The best thing about fall along the corridor is, of course, cooler temperatures, with kids returning to school running a close second. But after that, there’s plenty to enjoy—particularly the array of international talent ?taking the stage at various performing arts venues. Look this fall for the likes of Broadway, Yo-Yo Ma, the ghosts of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, Cirque Shanghai Bai XI and warbling cats on a stage near you.
Evita
Baton Rouge Little Theater • Sept. 18 – Oct. 4
Argentina’s legendary yet controversial First Lady Eva Peron—and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s compelling score—is the subject of this dynamic musical masterpiece.
Evidence Dance Company
Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette • Sept. 20
A blend of African dance and modern ballet with hip-hop stylings. This season’s tour includes the National Dance Project-funded ‘Two-Year-Old Gentleman,’ an exploration through dance of cultural traditions.
A Sunset Symphony on the Lake
Mandeville Lakefront • Sept. 26
Top-flight performances rarely come free. Here’s one that does: Conductor Rebecca Miller will lead the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in a free outdoor concert. Bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy the music.
Yo-Yo Ma Plays? Schumann
Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans • Oct. 18
The Grammy-winning Chinese American virtuoso cellist and composer performs with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans.
Capitol Steps
Columbia Theater for the Performing Arts, Hammond • Oct. 23
This political satire troupe ?puts the mock in Democracy.
Houston Ballet
Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans • Oct. 24
This group opens the season with a command performance of masterworks by Welch, Tharp, Duato and Forsythe.
Cats
Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans • Oct. 27 – Nov. 1
Broadway Across America brings Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famed family musical back to the stage in New Orleans.
Altar Boyz
Columbia Theater for the Performing Arts, Hammond • Nov. 14
Five small-town boys — Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham — try to save the world one screaming fan at a time. The off-musical is full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing and irreverent humor.
Cirque Shanghai Bai XI
Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette • Nov. 17
A troupe of Chinese acrobats, jugglers and dancers performs a beautiful and daring symphony of acrobatics and theatrics in a show with plate spinners, contortionists and more.
Thank You, Gregory! A Tribute to the Legends of Tap
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Freda Lupin Memorial Hall • Nov. 20-21
See world-class hoofers and jazz musicians in a tribute to the great Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Gregory Hines and other legends of tap.
The Color Purple
Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans • Dec. 1-6
Celie comes to life through a score of gospel, jazz, pop and the blues in this first North American tour of the musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker.
