Welcome to YOUR Lied Center of Kansas!

Executive Director Derek Kwan

Derek Kwan

Welcome to your Lied Center’s 2026–27 season!

Your Lied Center’s 2026–27 season consists of over 30 distinct programs ranging from Tony-winning Broadway hits and Grammy winners to a Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author! Explore to your heart’s content. Beyond these performances, I’d like to highlight my favorite Lied Center activities: our FREE education programs. Our school-only performances reach every student in Lawrence Public Schools annually. Third Grade Theatre Arts Day welcomes hundreds of third graders across four full days to learn about performance production. Our programs at Kennedy Early Childhood Center bring performing arts education to some of our community’s youngest residents. And we are working to expand Lied Across Kansas from eight to twelve arts-underserved areas in the state. Thank you to our Friends of the Lied, as these initiatives would not be possible without your generous support. Let’s continue to positively impact our community together!

ROCK CHALK! — Derek S. Kwan, executive director: kwan@ku.edu

“We envision a world in which the arts are universally valued as essential to the human experience and the Lied Center is a catalyst for realizing this ideal.”

Mission

The Lied Center of Kansas serves the state’s flagship university, students and the greater community by functioning as a catalyst for the arts, creativity, engagement and community building through the following core activities:

  • Presenting a series of diverse, relevant and world-class artists which activates our community to strengthen its connection with the arts. Constant public feedback and conversation shape the Lied series.
  • Engaging our community through experiential learning in the performing arts and our world by providing opportunities to attend, explore, participate and create.
  • Serving as a communal gathering space for shared experience, connection, conversation and the celebration of achievement.
Strategic Priorities
  • Student Success
  • Healthy & Vibrant Communities
  • Research & Discovery
History

The Lied Center of Kansas opened on Sept. 28, 1993 and was built through the generosity of the Lied Foundation Trust and the Lawrence community. It is dedicated to Ernst F. Lied’s parents, Ernst M. and Ida K. Lied. The inaugural performance of The Secret Garden set the stage for the important role. Today, the Lied Center is the home of two outstanding performance spaces: the main auditorium, with a capacity just under 2,000, and the Pavilion, a flexible space with seating for 200.

Founder

Ernst F. Lied came to the University of Kansas from Kansas City, Missouri in 1923. His father managed an automobile dealership in Kansas City. While at KU, Lied was chosen and elected to secretary of the Sphinx Society, a freshman honorary for men. The next school year, Lied’s classmates voted him vice president of the sophomore class. He made the honor roll and the University Daily Kansan described him as one of the best known and best liked men on the Hill. He lettered in golf in 1925—the same year the golf team took first place in the Missouri Valley League.

In the spring of 1925 Lied departed KU for the University of Nebraska when his family moved to Omaha where his father took a position at a car dealership. Lied graduated from UNL and followed in his father’s footsteps, running a successful General Motors dealership in Omaha. In 1944, Lied hired a young assistant, Christina Hixson of Clarinda, Iowa, fresh out of high school who attended Commercial Extension Business School.

Ms. Hixson worked with Mr. Lied until his passing and became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust. We are truly grateful to Mr. Lied, Ms. Hixson and the Lied Foundation Trust for providing the lead gift to build the Lied Center of Kansas.

Past Performances

See the 25th Anniversary Commemorative Book >

Brandon Sanders Trio
The Queen's Cartoonists
Jonathan Biss, piano
KU Symphony Orchestra with special guests Vincent Gardner & Michael Davidson, trombones
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Jonathan Mamora
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Antje Duvekot
The Temptations
Lewis Black: Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour
Edgar Meyer, Tessa Lark & Joshua Roman
Straight No Chaser: Top Shelf Tour
Mummenschanz–50 Years
Lucy Yeghiazaryan Duo
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
Crys Matthews
Ovation! USD 497 Talent Show
Prairie Winds Festival with PROJECT Trio
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra
Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live
Serafim Smigelskiy, cello
Mnozil Brass
Lucy Kaplansky
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center featuring Wu Han, piano
KU Jazz Ensemble I with special guest Remy Le Boeuf, alto saxophone/composer
Blind Boys of Alabama & Shemekia Copeland
JIJI, guitar
Digging Roots
HADESTOWN
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Sullivan Fortner, solo piano
THE CHER SHOW
The Moth Mainstage

DC's Reflecting Fools
Dmytro Choni
KU Symphony Orchestra with special guest Blake Pouliot, violin
Hiplet Ballerinas
AIR SUPPLY
Richard Johnson, piano
Chris Smither
Nikki Glaser: The Good Girl Tour
Terence Blanchard: Film Scores Live!
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Vienna Boys Choir
Kuok-Wai Lio, piano
Annie
Kit Yan, slam poet
Pasquale Grasso, guitar
A Christmas Carol
The Steps of a Good Man
Ira Glass
MEAN GIRLS
Prairie Winds Festival with The Westerlies
Ovation! USD 497 Talent Show
Voices of Service
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Leo Kottke, guitar
Domingo Pagliuca, trombone & Paulina Leisring, piano
Shane Hennessy
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Juilliard String Quartet
KU Jazz Ensemble I with special guest Camila Meza, guitar/vocals
Mandy Patinkin In Concert: BEING ALIVE
Tetris–Created by Arch8
The Pa’akai We Bring—Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Ivan Renta Duo
Janice Carissa, piano
THE BROTHER BROTHERS
Buddy Guy: Damn Right Farewell with special guest Ally Venable

Warren Wolf, vibraphone
Jake Shimabukuro
The Beach Boys
Chanticleer
Yunchan Lim, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist
Rennie Harris Puremovement
NORTH: The Musical
The Moth Mainstage
Susan Werner
KU Symphony Orchestra with special guest PROJECT Trio
The Westerlies
Mavis Staples
Fiddler on the Roof
Paige Hernandez's Liner Notes
Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius
Nearly Lear
Canadian Brass Christmas
Wayne Escoffery Duo
Lightwire Theater's A Very Electric Christmas
April 4th, 1968: Dare to Dream!
Ovation! USD 497 Talent Show
Hairspray
KU Wind Ensemble with special guest Mariam Adam, clarinet
BLUE MAN GROUP
Chaeyoung Park, piano
Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine
The Black Violin Experience
Emmet Cohen's Live From Emmet's Place
Anastasia
KU Jazz Ensemble I with special guest Michael Dease, trombone
Take 6
Martha Redbone
Dancing Wheels Company
John Gorka
Laurie Berkner
ZOFO
Marcus & Riza Printup
Vanessa Thomas: Album Release Concert

The Magic of Bill Blagg Live!
America–50th Anniversary Tour
Amir ElSaffar and the Two Rivers Ensemble
The Mayhem Poets
Tesla String Quartet with special guest Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
KU Symphony Orchestra with special guest Tiempo Libre
The Brian McKnight 4
Maxim Lando, piano
Emmet Cohen Trio
Steep Canyon Rangers
Tetiana Shafran
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Charenée Wade Quartet
SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL
Ovation! USD 497 Talent Show
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Sharon Isbin & Jessica Rivera
KU Wind Ensemble, KU Jazz Ensemble I & Prairie Winds Festival Band with special guest Hiram Diaz, euphonium/trombone/vocals
Robbie Fulks
BEAUTIFUL–The Carole King Musical
Oliver Herbert, solo cello
The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra
Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
RENT 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour
Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone
KU Jazz Ensemble I with special guest Camille Thurman, tenor saxophone/vocals
New Morse Code
Red Sky Performance: TRACE
KU Percussion Group with special guest Jason Treuting, composer/percussion
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Amy Speace
Rosanne Cash

Sherman Irby Duo
Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, and ensuring public safety, all 2020–21 Lied Center events were held virtually or in a masked and socially-distanced manner outside.

Emmet Cohen Trio, featuring Russell Hall and Kyle Poole
Mwenso & The Shakes
Ashley Davis
Addison Frei
Jazzy Ash
Chaeyoung Park, piano–Virtual Mini-Recitals
Amirah Sackett & MR MiC, hip-hop dance & beatboxing
Ashley Davis Band Winter Solstice–Virtual Show & Album Release
Lied Loves Lawrence Drive-in Movie–The Muppet Christmas Carol
Rock Chalk Suite: The Story Behind the Music with Wynton Marsalis
Ashley Davis: Writing Celtic Music as a Kid from Kansas
Spencer & Rains: Folk Art & Old Time Music
Vanessa Thomas: From Clay Center, Kansas to Carnegie Hall
KU Wind Ensemble with special guest Jens Lindemann, trumpet
Ovation! USD 497 Talent Show
Erin Wood: The Evolution of the Harp
The Wires: Composing for and Making Music as a String Duo
Powwow 101 with Jancita Warrington
KU Powwow & Indigenous Cultures Festival
KU Percussion Group with special guest Thomas Kotcheff, piano
Chaeyoung Park, piano & Sunnat Ibrahim, cello
Allegresse: The Joy of Musical Outreach
*FlamenKcmo* Kansas City ⇄ Sevilla – Building Bridges
Lied Loves Lawrence Pop-Up Performances featuring Ashley Davis, Vanessa Thomas, Quixotic, Spencer & Rains, Kawehi and Ellie LeBar

IMPACT Award

As a major university presenter, the Lied Center of Kansas is proud of its 30-year history of engaging internationally renowned artists and more than 100 years of performing arts presenting at the University of Kansas. In its 21st season (2014-15), the Lied Center inaugurated a recognition program to honor one artist or group per season for distinguished service to the performing arts.

Furthermore, the Lied Center of Kansas has partnered with the Lawrence School District (USD 497) in support of arts education for over 20 years. In celebration of this partnership, the Lied Center will also honor one educator per season for distinguished service to arts education. As we all know, every educator has to be creative in the classroom to truly engage their students. There are some, however, who go far beyond the norm and create a space of imagination, creativity and innovation in their classrooms.

Artist

After a season is booked, the Lied Center administration will select up to five artists/groups to be considered for the Lied Center IMPACT Award based upon the criteria below. Each August, all current and former Friends of the Lied board members will vote for one of the nominees via electronic survey. The winning artist will be announced at the Friends of the Lied Annual Dinner in September. The honoree will be presented the award on stage at their Lied Center performance.

Educator

Each fall, the Engagement-Education Director will contact members of the Adventures in Imagination Board and the Lied Center School Ambassadors asking them to make note of possible educators for the upcoming year’s award. Early in the spring semester, the Board and Ambassadors will be asked to send in their nomination for the Creative Educator Award. A slate will be created and voted on by the Adventures in Imagination Board and School Ambassadors. The winning educator will be announced at the Friends of the Lied Annual Dinner in September.The honoree will be presented the award on stage, along with the winning artist, just prior to the winning artist’s Lied Center performance.

Artist

The artist or group who wins this award has made an indelible impact on the performing arts in the following areas:

Leadership. The artist is celebrated for initiating programs or projects that ensure the future of the arts.
Integrity. The artist is committed to the highest artistic standards.
Education. The artist is deeply engaged in performing arts education.
Discovery. The artist is a trailblazer through the creation of new and innovative work.

Educator

The educator who wins this award provides support, encouragement, and inspiration to their students. In addition to providing various arts experiences for their students, this individual is committed to integrating the arts into the classroom curriculum through creative or innovative teaching practices.

2024-25: Trish Averill Neuteboom

2023-24: Melissa Smith

2022-23: Lysette DeBoard

2021-22: Rachel Downs-Doubrava

2019-20: Peter Gipson

2018-19: Johannah Cox

2017-18: Deborah Woodall Routledge

2016-17: Sara Bonner

2015-16: Dani Lotton-Barker

2014-15: Lois Orth-Lopes

2024-25 IMPACT winners

Paul Taylor Dance Company and Trish Nueteboom
Paul Taylor Dance Company and Trish Nueteboom
Land Acknowledgement

The Lied Center of Kansas at the University of Kansas resides on the ancestral territory of the Kaw, Osage, and Shawnee peoples. It is our responsibility to acknowledge the peoples of these lands, the treaties that were used to remove these tribal nations and the histories of dispossession. We recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of the four federally recognized tribes of Kansas, the Prairie Band Potawatomie, the Kickapoo in Kansas, the Sac and Fox of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. This acknowledgment has compelled us to work closely in support of our First Nations Student Association providing support for their annual Powwow, assist in the creation and ongoing work of the Indigenous Cultures Festival and partner with the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission on the Indigenous Arts Initiative.