|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Dinosaur World Live will be at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore on April 24, 2026. (Photo by Pamela Raith Photography / Courtesy LVA) 
Ruthie Foster and Blind Boys of Alabama have been added to the Bankhead Theater bill for February 2026. (Photo courtesy LVA) 
“Known By Heart Duet”, performed here by Kotomi Yamada and Jake Roxander, is among the numbers by ABT Studio Company. (Photo by Carlos Quezeda / Courtesy LVA) 
Glen Phillips, best known as lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, will perform a solo set at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Cox / Courtesy LVA) 
Wizard of Oz On Ice is taking over the Bankhead stage on April 12, 2026. (Photo courtesy LVA) 
Kings Return will bring their vocal stylings to downtown Livermore on March 20, 2026. (Photo courtesy LVA) 
Former “Glee” star Matthew Morrison is returning to the Bankhead stage on March 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy LVA) 
Shadow-illusion dance troupe Catapult is coming to the Bankhead on April 17, 2026. (Photo courtesy LVA) 
Aida Cuevas presenting “Mexican Symphonic Serenade” will be April 10, 2026 at the Bankhead Theater. (Photo courtesy LVA)
In the final weeks of summer 2025, Livermore Valley Arts already has its sights set on spring 2026.
The nonprofit operator of the Bankhead Theater this week unveiled the back end of its 2025-26 performance schedule – “a perfect mélange of genres” that includes attention-grabbers like “Glee” alum Matthew Morrison, Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster and Blind Boys of Alabama, Wizard of Oz On Ice, Ravi Shankar Ensemble, Dinosaur World Live and “The Glass Menagerie”.
“Even though we are just announcing the last three or so months of our 2025-2026, there is such an eclectic, exciting mix of shows in just this quarter of the year,” CEO Chris Carter said in Wednesday’s press release. “Family shows, dance shows, Broadway, blues, Mariachi, and more, you can enjoy whatever is your fancy at The Bankhead, as well as discover something new!”
The announcement concentrated on March through May, although Foster’s concert was an addition to the February slate and the return engagement of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir to close the season on June 27 were also highlighted.
Music will be at the forefront in the spring.
Acts like vocal group Kings Return on March 6, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy and The Celtic All-Stars on March 22, Morrison (a former Brilliance at the Bankhead headliner) on March 26 and “The Other Mozart” about the composer’s sister on March 29.
Plus there’s the Ravi Shankar Ensemble on April 3, Aida Cuevas presenting “Mexican Symphonic Serenade” on April 10, An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer on April 18, Toad the Wet Sprocket lead singer Glen Phillips on May 9 and Grammy winner Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea the next night.
For dance fans, the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company is performing on March 20 and shadow-illusion troupe Catapult follows April 17.
Livermore’s SPARC Theater is partnering with LVA to produce Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” at The Stage Door Lounge at the Bankhead from May 1-3.
Other shows include Best of the SF Comedy on March 21, Wizard of Oz On Ice (how are they going to do that?!) on April 12, Dinosaur World Live on April 24 and God is a Scottish Drag Queen: The Second Coming on May 8.
The spring schedule reveal came during a busy time for the theater in downtown Livermore.
At the precipice of a jam-packed September, LVA is riding the high of its successful Brilliance at the Bankhead gala Aug. 23, headlined by Grammy-winning country and pop singer LeAnn Rimes.
“I was thrilled by the incredible support from our community,” the nonprofit’s director of development Brittany Mulgrew told me. “This year’s event is on track to be our largest fundraiser ever, with ticket sales exceeding expectations and guests clearly enjoying the entire evening. The enthusiasm at the event was inspiring, and it reaffirms the vital role the arts play in bringing people together!”
The roll continues this Friday, with “Seinfeld” alum and Tony Award winner Jason Alexander kicking off the 2025-26 Rae Dorough Speaker Series at 8 p.m.
The series has two more speakers in 2025: former senior intelligence official and counterintelligence special agent Lue Elizondo presenting on so-called “unidentified anomalous phenomena” on Sept. 18, and “A Pirate’s Life” with archeologist and “National Geographic” explorer Lisa Briggs on Nov. 13.
Unfortunately, news came out just as I was writing this column Wednesday that comedic actress Jane Lynch (also of “Glee” fame) caught COVID so her stage show with friend Kate Flannery (“The Office”) on Saturday evening has been canceled.
Postponements happen; such is life for a live entertainment venue.
Musician Colin Hay, of Men at Work fame, is set to play his sold-out show at the Bankhead on Oct. 10 after rescheduling from January when he had to back out due to personal impacts from the Palisades Fire. And last month, actor Cary Elwes had to push out his “The Princess Bride” screening/Q&A shows for a second time this year; they are now on the calendar for Nov. 28.
Music and comedy, that’s the September formula too.
The ABBA Concert Experience is this Sunday afternoon, 90s Mix Tape Live is next Saturday (Sept. 13), Pacific Chamber Orchestra’s “Anastasia in Concert” is next Sunday (Sept. 14) and fellow resident company Livermore Valley Opera opens its “La Traviata” production Sept. 27.
As for laughs, look to the San Francisco Comedy Competition next Friday (Sept. 12), Funny Women of a Certain Age on Sept. 19 and “Saturday Night Live” alum Jon Lovitz on Sept. 26. “Yeah, that’s the ticket!”
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
New retail, dining options coming to Stoneridge Shopping Center later this yearApril 19, 2026 9:24 pm
