Florida State University is about to launch a new season of its Opening Nights series.
“Opening Nights is the professional presentation arm of Florida State University," says Opening Nights Executive Director Kevin Maynard. "So we report to the president’s office, and our role is to bring in arts and entertainment, not just for FSU but for the Tallahassee community as well.”
A variety of artists will perform at eight venues around town. Maynard says nearly two dozen acts for the 2025-26 season were carefully curated.
“Every act is being brought in for a particular reason, whether that’s them coming in town and actually spending four or five days with us doing a residency model to reach our public schools or if it’s just bringing in a big celebrity like a Morgan Freeman, like a Jeff Goldblum," Maynard says.
Freeman and Goldblum are movie stars who will be appearing with musical acts in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
The theme for the season is Opening Minds.
“I’m new to Tallahassee, so we started talking about things like bringing in some larger names, bringing in some different genres,” says Maynard, who took over the executive director role last November. “But we really focused on education as well. We knew that was going to be a key input.”
Tickets go on sale Thursday for all performances. Click here to see options for ordering tickets. Click here for additional information.
Here's the lineup:
- Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
- James Patterson and Patrick Leddin: Disrupt Everything and Win
- Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience Featuring the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
- Kendell Marvel
- Andrew Duhon
- Hubby Jenkins
- New Jazz Underground
- OkCello
- Bassel & the Supernaturals
- Del Suggs Almost Christmas
- Nicole Zuraitis
- Andrew Collins Trio
- Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
- Imani Winds and Boston Brass
- Prism
- Lover: The Unofficial Eras Tour
- VOCES8
- Sphinx Virtuosi
- Presidents Salon Concert
- Shovels & Rope
- Songs of the Bulbul
- Goitse
- A Band Called Honalee
- Chain of Parks Featured Artist Noah Verrier
