2026-2027 Season Schedule
Presented by the McCall School of Visual & Performing Arts
2026-2027 Performing arts schedule
Fall 2026
Art Exhibition: Lisa Co: Seeing Is Not Enough, August 18 – September 11, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building M-F 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Free
Closing Reception for Art Exhibition: September 11, 1 p.m., Free
Lisa Co grew up in coastal Georgia, inspired by the marshes and haunted landscapes of the South. Seeing Is Not Enough explores identity, distance, and longing through interdisciplinary practices including printmaking, bookmaking, installation, and text. Drawing from personal identity, Co uses repetition, transformation, and poetic language to examine displacement, challenge fixed identities, and create immersive works centered on empathy and becoming.
Li Chiao-Ping Dance, August 27, 7 p.m., Watson Theater, $10 General Admission, Free with Coker ID
The Coker Dance Program is pleased to present Li Chiao-Ping Dance’s multimedia and multi-layered dance work titled “Dirty Laundry,” by director/choreographer Li Chiao-Ping, composer Byron Au Yong, and visual artist Hong Huo. In a work that investigates the history of Asian labor, systemic racism, and generational trauma through a balance of expressive choreography, visual imagery, spoken word, text, and soundscapes, “Dirty Laundry” tells the untold stories of struggle and survival that characterized the Asian experience in America—the institutionalized violence and the treatment of Asians as perpetual foreigners.
Art Exhibition: – Zero Space Collective: New Visions, Sept. 14 – Oct. 9, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery; Free
Closing Reception for Zero Space Collective: New Visions- Oct. 9, 1 p.m., Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery; Free
Zero Space Collective is a contemporary artist network supporting underrepresented artists through inclusive exhibitions, digital platforms, and community advocacy. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to limited access to resources, the collective continues to promote accessibility. New Visions brings together artists across diverse media and celebrates collaboration, community, and shared dialogue across geographic and artistic boundaries.
Band Masterworks Concert – Oct. 5 at 7 p.m., Watson Theater; Free
Coker University Concert Band is made up of Coker students, faculty, and community members. Under the direction of Mr. Deron Jimmerson the band will present their Fall Masterworks concert.
Art Exhibition: Coker Alumni Exhibition – Oct. 14-Nov. 6, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery; Free
Gallery Reception: Friday, Oct. 16, 1 p.m. Free
The Coker University Alumni Exhibition brings together a dynamic group of artists whose diverse practices reflect the evolving paths of their creative journeys since leaving the institution. Through a range of media and perspectives, the exhibition celebrates continued growth, shared foundations, and the lasting impact of community across time and distance.
Fall Choral Concert: Oct. 18, 2 p.m., Kalmia Gardens; Free
Join the Coker Singers and the Coker Contemporary Chorus for a special outdoor concert at Kalmia Gardens, directed by Dr. Kevin Crowe. Amidst the historic beauty of the Hart family’s home, the singers will perform songs featuring string quartet accompaniment in a variety of styles. Featuring works from the Baroque Period, 19th-century Romanticism, 20th-century gospel, pop, and more, this concert has something for everyone. End your Homecoming week with the choirs of Coker University!
Student Choreography Showcase: Nov. 5-6, 7 p.m., Nov. 7, 2 p.m., Watson Theater
The Coker Dance Program presents the Student Choreography Showcase featuring the choreography of dance majors exploring universal themes of love, technology, communication, and change. Featuring contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and other dance styles this concert is free and open to the public.
Art Exhibition – 54th Annual Student Juried Exhibition: November 9 – December 11, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building, M-F 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free Opening Reception: Monday, November 9, 4:00 p.m., Free
Join The 54th Annual Student Juried Exhibition showcases a selection of work chosen through a competitive review process, highlighting emerging student voices and innovative approaches across various media. The exhibition celebrates the unique perspectives of students while fostering dialogue and community within the academic environment. Opera Workshop as they present scenes from opera favorites! Led by Dr. Elizabeth Holmes and Dr. Graham Wood, the scenes are staged in the intimate Drengaelen House. Plan to stay afterward for themed refreshments and mingle with the cast. Free.
Opera Workshop: November 13, 7 p.m., November 14, 2 p.m., Drengaelen House, Free
Join Coker’s Opera Workshop as they present scenes by Gilbert & Sullivan in our intimate venue, Drengaelen House. Come for the singing, dancing, humor, and wit; stay afterward for themed refreshments and to mingle with the cast.
Informal Dance Concert – Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., Watson Theater; Free
This free concert features performances by the Coker Dance Program courses including Modern and Tap dance as well as the Coker Repertory Dance Company and Venomous Hip Hop Dance Club.
Holiday Extravaganza: Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and Watson Theater
The Coker Concert Band, Coker Singers, and Coker Contemporary Chorus are joining for an evening of music, festivity, and community. This concert will begin with the Coker choirs in St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, and after a brief intermission and reception, the concert will continue in Watson Theater with the Coker Concert Band. We’ll have combined music, audience singalongs, and even some special holiday treats! Make this tradition a part of your family’s holiday season this year. This event is free thanks to a generous donation from St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
Spring 2027
Art Exhibition – 54th Annual Faculty And Staff Exhibition: January 12 – January 29, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building, M-F 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free
Closing Reception: Friday, Jan. 29, 1 p.m., Free
The 54th Annual Faculty and Staff Exhibition highlights the creative work of artists who shape the academic environment through both teaching and practice. Featuring a range of media and approaches, the exhibition offers insight into the diverse perspectives, research, and ongoing artistic inquiry that inform and enrich the institution’s creative community.
Southern Singing Festival: Jan. 30, 9 – 6 p.m., Watson Theater, Free
The Southern Singing Festival Concert is the exciting culmination of a day filled with workshops, rehearsals, and fellowship among the choirs of Coker University and singers from local churches and high schools. Celebrate the rich musical traditions of the American South through an inspiring performance featuring gospel, spirituals, bluegrass, folk songs, and more. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, community, and Southern hospitality!
Art Exhibition – Shannon Rae Lindsey: CONSTRUCT::CONNECT: February 1 – February 26, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building, M-F 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Free
Closing Reception: Friday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m., Free
Shannon Rae Lindsey is an interdisciplinary artist working across installation, sculpture, and drawing to explore the tension between order and disorder through transformed construction materials. Lindsey holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina and currently serves as Associate Lecturer and Director of the UCF Art Gallery at the University of Central Florida. CONSTRUCT::CONNECT reimagines everyday construction materials through site-specific and mixed-media practices of cutting, layering, and transformation.
Black History Month Showcase: Diamonds in the Rough, February 11-12, 7:30 p.m., Blackbox Theater, $5 General Admission, Free with Coker ID
TDiamonds in the Rough is a one-act play about Effa Manley, the only woman to co-own the Newark Eagles, a Negro League baseball team, from 1936-1948. Mrs. Manley is the first and only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert: February 25-26, 7p.m., February 27 2 p.m. Watson Theater, $10 General Admission, Free with Coker ID
The Coker Dance Program presents the Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert featuring the choreography of Coker Dance Faculty and Guest Artists Ashley Tate and Amani Faulk. The Coker Repertory Dance Company will perform the hip hop infused choreography of Guest Artist Amani Faulk. Selected dance majors will perform the jazz movement of Charlotte-based choreographer Ashley Tate. This concert is $10 General Admission and Free to anyone with a Coker ID.
Art Exhibition – James Keul: Lighting a Candle on a Bright Afternoon: March 1 – April 2, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building, M-F 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free
Closing Reception: Friday, April 2, 1:00 p.m., Free
James Keul is a Durham, NC based artist with a BFA in painting from SCAD and additional training from the Art Students League of New York. His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Tokyo. Keul’s work explores environmental issues, especially fossil fuel dependence and sea-level rise, through imagery that contrasts industry and nature. Inspired by coastal experiences, his recent work draws from the Solarpunk movement’s vision of a sustainable future.
Band Spring Masterworks Concert: March 1, 7 p.m, Watson Theater, Free
Join the Coker University Concert Band, made up of Coker students, faculty, and community members, under the direction of Mr. Deron Jimmerson, for their Spring Masterworks concert on Monday, March 1. The concert begins at 7:00pm in Watson Theater – free and open to the public.
Coker Keys Piano Festival: Guest Artist Recital: March 19, 7 p.m, Watson Theater, Free
Join guest artist Dr. Steven DiBlasi of Gulf Coast State College and Coker University’s own Dr. Jeremiah Padilla for Night of Dedications, an evening of solo and four-hand piano music celebrating the stories behind works written in honor of people, places, and cherished relationships. Featuring music by Beethoven, Smetana, Mozart, Fauré, and others, the program explores how acts of dedication have inspired some of the piano repertoire’s most beloved masterpieces – from Beethoven’s powerful Waldstein Sonata to Smetana’s Má vlast, dedicated to the city of Prague.
Coker Keys Piano Festival: Masterclass, March 20, 10 a.m., Watson Theater/Recital Hall, Free
Start your Saturday with an inspiring morning of music and learning as guest pianist Dr. Steven DiBlasi of Gulf Coast State College leads a piano masterclass at Coker University. Students will have the opportunity to perform and receive insightful coaching on repertoire, technique, musical interpretation, and performance, while audience members are invited to observe the collaborative process that brings great performances to life. Whether you’re a pianist, musician, or music lover, this engaging session offers a unique chance to learn from an accomplished artist and educator in an encouraging and interactive setting.
Art Exhibition – B.F.A. and B.A. Senior Exhibitions, April 5 – May 7, Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in Gladys Coker Fort Art Building, M-F 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Free
Receptions: TBA, Free
Each year the Coker Art Department is proud to present the B.F.A. and B.A. Senior Exhibitions which showcase culminating bodies of work that reflect each artist’s growth, research, and evolving creative voice. Featuring a range of media and perspectives, these exhibitions celebrate the transition from student to emerging professional, while highlighting the depth and individuality of the graduating class.
Spring Musical Theatre Production – The Great American Trailer Park Musical – April 8-9, 7 p.m., April 10 2 p.m., Watson Theater, Watson Theater; $5 Students/Seniors, $20 General Admission, Free with Coker ID
Join us for Coker University’s fully produced spring musical! We look forward to welcoming you to the Watson Theatre for an entertaining performance showcasing for our creative community. An annual favorite, our spring musical features talented students bringing a story to life through song, dance, and storytelling. Directed by Robin Bloodworth with Musical Direction by Dr. Kevin Crowe.
Outdoor Band Pops Concert – April 21 at 7 p.m., Davidson Hall Plaza; Free
Join the Coker and greater Hartsville community for a special outdoor concert as the Coker University Concert Band, made up of Coker students, faculty, and community members, presents their final concert of the year on the plaza outside historic Davidson Hall in the center of Coker’s beautiful campus. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Charles Coker Auditorium inside Davidson Hall.
Spring Choral Concert – April 26 at 7 p.m., St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Free
Celebrate the close of an incredible year of music with the Coker Singers and Coker Contemporary Chorus. Under the direction of Dr. Kevin Crowe, this inspiring concert showcases the artistry and growth of our students and community members through a dynamic program spanning a variety of musical styles and genres. Join us for an evening of exceptional performances and a fitting finale to the choral season. Informal Dance Concert features performances by students enrolled in dance courses as well as student and faculty choreography. A variety of dance styles will be presented, including modern, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, and hip hop.
Informal Dance Concert – April 26 at 7 p.m., Watson Theater; Free
This free concert features performances by the Coker Dance Program courses including Modern, Jazz, and Tap dance as well as the Coker Repertory Dance Company and Venomous Hip Hop Dance Club.