Looking for show recommendations?
With 40 programs to choose from in our 2025-26 Duke Arts Presents season, there’s something for everyone! We asked our Duke Arts team to share their top show recommendations for the Pick-4 subscription and why they’re excited about them.
Tickets are now available through our Pick-4 subscription package, and single tickets will be available starting June 17. With this special pick-4 offer, you can choose four or more shows and save up to 20% off single ticket prices while accessing the best seats in the house. Pick-4 now!
Check out the Duke Arts team picks! Which experience will you choose?
Anna Wallace’s Recommendations
Student Engagement Manager
1. nora chipaumire: Dambudzo
I don’t quite know what to expect from this piece, which is what excites me. I have a BFA in Ceramics, and I’m especially interested in the use of raw clay in this performance.
2. Is It Thursday Yet?
As a person who has experienced anxiety, depression, and post-partum depression, I’m always interested in art that captures the experiences of neurodivergent people. The trailer captivated me and I can’t wait to see more.
October 2 – October 4
Dambudzo is a live anti-genre work by acclaimed choreographer nora chipaumire, combining sound, painting, sculpture and performance to confront colonial legacies.
November 14 – November 15
A stunning tapestry of dance, live music, and home video footage that invites audiences into Jenn Freeman’s life following her Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis at age 33.
3. Sudan Archives
I love the mix of music technology, strings, and vocals in Brittany Park’s music. I can’t help but move when I hear it and can’t wait to see her live
4. Atsuko Okatsuko
To be honest, I have not historically been a fan of stand-up comedy, but I was immediately drawn to Atsuko’s clips on social media. Her style captured me first, and I stayed for the hilarious insights on gender and parenting.
Sunday, September 7 at 7:00pm
Described as “the violin’s domme” by The New Yorker, Sudan doesn’t just play the violin—she commands it, looping riffs into whole orchestras, flipping classical training into raw, radiant funk.
Thursday, September 4 at 7:30pm
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka brings her sharp, offbeat humor to Durham. Known for her HBO special “The Intruder,” viral stand-up clips, and of course – her trademark bowl cut.
Ashley Bostian’s Recommendations
Marketing Manager
1. The Revival: It Is Our Duty
I had the chance to meet composer Troy Anthony in New York in January, and we had the most beautiful conversation about Appalachian traditions, Black gospel, and the warmth The Fire Ensemble brings to a space. I’m so looking forward to hearing this work fill Duke Chapel—what a perfect place for collective healing.
2. National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica
Having lived in the Caribbean, I’m especially excited for this performance celebrating Jamaican identity through dance. NDTC’s work blends African, European, and Caribbean influences into something both deeply rooted and vibrantly alive. It feels like being back on the island again.
Saturday, January 17 at 7:30pm
Led by Troy Anthony, “The Revival: It Is Our Duty” blends gospel, ritual, and joy—inviting all into a healing celebration of liberation, identity, and transformation.
February 21 – February 22
The National Dance Theatre Company is the beating heart of Jamaica’s cultural legacy, enchanting audiences worldwide with its spellbinding performances and innovative choreography.
3. Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce
I have a soft spot for unconventional holiday traditions, and Taylor Mac’s theatrical world of glitter and chosen family is exactly the kind of festive I want. This show feels like a gift!
4. Sudan Archives
There’s something electric about a performer who puts the violin at the center of the room. Sudan Archives brings soulful vocals and an undeniable presence to the stage. I can’t wait to experience her sound live!
December 4 – December 6
Taylor Mac takes on the holidays to celebrate the season in all its dysfunction. “For all those who find caroling, eggnog and enforced family visits destabilizing” (Los Angeles Times)
Sunday, September 7 at 7:00pm
Described as “the violin’s domme” by The New Yorker, Sudan doesn’t just play the violin—she commands it, looping riffs into whole orchestras, flipping classical training into raw, radiant funk.
Day Kim’s Recommendations
Arts+ | Duke Arts Presents
Admin Team
1. Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce
The show first caught my attention with its powerful and magical visuals in the poster. After reading the description, I was even more intrigued to learn that it’s not just a visual spectacle but also an immersive auditory experience—Taylor Mac will be performing holiday songs, infusing the season with an extra layer of wonder. I’d love to share this moment with someone I care about, soaking in the festive spirit and being fully present together.
2. Wanjiru Kamuyu: Fragmented Shadows
I find this event compelling because I believe its choreography could be deeply inspiring within a broader creative realm. Different forms of art often inform and influence one another, and as a visual artist, I frequently draw inspiration from dance—the fluidity of movement, the rhythm, and the raw emotion conveyed through the body.
For instance, a filmmaker might see the piece and be inspired by its pacing and mood to shape a non-linear narrative, or a poet might echo the themes of fragmentation and identity in their writing. I believe Fragmented Shadows offers that kind of cross-disciplinary spark in a powerful and evocative way.
December 4 – December 6
Taylor Mac takes on the holidays to celebrate the season in all its dysfunction. “For all those who find caroling, eggnog and enforced family visits destabilizing” (Los Angeles Times)
October 9 – October 10
Choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu leads audiences through a sensorial, contemplative journey into the body as a tapestry of memories and then a site of liberation.
3. Sudan Archives
As a visual artist, I deeply appreciate Sudan Archives’ music—especially the way she blends classical elements like the violin with bold, funky stage visuals. Experiencing her performance live would be an exciting and inspiring experience. Her radiant energy and unique style would bring a wave of heat and vibrancy to our campus, giving students like my friends and me a much-needed chance to unwind and recharge from academic stress.
4. Atsuko Okatsuko
This event stood out to me as a strong choice for my You-Pick-4 selection primarily because it promises guaranteed fun—comedy has become a tradition for opening week, and with high expectations surrounding it, I’m confident it will deliver. I’m also drawn to Atsuko Okatsuka’s reputation and unique identity. As an international woman studying abroad, I find her both admirable and inspiring.
Sunday, September 7 at 7:00pm
Described as “the violin’s domme” by The New Yorker, Sudan doesn’t just play the violin—she commands it, looping riffs into whole orchestras, flipping classical training into raw, radiant funk.
Thursday, September 4 at 7:30pm
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka brings her sharp, offbeat humor to Durham. Known for her HBO special “The Intruder,” viral stand-up clips, and of course – her trademark bowl cut.
Ethan Deal’s Recommendations
Arts+ | Duke Arts Presents
Admin Team
1. Kayfabe
If you’re a fan of the WWE or you enjoy puppet shows, then this is the event for you. If you’re a fan of both WWE and puppet shows, I congratulate you on your niche interests. Even if you dislike both, you should still go. I’m intrigued as to how PuppetMania will play out.
2. Conrad Tao
If you play piano, or frankly, any other classical instrument, this is a performance you must see. Tao is redefining the future of classical music. I’m excited to hear what kind of influence he brings to Rachmaninoff in his solo act.
March 5 – March 6
Kayfabe is a puppet wrestling entertainment spectacular written, directed and designed by Josh Rice.
Friday, October 24 at 7:30pm
Pianist and composer Conrad Tao has been dubbed “the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music” by New York Magazine.
3. Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience
Yes, it’s Morgan Freeman! If this blend of blues and orchestra is at all reminiscent of his voice, I know it’s going to be magnificent. He’s accompanied by virtuosos from the Ground Zero Blues Club, who have come all the way from Clarksdale, Mississippi, to bring you the magic of Delta Blues.
4. Atsuko Okatsuko
Experience the bowl cut in person! If you’re looking for a laugh, this is the show to see. For those of you on TikTok, Okatsuka pioneered the #Dropchallenge back in 2022. If that’s not enough reason to go, she’s also known for her HBO special, The Intruder.
Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm
Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman fuses the raw, aching power of authentic Delta Blues with the expansive sound of a chamber orchestra.
Thursday, September 4 at 7:30pm
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka brings her sharp, offbeat humor to Durham. Known for her HBO special “The Intruder,” viral stand-up clips, and of course – her trademark bowl cut.
An Honorable Mention
Meet GPT-ME
Free Event
In 100 years, we’re all going to have chips in our brain, so why not get a glimpse at what that might look like? Here you’ll get the opportunity to interact with a “hybrid AI-human entity.” This is your chance to thank Chat-GPT for all the help they’ve given you over the last few years. Maybe they’ll spare you when AI takes over the world.
September 2 – September 4
After months of wearing a GPT device, Meshi has made herself into a hybrid AI-human entity. When speaking as the GPT version of herself, Meshi voices conversational responses generated into her ear in real time.
Jules Odendahl-James’s Recommendations
Director of Engagement
1. Eiko Otake & Wen Hui: What Is War?
These artists have a history of compelling work (individually and together) that expands and interrogates “documentary” as a form and genre. Some of Wen Hui’s work with filmmaker Wu Wenguang is included in The Memory Project, an archive housed at Duke’s Rubenstein Library. Eiko Otake’s site-specific work A body in a cemetery was a somber gift to Durham in August 2021, performed as part of ADF at nearby Maplewood Cemetery. There is never not a need to examine war; its victims, perpetrators, and beneficiaries, those who wear uniforms and those who do not. These artists’ melding of dance and cinema both broadens and makes intimate our perspective while deepening and channeling our emotions into the potential for conversation and contemplation.
2. time/life/beauty
Thrilled to see DJ Spooky return to Duke; I’ve taught his work for many years in a class called Performing Science, particularly his work carving beats and symphonies from natural phenomena data sets (such as ice crystals in the Antarctic, old-growth forests in Oregon). Having experienced the Butoh work of Pik Kei Wong last season, I was particularly eager to see this collaboration between Miller and Butoh scholar and intermedia practitioner Michael Sakamoto as they engage the work and legacy of another boundary breaking artist, Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose work cinephiles might know from his compositions for films such as A Sheltering Sky (1990), The Revenant (2015), and After Yang (2021).
September 25 – September 26
Groundbreaking multidisciplinary artists Wen Hui and Eiko Otake weave a complex and deeply personal tapestry, inviting the audience to consider war as a history, an inheritance, and a present-day reality.
Friday, January 30 at 7:30pm
Time/life/beauty by Michael Sakamoto and DJ Spooky blends hip-hop, new music, dance, and media visuals, honoring Ryuichi Sakamoto’s legacy through interdisciplinary performance.
3. Bear Grease: The Musical
Can’t help it, I’m a theater kid, and Grease was a high school musical staple when I was younger. It’s fallen a bit out of the canon these days, but this production created by Crystle Lightning and Henry Cloud Andrade gives the storyline and songs new life as part loving homage and part wholly new gift to musical theater. If you have enjoyed CTV’s Acting Good or Netflix’s North by North, you’ll want to add Bear Grease to your experience of the work of Canadian Indigenous creators and performers.
4. Is It Thursday Yet?
As the faculty advisor for the Duke Disability Alliance and a member of Duke’s Disability Identity and Community Empowerment group, I’m particularly excited to see Jenn’s show. While statistically, the number of U.S. adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is under 3%, between 2011 and 2020 there was a 450% increase in diagnosis rates of adults between 24 and 36 (according to a study published in JAMA in 2024). Some of this increase can be attributed to increased awareness of ASD in general, improved provider tools and training, and expanded representation and more inclusive public attitudes. Freeman’s piece, however, isn’t about statistics or medical categories, it’s about how her diagnosis gave her a new lens through which to examine the role creativity and movement have played in her sense of self and her unique expression of dance and theater throughout her life.
April 2 – April 3
Bear Grease is an unapologetically Indigenous musical—a loving clap back to the classic hit musical and film Grease.
November 14 – November 15
A stunning tapestry of dance, live music, and home video footage that invites audiences into Jenn Freeman’s life following her Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis at age 33.
Sarah Hammond‘s Recommendations
Graphic Design and Web Manager
1. The Treachery of Sounds
I’m really drawn to the idea of using movement and visuals to explore how we hear. One of my favorite performances last season was 32 Sounds, and this show feels like it continues that thread by digging into sound as something that shapes our realities. As a visual artist, so much of my world is built on seeing, so I’m really interested in what happens when you question what you’re hearing too. I love that this piece draws from the surrealism of Magritte and invites us to rethink the themes prevalent in his work.
2. Sudan Archives
For starters, I’ll admit I’m a sucker for anything with a violin, but Sudan Archives is so much more than just a skilled violinist. She brings afro-futurist aesthetics (which I always love) and a genre-defying sound that feels both exploratory and refined. Her newest release, “Dead”, has been on repeat 24/7 for three days straight now, so I’m really excited to see her live.
February 27 – February 28
Theatre of Music has joined forces with composer Steven Bryant to create an immersive, multi-disciplinary work inspired by Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte.
Sunday, September 7 at 7:00pm
Described as “the violin’s domme” by The New Yorker, Sudan doesn’t just play the violin—she commands it, looping riffs into whole orchestras, flipping classical training into raw, radiant funk.
3. Is It Thursday Yet?
I’m always drawn to work that brings an artist’s personal story to the forefront. This piece feels especially compelling because of its approach to memory and identity (themes I’m always exploring in my personal work). I’m excited to experience how dance, live music, and home video come together to tell Jenn Freeman’s incredibly intimate story.
4. Kayfabe
This just looks totally wild in the best possible way! Puppet wrestling and absurdism! I love when performances break genre expectations, and I think Kayfabe is going to be a fantastical, hilarious, and a unique experience. Puppetry deserves more love, and this feels like such a joyful tribute to the artform.
November 14 – November 15
A stunning tapestry of dance, live music, and home video footage that invites audiences into Jenn Freeman’s life following her Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis at age 33.
March 5 – March 6
Kayfabe is a puppet wrestling entertainment spectacular written, directed and designed by Josh Rice.
Yasmine Kwong‘s Recommendations
Arts+ | Duke Arts Presents
Admin Team
1. Trio con Brio Copenhagen
In their promotional video, cellist Soo-Kyung Hong proclaims that when playing the Weinberg, “there is a point where you can’t be in your own body anymore.” I’m struck by how passionate and energy-filled their playing is, and how they describe their exhaustion from the music. I can’t wait to see how they interact on stage both visually and sonically, and to hear pieces that I have not heard before.
2. Atsuko Okatsuka
Having first been exposed to Atsuko Okatsuka’s comedy clips on YouTube, I was amazed by how she utilizes situational irony to bring humor to everyday encounters/spaces. As just the second Asian American woman to get her own comedy special on HBO, Okatsuka brings such a unique perspective and visibility to those with overlapping identities.
I am excited to hear how her heritage has shaped her experience, as well as how heavier topics such as mental illness and immigration are discussed on the comedy stage.
Saturday, October 11 at 7:30pm
Performing their program “The Passenger” with Louise Alenius’s Piano Trio (2025); Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Piano Trio, OP. 24;
Franz Schubert’s Piano Trio #2, E-flat Major, Op. 100
Thursday, September 4 at 7:30pm
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka brings her sharp, offbeat humor to Durham. Known for her HBO special “The Intruder,” viral stand-up clips, and of course – her trademark bowl cut.
3. Takács Quartet with Jordan Bak, viola
As a classical music enthusiast, I look forward to hearing this experienced quartet play with an additional viola voice. One of my favorite quintets is the Schubert “Trout” piano quintet, so it will be an interesting change to add a rich viola voice to the mix. I also love the joy and lilt of Mozart as well as the flowing, landscape-building music of Dvorak. After this concert, I also hope to listen to the concerto written for them by Gabriela Lena Frank, one of my favorite composers who also wrote a great piece, Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout.
4. Sudan Archives
Sudan Archives does it all! She blends the classical music sphere with hip-hop and experimental music, and I am excited to see how her different interests combine for her set. I love the emotional rawness to her voice and how easy it is to listen to her music, feeling the beats and catchy violin loops. And, as a violinist that loves to experiment, I think it will be incredibly inspiring to see Sudan Archives live.
Saturday, September 27 at 7:30pm
Program includes Schubert’s “Quartetsatz;” Mozart’s Viola Quintet, C Major, K. 515; and Dvorak’s String Quartet, G Major, Op. 106
Sunday, September 7 at 7:00pm
Described as “the violin’s domme” by The New Yorker, Sudan doesn’t just play the violin—she commands it, looping riffs into whole orchestras, flipping classical training into raw, radiant funk.
Yesenia Martinez-Yanez‘s Recommendations
Marketing Specialist
1. Shadow Cities: Ephrat Asherie Dance with Arturo O’Farrill
I had the lovely opportunity to see a short preview of Shadow Cities in New York City earlier this year. I was completely immersed by the music and the dancers’ fluid and joyfully expressive movement. What drew me in the most is the piece’s exploration of how people from different backgrounds can find connection in the in-between spaces, where feelings of otherness transform into moments of shared belonging. I can’t wait to see this dance work in full!
2. Wanjiru Kamuyu: Fragmented Shadows
I’m drawn to works that explore our bodies and selves in new ways. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how the two dancers peel back the layers of the stories held in their bodies—personal, ancestral, and societal—and transform that energy into something therapeutic, releasing it and reshaping it into something new.
Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm
Ephrat Asherie collaborates with Grammy award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill on the company’s newest creation, Shadow Cities, a reflection on the beauty, vastness and joy of the in-between.
October 9 – October 10
Choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu leads audiences through a sensorial, contemplative journey into the body as a tapestry of memories and then a site of liberation.
3. Doric String Quartet
I’m new to exploring the classical world and am excited to experience another string quartet next year performing works by core classical composers like Bach, Haydn, and Beethoven.
4. Kayfabe
Ever since I experienced the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival in 2024, I’ve been all for experiences puppet-related! Many artists see puppetry as a form of play that taps into our childlike wonder and joy. I can’t wait to experience this action-packed, goofy showdown next year.
Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm
Program includes Bach’s “Four fugues” from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080; Haydn’s Quartet, F minor, Op. 20 #5; Beethoven’s Quartet, C Major, Op. 59 #3
March 5 – March 6
Kayfabe is a puppet wrestling entertainment spectacular written, directed and designed by Josh Rice.
