Main Stage

The Arts & Ideas Main Stage series presents four featured events during both the fall and spring seasons, bringing renowned speakers and performers to campus for shared cultural and intellectual experiences. The series includes the Theatre Department's fall play and spring musical, along with the Music Department's annual Christmas concert and spring choral concert, showcasing the talents of Aurora University students and faculty.

Cameron Carpenter, Organist 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026  |  7 p.m.
Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration  |  1347 Prairie St., Aurora, IL

Acclaimed organist Cameron Carpenter will perform on Opus 119, Crimi Auditorium’s 23-rank, mechanical-action pipe organ, built by Létourneau Organs. The first organist ever nominated for a GRAMMY Award for a solo album, Carpenter has earned international acclaim throughout a groundbreaking career, receiving honors that include the Leonard Bernstein Award and multiple ECHO Klassik and Opus Klassik Awards. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Carpenter has performed at renowned venues around the world and appeared with leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Symphony Orchestra. For this performance, Carpenter will present a program featuring selections by Johann Sebastian Bach, including “Goldberg Variations” and “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland.” Whether on the world's grandest stages or in intimate recital settings, Carpenter continues to captivate audiences while redefining the possibilities of the organ.

Music Department Concert

Winterfest

Sunday, December 13, 2026  |  3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration  |  1347 Prairie St., Aurora, IL

Celebrate the season at Aurora University’s annual Winterfest Concert, featuring performances by multiple ensembles in a joyful tradition filled with festive music, holiday spirit, and community celebration.

Theatre Department Spring Musical

Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” by Dennis Kelly, Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin

Friday, March 19–Saturday, March 20, 2027  |  7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 2027  |  3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 2027  |  3:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, 2027  |  7 p.m.
Perry Theatre in the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley Center for Cultural Enrichment  |  349 S. Gladstone Ave., Aurora, IL

She’s 5 years old, brilliant beyond her years, and completely unloved at home. But Matilda has a few things going for her: a razor-sharp mind, an unshakable sense of right and wrong, and, as it turns out, a little bit of magic. At school, she finds an ally in the gentle Miss Honey and an archenemy in the monstrous Miss Trunchbull, a headmistress who despises children and everything they stand for. It’s up to Matilda to prove that even the smallest person can change her own story.

With music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and book by Dennis Kelly, this Royal Shakespeare Company production has won 47 international awards and delighted audiences worldwide. Bursting with wit, heart, and show-stopping numbers, “Matilda” is a celebration of imagination, rebellion, and the quiet power of a girl who refuses to be told who she is.

Music Department Spring Choral Concert

Friday, April 30, 2027  |  7:30 p.m.
Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration  |  1347 Prairie St., Aurora, IL

The final choral concert of the year features the artistry of the University Chorale and Aurora Singers as well as deserving soloists from the choral and piano program.