Reopening

Featuring
‍65-member New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Spoken Word Artist Hendrick Hernandez-Resto
Baritone Philip Lima
Broadway Performers Erin and Matt Ban, Abby Casey, and Brooklyn Toli
Gender-Expansive Ballroom Dancers J. Michael Winward and Holly Stone

Big Night, Bright Lights!
‍Join us for a dazzling celebration as we reopen The Z in style! The full New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will be on stage throughout the evening, setting the backdrop for a captivating program of music, dance, and theater. Emmy Award–winning comedian Dulcé Sloan hosts the celebration, guiding us through an unforgettable night of laughter, joy, and artistry.

An Unforgettable Lineup
‍The evening’s program showcases an extraordinary range of talent. Across 16 captivating pieces, the orchestra sets the emotional tone for every act, weaving a continuous thread of artistry and connection.

Among the highlights: Bernstein's Candide Overture and a selection from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite—a dazzling burst of color, movement, and musical storytelling that promises to stir your spirit. Nationally known baritone and New Bedford native Philip Lima lends his powerful operatic voice to the stage, while New Bedford musician, rapper, and producer Hendrick Hernandez-Resto premieres an original piece with the symphony. Singers and dancers from New Bedford Festival Theatre, including Erin and Matt Ban, Abby Casey, and Brooklyn Toli, deliver Broadway favorites with flair, and interdisciplinary performance artists J. Michael Winward and Holly Stone bring sweeping, gender-expansive ballroom dance to the stage.‍

A Historic Night for New Bedford and New Century for The Zeiterion
‍After two years of anticipation, the curtain is rising once again on the newly renovated Zeiterion Theatre. For the first time, three of the city’s leading cultural organizations—The Zeiterion, New Bedford Festival Theatre, and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra—will share the stage in a one-night-only concert that honors the heart, soul, and future of the performing arts on the South Coast. This first-time landmark collaboration is more than a performance; it is a joyful homecoming that reaffirms the Zeiterion as a gathering place for creativity, connection, and community.

Together, these performances embody the energy and artistry that make New Bedford a cultural hub, marking the Zeiterion’s return with brilliance and heart.