Performing Arts in Lafayette

The Acadiana Arts Council came together in 1975 to form a dedicated space for the arts. Although this resulted in the Acadiana Center for the Arts, with its theater, café, and art galleries in downtown Lafayette, the Center serves an eight-parish region.

Executive Director Jacqueline Lyle organized PASA in 1989 to bring nationally and internationally known performing artists to Lafayette and provide master classes, workshops, and other sessions for aspiring artists.

Wanderland trains young aspiring performers in a host of top-shelf productions in their 165-seat theater in the South College Center on Johnston Street.

Cite des Arts is an arts incubator in downtown Lafayette has offered a wide variety of entertainment since 2002, including a platform for new works. The main theater hosts musical, comedic, and theatrical performances, while the Black Box Theatre presents smaller productions.

Basin Arts is another non-profit arts incubator that provides space for artists to exhibit their visual arts and to perform. Founded in 2016 by Creative Director Clare Cook, programs include artist residencies, public art projects, the BARE Walls gallery space, adult movement classes, unique performance events, and more.

Started in 1985, the ASO provides diverse orchestral performances—from masterworks to pops—with visiting guest musicians and singers. In addition, the ASO offers music education and the Acadiana Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Theatrical, musical, and dance performances are offered at the university's 800-seat Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium at Angelle Hall and the 200-plus-seat Burke Theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems.

Lafayette Ballet produces performances that combine international principal guest artists with local contracted dancers and trains dancers for careers in ballet. Full-length classical ballet performances are offered in the spring, and the holiday classic "The Nutcracker" is during the holidays.

F.I.R.E. founder and artistic director Leigha T. Porter is the co-creator of "The Creole Nutcracker," a Southern reimagining of the classic Christmas tale, and incubator and owner of  PARC Village, a Community Art Center. Her performing arts conservatory is a training center dedicated to cultivating, educating, and mentoring young artists.

The 90-member Lafayette Concert Band, dating back to 1982, performs free concerts all year long, including a patriotic Memorial Day Concert and a Veteran's Day Celebration in November. The band was awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, one of the most prestigious awards for community concert bands.

You can purchase new and vintage violins at three-time GRAMMY-nominated Anya Burgess's Sola shop in downtown Lafayette, but Burgess, who performs with Cajun bands Bonsoir Catin and the Magnolia Sisters, also restores and rents violins.

The Teche Center for the Arts serves St. Martin Parish's cultural interests with classes, music, and theater performances in historic downtown Breaux Bridge's 1940s-era movie theater.

The Arnaudville non-profit NUNU's not only exhibits visual artists, hosts music and spoken word events, and promotes local culture, including Cajun, Creole, and Native American, but also serves as a cultural ambassador. Visiting artists from around the world come to share their work and culture.

The Iberia Performing Arts League performs Broadway-style shows with full orchestra at the Sliman Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown historic New Iberia.

Abbey Players is a long-standing community theater produces main-stage productions and a summer youth production at its historic theater in downtown Abbeville.