The City of New Orleans' love affair with the cultural arts has a long and distinguished history, dating back to the earliest years of the French settlement in the 18th century. Opera, ballet, classical music and live theater were among the cultural gifts the French introduced and these great traditions continue to this day.
While cultural events are offered year-round in New Orleans, the height of the the cultural arts season traditionally begins in September and runs through May of the following year. No matter what time of year you happen to be visiting, you can almost certainly count on something exciting going on that suits your artistic tastes.
Listed below are the top cultural arts events for the upcoming season with links to the sponsoring organization and venue for more information. Also, be sure to check out our events calendar for the latest offerings in the city.
| September 26 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| October 1 - 2 |
3x3: The One Acts & 6x6 |
Midcity Theatre |
SREP |
| October 3 |
Opera on Tap |
The Rusty Nail |
NOOA |
| October 10 |
Beer, Bach and Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| October 18 - 21 |
The Lily's Revenge |
Den of Muses |
SREP |
| October 20 |
Pilobolus |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOBA |
| October 24 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| October 26 |
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
LPO |
| October 30 - November 4 |
Les Miserables |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| November 1 |
All Saints |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| November 7 |
Opera on Tap |
The Rusty Nail |
NOOA |
| November 12 - 18 |
Boeing, Boeing |
Rivertown Reperatory Theater |
RIV |
| November 14 |
The Best of Andrew Lloyd Weber w/ Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| November 16 and 18 |
The Barber of Seville |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOOA |
| November 21 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| November 23 - December 16 |
A Christmas Carol |
Contemporary Arts Center |
SREP |
| November 24 - 25 |
The Nutcracker |
Roussel Hall |
NOBT |
| November 29 |
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| December 7 - 9 |
Disney's Aladdin JR |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| December 8 |
Ballet Hispanico |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOBA |
| December 12 |
A "Not So Silent Night"
w/ Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| December 13 |
Baroque Christmas |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| December 15 |
Celtic Christmas |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| December 18 - 23 |
Mary Poppins |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| December 19 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| December 21 - 23 |
The Nutcracker |
Tulane Dixon Hall |
DFB |
| December 22 - 23 |
The Nutcracker |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| January 4 - 27 |
Venus in Fur |
TBA |
SREP |
| January 8 - 27 |
Jersey Boys |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| January 9 |
Bon Operatit sings Rogers and Hammerstein |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| January 10 |
Spanish Evening with Pepe Romero |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| January 11 - 27 |
The Class of '70 Something |
Rivertown Reperatory Theater |
RIV |
| January 12 - 13, 19 - 20 |
Avenue Q |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| January 18 - 20 |
Jessica Lang Dance |
Freda Lupin Memorial Hall |
NOBA |
| January 22 |
Slim Goodbody - Obesity Tour |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| January 26 |
Beethoven Violin Concerto |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| January 30 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| February 13 |
Chanson d'Amour w/ Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| February 16 |
Pan-American Life Fiesta Sinfonica |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
LPO |
| February 21 |
Beethoven's Eroica Symphony |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| February 23 |
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOBA |
| February 26 - March 3 |
The Full Monty |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| February 26 - March 3 |
Flashdance |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| February 27 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| March 1 - 3 |
Avenue Q |
The Joy Theater |
JPAS |
| March 6 |
Opera on Tap |
The Rusty Nail |
NOOA |
| March 8 - 24 |
Noises Off |
Rivertown Reperatory Theater |
RIV |
| March 9 - 10, 16 - 17 |
The Buddy Holly Story |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| March 9 |
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
LPO |
| March 13 |
Irish Blessings, Bagpipes,
and Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| March 15 and 17 |
Samson and Delilah |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOOA |
| March 20 - April 14 |
Mold |
TBA |
SREP |
| March 23 |
Martha Graham Dance Company |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOBA |
| March 27 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| April 3 |
Opera on Tap |
The Rusty Nail |
NOOA |
| April 5 - 7, 12 -14 |
The Fiddler On The Roof |
Jefferson Performing Arts Center |
JPAS |
| April 6 |
Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
LPO |
| April 10 |
Celebrating French Opera
w/ Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| April 12 and 14 |
Madame Butterfly |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
NOOA |
| April 16 - 21 |
Million Dollar Quartet |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| April 24 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
| May 8 |
Hits From the Big Screen
w/ Bon Operatit! |
Four Points by Sheraton |
FPBS |
| May 8 - June 2 |
Wicked |
Mahalia Jackson Theater |
BNO |
| May 9 |
French Masters |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| May 10 - 12, 17 - 19 |
Driving Miss Daisy |
Westwego Performing Arts Theatre |
JPAS |
| May 10 - 26 |
Gypsy |
Rivertown Reperatory Theater |
RIV |
| May 15 - June 9 |
Next To Normal |
TBA |
SREP |
| May 16 |
Mahler Symphony No. 3 |
First Baptist Church |
LPO |
| May 22 |
Opera on Tap |
Four Points by Sheraton |
NOOA |
