Waiting anxiously in the wings for its entrance cue, the 2025-26 season of theatre and music is yet another one packed with classics and new works—gems of both history and the latest efforts of playwrights, composers, and authors. Subscriptions to all of those organizations listed below are still available; single tickets generally go on sale in August. Check the websites listed for more information.
Clarence Brown Theatre
The 2025-26 season will be a historic one for the University of Tennessee Theatre Department and the Clarence Brown Theatre as it opens with great fanfare the Jenny Boyd Carousel Theatre, the functional and philosophical replacement for the fondly remembered theatre-in-the-round, the Carousel Theatre. Check here for subscriptions and tickets.
Sense & Sensibility
By Kate Hamill based on the novel by Jane Austen
The Clarence Brown Theatre
September 17 – October 5, 2025
The Harvest
By Samuel D. Hunter
The CBT Lab Theatre
October 22 – November 9, 2025
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens — Adapted By Edward Morgan And Joseph Hanreddy
Music By John Tanner
The Clarence Brown Theatre
November 20 – December 20, 2025
Cabaret
Book by Joe Masteroff based on a play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
The inaugural production in the Jenny Boyd Carousel Theatre
February 11 – March 1, 2026
The Royale
By Marco Ramirez
Jenny Boyd Carousel Theatre
March 25 – April 12
You Can’t Take It With You
By Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
Clarence Brown Theatre
April 15 – May 3
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Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
The KSO, under Maestro Aram Demirjian, is celebrating its 90th season of operation with a vast array of concerts across its five concert series: MoxCar Marketing & Communication Masterworks, Roy Cockrum Chamber Classics, Q Series, Merchant & Gould Concertmaster Series, and the Pops Series. Check here for information on KSO subscriptions and tickets. Single tickets go on sale in August.
The almost-monthly Masterworks Series in the Tennessee Theatre is listed here. Check the KSO’s website for information on the other series.
Masterworks Series
September 18, 19 — Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
October 16, 17 — Elgar Cello Concerto (Zlatomir Fung, cello)
November 20, 21 — Rhapsody in Blue (Chaeyoung Park, piano)
January 15, 16 — Gluzman Plays Brahms (Vadim Gluzman, violin)
February 12,13 — Valentine’s Romance: Star-Crossed Lovers (Zlata Chochieva, piano)
March 12,13 — West Side Story
April 16, 17 — Midori Returns (Midori, violin)
May 14, 15 — Marsalis Swing Symphony
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Knoxville Opera
KO offers a three-performance main series of classic works by Bizet, Rossini, and Puccini at the Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou Theatre. Tickets and information.
Carmen
By Georges Bizet
Tennessee Theatre
Friday, October 24, 7:30 PM — Sunday, October 26, 2:30 PM
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
By Gioachino Rossini
Tennessee Theatre
Friday, February 20, 7:30 PM — Sunday, February 22, 2:30 PM
Gianni Schicchi
By Giacomo Puccini
Bijou Theatre
Friday, May 8, 7:30 PM — Sunday, May 10, 2:30 PM
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River & Rail Theatre Company
River & Rail is on the verge of a big step forward—its relocation to a new space on Magnolia Avenue. The move will eventually expand its capacity and its ability to choose a wider selection of works. In the meantime, R & R will offer a 2025-26 season in its Old City Performing Arts Center space that continues its bold programming. Check here for information and tickets.
Moon Man Walk
By James Ijames
September 11 – 28, 2025
Little Women
Adapted from the Louisa May Alcott novel
December 4 – 21
The Old Man And The Old Moon
By Pigpen Theatre Company
A Co-Production With Pellissippi State Community College
February 12 – March 1, 2026
Eurydice
By Sarah Ruhl
April 16 – May 3, 2026
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Broadway at the Tennessee Theatre
The historic Tennessee Theatre opened in 1928 and is today Knoxville’s preeminent performing arts venue that includes hosting a series of national touring productions of Broadway plays and musicals—a series that is enormously popular. Tickets and subscription information here.
The Book Of Mormon
November 11 – 16, 2025
Kimberly Akimbo
December 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026
MJ: The Musical
January 20 – 25, 2026
The Outsiders
April 22 – 26, 2026
Disney’s Beauty And The Beast
May 20 – 24, 2026
& Juliet
August 4 – 9, 2026
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Marble City Opera
Marble City Opera has announced that Ryan Colbert will be joining the company as its Associate Executive Artistic Director effective August 1.
Although MCO’s 2025-26 season is still being assembled, a journey underground will begin the season. Cherokee Caverns will once again be the site for an opening event, Baritones, Boots, & Bats, on September 14, 2025 at 3pm. The baritones are Maurice Hendricks, Joel Brown, and Daniel Spiotta. Tickets and Information.
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University of Tennessee Opera Theatre
Part of the Natalie Haslam College of Music, UTOT offers audiences glimpses at tomorrow’s generation of operatic talent.
Italian Double-Bill
La cambiale di matrimonio – Gioachino Rossini
Amelia al ballo – Gian Carlo Menotti
November 14, 15 & 16, 2025
Bijou Theatre
The Cunning Little Vixen – Leoš Janáček
(Sung in English)
April 24, 25 & 26, 2026
Bijou Theatre
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Knoxville Choral Society
KCS regularly partners with the KSO on concerts as well as presenting its own choral concerts.
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
September 18 & 19, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre
Knoxville Choral Society Masterworks Concert
October 30, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | Knoxville, TN
Handel’s Messiah with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
November 30, 2025 | 2:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre
39th Annual Clayton Holiday Concert with the KSO
December 19–21, 2025
Civic Auditorium, Knoxville
Young Artist Winter Concert
Friday, February 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Central Bearden | 6300 Deane Hill Dr.
75th Anniversary Celebration Concerts
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Central Bearden
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Community Church at Tellico Village
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Theatre Knoxville Downtown
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM; Sundays at 3 PM
Harvey
July 25 – August 10, 2025
Laughter on the 23rd Floor
By Neil Simon
September 5 – September 21, 2025
The Birds
By Conor McPherson, from A story by Daphne Du Maurier
October 17 – November 2, 2025
A Sherlock Carol
By Mark Shanahan
November 28 – December 14, 2025
Doubt, A Parable
By John Patrick Shanley
January 16 – February 1, 2026
Private Lives
By Noel Coward
March 6 – March 22, 2026
Bug
By Tracy Letts
April 24 – May 10, 2026
She Kills Monsters
By Qui Nguyen
June 12 – June 28, 2026
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Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
Satchmo Swings With Byron Stripling
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – 8:00 PM
Bijou Theatre
Kjo’S Swingin’ Christmas With Simon Moullier
Tuesday, December 16 – 8:00 PM
Tennessee Theatre
Jazz Is For Lovers With Camille Thurman
Bijou Theatre
The Brown Family Get-Down With Keith Brown
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – 8:00PM
Bijou Theatre
Nothin’ But Soul With Kirk Whalum
Bijou Theatre
Please add the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.
knoxjazz.org
Just celebrated their 25th year.
Added to the article!