday evening at 7 PM with a special chocolate tasting at 6:30 PM. Public hours Sunday 11 AM–5 PM. Tickets for sale at townhalltheater.org.

The Choir of St. Stephen's, Middlebury sings music of the Renaissance at Choral Evensong. Music by G.P. da Palestrina, Adrian Batten, William Smith of Durham and Martin Luther. Organ music by Girolamo Frescobaldi and Juan Cabanilles.

The Infamous Stringdusters are a celebrated American progressive bluegrass band known for their virtuosic musicianship, innovative arrangements, and genre-blending style. The GRAMMY® Award-winning Americana quintet — Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Andy Hall (dobro), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), and Travis Book (double bass) — have musical influences that truly run the gamut, but their common denominator is certainly bluegrass — the sound that has in essence defined the course of their career.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is set to transport audiences to a world of wonder with Disney in Concert: Around the World, a symphonic celebration of Walt Disney’s legacy. Featuring orchestral suites from classic Disney films and iconic film moments, this concert experience will enchant fans of all ages.

From the sweeping savannas of The Lion King to the icy magic of Frozen, the adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean to the timeless romance of Beauty and the Beast among many other familiar classics, VSO’s live performance will bring Disney’s most beloved stories to life like never before. The program combines the power of a live symphony orchestra with moments from Disney’s animated masterpieces projected on screen—creating an immersive, family-friendly event brimming with nostalgia and wonder.

Pre-show talk at 11:15 a.m. with OCM board member Jerry Shedd. Estimated run tIme: 5 hours, 10 minutes with two intermissions.

After years of anticipation, a truly unmissable event arrives in cinemas worldwide, as the electrifying Lise Davidsen tackles one of the ultimate roles for dramatic soprano: the Irish princess Isolde in Wagner’s transcendent meditation on love and death. Heroic tenor Michael Spyres stars opposite Davidsen as the love-drunk Tristan. The momentous occasion also marks the advent of a new, Met-debut staging by Yuval Sharon—hailed by The New York Times as “the most visionary opera director of his generation” and the first American to direct an opera at the famed Wagner festival in Bayreuth—as well as Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s first time leading Tristan und Isolde at the Met. Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova reprises her portrayal of Brangäne, alongside bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, who sings Kurwenal after celebrated Met appearances in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer and Ring cycle. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green makes an important role debut as King Marke.

Iconic entertainer Sammy Kershaw has amassed three platinum and six gold albums that have scanned and streamed in excess of 5 million records and nearly 100 million combined songs sold. Often referred to as the “heir apparent” to legendary ‘voice’ George Jones, the GRAMMY nominated performer helped shape and make the ‘90s a shining decade for country music. His multi-platinum albums were propelled into the record books by hits such as “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Doublewide Trailer”, “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love Of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t Go Near The Water,” “Haunted Heart”, “Vidalia” and many other milestones.

Growing up in Kaplan, Louisiana, Kershaw was enthralled with the masters at an early age – names like Conway Twitty, Mel Street, and George Jones. In fact, as a teenager, Kershaw had developed such a reputation for his vocals – even then – that he was often called upon to open for those acts, and others like them. Jones was so impressed with Sammy that he frequently invited him to perform on his shows whenever he was playing in the region.

Powered by the chart-topping hits of Britney Spears, the undisputed Princess of Pop, "Once Upon A One More Time" turns our favorite fairy tales upside down with a clever twist! When a fairy godmother goes rogue and plops copies of The Feminine Mystique in the laps of classic heroines, the damsels embark on a quest to rewrite their stories and redefine "happily ever after." "Once Upon A One More Time" weaves 23 of Britney Spears' smash singles—like "Crazy," "Oops!…I Did It Again," "Circus," "Lucky," and "Toxic"—into "a big, modern, musical dance party, with Britney's beating heart at its core." (ABC News) The Mt Abraham Spring Musical invites you to step into the pages of this colorful PG13 hip hop fantasy.

Shows: March 26-28 at 7:00 pm and March 28 at 2:00pm

When Curb Records recording artist Lee Brice isn’t selling out arenas, writing and recording songs, or building new brands like Dulce Vida Tequila and Loud Lemon, you’ll find the family man with his wife Sara, two young boys, and daughter. Meanwhile, with over 10 billion career streams, Brice continues to enjoy massive success at country radio, digital streaming services, and on the road. He has reached the #1 spot at Country Radio with Platinum-selling “Memory I Don’t Mess With,” which consecutively follows three prior #1s: ASCAP’s 2021 Country Song of the Year and 3x Platinum track “One of Them Girls,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce, and the 4x Platinum hit “Rumor,” which was nominated in the category Single of The Year at the 55th Annual ACM Awards.

Powered by the chart-topping hits of Britney Spears, the undisputed Princess of Pop, "Once Upon A One More Time" turns our favorite fairy tales upside down with a clever twist! When a fairy godmother goes rogue and plops copies of The Feminine Mystique in the laps of classic heroines, the damsels embark on a quest to rewrite their stories and redefine "happily ever after." "Once Upon A One More Time" weaves 23 of Britney Spears' smash singles—like "Crazy," "Oops!…I Did It Again," "Circus," "Lucky," and "Toxic"—into "a big, modern, musical dance party, with Britney's beating heart at its core." (ABC News) The Mt Abraham Spring Musical invites you to step into the pages of this colorful PG13 hip hop fantasy.

Shows: March 26-28 at 7:00 pm and March 28 at 2:00pm

Laurie will perform many fan favorites that encourage kids and grownups alike to get up, sing along and move, including “Victor Vito,” “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Pig On Her Head,” “Waiting for the Elevator,” and “Chipmunk at the Gas Pump,” plus some new hits!

Bring a stuffed animal (for your head) and your dancing shoes!

Powered by the chart-topping hits of Britney Spears, the undisputed Princess of Pop, "Once Upon A One More Time" turns our favorite fairy tales upside down with a clever twist! When a fairy godmother goes rogue and plops copies of The Feminine Mystique in the laps of classic heroines, the damsels embark on a quest to rewrite their stories and redefine "happily ever after." "Once Upon A One More Time" weaves 23 of Britney Spears' smash singles—like "Crazy," "Oops!…I Did It Again," "Circus," "Lucky," and "Toxic"—into "a big, modern, musical dance party, with Britney's beating heart at its core." (ABC News) The Mt Abraham Spring Musical invites you to step into the pages of this colorful PG13 hip hop fantasy.

Shows: March 26-28 at 7:00 pm and March 28 at 2:00pm

Paul Hoffman is co-founder, songwriter and vocalist of internationally acclaimed acoustic rock band, Greensky Bluegrass. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as Bob Weir, Billy Strings, Jack Johnson, Bruce Hornsby and many more. phoffman will be performing songs that he wrote for Greensky Bluegrass and much more. Opening the show for phoffman will be Lil Smokies co-founder and songwriter Andy Dunnigan.

Although he’s keeping the details under wraps, Brown has said that with An Evening of Alton Brown he’s “stirring up some twists on his greatest hits,” and “spicing things up with new demonstrations, music, and slightly scaled-down mayhem.” No matter what, An Evening of Alton Brown will present Brown as you’ve never seen him — unless, of course, you’ve been invited to his house.

Best known for creating and hosting groundbreaking television such as Good Eats, Iron Chef America, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Food Network Star, Brown has also built one of the most successful culinary touring franchises ever, performing live in more than 300 cities for well over half a million fans. With An Evening of Alton Brown, he strips away the spectacle in favor of connection, spontaneity, and storytelling, delivering a show that is equal parts humor, science, food, and heart.

For nearly six decades, the three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has entertained audiences with their top-shelf musicianship and timeless hits. Now the time has come for the band who has carried a torch for American country and roots music to say so long to the highways and byways they’ve crossed an unimaginable number of times throughout their career.

On March 21, 2024, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band kicked off the first of its last traditionally scheduled gigs, All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour, which has received critical acclaim. This isn’t goodbye forever, but it will be the last fans see of multi-city runs and long bus rides. As 2026 approaches, so does the band’s remarkable 60th Anniversary, and to celebrate, NGDB’s All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour — 60 Years of Dirt will showcase a special slate of performances and appearances set for 2026, including a 60th anniversary celebration of the band’s formation (to the day) on May 13, 2026 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. These exceptional shows celebrate the music created by the legendary, yet ever-evolving NGDB.

Dirty Deeds – The AC/DC Experience celebrates the thunderous energy of the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson era delivering a power-packed performance that takes the audience on a journey through the story that is AC/DC. Reminiscent of the legendary Australian rockers, Dirty Deeds, captures the essence of the band that defined a genre.

The Paramount Players, our very own community theatre initiative, which brought you such memorable productions as Mamma Mia (2019), Shrek The Musical, (2022), Wizard of Oz (2023), Little Shop of Horrors (2024) and Urinetown (2025) is bringing their next production to life on stage this coming April!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and a dilemma that’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.

Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Full of comedy and your beloved childhood characters, this theatrical production is rated PG for occasional adult humor and mild language.