Music has a way of marking the moments of our lives — the songs we grew up with, the artists we never forget and the melodies that can instantly take us back in time. The Whatley Center for the Performing Arts at Northeast Texas Community College will celebrate those connections and more during its 2026-2027 season, “The Soundtrack of Our Lives.”
While music takes center stage with a lineup spanning country, Broadway, pop, doo-wop and Western swing, the new season offers much more. Theatre Northeast productions and a full schedule of visual art exhibits round out a year of entertainment and the arts at the Whatley Center.
The four-show Entertainment Series (included in season ticket packages) begins Oct. 20 with The Texas Tenors, the award-winning trio known for blending country, classical, Broadway and pop. The group rose to national attention on America’s Got Talent and has since become the most successful music group in the show’s history. The Texas Tenors performance is sponsored by Texas Heritage National Bank.
The holiday season brings The Doo Wop Project Christmas on Dec. 18. Featuring Broadway performers with credits including Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, the show puts a doo-wop spin on holiday favorites and contemporary Christmas hits. The Doo Wop Project Christmas performance is sponsored by Cypress Bank.
The Entertainment Series continues Feb. 9 with Yesterday Once More, celebrating the music of The Carpenters, The Mamas & The Papas, The 5th Dimension and ABBA. The high-energy revue combines familiar hits, vocals, choreography and storytelling for a nostalgic trip through some of the most memorable music of the era. The Yesterday Once More performance is sponsored by Drs. Mary and Brad Scharf.
Rounding out the series on March 12 is Bachelors of Broadway, featuring three New York performers bringing Broadway favorites to the concert stage with three-part harmonies and orchestral arrangements. The program includes music from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Wicked, Jersey Boys, The Greatest Showman and more.
Two special events will bring legendary country music to the Whatley stage in 2027. Gene Watson and the Farewell Party Band will perform Jan. 21. With a career spanning more than five decades, Watson is known for traditional country hits including “Farewell Party,” “Love in the Hot Afternoon” and “Fourteen Carat Mind.” The Gene Watson Performance is sponsored by Guaranty Bank & Trust.
On April 23, Asleep at the Wheel brings its signature Western swing sound to the Whatley Center. Led by founder Ray Benson, the Grammy Award-winning band has spent more than 50 years blending country, jazz, blues and swing. The Asleep at the Wheel performance is sponsored by the NTCC Foundation.
The Sounds of Northeast series also returns this season, showcasing talent from Northeast Texas. Chris Weisinger & Brand New Start will open the series Oct. 4 with Christian country music with a bluegrass edge. The Mt. Pleasant Community Orchestra will perform May 1, followed by East Texas' Petty Cash Band on May 8.
Theatre Northeast will present two productions during the season under the direction of Dr. Page Petrucka. 12 Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose will be presented Nov. 12-14, followed by Greg Allen's Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind April 15-17.
The Whatley Center foyer will also host a full schedule of free art exhibits throughout the season. Featured exhibits include photography mixes by Amanda Butler; watercolor and oil works by Beverly Boren; a quilt exhibit by local quilters; works in various media by graduates of the NTCC Art Program; the Mt. Pleasant Art Society Show; and the annual NTCC Student Art Show. Artist receptions will accompany each exhibit.
New season ticket subscriptions and single-ticket sales begin Aug. 24. Tickets may be purchased through the Whatley Center Box Office by calling 903-434-8181 or through the official Whatley Center website. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets only through the box office or official website, as the Whatley Center cannot guarantee tickets purchased through third-party sellers.
All dates are subject to change.
