SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR BLINN’S 2026-27 PERFORMING ARTS SERIES
Season tickets are now on sale for the Blinn College District’s 2026-27 Performing Arts Series, featuring four evenings of music and entertainment at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center.
The new season includes “Ricky Nelson Remembered Starring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson,” “The Sharpe Family Singers,” “Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul,” and “The Dolly Show.”
Season tickets, which include admission to all four performances, are available for $140. Individual show tickets will go on sale on Aug. 24 for $40.
Patrons also can purchase a season reception package for $40, which includes admission to a pre-show reception before each of the four performances. Individual reception tickets are $15.
Tickets are available at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice or by calling 979-830-4024.
All four performances will begin at 7 p.m. at the O’Donnell Center, located at 600 Blinn Blvd. on the Blinn College-Brenham Campus. Pre-show receptions will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The 2026-27 Performing Arts Series includes:
“Ricky Nelson Remembered Starring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson”
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026
The season opens with an interactive, multimedia rock ’n’ roll concert experience celebrating the groundbreaking career of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson.
Rising to fame on the television series “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,” Ricky Nelson became one of America’s first teen idols and one of the most influential rock artists of his generation. He sold more than 140 million recordings and helped define the sound and style of early rock ’n’ roll.
His legacy lives on through his twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, multiplatinum recording artists who honor their father’s music through live performance, personal stories, archival footage, and family memories.
The performance features Ricky Nelson classics such as “Poor Little Fool,” “Hello Mary Lou,” “Travelin’ Man,” “I’m Walking,” and “Garden Party,” as well as Matthew and Gunnar’s chart-topping songs “Love and Affection” and “After the Rain.”
As seventh-generation entertainers, Matthew and Gunnar bring authenticity and a deeply personal perspective to a timeless collection of songs that continues to resonate across generations.
“The Sharpe Family Singers”
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026
Broadway favorites, Disney classics, blockbuster movie soundtracks, and contemporary pop hits will fill the O’Donnell Center when the Sharpe Family Singers take the stage.
The singing family has appeared on Broadway, “American Idol,” and “America’s Got Talent,” as well as in national television commercials for companies including Walmart, Airbnb, Hilton Hotels, and Disney+. The family also has built an enormous online following, with 14 million social media followers and videos viewed by millions each month.
The group includes Broadway performers Ron and Barbra Sharpe, who met while portraying Marius and Cosette in “Les Misérables,” and their children Samantha, Logan, and twins Aidan and Connor.
Their “Best of Broadway” production combines family harmonies, choreography, multimedia elements, audience interaction, and storytelling. The show’s diverse musical selections are designed to appeal to Broadway enthusiasts, movie fans, social media followers, and families of all ages.
The Brenham Children’s Chorus choir Young Voices will join the Sharpe Family Singers for a selection of songs during the performance.
The program includes “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born,” “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman,” “One Day More” from “Les Misérables,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s “Moana.” The Sharpes’ performance of “How Far I’ll Go” earned four “yes” votes from the judges during their appearance on “America’s Got Talent.”
“Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul”
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027
With the style of the Temptations, the moves of the Jackson 5, and the energy of Bruno Mars, Uptown brings a fresh, contemporary approach to classic Motown, soul, and rhythm and blues.
Uptown combines world-class vocals, dynamic choreography, and charismatic stage presence in a high-energy production designed to get audiences on their feet. Each member is an accomplished soloist, but together they create rich harmonies and a vibrant, modern sound.
The group’s repertoire blends contemporary radio hits with music made famous by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“Uptown is fabulous — great music, totally engaging, highly professional, and thoroughly entertaining,” said Cissy Segall Davis, managing director of Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston. “Serious thumbs-up recommendation!”
The performance will include favorites such as Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
“The Dolly Show”
Thursday, April 1, 2027
The season concludes with rhinestones, powerhouse vocals, comedy, and country music as “The Dolly Show” brings the spirit, sound, and sparkle of Dolly Parton to the O’Donnell Center stage.
Backed by a live band, the theatrical concert takes audiences on a journey through six decades of Parton’s greatest songs. The production combines dazzling costumes, storytelling, humor, and audience interaction in a celebration of one of music’s most beloved entertainers.
At the heart of the production is Australian-born performer Kelly O’Brien, who has entertained professionally for more than 25 years. O’Brien began singing country music at age 14 and, two years later, was named South Australian Country Vocalist of the Year and Best New Talent at the Gympie Music Muster, leading to her first recording contract.
O’Brien has been endorsed by members of the Parton family and selected by Dolly Parton Enterprises to serve as Parton’s body double for film. Her voice, mannerisms, warmth, and stage presence have made her one of the world’s most acclaimed Dolly Parton performers.
“Wow! Kelly is fierce as Dolly,” singer Michael Bublé said.
The show will feature Parton favorites including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Parton’s original recording of “I Will Always Love You” twice reached No. 1 on the country charts before Whitney Houston introduced the song to a new generation through the film “The Bodyguard.”
(Story courtesy Blinn Information)