Broadway stars and stunt dogs lead Staller Center’s spring lineup in Stony Brook

Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara are among the headliners, with public ticket sales opening Nov. 13.

Broadway royalty. Acrobats. Rescue dogs with better stage presence than most humans.

For the Broadway crowd

Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara together again
Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.

The Tony Award winners return for Staller’s annual gala with a new show making its New York debut. According to the center, the pair first performed together at Staller in 2020. Regular performance tickets are available, along with gala packages that include dinner and support the center’s programming and arts outreach.

Cheyenne Jackson has stories to tell
March 13 at 8 p.m.

You might recognize him from Broadway, “Glee” or “30 Rock.” In “That Guy From That Thing,” Jackson mixes music with stories behind his roles.

Broadway gets a jazz makeover
April 9 at 8 p.m.

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “World on a String” features singers Kate Kortum and David Marino performing swinging arrangements of songs from shows including “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” “South Pacific” and “West Side Story.”

A night for the ‘Rent’ fans
April 11 at 7 p.m.

“Rent in Concert” brings Jonathan Larson’s score to the stage, including “Seasons of Love” and “Take Me or Leave Me.” Think concert presentation when planning this one.

Audra McDonald takes the stage
May 15 at 8 p.m.

The six-time Tony Award winner returns to Staller with an all-new show.

For a night of music

A Long Island voice kicks things off
Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Ava Della Pietra opens the season with a concert of original music, bringing her Broadway background to her pop career.

David Foster and Katharine McPhee make their return
Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.

The Grammy-winning producer and songwriter teams up with McPhee for “An Intimate Evening.” The performance was rescheduled from September 2026 because of weather.

For the kids — and the easily amazed

Acrobatics meet street dance
Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Canada’s Cirque Éloize brings “iD Evolution,” combining circus skills, dance and urban culture. The earlier curtain also gives families a little breathing room before bedtime.

The dogs get top billing
March 14 at 4 p.m.

“Puppy Pals Live,” the stunt show seen on “America’s Got Talent,” puts rescue dogs center stage for an afternoon of tricks and comedy.

For something a little different

A fresh take on ‘Carmen’
Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.

Ballet Hispánico’s “CARMEN.maquia” reimagines Bizet’s familiar story through contemporary dance, with inspiration drawn from the Spanish art of bullfighting.

A comedian gets his own night
Feb. 19 at 8 p.m.

After opening for Jessica Kirson at Staller in 2025, Collin Chamberlin returns to headline the center’s smaller Recital Hall.

Nature takes a surreal turn
April 17 at 8 p.m.

MOMIX’s “Botanica” blends athletic movement, props, projections and puppetry in a visual theater performance inspired by the seasons and the passing of a day.

For the classical calendar

Three more dates to bookmark:

• Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. — Arthur Haas & Friends. An evening of harpsichord and chamber music celebrating more than 40 years of early music at Stony Brook.
• March 24 at 7 p.m. — Starry Nights. Cellist Colin Carr curates an all-Beethoven program marking the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death.
• April 8 at 7 p.m. — Emerson Legacy Concert. Eugene Drucker, Philip Setzer and Paul Watkins reunite, joined by Gilles Vonsattel and Randall Scarlata, for a program featuring Bartók, Brahms and more.

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Top: An audience fills Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University. The venue’s spring 2027 lineup includes Broadway stars, comedy, acrobatics and family shows. (Courtesy Staller Center, file)