Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) has announced its dynamic 2025/26 season, set to run from September 2025 through May 2026, with the highly anticipated summer lineup to be revealed next spring.
Each year, Lincoln Center pays tribute to an extraordinary artist whose vision and impact exemplify the transformative power of the arts. For the 25/26 season, the institution celebrates Jeanine Tesori, one of the most prolific and honored composers in contemporary theater. Tesori’s accolades are remarkable: two Tony Awards for Best Score, six Tony nominations, two Drama Desk Awards, six GRAMMY nominations, and two Pulitzer Prize finalist nods. Her groundbreaking works include Kimberly Akimbo, Fun Home, Caroline, or Change, Shrek The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Violet. In opera, her credits span A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck, The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me, Blue (recipient of the MCANA Award for Best New Opera), and Grounded. Tesori is also among the first women ever commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera.
As Lincoln Center’s Visionary Artist for the season, Tesori will be celebrated with special stagings of her acclaimed opera Blue and her musical theater masterpiece Violet. The celebration extends to expansive public community choir performances and cross-campus collaborations, all centered on the theme of forging meaningful connections—between artists, audiences, and the arts organizations that make Lincoln Center a cultural beacon.
A highlight of the season’s tribute to Tesori is the Cast Album Project (CAP), which comes to The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 5 and 6. Led by Tesori, Anne Kauffman, and Teneisha Duggan, CAP shines a light on culturally significant musicals by historically marginalized artists—works that have too often faded from the public eye. Through live-session cast recordings, CAP breathes new life into these powerful stories, introducing them to new generations and honoring their creators. The musical for this special event will be announced soon, promising an evening of rediscovery and celebration.
For further information, please visit the Lincoln Center website.
Photo by Nina Wurtzel, courtesy of Lincoln Center
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