UT Tyler announces ‘Big’ season at Cowan Center
Posted/updated on: June 20, 2025 at 3:30 am
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center announced the 2025-26 “Big Names, Big Entertainment” season. Featuring Broadway hits, family-friendly programming and soaring artists, the season is packed with entertainment legends and legendary performances.
“I’m so excited by all that this season has to offer,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “We are honored to present such world class talent for East Texas audiences to enjoy. We want the Cowan Center to be widely utilized, so we’ve designed a season that has broad appeal.”
“We could not present such an amazing season without the support of sponsors, the Cowan Center advisory board, Cowan Center Circle members and our audiences,” said Jeff Noblitt, UT Tyler vice president for marketing. “We are excited to welcome new and returning audiences to enjoy the season.”
The new season includes Grammy® Award winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Darlene Love and Mavis Staples. Best known for the holiday classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” Rolling Stone Magazine calls Love “one of the greatest singers of all time.” Staples, who will perform with Shemekia Copeland, is also a Blues Hall of Famer, Kennedy Center Honoree, and National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient who is known for such hits as “I’ll Take You There.”
With a four-decade career, actor Rob Lowe has been nominated for two Emmys®, six Golden Globes® and four Screen Actros Guild awards of which he has won two. Lowe will be the sole speaker of the Distinguished Lecture Series.
Other notable appearances this season include country music legends the Randy Rogers Band, who has spent more than 20 years bringing the Texas Country tradition to fans worldwide, and Robert Earl Keen, with 21 records to his name, a band of stellar musicians and thousands of shows under his belt.
New season series subscriptions are on sale Monday, June 23. Subscriptions allow for cost savings and priority access to all seats. For details, click here.
