UPH Lineup: Orchestra Closes Season, “History Doesn’t Suck!”, Grammy Winner, Comedy

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra (SSSO) will bring its 2025–26 season to a close with “Poetic Echoes,” presented across two Capital Region stages: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at Proctors. The orchestra will also unveil its highly anticipated 2026–27 season at the conclusion of each performance.

For its season finale, the SSSO will be joined by Saratoga Voices and soloists Brittany Palmer and Ann Marie Adamick for a celebration of music and poetry. Florence Price’s “Four Songs from the Weary Blues” brings the words of Langston Hughes to life, while Vaughan Williams’ “Towards the Unknown Region” sets Walt Whitman’s poetry to sweeping music. The program closes with Mendelssohn’s enchanting “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” capturing Shakespeare’s timeless tale of magic, love, and mischief.

Each performance includes a pre-show talk with Artistic Director/Conductor Glen Cortese, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at UPH and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at Proctors. Patrons under 18 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

On May 10 at 7:30 p.m., UPH will welcome Professor Greg Jackson, creator of the popular podcast “History That Doesn’t Suck!” Jackson’s touring show combines storytelling, multimedia, and live music to take audiences on a journey through the first 100 years of American history in 100 minutes. The show will be in town for one night only.

UPH’s summer lineup will kick off with Corinne Bailey Rae and Tom Papa, who are each headlining their own night of live entertainment. Bailey Rae will bring an evening of genre-defying music to the Great Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5. Papa will deliver a night of comedy at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 17.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of “Corinne Bailey Rae,” the Grammy Award-winning singer’s debut album that introduced the world to Bailey Rae’s soulful, sun-soaked sound. Originally released in Feb. 2006, the record produced hits like “Put Your Records On” and “Like a Star,” earning critical praise, multi-platinum sales, and Grammy nominations.

With more than 30 years of experience as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa has found success as an actor, host, and author. Papa’s “The Grateful Bread Tour” plays off the title of his weekly podcast “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa,” which features Tom and his guest eating, drinking, and celebrating the true meaning of breaking bread with conversations. He has released six stand-up specials, including his latest Netflix hit, “Home Free” (2024).

Tickets for all UPH shows can be purchased at atuph.org.