SAVE THE DATE!
April 1-13, 2025
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Transforming Experiences
Experience the innovative spirit of UCF through creative presentations that push the boundaries of traditional art forms.
Year-round on the UCF campus, students are immersed in the technology, theory, design, performance, and practical application required for them to be the next generation of creative leaders. Every April, they converge at Dr. Phillips Center for a two-week cultural extravaganza, allowing our community to enjoy performances, exhibitions, presentations, and interactive experiences. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, partnership, and diverse offerings, UCF Celebrates the Arts is a unique opportunity to experience the creative side of UCF.
Scheduled Events
Full schedule coming soon!
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Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
UCF Choir Invitational Concert
200+ high school students and the UCF Singing Knights unite for a mass choir concert.
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April 1 – April 2, 2025 • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
Knight to Shine 2025
The spotlight is on the graduating musical theatre students as they take the stage for an evening of cabaret style performances. Enjoy songs from contemporary musical theatre, popular music and even a few surprises!
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Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Knights Move From Within: An Evening of Dance
Experience the artistry and creativity of UCF dancers and choreographers. Featuring original works in a variety of styles, this showcase celebrates storytelling and creativity through movement.
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Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
The Life and Work of Marc Chagall
Learn about the life and work of artist Marc Chagall, who revisited the theme of the “fiddler on the roof” throughout his career.
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Thursday, April 3, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
Architecture Showcase & Awards
Enjoy a full evening showcasing student work, a presentation with AIA National Firm of the Year Quinn Evans Architects, scholarship awards and more!
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Friday, April 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
Write of Passage 2025: Creative Writing MFA Student Reading
Enjoy readings from the graduating students of UCF’s creative writing MFA program hosted by the UCF Department of English.
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Friday, April 4, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Flying Horse Big Band Swings Basie and Ellington
UCF’s chart-topping big band plays classics from Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
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Saturday, April 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m. • Seneff Arts Plaza
Creative Clash
Get ready for an electrifying art showdown! Watch as talented artists armed with nothing but markers race against the clock to create stunning large-format artwork.
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Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
Graphic Design & Animation Showcase
A showcase of works by graduating seniors from UCF’s SVAD nationally ranked Emerging Media BFA program.
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April 5 – April 6, 2025 • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
UCF Opera presents Cendrillon
UCF Opera students to sing “Cendrillon” by Pauline Viardot – in French with English supertitles.
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Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
UCF Symphony Orchestra: Earth and Stars
The UCF Symphony Orchestra performs music inspired by our planet and its celestial surrounding, including contemporary works and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2.
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Monday, April 7, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
UCF Percussion Ensemble
The UCF Percussion Ensemble partners with Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro, Francisco Abreu, Tutti Choir Brasilia, and the UCF Singers for an electrifying evening of music.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 11:00 a.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Inclusive Knights
The UCF Concert Band's "Out of This World" concert offers an inclusive, sensory-friendly experience for all, including the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and neurodivergent communities. Lasts 50 minutes, no intermission.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
A Tribute to Maestro Pablo Casals
Learn about extraordinary cellist Pablo Casals, widely recognized among the 20th century’s greatest musicians.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
Project Spotlight “Murder at the Mirage Hotel”
Project Spotlight, UCF’s only student developmental theatre organization, presents an original and thrilling murder mystery play by UCF student Joseph Fields.
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Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Music for All UCF-Orlando Concert Band Invitational
Top school band programs selected from throughout the Southeast perform throughout the day in the Dr. Phillips Center’s world class performance spaces.
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Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
Pegasus String Quartet: Transfigured Night
Pegasus String Quartet at Dr. Phillips Center! Villa-Lobos, Mozart’s “Dissonance,” and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. A night of boundary-pushing chamber music. Don’t miss it!
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Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Premieres & Collaborations
The UCF Bands present an evening of powerful and impactful music for wind orchestra, including three premieres and guest artists and a guest ensemble.
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April 10 – April 13, 2025 • Walt Disney Theater
Fiddler on the Roof
Experience the timeless magic of Fiddler on the Roof, a cherished theatrical masterpiece brought to life by Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.
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Thursday, April 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
Bending Towards Justice
The Department of History and RICHES will host eight panelists across five interactive stations.
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Friday, April 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
Mozart’s Requiem: A Journey Through Mortality and Hope!
This powerful work, exploring themes of life, death, and hope, will be performed by a combined ensemble of UCF choirs, the Orlando Choral Society, select members of the UCF Orchestra, and esteemed faculty of the UCF Voice department.
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Saturday, April 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
Harper's Bedtime Story
The UCF New Music Ensemble invites you to experience a bedtime story the way you never have before!
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Saturday, April 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. • DeVos Family Room
Dinosaur Dance Party
Dinosaur Dance Party is a 30-minute celebration of dinosaurs, music, and movement. Get ready to party, because everyone knows dinosaurs love to dance!
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Saturday, April 12, 2025, 2:00 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
Let’s Go Camping!
Join best friends Happy Camper and Fuzzy on an adventure in "Let's Go Camping!" Told through music, puppetry, and creative play, this interactive experience is designed for 2 to 5-year-olds.
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Saturday, April 12, 2025, 7:30 p.m. • DeVos Family Room
AI Across Creative Frontiers
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion as we delve into the dynamic world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on creative expression.
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Sunday, April 13, 2025, 12:00 p.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
Character Animation & Animation VFX Premieres
Enjoy a series of award-winning short, animated films from students in the graduate and undergraduate programs in the School of Visual Arts and Design.
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Sunday, April 13, 2025, 12:00 p.m. • Steinmetz Hall
National Young Composers Challenge
The best young composers in the country converge in Orlando to hear their work performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Christopher Wilkins. The National Young Composers Challenge Composium is part concert, part masterclass, part competition, and guaranteed to be thrilling from start to finish.
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Sunday, April 13, 2025, 1:00 p.m. • Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
The Last Firefly
Theatre UCF’s Theatre for Young Audiences graduate program brings to life Naomi Iizuka’s electrifying mythical tale of Boom, son of Thunder.
Ongoing Events & Exhibits
Schedule is subject to change.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Theatre UCF Costume Exhibition
Get a close-up look at the costumes you've seen on the stage at Theatre UCF.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
The Creative Side of Holoportation Technology at UCF
See how UCF’s holoportation technology works through appearances by community members, artists and health professionals.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
ART & AUTISM
We invite the audience to see talent and creativity at its purest and to gain insight in the layers of expression that are woven into the layers of the autism spectrum.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Rain Barrels from OUC's Water Color Project
Rain barrels designed by local students as part of OUC’s Water Color Project, which teaches the importance of water conservation through art, will be on display throughout the center.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Creative Clash 2025 Exhibit
Explore the pieces created at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2025 on display in the lobby throughout the festival!
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Celebrating Chagall
Created by teams of students in SVAD’s 3D Design Fundamentals courses, this vibrant installation draws inspiration from the colorful, dreamlike works of Marc Chagall.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
2+2+2 Architecture Exhibit
A showcase featuring student work from the 2+2+2 Architecture Program, highlighting the talent of students from UCF, UF and Valencia College.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Advanced Painting Exhibition
The School of Visual Arts and Design’s Advanced Painting students create unique works for UCF Celebrates the Arts 2025.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Character Animation Posters
Explore the creative journey of 3D animation through the work of UCF SVAD students.
Show Your Support
UCF Celebrates the Arts is committed to keeping all performances and exhibits free or low cost for the community. And with your help, we can do so every year.
About the Festival
UCF Celebrates the Arts is an annual event that serves as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. By bringing together artists and the Central Florida community, we aim to inspire a collective celebration of the arts. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Thank You to Our Festival Partners