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FAIRMONT -- The 2026-27 Red Rock Center for the Arts Performing Arts Concert Series will be held from fall to spring.
"It's exciting, exciting for me, personally. With the Fairmont Opera House closed since 2023, we've been limited in our programming," explained Red Rock Center Acting Director Blake Potthoff. "To get back into programming, booking and scheduling shows, to get in that regular routine, is very exciting to me personally."
The Red Rock Center is pleased to offer this 10-event live performance opportunity to the area. The Performing Arts Concert Series is in its 13th year, having debuted in 2013.
"It's full of optimism because you're at the start of the season and you get to dream and be excited and be optimistic about all the fun stuff that is coming. For the organization, for me, for the board, and hopefully for the community, it's an exciting time, that we get people to come and enjoy these really fantastic shows that we have scheduled," Potthoff said.
All of the performances have a start time of 7 p.m.
The first of the performances will be on Sept. 12 by singer and pianist Michelle Foster, "Welcome Home-The Legacy of Carole King."
Next, crossover genre band Simply Three, consisting of violinist Glen McDaniel, cellist Zack Clark and bassist and founder Nick Villalobos will perform on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Pianist Philip Daniel will perform on Friday, Nov. 13 and holiday musical tribute, "A Very Diva Christmas" will be on Sunday, Dec. 6. This is followed by another, traditional performance by holiday pianist Glenn Henricksen on Friday, Dec. 18.
"Guys on Ice: An Ice-Fishing Musical" will be the first performance of the new year on either Jan. 8 or Jan. 9. Rock and acoustic band Radio Recall, consisting of Broadway-veteran members Aaron Lavigne and Jenna Rubaii, will play on Feb. 12.
Comedian, SiriusXM/iHeartRadio feature, NBC "Last Comic Standing" semi-finalist Tommy Ryman will be on Friday, March 19, and "Top 40 from the Last 40" with band B2Wins, consisting of twin violinists, Walter and Wagner Caldas will be on Friday, April 9, at the Red Rock Center.
The 10th and final performance will be announced at a later date.
In speaking to how they go about choosing and booking performers, Potthoff said, "I think it's important to have something that appeals to every age, so that parents can bring their young kids in and know it's going to be a family-friendly event. All the way through, teens to 20s, 30s, 40s, all the way up to 70s and 80s, where we have patrons, and even older, come in."
He added, "seeing these shows, it's family-friendly, it's fun, it's accessible, it's relatable. So, really, when I'm looking at different programs, it's like, 'How do we [reach] as many people as possible?' 'How does it impact as many people as possible across the generations?'" Potthoff said.
The Red Rock Center has strived to serve many experiences and opportunities for the community, from performing to fine arts.
"It's what the organization is supposed to do," said Potthoff. "It’s supposed to bring people into the facility. It's supposed to find ways to engage the community and interact with the community and give them experiences. It's supposed to be welcoming and open and accessible to everybody at any time. Anybody can buy a ticket at any time, show up and come see the show."
Potthoff said the Red Rock Center's goal is to get people and businesses through the door and exposed to the arts at the facility.
"The whole thing is about giving community members opportunities," Potthoff explained. "It's designed to be fun; it's designed to be exciting. These are wildly talented people who are coming into our community."
He said he’s looking forward to 'the next event' at the Red Rock Center. "Because it represents an opportunity, an opportunity to bring people in, to experience something, to see something, to hear something together with friends, family, people they don't know yet," Potthoff said.
Due to the Blue Earth Avenue Project, some roads to the Red Rock Center may be closed off for construction. The Red Rock Center can still be reached by driving through South Elm and South Park streets and parking at the Red Rock Center or Southern Minnesota Educational Campus (SMEC building) parking lots.
Potthoff shared that tickets and season passes are already being sold. There is a cost-savings with buying a season pass for all 10 shows for $150, as opposed to $25 for a ticket to a single show.
To purchase tickets or season passes and find additional information, visit redrockcenter.org, contact the Red Rock Center at (507) 235-9262 or info@redrockcenter.org, or visit the Red Rock Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.