For the first time in a decade, the Redfern Arts Center will bring a selection of professional performing companies from around the United States and Canada to the Keene State campus during the 2026-27 season.
The revived Redfern Presenting Series will feature four different residencies throughout the academic year, beginning with La Noce D’Alfonse by Cirque Alfonse, a Quebec-based contemporary circus show, on Sept. 17-19.
Performing Arts Program Manager and Artistic Director of the Redfern, Stephanie Bass Abrams, said the goal for the Presenting Series is to enhance the academic experience for KSC students through access to the arts.
“We’re bringing in professional companies and professional artists from all over to present their work here at the Redfern and to enrich the students’ experience through that,” Abrams said. “Each of our Presenting Series shows also has a residency workshop, which is free to all KSC students.”
Abrams explained that the workshop sessions will vary depending on the accompanying performance, ranging from interactive lectures to masterclasses. She said the workshops will be open to all KSC students, who will be able to learn more about what each company’s process is like.
For the upcoming Cirque Alfonse show, Abrams said there will be a post-show opportunity for students to ask their own questions about the group and their show.
Another goal for the Presenting Series, Abrams said, is to reach and engage with the larger local community through the arts.
“Probably every single person on this campus and in the community has some sort of connection in their personal life to music, to film, to theater, to dance, to some kind of performing art, even if they don’t consider themselves an artist,” said Abrams. “The arts really does enrich everybody’s experience, so we get to come together and share that.”
What makes the Redfern Presenting Series unique, according to Abrams, is that it features performing companies that would otherwise likely not be visiting the Keene area.
“I’m trying to bring shows that wouldn’t necessarily come to the Colonial or to other venues in the area so we can offer something different to the students,” she said. “Even if it’s entertainment, there’s still some sort of educational component to it and every show we do has something to learn from.”
Additionally, Abrams said she collaborated with both the Music and Theatre and Dance Departments last year to accommodate student requests for what performing companies they wanted to see during the Redfern Presenting Series.
While this year’s Presenting Series features just four residencies throughout the season, Abrams said the ultimate goal for the future of the series is to continue growing and presenting a larger number of large-scale international touring productions, while also taking suggestions from the wider KSC community of what students would like to see at the Redfern.
“I do really want to hear from students what they want to see,” said Abrams. “I want to be able to bring in stuff that the students want and are going to want to come to.”
Until then, Abrams encouraged all KSC students to find at least one of the four performances during this year’s Presenting Series that aligns with their interests and give it a chance, even if performance art shows aren’t usually their thing.
“If people just aren’t into live performance, I would encourage them to put their phone away and come watch things with their eyes and see what a difference that experience is,” she said. “Maybe those people have never had a real live experience in-person that felt life-changing, and I definitely recommend that.”
As usual for Redfern shows, tickets to all of the performances during the Presenting Series are free for all KSC students.
“I think people will be really impressed with the caliber of what they experience, especially for a free ticket,” Abrams said. “Nowadays show tickets are really expensive, so I think that is a really great deal.”
First-year and music education major Monty Hansen shared their excitement about getting to see the upcoming Redfern Presenting Series events, particularly this month’s Cirque Alfonse show, with a free student ticket.
“For a lot of other outside events, the tickets can be expensive,” said Hansen. “Who knows the next time you’ll be able to see something cool, like a circus, and not have to pay a ludicrous amount of money?”
Justin Dearborn can be reached at
jdearborn@kscequinox.com
