The Herberger Theater Center shared its first show announcement of the upcoming 2025-26 season.

“An Evening with Nick Cartell & Friends,” on Friday, Oct. 24, will see Broadway star and Phoenix native Nick Cartell return home for a humorous evening of music and memories. Best known for his run as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables,” with more than 1,000 performances and counting, Cartell takes a break from the tour to share songs from his debut album, spanning Broadway, Disney, jazz, and more, a theater press release states.

Cartell will reflect on his roots in Phoenix, his journey from the Herberger Theater stage in “West Side Story” to national tours and Broadway, including “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Scandalous.”

Also announced, the popular “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” will be staged from Nov. 15 through Dec. 22.

Childsplay’s stage adaptation of the classic TV special returns to Center Stage for the holiday season.

Also for the holidays, the annual “The Nutcracker” will grace the downtown stage Dec. 12-14. Featuring students from Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, this timeless holiday classic brings Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Rat King, and the Nutcracker to life for audiences of all ages.

In other Herberger news, the art gallery is currently accepting applications for the Botanical Exhibit and Five Senses Exhibit.

Arizona artists 18 years and older are invited to apply for inclusion in the exhibits through the theater’s Call to Artist blind jury process. Chosen applicants will have the opportunity to display their artwork in either of the two exhibits located on the second level of the theater.

Each juried exhibit is on display for one or two months.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 31.

Click here to apply.