Exciting New Additions to the 2020/21 Season

By UMS

While some of UMS’s live events that we announced in late April won’t take place as we originally planned, we are pleased to announce that we have created several new programs and reimagined others that will provide unique opportunities over the coming months, both in-person and in the digital space. In collaboration with the University of Michigan and public health authorities, we’re also developing clear safety protocols and capacity restrictions to ensure that any live performance experiences are presented in the safest, most public health-informed way possible for audiences and artists alike.

Some have asked us why we aren’t simply canceling our fall season like so many other organizations across the US. Put simply, we feel that UMS has both a unique opportunity and responsibility to continue delivering on the promise of our mission — to engage our audiences with exceptional and compelling artistic and educational offerings. Here is just the start of what we’re working on:

Actor Wendell Pierce, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and theater maker Brian Lobel

Digital Artist Residencies

During the 2020/21 season, UMS will partner with several artists — some who are familiar to UMS audiences and some who are new — to provide extended digital residencies, expanding UMS’s impact into the digital space. These digital artist residencies will feature a range of activities, which may include unique performance experiences, art made specifically for the digital frame, an inside look into the creative process through new works in development, plus casual artist interactions with our audiences (interviews, mini-performances, viewing parties, and more). Many of these projects may find their way to UMS stages in future seasons.

Participating artists include actor Wendell Pierce, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and performance artist and U-M alumnus Brian Lobel + Friends. Additional artists and project details will be announced in the coming months.

Erato-Warner Classics, the exclusive label of Joyce DiDonato, is proud to be associated with this innovative project.

You Can Dance—Outside!

During the months of August, September, and October, UMS’s popular You Can Dance series will be moving outdoors, where dancers and “curious movers” can participate while socially distanced. These free workshops will be taught by local dance professionals at Ann Arbor’s Wheeler Park on five Saturdays from August 29 – October 24.

Workshops will take place at Ann Arbor’s Wheeler Park, located at 200 Depot Street, on August 29, September 12, September 26, October 10, and October 24. Advance registration is required, and total capacity will be limited in order to adhere to public safety guidelines. Registration begins at 10 am, and the workshops begin at 10:30 am.

Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Digital Presentations by UMS Artists

The Paul Taylor Dance Company and sibling artists Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason will offer streaming performances produced specifically for UMS audiences. Additionally, the Takács Quartet concert in October will be live-streamed, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre will showcase a special dance-on-camera viewing of one of their signature creations. We are working on providing additional free digital alternatives for canceled and impacted performances throughout this season.

UMS Performance Playground

UMS will continue to create online resources for teachers and students by further developing our Performance Playground series, which debuted this spring.

Series:You

With the changes to our season, we are also making subscribing to UMS easier and simpler through changes to our most popular subscription package, Series:You. We’ve reduced the number of concerts required to subscribe; when you purchase at least 3 events (instead of 5), you’ll save 10% off the total ticket price, with the full benefits of a subscription package — including refunds and exchanges for any event this season with no questions asked. If you prefer to wait, tickets to individual performances go on sale on Monday, August 3.