Open Mic Night

Johnson Hall is hosting an open mic night 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 17. Doors open and signups begin at 5:45 p.m. A guitar, keyboard and drum kit will be ready to go.

The Umbilical Brothers

The Umbilical Brothers, who have appeared from New York to Tokyo and everywhere in between, will perform 7:30-9 p.m.on Sept. 21 on the Reehl Stage. Blending mime, sound effects, slapstick and stand-up, their shows defy easy description but guarantee laughter. 

With The Best of The Worst of The Umbilical Brothers, U.S. audiences can experience the highlights of their most-loved routines—an energetic mix of mind-bending physicality, rapid-fire vocal wizardry, and surreal comedy that has earned them global acclaim.

Tickets are $40.

The Robert Cray Band

The Robert Cray Band will perform 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 on the Reehl Stage. The Georgia-born, Washington-raised musician first picked up a guitar after seeing The Beatles on TV then, having witnessed Jimi Hendrix perform in Seattle, determined that his destiny would also follow asimilar path. And so he has: across the past half century Robert Cray’ has developed into one of American music’s most singular artists.

Tickets are $65.

Palaver Strings

Palaver Strings will perform 7:30-9 p.m. on Sept. 24 on the Reehl Stage.

The Grammy-nominated, musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland has a mission to strengthen and inspire community through music. Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues and amplifying underrepresented voices.

Tickets are $30.

Five for Fighting with String Quartet

Five for Fighting will perform 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 on the Reehl Stage. The band’s music has been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning The Blind Side, Hawaii Five-O, The Sopranos and the CBS drama Code Black. AllMusic called John Ondrasik “one of the decade’s leading balladeers.”

Opening for this show will be Lace & Lee, a folk rock duo heavily influenced by the mystical wisdom of 60s and 70s storytelling, with a twist of humor and bard-like prose.

Tickets are $50.  

Homegrown featuring Waxwing

Waxwing, a Maine-based indie folk and Americana band, will perform 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 9 on the Logan Stage. Built around intimate performances, rich vocal harmonies, and a strong focus on original songwriting, the group blends reflective lyricism with warm acoustic textures and energetic live chemistry.

Waxwing’s music balances quiet emotional moments with driving arrangements rooted in Americana and indie rock. The band is preparing to release its first singles in fall 2026.

Tickets are $15.

Open Mic Night

Johnson Hall hosts an open mic night 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 15. Doors open and signups begin at 5:45 p.m. A guitar, keyboard and drum kit will be ready to go.

Lambo Law

Jazz duo Lambo Law will perform 7:30-9 a.m. Oct. 16 on the Logan Stage.

Neil Lamb and Dave Lawlor were introduced by mutual friend guitar virtuoso Mark Kleinhaut, who said they needed to play with more people. It was clear their different approaches (7 string finger style and 6 string pick style) were complementary. Since then they have played diverse settings in and outside of northern New England. Their first album, “Molly Brown,” is on the Invisible Music label and was initially aired on Maine Public Radio.

The duo returns to Johnson Hall to perform all new original music that will appear on a new recording slated for release this fall.

Tickets are $20.

Shadows in the Hall

Shadows in the Hall returns to Johnson Hall Opera House 6-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 24 for two nights of immersive theater.

Johnson Hall’s three floors are transformed into a living, breathing performance space. As you move from room to room, you’ll encounter a series of eerie vignettes brought to life by more than 30 actors. Some characters whisper stories of the past, while others seem bound to the building itself, shadows of moments that never fully faded.

Tickets are for a specific tour time slot. It’s not a traditional sit-down performance; audience members will be on a guided walk-through experience lasting about 30 minutes. While there may be brief opportunities to sit, most of the event requires standing and walking. Before the tour begins, guests will gather in Deering Park at least 15 minutes before the scheduled tour.

Viewer discretion is advised. Late arrivals may not be accommodated.

Tickets are $13.

Black Strings

Black Violin’s Be Free Tour comes to Johnson Hall’s Reehl Stage 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The high-energy, genre-defying experience that merges the duo’s classical training with the pulse of hip-hop, creating a powerful and deeply inspiring performance. Grammy-nominated duo Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus invite audiences to a night of boundary-breaking music.

Tickets are $65.

Tickets for Johnson Hall events are available via Eventbrite or at the ticket office at the theater, which is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays.

​​Looking for more? Check out the online calendar listings for other entertainment offerings.