As one of today’s premiere stand-up comics Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. The comedian, who pulls inspiration from his family, specifically his son, sells-out arenas and theaters across the world.

In 2017, Koy broke a record for the most tickets sold by a single artist at 23,000 tickets and 11 sold-out shows at The Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. In response, the mayor’s office in Honolulu proclaimed November 24th as “Jo Koy Day.” The comedian continued his record breaking streak by being the only comedian to sell out 6 shows at The Warfield in San Francisco. He then broke the attendance record at Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg with 4 sold-out shows. In 2019, Koy sold-out 5 shows at the San Diego Civic Theatre, the most consecutive sold-out shows for a comedian. He recently became the only comedian to sell 17,000+ tickets, over 30 shows (in one year) at the Brea Improv.

He was given the prestigious “Stand-Up Comedian Of The Year” award at the 2018 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He has had four highly rated and successful comedy specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. His 2019 Netflix special, ​Comin’ In Hot is currently streaming world-wide. Koy is on a mission to educate the masses on how to raise a millennial, the intricacies of Filipino traditions, and more!

In 2019, the comedian reached #1 on the Billboard Charts for his stand-up comedy album, ​Live From Seattle.​ H​ e can also be heard on his weekly podcast, ​The Koy Pond with Jo Koy ​by Starburns Audio. Listeners can dive in each week as Koy welcomes friends and fellow comedians to share their hilarious insights on life.

Koy has appeared on over 140 episodes of ​Chelsea Lately as a season regular roundtable guest. Other appearances include: ​The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, Lights Out with David Spade, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, Beat Bobby Flay, The Breakfast Club, Celebrity Page TV,​ ​World’s Funniest Fails and Sean In The Wild.

Today, the comedian tours around the world on his ​Funny is Funny World Tour ​with ALL NEW material.

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May, and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

70TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 

After winning a local talent contest on March 8, 1955, in Abilene, Texas, Larry, Steve, & Rudy, the Gatlin Brothers, were destined for world wide stardom! The brothers are now a household name.  Their Grammy Award-winning harmony has dazzled countless fans over the years. A lifetime of noteworthy achievements in their storybook career include a Grammy for Best Country Song (“Broken Lady”), three ACM awards for Single of the Year (“All The Gold In California”), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year for Larry Gatlin, along with five nominations for CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Single, Album and Male Vocalist of the Year. The Brothers have accumulated 7 # 1 Singles, 32 Top 40 Records, 22 Studio Albums and 5 BMI “Million-Air” Awards. Larry ranks 4th as Solo Writer’s with the most self-penned top 40 Billboard Hits! His massive song catalog has been recorded by the Who’s Who of entertainers, including Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson, Sir Tom Jones, Dottie West, Charlie Rich, Johnny Mathis and dozens of others, securing his legacy as one of BMI’s top solo songwriters of all time. 

Ticket Prices: (Sales tax & fees not included)

$104.00 - $29.00

The World Ballet Company is bringing their new production The Great Gatsby to the Abilene Auditorium on March 9, 2025! See the glitz, glamor, and tragic romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel LIVE on stage, featuring a multinational cast of 40 professional ballet dancers, all-star creative team, lustrous hand-crafted costumes and lavish groundbreaking sets. The original score evokes the energy and atmosphere of the 1920s.

World Ballet Company’s “The Great Gatsby’ is a must-see feast for the eyes. Get your tickets today and be among the first to experience this lavish new production! Go to abileneconventioncenter.com today!

The nature fun will continue with another wonderful activity to drop in and do throughout the day as we celebrate Spring Break at your library. Meetup with staff to create a beginner friendly watercolor leaf impression. You’ll do so by engaging in a leaf rubbing and then painting it with watercolors. We’ll supply all the materials you’ll need to make this unique nature craft you’ll want to display in your homes. We’ll also have a collection of items available for you to checkout about the spring season too.

Join us for a cosmic themed event and get hands-on with some science fun. At this session, kids will have the opportunity to create their own coffee filter moon art using markers to make a masterpiece inspired by the lunar surface. Next, as you wait for your artwork to dry, join in on a fun science activity with erupting moon rocks. You’ll do this by watching a chemical reaction to see what happens as you drop liquid on the moon rocks to watch them erupt. Art + Science = A Fun Time. No experience is needed to participate in the STEAM fun.

Aimed at the homeschooling community in the Abilene area, Art Smarts is a great program designed for tweens and teens with an interest in the arts at your Main Library. For this month, we’ll be studying the artistic styles of Bridget Riley, an English painter born in 1931 who was known for her op art (optical art) paintings. Once we finish examining her works, you’ll be able to try your hand at drawing a heart optical illusion similar to those the artist is known for. All materials will be supplied in this fun art series at your library.

School is out for Spring Break, but we’ve still got fun activities to come out and engage in. Tweens and teens are invited out for a fun afternoon of crafting with perler beads. Come make some amazing pixel art with these items using fun and colorful patterns that we’ll have on hand, or ones that you can design yourself. Then we’ll add a little heat to it so you’ll leave with something awesome.

If you’re into nature crafts, you’ll certainly not want to miss this Spring Break activity at your Main Library. Join us for the Spring Break Pine Cole Pals event for a fun-filled session of painting pine cones and transforming them into adorable hedgehogs using colorful felt! Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty and unleash your creativity in this unique art fest. Let’s celebrate the arrival of spring with a burst of colors and artistic flair. It’s the perfect opportunity to come out and craft your very own hedgehog buddy!

Exploring nature is fun for seeing how you can repurpose items from nature into wearable art. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing for this craft workshop as teens and adults are invited out to make your own acorn necklace. Acorns are something we’re very familiar with after they fall from trees, and we’ll be using the caps of acorns, and other materials that will be supplied, to have you create your own fashion accessory thanks to nature. Don’t miss out on the Spring Break fun happening at your Main Library.

Class times: 4 pm & 6 pm

$7 per participant | Half-price for Museum Members

This new class gets the whole family involved in an art project together! Participants will learn how to bring 2- dimensional ideas to life in a 3-dimensional dragon eye sculpture.

*Family Classes – Register online at thegracemuseum.org/events

Abilene Convention Center and Nederlander National Markets are thrilled to present the inaugural 2024-2025 Broadway in the Big Country season!

PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 7:30 PM
Show and dates are subject to change.

Price Level 1 $69.00
Price Level 2 $54.00
Price Level 3 $29.00

College Students $25.00 Upper Balcony Only

** Some fees may not be refundable
    Ticket policies are at the discretion of the theatre and may be changed at any time.**

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton. PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL will lift your spirits and light up your heart. Are you ready to fall in love all over again?

Show run time:  2 hours & 30 minutes, including a 20 min intermission

Smithsonian in the Gap

March 14th - April 27th, 2025 exhibit

Hosted at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village

As we approach Buffalo Gap’s 150th anniversary in 2025, we’re excited to announce that our town has been chosen as one of the select Texas locations to host the Smithsonian Institute’s Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit. Buffalo Gap experienced explosive growth in its early days, followed by quieter periods, yet through it all, our community has preserved what makes this town so special. Today, we proudly maintain our rural way of life while still promoting our small local economy. This event offers a unique opportunity to celebrate our rich history, culture, and contributions to the region. Over six weeks, we’ll explore engaging themes that highlight the essence of our town and the enduring spirit of rural communities.

Time period covered is 1875-1950s

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May, and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

Everyone’s invited to come and explore the world around you through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math with your South Branch Library. Explore the world of STEAM with a fun project as we meet in the meeting room to gather our materials and engage in something fun. For this month, we’re challenging you to create your own Fluffy Slime…because slime is always awesome. Don’t miss out on the hands-on fun with library staff!

JMT MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

MARK LOWRY with special guests Endless Highway 

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 @ 3 PM

Mark Lowry is known and loved around the world as a trusted voice in the realm of gospel music and beyond. He started making music at age 11 and now, more than four decades later, his legacy is forever sealed as an innately entertaining communicator who can, at once, make audiences laugh, cry, and think.

Mark is a singer, storyteller, humorist, author and songwriter, whose lyric to “Mary Did You Know?” resulted in one of the most loved modern Christmas songs of this century. This captivating song, which he co-wrote with Buddy Greene, has been recorded more than 400 times by artists from every genre including: Reba McEntire, Cee Lo Green, Clay Aiken, Michael English, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd, The Gaither Vocal Band, and a long list of others.

Mark has spent more than 20 collective years as the baritone singer for the Grammy-award-winning Gaither Vocal Band and serves as the sidesplitting comedic sidekick for Bill Gaither through live concert tours and the best-selling Gaither Homecoming video series and television airings (now more than 150 volumes strong).

A deep thinker and student of theology with an outrageous sense of humor (for which he often credits his diagnosis with Attention Deficit Disorder), Mark’s life work includes a long list of recordings and DVDs reflecting a wide range of influences, including: Mark Lowry On Broadway, Mark Lowry Goes To Hollywood, Life Gets Loud, I Love To Tell the Story (his first all-hymns recording), Unplugged and Unplanned, Whatcha Need, Unforgettable Classics, How We Love and most recently ... Dogs Go To Heaven, his first DVD in 11 years!

In spite of the broad range of musical inspiration found in Mark’s discography, there is one element that never changes: his gift for communicating profound truths through music and storytelling that keeps audiences of all ages on the edge of their seats. Mark maintains a full schedule of solo concerts with special friends such as Stan Whitmire and The Martins, Rambo McGuire and Cana's Voice, as well as a few Gaither Homecoming tour dates across North America.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and we want teens and adults to come celebrate with us with a fun come-and-go craft by making some Leprechaun Gold Charms. These can be used for keychains, backpack charms, phone charms, or wherever you want to clip them. All the materials will be supplied for this fun craft to help get your week started. Drop in and make something green to protect you from those unwanted pinches.

During the creative explosion that was country music in the 1990s, Suzy Bogguss sold 4 million records with sparkling radio hits like “Outbound Plane”, “Someday Soon”, “Letting Go”, “Drive South”, and “Hey Cinderella". But you can’t peg Suzy that easily. 

In the midst of her country popularity she took time off to make a duets album with the legendary Chet Atkins. In 2003 she made an album of modern swing music with Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel. An album of original music in 2007 landed her at number 4 on the jazz charts. Her folk music roots show through in her frequent appearances on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, in the Grammy she earned for her work on Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, and in her critically acclaimed album and book project from 2011,

American Folk Songbook.  

In 2014 she released Lucky, a collection of songs written by Merle Haggard and interpreted through Suzy’s crystal vocals from the female point of view. Her latest offering, Prayin’ For Sunshine, is an Americana tour de force with all songs written by Bogguss. She continues to tour the world, both on her own and with fellow country radio divas Terri Clark and Pam Tillis as “Chicks With Hits” and more recently, with Kathy Mattea on their Together At Last tour. 

So yes, you can call her a country singer if you want, but really that’s just the beginning. 

TICKETS: $30 - $50

5-8 pm | FREE come-and-go activity

Visitors will describe what being a Texas woman means to them while learning about a range of historic Texas women, from Ma Ferguson to Beyoncé.

6 pm | FREE reception

Meet featured artist, John Cobb, and hear him speak about his current exhibition on view in the main gallery,

John Cobb: In the Chapel and the Woods.

THE PARAMOUNT ABILENE PRESENTS STAND UP COMEDIAN

HENRY CHO: THE EMPTY NEST TOUR

comedian Henry Cho was inducted as the 229th member of The Grand Ole Opry. This prestigious honor has not been extended to a comedian since 1973. Henry’s TV credits include appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, CBS’s The Late, Late, Show, and NBC’s Young Comedians Special. He served two years as host of NBC’s Friday Night Videos and had many guest roles on various network sitcoms. Henry was co-creator, co- producer and co-writer of “The Henry Cho Show” on GAC.

Henry’s one hour Comedy Central Special, “What’s That Clickin Noise?” Was also on Netflix. Henry can also be heard daily on Sirrus, XM, Blue Collar Radio and Pandora. 

Some of Henry’s film credits include Universal’s McHale’s Navy with Tom Arnold and David Allen Greer; Say It Isn’t So with Heather Graham and Sally Field; and Material Girls with Hilary Duff and Angelica Houston produced by Madonna.

TICKETS: $29 - $49

https://www.henrychocomedy.com/

After mesmerizing audiences across Europe and the UK, The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is set to electrify the USA once again. Prepare for a spellbinding 90-minute spectacle that infuses iconic Rock & Metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy.

In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 14 classical musicians unleash effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion. Witness the unexpected union of Classical music and Metal.

Performing the music of iconic bands including:

Metallica, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, My Chemical Romance, Linkin' Park, SOAD, Guns N Roses, Evanescence, Papa Roach, The Cranberries & MORE!

Age 16 and up suggested

Military Discount available - contact Box Office for information (325) 676-6444 or gsmith@asmabilene.com

Preschool Programming rooted in literacy, art, and development 

William Lee Martin is a seasoned comedian and storyteller whose humor captures the heart of life’s everyday chaos. Known for his Funny Life Tour, Martin blends wit, warmth, and a touch of irreverence, resonating deeply with hard-working folks seeking a genuine laugh. Raised in Texas, he offers relatable, real-life humor on marriage, parenting, and everything in between. With two Amazon Prime specials and a popular YouTube series, Martin has become a fan favorite by embracing the humor in life’s ups and downs—proving that no matter the challenge, there’s always something to laugh about.

TICKETS: $20 - 49

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ VIP TICKETS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Orchestra Rows A, B, C: Best Seats in the House and includes a take home lanyard!

FREE Fine Art Project for families

The World Famous Cowboy Band will present their Spring Concert at the Historic Paramount Theatre downtown.

2-4 pm | FREE come-and-go activity

Learn about Saturn’s largest moon and its relation to 3-2-5 Day!

Aimed at the homeschooling community in the Abilene area, Art Smarts is a great program designed for tweens and teens with an interest in the arts. Attend this second session of the month at your Mockingbird Branch where we’ll be learning about street art in the style of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The New York City artist rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement, as well as being one of the youngest artists to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York at the age of 22. After we learn about him, we’ll supply the materials for you to make your own project using his style. Come out ready to create some art in this fun STEAM activity.

5-8 pm | FREE come-and-go activity

Reflecting on the season of Lent and the upcoming Holy Week, we will discuss the history behind religious iconography and John Cobb’s twist on this centuries-old style.

A NCCIL Character themed 5K and Child Fun Run Funraiser; $30/person or Family Package Option

Our most FUN event of the year is BACK as it’s OWN EVENT on March 29, 2025! We loved the Art Brunch + Paint Off so much that we decided it needed it’s own day to accommodate the crowd. So circle the date on your calendar and get your friends together for the most action-packed (and delicious) art event of the year. BUT WAIT - there will be some SURPRISES as we expand this event!

Abilene Philharmonic

Prepare to hear two cultures collide during an enthralling performance by internationally renowned violin virtuoso, Eunice Keem.

The Abilene Youth Orchestra (AYO) is a full symphony orchestra that offers a unique opportunity for the most serious and talented high school students in the Big County to perform advanced repertoire that will challenge and inspire.  The primary purpose of the AYO is to provide its members with exemplary symphonic training and performance opportunities and to inspire a culture of musical excellence.

5-8 pm | FREE come-and-go activity

Learn about the importance of Earth Month and its messages of conservation and biodiversity. Make a seed bomb that will grow native wildflowers.

$30 | Museum Members get $5 off

Attendees will take their own artistic photographs of downtown Abilene with guidance from local photographer, Jennifer Nichols.

*Adult Class – Register online at thegracemuseum.org/events

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Artwalk is a quarterly celebration of art in our Downtown Cultural District. We invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, live music, + more. Organized by the Center for Contemporary Arts.

Symposium with speakers and documentary film exploring ranching and agriculture heritage tied to a new exhibition at the museum.

Frontier Texas will host a Ranching Heritage Exhibit Symposium in the new education space at Frontier Texas from 2 pm – 6 pm. This will be free to attend, seating is limited.

Abilene Creative Art Club is the oldest art organization in Abilene, initiated  in 1933 with member artists from novices to professionals.  We have monthly educational presentations to  encourage the development  of art in the Abilene area.

Our annual members’ show reception , “Creativity Is Contagious,” is April 5 from 6 to 8 PM at 1117 Gallery,  1117 Walnut St.  Entries will be judged by McMurry art professor Dub Welborn with prizes awarded.  Visitors are welcome for this free event.  Refreshments will be served.

ACU Theatre is thrilled to present Broadway and Blue Jeans, its spring Lights Up fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket sales and any donations received will benefit ACU Theatre. Join us Saturday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. and stay for our curtain call reception. Individual tickets are $50. Purchase yours today!

Aimed at the homeschooling community in the Abilene area, Art Smarts is a great program designed for tweens and teens with an interest in the arts at your Main Library. For this month, we’ll be studying the artistic styles of Henri Matisse, a French visual artist known for his use of color and his body of work in the medium of cut paper collage. After learning about the artist, we’ll supply all the materials for you to get hands-on with making your own collages in his style. Don’t miss out on being a part of this fun art series at your library.

If you’re an adult who loves crafting and DIY projects, come to your Main Library and be a part of our Crafty DIY session. At each morning meetup we’ll supply the materials for you to come in and create something fun to add to your home decor. Plus, it’s a great way to meetup with other avid crafters too. For this session, we’ll supply all the materials need to show you how to make your own Easter Egg Wreath. Come out and be surprised at what you can do with your hands in this series.

5-8 pm | FREE EVENT

April showers bring May flowers! Join us for a fun, outdoor family festival as we celebrate springtime! Enjoy various activities and crafts suitable for all ages including flower headbands, jumping frogs, and MUCH more.

Reception 6PM-8PM

Opens April 10 and closes April 17

Preschool Programming rooted in literacy, art, and development 

Murder at the Ruby Rock Inn - Murder Mystery Dinner Party. 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm each night. PG13+

Join the Swenson House for the third adventure in our Murder Mystery series. It's 1884, nearing the end of the Wild West era. The Swenson House is transformed into the Ruby Rock Inn, featuring an in-house saloon, complete with dinner, gambling, and a side of murder. Will you be the big winner at the casino table? Will you live long enough to enjoy your winnings? Visit swensonhouse.com/events for more details and ticket sales. Tickets limited to 35 guests per night. 

First quarterly ArtWalk, presented by the Center for Contemporary Arts, Festival Style, Time TBD

Based on Arnold Lobel's beloved children’s books and featuring a jazzy, upbeat score by Robert and Willie Reale that bubbles with melody and wit, the show is an inventive, exuberant, and enchanting experience for the whole family. 

This whimsical musical follows two great friends -- the cheerful, popular Frog and the curmudgeonly Toad -- through four, fun-filled seasons, meeting new friends like Man Bird and Lady Bird; Father, Mother and Young Frog; Turtle; Squirrel and many more along the way. Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in their differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe, all charm, A Year with Frog And Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures, weathering all seasons.

EARTH MONTH POP-UP

Thursday, April 17

5-8 pm | FREE come-and-go activity

Learn about the importance of Earth Month and its messages of conservation and biodiversity. Make a seed bomb that will grow native wildflowers.

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Aimed at the homeschooling community in the Abilene area, Art Smarts is a great program designed for tweens and teens with an interest in the arts at your Main Library. For this month, we’ll be studying the artistic styles of Henri Matisse, a French visual artist known for his use of color and his body of work in the medium of cut paper collage. After learning about the artist, we’ll supply all the materials for you to get hands-on with making your own collages in his style. Don’t miss out on being a part of this fun art series at your library.

5-8 pm | FREE come-and-go activities

Rockhounds, crack open a geode! Study a geode up-close and test how much you know about them.

$30 | Museum Members get $5 off

Taking a cue from featured artist John Cobb, attendees will use gold leaf to create monograms in the style of illuminated manuscripts. Grace Studio classes make art fun in a no-pressure, no-experience-necessary environment with guided instruction.

*Adult Class – Register online at thegracemuseum.org/events

Experience the complete history of The Beatles, starting with the early mop-top hits, such as I Want To Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, and Twist and Shout. You’ll then take a Magical Mystery Tour down Penny Lane, through the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper. And in The End, Come Together and sing and dance to classics like Get Back, Here Comes the Sun, and Hey Jude.

Abilene Philharmonic

Join American Idol Finalist LaKisha Jones in a celebration of the great ladies of soul: Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, the legendary Aretha Franklin and the one and only Whitney Houston.

THE PANTO COMPANY USA AND PARAMOUNT ABILENE PRESENT

TREASURE ISLAND

SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2025

2:00 PM

 One of the most popular adventure tales of all time, Treasure Island spins an action-packed, fun-filled tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of characters with bad intentions who meet their match and are foiled in their attempts. From THE PANTO COMPANY USA, and told as only they can, Treasure Island is seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola. This thrilling adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, a scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle and the message that good wins over evil every time.

The Panto Company is a producer of family entertainment in the United Kingdom, and for the last twelve years, they have been producing touring musical theater shows in the United States.  They use replicas of the elaborate sets and costumes used in the U.K. 

Pantomime is a type of musical comedy designed for family. It was first developed in England and includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing. The humor is family-friendly and the story is based on a well-known fairy tale or fable that the audience will recognize. It’s interactive, so get ready to sing along and shout out. Be prepared for lots of laughter, stunning costumes, music and plenty of magic. It’s a delight for the entire family.

BOOK READING, BOOK SALE AND BOOK SIGNING!

PARAMOUNT ABILENE & KACU PRESENT
“AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS”

Gallery Closed Temporarily in post, Bookstore Open

Abilene Convention Center and Nederlander National Markets are thrilled to present the inaugural 2024-2025 Broadway in the Big Country season!

ANNIE
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 7:30 PM
Show and dates are subject to change.

Price Level 1 $69.00
Price Level 2 $54.00
Price Level 3 $29.00

College Students $25.00 Upper Balcony Only

** Some fees may not be refundable
    Ticket policies are at the discretion of the theatre and may be changed at any time.**

Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in a new production–just as you remember it and just when we need it most.

Show run time:  2 hours & 35 minutes, including one intermission

Abilene Convention CenterRAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles

Prices:

$69.00

$59.00

$49.00

Military Discount available.  Contact the Box Office for information by phone 325.676.6444 or email gsmith@asmabilene.com.

Price subject to change.  Fees and Sales tax may apply.

FREE Fine Art Project for families

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Abilene Philharmonic

Enjoy a relaxing evening of live music in the beautiful ambiance of the Abilene Zoo. Backed by Maestro Itkin at the piano, this family-friendly concert will feature the vocal stylings of 2024 The Voice contestant Grace Zeller.

FREE Fine Art Project for families

FREE Fine Art Project for families

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025

7:00 PM

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent are bluegrass music veterans. A combined 20 years of experience between the two of them includes seasoned tenures with bluegrass and country legends Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs. In 2003, the longtime friends and colleagues were asked to perform on a Koch Records recording titled Christmas Grass Vol.2, 2004. Dailey & Vincent recorded a well-known Christmas song, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” with just a guitar, a mandolin and their two voices. Their stirring version of the song rose to No. 1 on the Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. The song’s success prompted the duo’s decision to perform together more often and perhaps even record again. Bluegrass music’s newest duo, Dailey & Vincent, was born.

Jamie grew up singing and playing with family and regional groups all over middle Tennessee and Kentucky, but gained national attention when he joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in 1998 as lead, baritone and tenor singer. During Jamie’s tenure, the band won 13 IBMA Awards—including seven Vocal Group of the Year awards and earned four Grammy and five Dove Award nominations. Jamie has recorded with Dolly Parton, appeared on five Gaither Homecoming DVDs, was a guest on Ricky Skaggs’ Grammy-winning Brand New Strings album, as well as dozens of other guest performances and collaborations to his credit. Jamie is a skilled musician, vocalist and songwriter, with a gift to entertain and always make folks feel right at home.

Darrin started singing at age 3 and playing music at age 6 as part of his family band, The Sally Mountain Show, along with sister Rhonda Vincent. As a member of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for more than 10 years, Darrin has won five Grammy Awards and eight IBMA Awards for Instrumental Group of the Year. He has performance and recording credits with dozens of artists including Dolly Parton, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Bruce Hornsby, Vince Gill and John Hartford, as well as producer credits on Grammy-nominated projects with Rhonda Vincent, Susie Luchsinger, Cherryholmes and Hunter Berry. He is an accomplished musician and vocalist with expert abilities to arrange and create captivating music.

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street Shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

Saturday Shootouts

You and your family can come and witness the dramatization of this historic event hosted by Frontier Texas based on the true event of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout. You will be immersed in the drama and excitement of what it might have been like to witness the shootout just a few years after Abilene was founded. During this time, Abilene had just started making progress toward a more law-abiding town to appeal to the many railroad travelers and in the process caused tension amongst the townspeople, lawmen, and leaders.

The shootout starts at “high noon” (12:00 pm) on the Parade Grounds (outdoor courtyard) and will last about 10 minutes. Afterward there will be an opportunity for you and your family to interact with the characters and hear a little bit about the history of the Pine Street Shootout! Be sure to arrive a little early so you don’t miss the first draw.

About Frontier Texas

Frontier Texas is an interactive museum experience, where history comes to life. The museum is located at 625 North First Street in downtown Abilene. Call (325)437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com today for more information.

ONGOING EXHIBIT

Blood & Treasure on the Frontier

Open Daily: Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm; Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

JMT MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

THE BEST OF MOTOWN

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025

7:00 PM

Step back in time and groove to the greatest hits of the Motown era and beyond! Join us for an unforgettable evening of soulful music and timeless classics.

Experience the legendary sounds of Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and more, performed live by talented vocalists and musicians. Get ready to sing along, dance in your seat, and relive the magic of Motown!

Don’t miss this incredible celebration of music and nostalgia. Secure your tickets today for a night to remember!

The platinum-certified alternative quintet from Houston, TX—Justin Furstenfeld [vocals, guitar, songwriter], Jeremy Furstenfeld [drums], Ryan Delahoussaye [violin, mandolin, piano], Matt Noveskey [bass], and Steve Schiltz [guitar]—consistently evolves with every release. For their thirteenth studio album, tentatively titled Everything We Lost In The Fire, Blue October unlocks another creative masterpiece.

“The heaviest times of our lives is when we have to make difficult decisions. Change can be a beautiful part of life if you celebrate it. This is me celebrating change in the loudest way possible,“ states frontman Justin Furstenfeld.

Magic courses through the first single “Everything We Lost In The Fire,” a revealing story about having the courage to embrace change, spoken with big guitars and drums. This will be one of the heaviest sounding albums the band has ever released.

For the listener, there’s a real connection with the live experience that can only be created by a vast catalog. Blue October returns to the road in Winter/Spring 2024 on a 35 city headline tour in theaters across the country, followed by a 32 city Summer 2025 amphitheater tour. There is no question Blue October’s best days are ahead

TICKETS: $39 - $99

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street Shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

Saturday Shootouts

You and your family can come and witness the dramatization of this historic event hosted by Frontier Texas based on the true event of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout. You will be immersed in the drama and excitement of what it might have been like to witness the shootout just a few years after Abilene was founded. During this time, Abilene had just started making progress toward a more law-abiding town to appeal to the many railroad travelers and in the process caused tension amongst the townspeople, lawmen, and leaders.

The shootout starts at “high noon” (12:00 pm) on the Parade Grounds (outdoor courtyard) and will last about 10 minutes. Afterward there will be an opportunity for you and your family to interact with the characters and hear a little bit about the history of the Pine Street Shootout! Be sure to arrive a little early so you don’t miss the first draw.

About Frontier Texas

Frontier Texas is an interactive museum experience, where history comes to life. The museum is located at 625 North First Street in downtown Abilene. Call (325)437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com today for more information.

ONGOING EXHIBIT

Blood & Treasure on the Frontier

Open Daily: Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm; Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street Shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

Saturday Shootouts

You and your family can come and witness the dramatization of this historic event hosted by Frontier Texas based on the true event of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout. You will be immersed in the drama and excitement of what it might have been like to witness the shootout just a few years after Abilene was founded. During this time, Abilene had just started making progress toward a more law-abiding town to appeal to the many railroad travelers and in the process caused tension amongst the townspeople, lawmen, and leaders.

The shootout starts at “high noon” (12:00 pm) on the Parade Grounds (outdoor courtyard) and will last about 10 minutes. Afterward there will be an opportunity for you and your family to interact with the characters and hear a little bit about the history of the Pine Street Shootout! Be sure to arrive a little early so you don’t miss the first draw.

About Frontier Texas

Frontier Texas is an interactive museum experience, where history comes to life. The museum is located at 625 North First Street in downtown Abilene. Call (325)437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com today for more information.

ONGOING EXHIBIT

Blood & Treasure on the Frontier

Open Daily: Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm; Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

FREE Fine Art Project for families

Frontier Texas will host its annual series of Saturday Shootouts during the months of March, May and June 2025. This historical drama is based on the true events of the Abilene Pine Street Shootout of 1884 that occurred on the northeast corner of North 1st and Pine Street.

Saturday Shootouts

You and your family can come and witness the dramatization of this historic event hosted by Frontier Texas based on the true event of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout. You will be immersed in the drama and excitement of what it might have been like to witness the shootout just a few years after Abilene was founded. During this time, Abilene had just started making progress toward a more law-abiding town to appeal to the many railroad travelers and in the process caused tension amongst the townspeople, lawmen, and leaders.

The shootout starts at “high noon” (12:00 pm) on the Parade Grounds (outdoor courtyard) and will last about 10 minutes. Afterward there will be an opportunity for you and your family to interact with the characters and hear a little bit about the history of the Pine Street Shootout! Be sure to arrive a little early so you don’t miss the first draw.

About Frontier Texas

Frontier Texas is an interactive museum experience, where history comes to life. The museum is located at 625 North First Street in downtown Abilene. Call (325)437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com today for more information.

ONGOING EXHIBIT

Blood & Treasure on the Frontier

Open Daily: Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm; Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

Artwalk is a quarterly celebration of art in our Downtown Cultural District. We invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, live music, + more. Organized by the Center for Contemporary Arts.

Multi-talented Vicki Lawrence, is an actress, comedian, and singer known for the many characters she originated on CBS's The Carol Burnett Show, where she appeared from 1967 to 1978, for the entire series run. One such character, Thelma Harper/Mama, was the central character of ever popular television situation comedy series Mama's Family. The show still can be seen daily in syndication throughout most of the country and is available as part of a Time-Life DVD collection.

Lawrence is currently co-starring in the popular FOX-TV comedy series The Cool Kids. The series has been picked up for a full season of 22 episodes due to its Friday night success. The Cool Kids is a comedy about a rowdy, rag-tag group of friends living in a retirement community who are willing to break every rule in order to have fun. Lawrence’s co-stars are David Alan Grier, Martin Mull and Leslie Jordan.

Lawrence spends much of her time on the road with her stage production Vicki Lawrence and Mama, A Two Woman Show. She also enjoys speaking to women’s organizations and other great causes, where she shares her life story of fame, activism, and her continuing success. All the while she approaches everything with her characteristic sense of humor, reminding us all that “Life is much too serious to be taken seriously!” 

Lawrence has multiple Emmy Award nominations, winning one in 1976. She is a multiple Golden Globe nominee, all for The Carol Burnett Show. In 1973, Lawrence recorded the hit song "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia." It reached Number One on both the United States and Canada top charts.

In the past, Lawrence hosted a popular game show, Win, Lose or Draw, her own daytime talk show, Vicki!, and appeared in many theatre productions. She was the only talk show host since Oprah to be nominated for a Daytime Emmy in her freshman year. 

Through the years Lawrence has made appearances on other television programs, such as Laverne & Shirley, Major Dad, Roseanne, Hannah Montana, and Yes, Dear. Lawrence has also appeared with Burnett, Korman, and Tim Conway in the Burnett show retrospectives.

On stage Vicki has appeared in numerous productions, including Carousel, Send Me No Flowers, No, No, Nanette, Chapter Two, Hello Dolly, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It ON The Road, Annie Get Your Gun and live from the Grand Ole Opry, Nunsense 3: The Jamboree which aired on TNN.

Vicki is not only a successful actress, she also is involved in many causes close to her. She was the honorary head of the D.A.R.E program, raised money to protect widows and families of slain police officers in Long Beach, CA, supports the Humane Society and works with the American Heart Association as well as WALK FOR THE CURE. Her efforts to protect women’s rights were recognized in 1988 when Vicki was the first woman to be honored as “Person of the Year” by the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Lawrence was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) around 2011. She teamed with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and has become the spokesperson for the campaign CIU & You. She appeared on The Doctors in 2015 to relay her story and talk about CIU and promote the CIU & You campaign.

Artwalk is a quarterly celebration of art in our Downtown Cultural District. We invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, live music, + more. Organized by the Center for Contemporary Arts.

Artwalk is a quarterly celebration of art in our Downtown Cultural District. We invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, live music, + more. Organized by the Center for Contemporary Arts.