Performance
The nonprofit, community-supported Lensic Performing Arts Center hosts more than 200 events throughout the year, from theater, music, and dance performances to literary happenings, films, and lectures. This year-round programming is integral to our mission to present local, national, and international artists in diverse performances that are affordable and accessible to all.
Many of the events at our theater are produced and presented directly by The Lensic—either on our own or in collaboration with other organizations—as part of the Lensic Presents programming. Others are hosted by The Lensic for local groups and organizations, many of them nonprofits, from Santa Fe and the surrounding area. The theater is also available for rental by national touring acts as well as local performers.
A Stage for Santa Fe’s Performing Arts Groups
The Lensic is home to a wide variety of Santa Fe’s stellar performing arts groups. Groups presenting regular performances at The Lensic include:
- Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
- Lannan Foundation
- Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
- Performance Santa Fe
- Santa Fe Opera
- Santa Fe Pro Musica
- Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Supporting Other Local Organizations
As part of The Lensic mission to support the arts in our community, every organization that rents the theater for an event—whether a nonprofit, arts group or service organization—receives a significant discount on the venue rental fee. In addition, The Lensic provides each group with backstage technical assistance, box office management, and marketing and public relations services to assist the organization in creating a successful event. The Lensic subsidizes the cost of each event through monies raised in its annual fundraising campaign.
Lensic Presents
Lensic Presents brings a diverse range of artists to its stage, featuring live performances by local, national and international talent. It showcases world-renowned artists such as the Chick Corea, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; national favorites like Arlo Guthrie and The New Power Generation, The Peking Acrobats and Drum TAO; and produces local events like Circus Luminous and Nuestra Música.
In addition, the Lensic Presents season offers a growing number of popular series including The Met: Live in HD, National Theatre Live in HD, Big Screen Classics, and a 7-film series Great Art on Screen showcasing the masters of art throughout history.
The Met: Live in HD
Since the first broadcast in December 2007, The Lensic has presented dozens of operas in high definition (HD). The series, featuring morning broadcasts and evening encores, has become a sensational addition to the Santa Fe cultural scene. This series is presented by The Lensic and Santa Fe Opera.
National Theatre Live
NT Live performances are filmed live at the National Theatre in London in high definition and broadcast via satellite to over 330 cinemas and performing arts centers such as The Lensic around the world, live in Europe and some US cities, and time-delayed in countries further afield. The Lensic is proud to participate in what is now the third season of broadcasts. The NT Live series at The Lensic is generously sponsored by Century Bank.
New Mexico Jazz Festival
The Lensic is the proud co-sponsor of the New Mexico Jazz Festival held in July, in partnership with the Outpost Performance Space. The festival features concerts in Albuquerque and Santa Fe by New Mexico-based musicians and major touring artists such as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sonny Rollins, MyCoy Tyner, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson and Pat Methany. This series is supported at The Lensic by Thornburg Investment Management and Hutton Broadcasting.
Support for the Lensic Presents Series
Support for the Lensic Presents series is provided by the following.
Our latest season is generously sponsored by Heritage Hotels and Resorts.
