Get ready, fans of live performances! The ETSU Martin Center for the Arts is preparing for an expansive 2026-27 season, featuring a lineup of nationally touring Broadway productions alongside a modernized ticketing system designed to streamline the patron experience.
The upcoming Broadway Season, presented by Bank of Tennessee, will feature four major touring productions, which include “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” “Waitress,” “Beetlejuice” and “Jersey Boys.” In addition, the Martin Center will feature a special 2026 Encore presentation of “Clue,” available as a separate ticketed performance.
Sara Allen, director of sales and marketing for the Martin Center, emphasized the center’s goal of bringing diverse entertainment to the region.
“We strive to bring exciting, high-quality Broadway productions to our region that offer something for everyone,” Allen said. “This season’s lineup certainly does not disappoint. This season offers a diverse mix of stories, music and theatrical experiences.”
While located on the East Tennessee State University campus, the Martin Center serves both students and the broader regional population.
“The ETSU Martin Center for the Arts’ mission extends well beyond the ETSU campus,” Allen said. “Our vision is ‘Enriching the lives of the people in our region through world-class cultural experiences.’ Broadway is an important part of that mission. These performances provide ETSU students, faculty, staff and community members with opportunities to experience nationally touring productions right here in Johnson City, while also helping connect the university with the broader region.”
Beyond entertainment, the upcoming slate of shows offers educational value for students interested in arts, production and performance.
“Live performances provide students with an opportunity to see the many different careers and disciplines that come together to create a professional production,” Allen said. “We hope these performances inspire students to explore the many educational and career opportunities available in the arts, both onstage and behind the scenes.”
Alongside the new performance lineup, ETSU has transitioned its ticketing operations to Paciolan, a platform serving both the Martin Center and ETSU Athletics. The system update aims to modernize purchase options and event entry.
“The goal is to create a more streamlined and convenient experience from the initial ticket purchase all the way through the day of the event,” Allen said. “In addition to a more streamlined ticketing experience through Paciolan, patrons now have online accounts that make managing their tickets easier. We are also excited to offer payment plans for Broadway Season Ticket packages, giving patrons more flexibility when purchasing their season tickets.”
Despite the adjustments required when adopting a new platform, Martin Center staff report full readiness for the upcoming year.
“While any new system comes with a learning curve, our team is prepared and looking forward to making the experience as easy and convenient as possible for our patrons,” Allen said. “We are most excited about bringing amazing events and experiences to the community throughout the year.”
For more information regarding this season and the new ticketing system, contact Sara Allen at allensb@etsu.edu.
