Every semester, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee showcases world-class entertainment from a wide gamut of realms — music, dance, theatre, oratory — that’s available to students and the general public alike.
The beauty of what’s offered up at the John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center (aka Bardo Arts Center and BAC Performance Hall) is the mere fact that the facility is able to provide such high-quality entertainment right here in our own backyard. Support the arts in your community. Support academic institutions providing creative programming. Support personal growth in turbulent times.
Here’s what’s just around the corner at the BAC Performance Hall:
• Thursday, Sept. 17: The Kruger Brothers & Soluna String Quartet
Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, The Kruger Brothers’ remarkable discipline, creativity, and their ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music.
In their ever-expanding body of work — featuring Swiss brothers Jens Kruger (banjo and vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar and lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass and vocals) — The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. Their original music is crafted around their discerning taste, the result unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh.
The Soluna String Quartet is a dynamic new ensemble composed of violinists Mariya Potapova and Jonathan Urizar, violist Cameron Rehberg, and cellist Ashlee Booth, based out of Asheville.
The group is committed to performing classical masterworks of the chamber music repertoire and to delving into contemporary works across genres that may not be heard as often.
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 29: “An Evening with David Sedaris”
With more than 16 million copies of his books in print, Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The event features a live reading of new material, an audience question-and-answer session, and book signings before/after the event.
Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “Barrel Fever,” “Holidays on Ice,” “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” “Calypso,” and “Happy-Go-Lucky.”
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 4-5: “The Nutcracker (featuring Ballet Conservatory of Asheville)”
The Ballet Conservancy of Asheville (BCA) trains dancers to achieve their full potential by combining weekly technique classes, frequent master classes, and multiple performance opportunities.
Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in fantasies of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
• Friday, Jan. 29: “Laugh For All the Wrong Reasons”
“Laughing For All The Wrong Reasons” is a hilarious celebration of comedy, which draws from The Second City’s legendary archive of iconic sketches and songs, alongside the razor-sharp improvisation that has defined the company for generations.
This show dives headfirst into the material audiences love most. Unforgettable characters, classic moments, and brilliantly irreverent comedy created by some of the most influential voices in entertainment: Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay, and more.
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 18: “Step Afrika! The Evolution Tour”
Step Afrika! celebrates more than 30 years of critically acclaimed percussive performance with this groundbreaking program. As the world’s leading authority on the art form of stepping, Step Afrika! is committed to pushing the boundaries of the tradition, exploring its nearly limitless artistic possibilities.
This production will feature exciting new dance works alongside a performance shaped and refined through the Company’s longstanding collaboration with South Africa.
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Want to go?
The Bardo Arts Center performances for the 2026/2027 academic year are currently underway. To note, each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
For more information, a full schedule of events at WCU and/or to purchase tickets, visit wcuarts.universitytickets.com. You can also contact the box office at the Bardo Arts Center by calling 828.227.2479 or emailing bardoartscenter@wcu.edu.