Greensboro Symphony Unveils 2026-27 POPS Season with Broadway, Film Score Stars

The night before Valentine's Day, Broadway legend Bernadette Peters will take the stage at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. That February 13 date is almost certainly the fastest ticket to move in the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra's newly announced 2026-27 POPS season, and if history with sold-out celebrity-driven symphony nights holds, waiting on it is a risk.

The GSO unveiled the three-show series on April 7, built around celebrity headliners and cinematic spectacle designed to pull in audiences who might never open a Masterworks program. Travel journalist and PBS personality Rick Steves launches the season November 10 with "Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey," pairing live orchestral music with visual storytelling from across the continent. Peters, a two-time Tony Award winner who originated the lead in "Annie Get Your Gun" and starred in "Sunday in the Park with George," follows on February 13. A full-orchestra tribute to the music of Hans Zimmer, celebrating scores from "The Lion King" to "Inception," rounds out the lineup, with its concert date not yet announced.

Tickets are currently available only as part of a Symphony Season Pass; current pass holders can renew now through the Tanger Center's Account Manager. For anyone new to the GSO, the Sampler subscription offers the lowest-cost entry point: choose any four concerts from across the full season for $110. Single-ticket sales for select concerts are expected to open later. The GSO box office can be reached at (336) 335-5456.

The Tanger Center, anchored on North Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, has served as the GSO's home since 2019, and the orchestra remains the only fully professional ensemble in the greater Greensboro area. By the symphony's own count, it connects with more than 100,000 Piedmont Triad residents each season across its Masterworks, POPS, Chamber, Family, and Education programming.

POPS-format seasons are how mid-sized orchestras compete for entertainment dollars that might otherwise go to touring arena shows or streaming. Nationally recognized names like Peters give the series the marquee credibility that drives season-pass renewals, attracts first-time symphony-goers, and fills the restaurants and hotels within walking distance of the Tanger Center on show nights. The announcement comes as Greensboro has been pushing downtown cultural investment as both an economic development tool and a quality-of-life signal to prospective residents and businesses.

Music Director Christopher Dragon leads the full GSO roster through both the Masterworks and POPS seasons. The February 13 Peters concert is the one to prioritize, and the November 10 Rick Steves show, which carries crossover appeal for families and travel enthusiasts, is unlikely to sit long once single tickets go on sale.