Transylvania University | Calendar of Events

35th Anniversary Reading of the Affrilachian Poets
2026-02-20 18:00 (America/New_York) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center
Funded by the William R. Kenan Jr. Fund.
Followed by a book signing.

Transy Theater Presents — Metamorphoses
2026-02-24 - 2026-03-01 | Lucille C. Little Theater
Called by Time the “theater event of the year,” Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses brings Ovid’s tales to stunning visual life — juxtaposing the ancient and the contemporary in both language and image to reflect the variety and persistence of narrative in the face of inevitable change.

Guest Artist Piano Recital: Gregory Sioles
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Spring break
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-13 | Transylvania University

Grand Kyiv Ballet — Snow White
2026-03-14 15:00 (America/New_York) | Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Together for Transy
2026-03-24 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)

Hala Alyan: The Power of Storytelling in War, Memory & Healing
2026-03-24 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center
Hala Alyan is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor at New York University, and writer. Her work grapples heroically with themes of family, displacement, belonging, and what ‘home’ means. Of her work, author Fatimah Asghar writes, “I feel honored to be alive in a time where I can read Hala Alyan.”

Susan Chan, Guest Piano Recital
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Delcamp Visiting Writer - Madeline ffitch
2026-04-01 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Judy Gaines Young Book Award
2026-04-07 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | W. T. Young Campus Center

Last day of Winter term
2026-04-17 | Transylvania University

Last day of classes
2026-04-19 | Transylvania University

May term begins
2026-04-22 | Transylvania University

Alumni Weekend 2026 — Connections That Count
2026-04-23 - 2026-04-26 | Transylvania University

Icarus in Heat — a Contemporary Ballet
2026-05-15 - 2026-05-17 | Haggin Auditorium — Mitchell Fine Arts Center
Icarus | In Heat is a new mythic work that reimagines the fated tale of Icarus as a poetic collision of daddy issues, queer longing, and a lineage of guarded impulse. This all-male contemporary ballet is told through ritual repetition and intimate partnering, tracing the fragile ground between a father and son in the shadow of banishment.
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique serves as the muscular spine: soaring music that teaches a body to fly, and nurtures the unbearable gravity of desire. Fire is framed not as punishment, but an inevitable price of visibility. Flight is the only path toward a radical claiming of selfhood. Visceral, contemporary, and defiantly original, the piece asks how the impulses we inherit drive us—and what must fall away for us to soar.

Purchase Tickets — May 15, 8 p.m.
Purchase Tickets — May 16, 8 p.m.
Purchase Tickets — May 17, 2 p.m.
Free Tickets for Transylvania University Students – All Performances

One Act | One Hour
Mature content/partial nudity

Last day of May term
2026-05-19 | Transylvania University

Senior Send Off
2026-05-19 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Alumni Plaza

Senior Awards 2026
2026-05-22 03:45 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Last Lecture 2026
2026-05-22 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Carrick Theater — Mitchell Fine Arts Center

Commencement
2026-05-23 09:00 (America/New_York) | Transylvania University

Summer term begins
2026-06-01 | Transylvania University

Juneteenth holiday
2026-06-19 | Transylvania University

Last day of Summer term
2026-07-03 | Transylvania University

The Swan Lake, Symphony of Lights
2026-10-17 19:00 (America/New_York) | Haggin Auditorium — Mitchell Fine Arts Center
“Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights” is the landmark new production of the upcoming season.
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score opens the door to an entirely reimagined world: vivid light design, illuminated costumes, and world-class dancers from around the globe transform the classic ballet into a mesmerizing visual experience.
This is more than a performance — it’s an immersion into a story of love and magic, told through light, movement, and music. Each act unfolds like a living art installation, where timeless tradition meets bold contemporary design.
Discover Swan Lake in a whole new light — a legend reborn with breathtaking imagery and emotional power.
Tickets are now on sale — reserve the best seats early.

Nutcracker, Symphony of Lights
2026-12-19 19:00 (America/New_York) | Haggin Auditorium — Mitchell Fine Arts Center
“The Nutcracker: Symphony of Lights” is the landmark event of the upcoming season.
Tchaikovsky’s famous score opens the door to a completely reimagined world: glowing costumes and world-class performers transform the classic tale into a captivating visual journey.
This is more than a performance — it’s a full immersion into a story of wonder and transformation, told through light, movement, and sound.
Each scene emerges like a living work of art, where holiday tradition meets bold contemporary design.
Discover The Nutcracker in a new light — a legend reborn with dazzling spectacle and emotional depth.
Tickets are now on sale — secure the best seats in advance.
