The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance announced its 2026–27 season on March 20, 2026, featuring six productions that bring together all three of the organization’s resident companies — Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. The season opens Sept. 26–27, 2026, with a joint production of “West Side Story” in collaboration with Wright State University, conducted by Music and Artistic Director Keitaro Harada.

Subsequent programming includes a November concert pairing Beethoven and Samuel Barber with a guest appearance by conductor Joel Smirnoff; Handel’s “Messiah” in December with the Philharmonic and Chamber Chorus; and a Valentine’s concert in February 2027 led by Metropolitan Opera Assistant Conductor Howard Watkins featuring operatic arias and duets. The season continues in March 2027 with “Flutopia,” built around Mozart’s Flute Concerto and a reimagined production of “The Magic Flute.”

The season closes May 22–23, 2027, with Puccini’s “La bohème,” directed by outgoing Artistic Director Kathleen Clawson. Clawson’s tenure made the production a farewell project. The DPAA is based in Dayton and performs at the Mead Theatre and Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

Source: OperaWire