The Beat

Jamestown, NY (February 18, 2026) – The National Comedy Center, the United States’ museum and national archive dedicated to the art form of comedy, was named the #1`Best Pop Culture Museum in the country by USA Today as part of the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, it was announced today. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-pop-culture-museum/…

Residency highlighted by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/The Dreamer, and a new work by NYCB Principal Dancer Tiler Peck

Accessible ticket promotions exclusive to NYCB at SPAC including: “Kids in Free” extended to 16 years old; $40 under 40 amphitheater tickets, and $99 Family Four packs

Saratoga Springs, NY (February 15, 2026) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces its 2026 NEW YORK CITY BALLET (NYCB) residency from July 8-11 as part of its celebratory 60^th anniversary season. The residency will feature the full-length story ballet A Midsummer’s Night Dream, which was the first performance presented on the SPAC stage at the venue’s grand opening in July 1966; George Balanchine’s romantic masterpiece Serenade; Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/The Dreamer, set to Prokofiev’s feverish concerto; and a new work by NYCB Principal Dancer Tiler Peck, which will have its world premiere as part of NYCB’s 2026 Spring Gala.

New York, N.Y. – Abingdon Theatre Company (Chad Austin, Producing Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce the directors and company of actors for Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays in collaboration with AMT Theater, taking place on March 9th and 10th, 2026 at 7PM at AMT Theater (354 West 45th Street, New York, NY). The festival is sponsored by Owen Charles, Marcus Felder, Yasmeen Mock, and Jonathan D’Agostino. 

Lewiston, NY –  Artpark announces The Rock Orchestra at Artpark’s Mainstage Theater in Lewiston NY, on August 26, 2026 at 8:00PM. Igniting the flames of legendary Rock & Metal songs with the help of pyro displays and fire performers, The Rock Orchestra presents its epic new spectacle: “Arena of Fire.” Prepare for a spellbinding 90-minute concert, as 14 classical musicians breathe beautifully dark energy into iconic songs.

Utica, NY — The Oneida County History Center invites the public to a captivating historical investigation on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The program, titled "The Curious Case of Moody Peabody and the Great Fire of Utica," will be led by Patrick Reynolds, Director of Public Programs.

Exploring Migration, Conformity, and Systemic Pressure on the Individual

New York, N.Y. - On March 9, Mercury Art Center, in collaboration with Rukh Art Hub and Fridman Gallery, will present the exhibition “Procrustean Bed,” a project that examines how   contemporary social and administrative systems compel individuals to conform to predefined norms. The exhibition explores the experiences of migration, bureaucracy, and so-called “integration,” where personal history, language, and identity are often reshaped in order to remain legitimate and visible. The exhibition is curated by Anna Avetova.

Lewiston, NY. –  Artpark announces an evening with Ryan Bingham and the Texas Gentlemen: Still Gettin’ Away With It Tour is coming to Artpark’s Mainstage Theater in Lewiston NY, on Friday, May 29 at 8:00PM. …

Beacon, NY — Saturday, May 23, 2026, 5:00 - 10:30pm, history and high gastronomy will converge as six Hudson Valley chefs join forces to recreate the legendary 11-course First Class Dinner of the RMS Titanic on historic Bannerman Island - just 60 miles north of New York City in the beautiful Hudson River Highlands.

Limited to just 40 guests, this exclusive fundraiser dinner offers an intimate one-of-a kind experience. Held on Bannerman (Pollepel) Island in the Hudson River between Cold Spring and Beacon, NY, the evening is designed not only as a unique dining experience with music and festivities, but as a vital fundraiser for historic preservation of the structures and trails on historic Bannerman Island.

New York, N.Y. (February 17, 2026) – Chronicling a father’s loss of his daughter by suicide, Bent Through Glass, a new play written and performed by Alex Koltchak, will be staged for twenty-two performances from April 1-25, 2026, at The 30^th Street Theater, 259 West 30^th Street, New York, NY 10001. Michael Sladek directs.

20+ programs featuring fiction and documentary films, Q&As, and rare screenings

Pleasantville, NY (Feb. 17, 2026) —The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) announces the 24th annual Jewish Film Festival, running March 24–31 and April 3-6, 2026. Featuring 20 programs—including narrative features, documentaries, restored classics, special presentations, encore screenings, and filmmaker Q&As—this year’s lineup highlights the intimate human experiences behind defining historical moments. Spanning continents and generations, audiences can expect a diverse collection of films that reflect the richness and complexity of Jewish life both past and present.