Arizona Arts at the University of Arizona has announced its 2025 fall arts experiences. These are not meant just for the campus community, but are open to all of the Old Pueblo. Here are some of the highlights of more than 700 events produced each year.
Experiences
Papermoon Puppet Theatre
Oct. 8-11, Tornabene Theatre
“Puno, Sewing Memories” tells the story of Tala, a young girl learning to cope with the loss of her father. Tala discovers the meaning of life, death, and the memories we carry with us.
Dance
Dance Visions: Dance on Film
Sept. 3 at Stevie Eller Dance Theatre
Screened dance films and behind-the-scenes insight. Curated by Duane Cyrus, Robin Gee and Jingjing Guan. Free admission.
Jazz ’n’ AZ
Sept. 16-18 at Stevie Eller Dance Theatre
A one-hour celebration of jazz dance, Jazz ’n’ AZ features high-energy performances by faculty, students and guest artists.
Season Preview
Oct. 19 at Stevie Eller Dance Theatre
A first look at the year ahead. “Season Preview” offers a curated selection of in-process works from our faculty.
Ballet BC
Nov. 20 at Centennial Hall
Canada’s contemporary dance company features three pieces including a world premiere.
Fall for Dance
Nov. 13-23 at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre
The mainstage signature fall concert brings together new work and world-class talent. With choreography by guests Peter Chu and Darrell Grand Moultrie and faculty.
Student Spotlight: Challenge
Dec. 5-7, Stevie Eller Dance Theatre
Showcasing original works choreographed by our BFA and MFA students.
Film
Film Fest Tucson at the Marroney Theatre
The Pantone Guy, Cathy and Harry
Sunday, Sept. 7
Two documentaries. Larry Herbert, 96, is the subject of “The Pantone Guy,” reflecting on his work creating the Pantone Matching System.
“Cathy and Harry” is a look at the realities of creating meaningful art by artists Catherine Murphy and Harry Roseman.
Capturing Kennedy
Sunday, Sept. 28
“Capturing Kennedy” tells the story of Jacques Lowe, John F. Kennedy’s personal photographer who captured many photographs of the Kennedy era.
Legend of the Happy Worker
Sunday, Oct. 26
A comedy about a man who is thrust into power, falls and finds redemption.
Fantasy Life
Sunday, Nov. 23
Experience a Martha’s Vineyard summer where a babysitter navigates love, family drama and eccentric grandparents in “Fantasy Life.” An award winner.
Moana: Live-to-Film Concert
Sunday, Nov. 9, Centennial Hall
Watch “Moana” on the big screen while musicians, drummers and singers bring the film’s music to life.
Music
Mohammed Abozekry Sextet
Sept. 20, The Century Room, Hotel Congress
Mohamed Abozekry weaves melodies that dance between Arabic tradition and jazz.
Lila Downs
Oct. 19, Centennial Hall
Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Lila Down celebrates Día de los Muertos.
Booker T. Jones
Oct. 21, La Rosa
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement recipient Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MGs provides the entertainment.
Trester Festival for Latin American Music
Oct. 22, Holsclaw Hall
This festival celebrates and explores piano music from across Latin America, including lecture recitals, master classes and a student piano competition.
Celloween
Oct. 29, Holsclaw Hall
A Halloween cello concert featuring creative costumes, spooky atmosphere and performances.
DaVotchKa
Oct. 21, La Rosa
Known for a blend of gypsy melodies, indie rock energy and cinematic soundscapes, Grammy-nominated band DeVotchKa celebrates the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album “How It Ends,” recorded in part at Tucson’s Wavelab Studio.
University of Arizona Band Day, Pride of Arizona
Nov. 1, Arizona Stadium
High school marching bands from across Arizona compete in Arizona Stadium. The Pride of Arizona Marching Band also performs exhibition shows.
Steve Dyer: Freedom Melody
Nov. 2, La Rosa
South African artist Steve Dyer presents a musical homage to the historic Freedom Melody Festival, commemorating the brave artists who fought to end Apartheid.
Fourth Wall Ensemble
Nov. 4, La Rosa
Rapidly gaining recognition as one of New York’s most innovative new vocal ensembles.
Stretch-Marked Hearts
University Community Chorus
Nov. 15, Crowder Hall
A concert inspired by the life and legacy of poet Andrea Gibson. Featuring Considering Matthew Shepard: A Choral Suite.
Kurbasy: Songs
of the Ukrainian Forest
Nov. 15, La Rosa
From Lviv, Ukraine, Kurbasy’s folk-based multimedia performances vibrate in vocal harmonies, distinctive instrumentation, and dreamlike visual imagery.
XIXA
Nov. 26, La Rosa
Channeling the spirit of the Southwest, XIXA returns with their third album, “XOLO,” a fusion of psychedelia, Latin rhythms and desert blues.
Holiday Card to Tucson
Dec. 7, Catalina United Methodist Church
A community holiday tradition continues. Featuring audience sing-alongs as well as seasonal music performed by Arizona Symphonic Choir, Tucson Girls Chorus, University Community Chorus, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and University Singers.
La Santa Cecila
Dec. 11, La Rosa
Grammy-winning La Santa Cecilia brings their fusion of bolero, cumbia, ranchero, jazz and folk to Tucson. With the vocals of La Marisoul and a sound rooted in both Mexican heritage and modern American culture, the band has become the voice of a new bicultural generation.
Podcast
Race/Remix
Racial Justice Studio
Professors Sama Alshaibi and Jennifer Saracino speak with artist Hank Willis Thomas about his socially engaged art practice inviting audiences to look more carefully and act more collectively. Thomas explains why he believes all art is political. Episode one of the second season of the Race/Remix podcast.
Theatre
Vanities: A Musical
Sept. 28-Oct. 12, Marroney Theatre
“Vanities: A Musical” chronicles the life-affirming journey of three vivacious Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives to liberated women and beyond.
Love and Information
Nov. 16- Dec. 7, Tornabene Theatre
An observation of contemporary society. Across a super-charged series of vignettes, the play depicts the difficulty of forming connections in a society overloaded with information.
Visual Arts
Picture Party:
Celebrating the Collection at 50
Through Dec. 20, Baker Gallery
The exhibition brings together works and archival objects from the Center for Creative Photography (CCP) Collection. Includes works by Ansel Adams, Roy DeCarava, Graciela Iturbide and Carrie Mae Weems alongside emerging artists.
Funny Business:
Photography and Humor
Through Jan. 4, Phoenix Art Museum
Presents 70 photographs, drawn primarily from the CCP Collection, examines the reasons why artists throughout time have employed humor as a strategy in their work. Featuring Reynier Leyva Novo, Liz Cohen, Steffi Faircloth, Jeff Mermelstein and Bucky Miller.
Kelli Connell: Pictures for Charis
Through Dec. 6, Center Galleries
American photographer Kelli Connell reconsiders the relationship between writer Charis Wilson and photographer Edward Weston through a close examination of Wilson’s prose and Weston’s iconic photographs. Co-organized by CCP, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Surface Tension
Through Oct. 2, Lionel Rombach Gallery
New work by eight School of Art graduate students that explores the shifting boundaries between what is seen on the surface and what lies beneath.
Future Tense 2025
Through Nov. 21, Joseph Gross Gallery
“Future Tense 2025” will celebrate the work of student artists, designers and makers working with or inspired by fiber and textile materials or techniques. The national juried exhibition offers a glimpse into the future of contemporary fibers by presenting the very best work being made by students in the field today.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2025.