University of Dubuque Announces 14th Annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Exuberant country music and dynamic performances are at the heart of the 14th annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series at the University of Dubuque.

The 2026-2027 season kicks off in August with Daily & Vincent: A Beautiful Life Tour and continues with an array of performances including comedian Nate Jackson, Hold Onto Your Butts - a theatrical parody of Jurassic Park, Asleep at the Wheel, and more. A variety of bonus events like Always ... Patsy Kline will complement the season.

"This season, Heritage Center is bringing audiences an exciting lineup that celebrates the very best in live entertainment. From award-winning bluegrass and beloved classic country artists to Grand Ole Opry members, spectacular musicals, and side-splitting comedy, our stage will be filled with performances that inspire, entertain, and create lasting memories. We're proud to offer a season that appeals to every generation and invites our community and visitors alike to experience the magic of live performance right here at Heritage Center," said Victoria Molle and Randy Schultz, co-directors of Heritage Center.

Tickets for all performances are available now. Stop by the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street; call 563.585.7469; or visit https://www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter to purchase tickets. The box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays as well as 90 minutes prior to events.

The Heritage Performing Arts Loyalty System (H-PALS) allows patrons to earn rewards with most ticket purchases. For every $200 spent on eligible events, patrons will receive one free ticket (valued up to $50) to their choice of eligible event. Reward points are redeemable for Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series events only. Visit https://www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter for more details.

PERFORMING ARTS SERIES SCHEDULE

Except where noted, all events are reserved seating in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

UD students may attend Heritage Center events for free. UD affiliates (faculty, staff, alumni, parents of current students, and veterans/active military members) are eligible for a $5 discount on certain events. One hour before Live at Heritage Center performances, $10 non-UD student rush tickets will be available at the Farber Box Office; high school or college/university ID required.

Dailey & Vincent: A Beautiful Life Tour
7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2026
Tickets: $36 to $41; UD Affiliates Receive $5 Discount

Grand Ole Opry members, Grammy nominees, and multi-award winners, Dailey & Vincent are among the most respected and celebrated duos in American roots music. With unmatched harmonies, masterful musicianship, and a signature blend of bluegrass, country, and gospel, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have built a career defined by excellence, authenticity, and heart. In 2026, they reached a major milestone with "Ruby," a multi-week No. 1 song on the Bluegrass Today chart, further cementing their place as one of the premier acts in modern bluegrass.

Jens Korndorfer, Organist - John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series
3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2026
General Admission: $16; UD Faculty/Staff Receive One Free Ticket

German American organist Jens Korndorfer, DMus, associate professor of organ and Joyce O. Bowden Endowed Professorship in Music at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, is regularly invited to perform and teach at prestigious venues and festivals around the world. In addition to teaching organ performance, service playing, and improvisation, he also founded the annual National High School Organ Competition, organizes annual study trips and performance opportunities at prestigious venues for his studio, and directs Baylor's Summer Organ Camp. Korndorfer has won numerous prizes and awards, including from the Canadian International Organ Competition, the German Academic Exchange Service, the Oberlin Conservatory, and the Government of Quebec.

Nate Jackson, Comedian - Homecoming at UD!
8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Tickets: $30 to $35; UD Affiliates Receive $5 Discount

Nate Jackson is one of the fastest-rising stars in comedy, with over 4.5 million TikTok followers and 700 million global views. In July 2025, he released his first one-hour Netflix special, Nate Jackson: Super Funny. It premiered No. 3 on the Netflix Top 10. Known as the "King of Crowd Work" for his improvised sets, viral content, and electric stage presence, Jackson is currently selling out theaters across the U.S. on his Big Dog Comedy Tour.

Hold Onto Your Butts
7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2026
Tickets: $36 to $41; UD Affiliates Receive $5 Discount

Sixty-five million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the earth. Thirty years ago, a movie about dinosaurs ruled the box office. This year, two actors and a Foley artist perform a live, shot-for-shot parody of the greatest dinosaur film of all time. After a decade of sold-out performances in New York City, Hold Onto Your Butts had its United Kingdom premier in 2024 at the Fringe, garnering rave reviews. Everywhere Hold Onto Your Butts goes, audiences talk about the joyfulness of the production, the extraordinary skill of the performers, the delight of seeing a live Foley artist on stage, and the show's broad appeal to audiences of all ages.

Christmas at Heritage Center "Goodness and Light"
7:30 p.m. Friday, December 4, 2026
Tickets: $24 to $29; UD Faculty/Staff Receive One Free Ticket; Other UD Affiliates Receive $5 Discount

Christmas at Heritage Center is a University of Dubuque tradition that honors the spiritual meaning of the Christmas season. UD's Department of Fine and Performing Arts will celebrate the birth of Christ through a concert presentation featuring the John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ, UD choirs, UD Concert Band, and UD Handbell Ensemble with live narration. Complimentary holiday refreshments and live music from the UD Jazz Band will immediately follow the concert.

Asleep At The Wheel
3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 6, 2026
Tickets: $65 to $75; UD Affiliates Receive $5 Discount

Founded in 1970, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for over 50 years. Although the band got its start on a farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards. In the fall, a career retrospective recorded with the current lineup - and a few special guests - will carry the band back onto the road, where they've remained a staple for five decades.

Jeremy David Tarrant, Organist - John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series
3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 25, 2027
General Admission: $16; UD Faculty/Staff Receive One Free Ticket

Jeremy David Tarrant, MM, is increasingly recognized for performances hailed as elegant, compelling, warm, communicative, and powerfully artistic. Since 2000, he has served as organist and choirmaster of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit, Michigan. He became canon precentor in 2007. Tarrant is the founding director of the Cathedral Choir School of Metropolitan Detroit. An active concert organist, he has performed widely in North America and France.

BONUS EVENTS SCHEDULE

All events are reserved seating in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

UD students may attend Heritage Center events for free. UD affiliates discount and non-UD student rush tickets are not available for bonus events.

Willie, Waylon, and Johnny Cash as The Highwaymen Live "A Musical Tribute," Presented by the Dubuque Arts Council
7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026
Tickets: $43 to $53

Relive the magic of the greatest country music supergroup of all time! In The Highwaymen Live, Michael Moore, August Manley, and Mark Gagnon embody icons Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. Moore, an accomplished guitar player born and raised in McKinney, Texas, captures Willie Nelson's legendary voice and style. Manley, a Tacoma, Washington, native who grew up on country music, is the nation's premier Waylon Jennings tribute. Gagnon, a U.S. Army veteran originally from Southington, Connecticut, recreates the memory of Johnny Cash as authentically as possible with his voice, style, and mannerisms. This 90-minute country music tribute show is full of upbeat, honky-tonk hits like "Ring of Fire," "Dukes of Hazard," and "On the Road Again."

Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold, Presented by Entertainment Events, Inc.
7:00 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2026
Tickets: $38 to $63

In Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold, written by the author of the Late Nite Catechism series, Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages - whatever happened to the Magi's gold? Retelling the story of the nativity as only Sister can, this hilarious, interactive holiday production is bound to become a yearly classic. Bring your cameras because in Sister's Nativity, your mother might be cast as the Virgin Mary or your husband might be the Donkey.

Blue Violin's Retro Rock & Roll Christmas: An 80s Holiday Spectacular, Presented by Music Maker Foundation
3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 20, 2026
Tickets: $40 to $66, Age 6-8 $24, Age 5 and Under Free

After sold-out performances from the Sydney Opera House to Prague, Carnegie Hall to Iceland, internationally touring violin sensation Blue Violin returns with Retro Rock & Roll Christmas: An 80s Holiday Spectacular, presented by Music Maker Foundation. This electrifying holiday spectacular blends the energy of an 80s arena rock show with the magic of Christmas. Featuring a live rock band, soaring choir, breathtaking cathedral projection mapping, and unforgettable violin performances, this cinematic production reimagines Christmas classics alongside the music of legendary artists like Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Kate Bush, Wham!, Tears for Fears, and more.

Always ... Patsy Cline, Presented by the Dubuque Arts Council and Heritage Center
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2027
Tickets: $58 to $68

Based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Texas housewife Louise Seger, Always ... Patsy Cline is complete with heartfelt emotion, down-home country humor, and nearly 30 songs including the unforgettable hits "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," and "Walking After Midnight." In 1961, Cline was in Houston, Texas, for a show. Seger and her buddies arrived at the performance 90 minutes early, and they met Cline, who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that lasted until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash in 1963.

We are Made of Stars, Presented by the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8, 2027
2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 9, 2027
Tickets: $34 to $74

The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra presents an epic voyage through iconic space-themed music, propelled by the power of full orchestra. Featuring Gustav Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War" and "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" from The Planets, Hans Zimmer's Interstellar Suite, music from Star Trek, unforgettable scores by John Williams, and more!