Chautauqua Institution: McBride, Beach Boys, Boyz II Men to perform
ENTERTAINMENT

Martina McBride, Beach Boys, Boyz II Men and more performing at Chautauqua this summer

Dana Massing
Erie Times-News

Whether your musical likes lean toward Martina McBride, Frankie Valli or Boyz II Men, the Chautauqua Institution's 2024 season has a show for you.

If you wanted to see Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls, you're out of luck if you didn't already buy your tickets. That concert is sold out. But others on the nine-week schedule this summer include the Beach Boys, Wynton Marsalis, Wilco, and Shawn Colvin and KT Tunstall.

Chautauqua Institution brings such big-name performers to its Amphitheater each year. Known as a community of artists, educators, thinkers, faith leaders and friends dedicated to exploring the best in humanity, the institution is located at 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua, New York, which is about 40 miles east of Erie.

Below you'll find weekly music, theater and dance highlights for the season that runs June 22 through Aug. 25. This is just a taste of what Chautauqua has to offer and doesn't include everything, such as the many lectures and worship services on the calendar.

Martina McBride, shown at the Grand Ole Opry House in 2022, will open the Chautauqua Institution's 2024 season with a June 22 concert in the Amphitheater.

Performances on this list are in the Chautauqua Institution's Amphitheater, unless noted, and dates, times and ticket prices were taken from the institution's website as of May 8. For some events, a traditional gate pass and/or single ticket purchase may be required.

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Opening week highlights: The Beach Boys, Martina McBride

  • Martina McBride: June 22, 8:15 p.m., single tickets are $69-$129.
  • Soldiers’ Chorus of The U.S. Army Field Band: June 23, 2:30 p.m., free.
  • Pride Anthems: June 24, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's Opening Night: June 25, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Leyla McCalla: June 26, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
  • The Beach Boys: June 28, 8:15 p.m., $79-$139.

Week Two events include Beethoven concert, Wilco

  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "Ode to Joy": June 29, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • "The Chipper Experience! Where Comedy & Magic Collide!": June 30, 2:30 p.m., free.
  • "The Last Ranger: A film about protecting Rhinos in South Africa": June 30, 5 p.m., Chautauqua Cinema, gate pass or single ticket.
The Amphitheater at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, will welcome guests for numerous concerts during the 2024 season.
  • Jumaane Smith: Sweet Baby!: July 1, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • All-Star Dance Gala: July 3, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
  • Wilco: July 5, 7:30 p.m., $69-$139.

Week 3 slate includes 'Jurassic Park,' Chautauqua Opera

  • "Jurassic Park Live in Concert" with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: July 6, 7:30 p.m., $49-$69.
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "Carnival of the Animals": July 7, 2:30 p.m., free.
  • Chautauqua Theater Co.'s "Birthday Candles": July 9, 6:30, plus more dates and times, Bratton Theater, $45-$55.

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  • Chautauqua Opera Co.'s "Love and Longing by the Lake": July 12, plus more dates, 6 p.m., outdoors, $25.
  • Shawn Colvin and KT Tunstall: July 12, 7:30 p.m., $49-$69.
  • "A Night of One Acts": July 12, 7:30 p.m., Bratton Theater, $15.

Week Four's shows include Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

  • Paul Taylor Dance Co. with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: July 13, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Opera Conservatory's "Alcina": July 16, plus more dates, 6:30 p.m., McKnight Hall, $15.
  • Plena Libre: July 17, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
Frankie Valli will perform July 19 with The Four Seasons at the Chautauqua Institution.
  • Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: July 19, 8:15 p.m., $75-$150.

Week Five has Boys II Men, Phil Collins orchestra tribute

  • "In the Air Tonight: A Symphonic Celebration of Genesis & Phil Collins" with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: July 20, 8:15 p.m., $49-$89.
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "Dvorak 8": July 23, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Chautauqua Opera Co.'s "Hansel and Gretel": July 24, 7:30 p.m., $49-$59.
Boyz II Men will perform during Week Five of the Chautauqua Institution's 2024 season.
  • Boyz II Men: July 26, 8:15 p.m., $69-$129.

Week Six: Two Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra performances on slate

  • Renée Fleming with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: July 27, 8:15 p.m., $59-$109.
  • Chautauqua Theater Co.'s "Fabulation": July 30, 6:30 p.m., plus other dates and times, Bratton Theater, $45-$55.
  • Sonia De Los Santos: July 28, 2:30 p.m., free.
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "Mahler’s Fourth Symphony": July 30, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Gibney (dance) Co.: July 31, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
  • Il Divo: Aug. 2, 8:15 p.m., $55-$85.

Sinatra tunes, Steven Sanchez have shows in week 7

  • "Sinatra & Beyond" with Tony DeSare and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Aug. 3, 8:15 p.m., $49-$89.
  • Squonk's "Brouhaha": Aug. 4, 2:30 p.m., Bestor Plaza, free.

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  • Houston Ballet II: Aug. 7, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "A Joachim Premiere": Aug. 8, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Stephen Sanchez with special guest Ray Bull: Aug. 9, 8 p.m., $49-$89.

Twisted Pine, ballet performance planned for week 8

  • Houston Ballet with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Aug. 10, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Twisted Pine: Aug. 12, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • Rissi Palmer: Aug. 14, 8:15 p.m., $49-$69.
  • Chautauqua Theater Co.'s "The Light and the Dark": Aug. 15, 6:30 p.m., plus other dates and times, Bratton Theater, $45-$55.
  • Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls: Aug. 16, sold out.

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  • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra's "The Rite of Spring": Aug. 17, 8:15 p.m., $49-$59.
  • 10,000 Maniacs: Aug. 19, 8:15, $49-$59.
Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis gets warmed up with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra before performing in April in Akron, Ohio. They'll be at the Chautauqua Institution in August.
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Aug. 23, 8:15 p.m., $59-$99.
  • "The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA": Aug. 24, 8:15 p.m., $59-$89.

For more information about these and other Chautauqua Institution events, call 800-836-2787 or visit www.chq.org.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.