Chautauqua Institution today announced additional details on its plans for the 2023 Summer Assembly, scheduled for June 24 to August 27.   

The season launches with acclaimed blues singer, guitarist and songwriter Bonnie Raitt and includes lectures from Jordan’s Her Majesty Queen Noor, NPR puzzlemaster Will Shortz, “The Goonies” and “Stranger Things” actor Sean Astin, and political commentator Bill Kristol.  Other performing arts standouts include The Washington Ballet, Frankie Valli, Natalie Merchant, Straight No Chaser and Girl Named Tom.  More acts and speakers, the complete Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra repertoire, as well as chaplains in residence and Interfaith Lecture Series themes and speakers will be announced in the weeks and months to come. 

Under the leadership of recently appointed Producing Artistic Director Jade King Carroll, Chautauqua Theater Company will produce two mainstage productions and three New Play Workshops. One New Play Workshop will be presented in Week Two. Both mainstage productions and two additional new play workshops will run in Weeks Five to Nine. The Chautauqua Opera Company & Conservatory will produce a combined season featuring five productions. Chautauqua Opera Company will perform Weeks One through Four, with the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory remaining in residence and performing through Week Seven. The 2023 theater and opera repertoire will be announced in January.  

Symphonic music will again be a centerpiece of the evening programming, with 23 performances of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Weeks One through Nine. The Music School Festival Orchestra will present five concerts in 2023 during its residency Weeks One through Six. The School of Dance will be in residence Weeks One through Seven, with performances inclusive of two student dance galas and the beloved Alumni All-Star Dance Gala. 

This schedule represents a change in Chautauqua’s traditional summer calendar and is part of an effort to optimize the Summer Assembly’s overall programmatic mix, including by reducing some programs according to patron demand and engagement, and to achieve greater outcomes and overall organizational performance.  

Chautauqua Visual Arts will present nine art exhibitions at the Strohl and Fowler-Kellogg Art Centers. The School of Art residency program is being paused in 2023 while Institution leaders conduct a national search for the new artistic director, following the departure of Sharon Louden. Louden’s leadership transformed the program, breaking application records year-over-year and establishing more than 60 partnerships with colleges, universities, and organizations across the arts landscape to support resident scholarships. Some visual arts Special Studies classes traditionally offered by School of Art personnel will not be offered in 2023. Other favorite visual arts classes will continue to be held through Special Studies offerings. The full Special Studies catalogue will be released in May with registration beginning June 1.  

Gate passes and single event tickets, as well as parking and docks will go on sale to the public on Jan. 17.  Pricing is posted online at rates.chq.org. The season’s best prices will be available Jan. 17 through Feb. 20. The first of two price increases will go into effect Feb. 21. The second price increase will be effective June 1. 

For a full list of programs confirmed to date, visit chq.org and click on the “View Upcoming Events”.