NORWICH - Chenango Arts Council is pleased to announce a spectacular 2026-2027 Season sure to offer something for everyone.

The first show will be Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7 p.m. and will be a spooky Halloween event.

Film & Strings: The Cat and Canary will showcase the FIRST Universal Studios horror movie., a haunted house comedy mystery. Violist Elizabeth Simchick has arraigned a unique score to this silent classic, featuring some of the original luminaries of film such as Flora Finch and director Paul Leni. Accompanied by guitarist Jeff Ingersol and percussionist Mark Shiner, the mood and big reveals will be amplified by the music, as would have been when the film first premiered in 1927. As an added bonus, CAC members can attend this performance for free.

On December 5, We Three Kings, The Irish Dance Christmas Sensation takes the audience on an epic adventure inspired by the age-old tradition of the Three Magi and their legendary voyage to the west. Along their journey, they encounter the evil Sugar Plum Fairy and her dark soldiers threatening to abolish the Christmas Spirit and steal the crown from the Kingdom once and for all.

Featuring 20 of the world’s most accomplished Irish dancers and musicians, We Three Kings tells the inspiring tale of hope, love, and salvation by celebrating our favorite Christmas traditions through exciting storytelling, dance, and music. Combined with an epic original Holiday score by multiple award-winning composers and directed by Justin Boros, the electrifying soundtrack and state of the art lighting create a thundering cinematic backdrop to an unforgettable Christmas experience for the entire family!

February 27, 2027, CAC will bring New York City nightlife to Norwich with Benny Benack III’s Magic of Manhattan. A jazz performance, Benack celebrates the history of the music genre with an eclectic mix of songs. Broadway hits and tunes heard in clubs Up, Mid and Downtown, and from such luminaries as Billy Joel and Frank Sinatra will be performed. Benack is a Emmy nominated trumpet player and was 2024’s #1 Ranked Rising Star Male Jazz Vocalist in DownBeat Magazine. He will be joined by a piano player, bass player, and drummer in an incredible opportunity to see the best of jazz close to home.

The final show of the season will be unlike anything Chenango Arts Council has presented before. Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo will bring 19 dinosaurs to the Martin W. Kappel stage through the magic of puppetry. Crafted to educate as well as entertain, paleontologists helped design the large, lifelike, puppets. Kids will learn about prehistoric life as well as performance and physical theater. On April 11, 2027 at 1pm, VIP ticket holders will be greeted by a cast members and a large "Hero" puppet and will get a special up-close look at the large puppet and a description of what it is, how it works, etc. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult who must also have a VIP ticket. At 2 pm, the regular show begins.

The Martin W. Kappel theater is located at 27 West Main Street, Norwich, Ny. Tickets are on sale at ChenangoArts.org and at the door. Chenango Arts Council would like to thank NBT Bank, NBT Insurance The Greater Norwich Foundation, The Mirabito Foundation, and The RC Smith Foundation for making this season possible.

Chenango Arts Council programing is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

- Information from the Chenango Arts Council