The 2025-26 Family Discovery Series

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA AND ENSEMBLE ARTS
ANNOUNCES THE 2025–26 FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES

LINEUP FEATURES FAMILY FAVORITES,
DAZZLING HOLIDAY SHOWS,
BELOVED BROADWAY CLASSICS,
AND INCREDIBLE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES

 Broadway blockbuster The Sound of Music

Disney’s Fantasia in Concert and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,
both part of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 125th anniversary celebration

The Philadelphia Orchestra Family Concerts including
Children’s Halloween and Holiday Spectaculars, Peter and the Wolf, and Hip-Hop Orchestra

Family favorites Blippi: Join the Band Tour, Peppa Pig: My First Concert,
and Blue Man Group

Holiday traditions with The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Children’s Holiday Spectacular 
and mesmerizing acrobatics from Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Multi-show packages start at $27/show
All single tickets on sale starting June 25, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, May 28, 2025) –– The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts announces the return of the Family Discovery Series for the upcoming 2025–26 season. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the series includes the return of popular Broadway hits, interactive shows, and remarkable orchestral performances the entire family will enjoy. Multi-show packages are on sale now and start at $27 per show. Single tickets for select shows in the 2025–26 Family Discovery Series are available for purchase now. All single tickets will be available for purchase starting Thursday, June 25, 2025.

“Since 1921, when The Philadelphia Orchestra first introduced concerts for children, we have proudly and thoughtfully curated family-focused concerts—welcoming hundreds of thousands of families to exciting and accessible performances—and expanded this tradition with a myriad of genres and experiences, from Broadway to film, dance to acrobatics, that make up The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts’s Family Discovery Series,” said Ryan Fleur, president and CEO. “Building our future artists and audiences starts with welcoming our littlest fans to programs that foster creative expression and a love of the arts, creating memorable and shared experiences that benefit young people well into adulthood.”

The 2025-26 Family Discovery Series includes:
·     iLuminate (September 26, 2025, Miller Theater)
·      The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert (September 26–28, 2025, Marian Anderson Hall)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Children’s Halloween Spectacular (October 18, 2025, Marian Anderson Hall)
·       Blippi: Join the Band Tour (December 10, 2025, Miller Theater)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Children's Holiday Spectacular (December 20, 2025, Marian Anderson Hall)
·       Cirque Dreams Holidaze (December 23–28, 2025, Miller Theater)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Disney’s Fantasia in Concert (January 2–4, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Peter and the Wolf (February 7, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall) 
·       Step Afrika!: The Evolution Tour (February 7, 2026, Miller Theater)
·       Blue Man Group (Feb 24–March 1, 2026, Miller Theater)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (March 14, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall)
·       The Sound of Music (March 31–April 5, 2026, Academy of Music)
·       Peppa Pig: My First Concert (April 4, 2026, Miller Theater)
·       Dog Man: The Musical (April 25–26, 2026, Miller Theater)
·       The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents Hip-Hop Orchestra (May 2, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall)

TD Bank is a Proud Sponsor of Ensemble Arts Philly. 

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 INDIVIDUAL SHOW DETAILS ARE BELOW AND AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.ENSEMBLEARTSPHILLY.ORG


ILUMINATE
Friday, September 26, 2025 • 7:00 p.m.
Miller Theater

From the moment the lights fade to darkness, you are transported into another world…another dimension, where the music moves you and the visuals are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Welcome to the world of iLuminate, named “Best New Act in America” by America’s Got Talent in 2011. A fantastic fusion of cutting-edge technology and dance that has been wowing the world ever since appearing on AGT over a decade ago…to performing one of Las Vegas’ top shows to this day. iLuminate features a brilliant cast of the country’s top dancers performing to energetic music – including top pop and rock hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, a little jazz, a little Latin, a little hip-hop and more. The dancers are outfitted with customized LED suits synced to iLuminate’s proprietary software to create extraordinary lighting effects with each of the phenomenally choreographed dance moves.

This mind-blowing, multi-sensory experience is completely unique and incomparable to any other stage spectacular as the dancers perform dynamic routines and illusions on a darkened stage. The touring show is brand new – featuring new stories, new music, new dances, and new suits!  As the show progresses, each scene creates a new “room” inside “Club iLuminate” where an exhilarating blend of music, dance, illusion, technology and comedy comes to life for an experience that’s sure to be the most fun you’ll ever have in the dark.


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS™ IN CONCERT
Friday, September 26–Sunday, September 28, 2025 • Times Vary
Marian Anderson Hall

Cars fly, trees fight back, and monsters are on the loose in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Experience Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high definition on a giant screen while The Philadelphia Orchestra performs John Williams’s unforgettable score. Relive every magical moment as the music brings life to a story that has enchanted the world.

All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS CHILDREN’S HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR
Saturday, October 18, 2025 • 11:30 a.m.
Marian Anderson Hall

Get out your cat ears and witches’ hats and join The Philadelphia Orchestra as we go on a haunted orchestral adventure! From classic Halloween tunes to family-friendly favorites, we have a bewitching lineup that will delight ghosts and goblins of all ages. So, get your costumes on and gather your little monsters for a morning of music, laughter, and Halloween fun!


BLIPPI: JOIN THE BAND TOUR
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 • 6:00 p.m.
Miller Theater

C'mon and join Blippi to make music in your hometown in the brand new live Blippi: Join the Band Tour!

Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies and LIVE musicians to explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments, through all your favorite Blippi hits. So, grab your drumsticks, tune up your guitar, and move those feet with Blippi and get ready for a musical performance that's fun for the whole family!


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
Saturday, December 20, 2025 • 11:30 a.m.
Marian Anderson Hall

Join us for a joyful holiday celebration filled with sing-alongs, your favorite sounds of the season, and special guests! Delight in the warmth of the holiday season right here in the Kimmel Center and create cherished memories with the whole family at this heartwarming event that is perfect for all ages. Plus, you might want to listen closely for sleigh bells—you never know who might pay a special visit all the way from the North Pole!


CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
Tuesday, December 23–Sunday, December 28, 2025 • Times Vary
Miller Theater

Cirque Dreams Holidaze dazzles with a brilliant and whimsical family holiday spectacular.

This annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. As lights dim and the music swells, audiences will have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life.

Featuring holiday favorites like “Deck the Halls,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Singers, dancers, penguins, toy soldiers, and reindeer invoke the dreams behind a child’s eye on the most magical of nights. Amidst a backdrop of new sets, scenery, and storylines, this family-friendly production is sure to put a twinkle in your eye!


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS DISNEY’S FANTASIA IN CONCERT
Friday, January 2–Sunday, January 4, 2026 • Times Vary
Marian Anderson Hall

See this enchanting, animated film as the Orchestra performs the irresistible score live—a score that includes excerpts from great classics including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, and many more.

Since the 1940 release of this groundbreaking animated film—in which the Orchestra made movie history—tens of millions of people have discovered the drama, passion, and joy of classical music through its brilliant score, a score made unforgettable by the landmark performance of The Philadelphia Orchestra led by Leopold Stokowski.

The posters in theaters at the time screamed “Motion Picture Magic as You’ve Never Seen It Before!” and Stokowski got equal billing with Walt Disney (although Walt’s name was above the title.)

It was an audacious idea, an animated film with no dialogue, that set visually stunning, appealing tales to great classical music: Mickey Mouse as a daft little wizard, conjuring up magic to the thrill of Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Pegasus soaring to the strains of Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, and hippos cavorting to Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours.” Share a whimsical moment of Philadelphia Orchestra history as we celebrate our 125th birthday!

Presentation Licensed by Disney© Concerts


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS PETER AND THE WOLF 
Saturday, February 7, 2026 • 11:30 a.m.
Marian Anderson Hall

Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf makes a welcome return! Experience the enduring enchantment of this classic tale with The Philadelphia Orchestra! Learn about the instruments that make up the orchestra through this piece that weaves a charming tale of a boy’s woodland adventures. Each character is brought to life through the many voices in the orchestra: Peter by the strings, his grandfather by the bassoon, and the wolf by the horns. With audience-favorite narrator Michael Boudewyns back at the helm, this performance will captivate listeners of all ages!


STEP AFRIKA!: THE EVOLUTION TOUR
Saturday, February 7, 2026 • 7:00 p.m.
Miller Theater

Step Afrika!’s The Evolution Tour is an electrifying production that fuses groundbreaking step choreography with the vibrant soundscape of a live DJ. As the world’s leading authority on the art form of stepping, Step Afrika! pushes the boundaries of stepping, blending tradition with innovation to create an unforgettable, high-energy experience. Don’t miss the evolution of step like you’ve never seen before!


BLUE MAN GROUP
Tuesday, February 24–Sunday, March 1, 2026 • Times Vary
Miller Theater

Dive into the thrilling Blue Man Group experience – a blend of captivating music, interactive art and audience engagement. Blue Man Group creates a fun, disruptive and out of the ordinary atmosphere that exhilarates the senses and uplifts spirits for audiences of all ages. Join over 50 million fans who’ve experienced the magic of Blue Man Group across the world!


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE YOUNG PERSON’S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA
Saturday, March 14, 2026 • 11:30 a.m.
Marian Anderson Hall

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten is the perfect way to explore the amazing sounds of an orchestra. With cheerful melodies, exciting rhythms, and a touch of musical magic, this piece introduces each section of the orchestra—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—one by one. Britten wrote this piece to help young listeners discover the joy of music, and it’s still doing that today. So, bring your ears and imagination, and let The Philadelphia Orchestra take you on a musical ride you won’t forget!

As part of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s celebration of its 125 years of artistry and innovation, the Orchestra will perform works it originally introduced to America. The Orchestra gave the U.S. premiere of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra in 1947.


THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Tuesday, March 31–Sunday, April 5, 2026 • Times Vary
American Sign Language performance – Friday, April 3, 2026
Academy of Music

For 65 years, The Sound of Music has been one of our “favorite things.” With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic isn’t just meant to be enjoyed – it’s meant to be shared. Now, a critically acclaimed North American tour brings the cherished musical to stages across the country to teach a new generation to sing.

Directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this vibrant and romantic tale of Maria and the von Trapp family will captivate audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music.

Featuring beloved songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Edelweiss,” The Sound of Music is the iconic tale of a spirited nun who chooses not to live behind closed doors – and, by following her heart, learns to climb every mountain. The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Oscar®-winning film, which continues to be one of the most successful movie musicals of all time.


PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CONCERT
Saturday, April 4, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sensory-friendly performance – 4:00 p.m.
Miller Theater

Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George, visit the Miller Theater for Peppa Pig: My First Concert, a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older.

Peppa and George learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together and enjoy some of their favorite music from the show played by The Muddy Puddles Orchestra as well as discovering some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Little piggies can join in with Peppa and her family and make music of their own!


DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL
Saturday–Sunday, April 25–26, 2026 • Times Vary
Sensory-friendly performance – Saturday, April 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Miller Theater

Based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey, Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious and heartwarming production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club. Featuring an exciting book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila, music by Brad Alexander, and original direction and choreography by Jen Wineman. Recommended for ages 6+.


THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS HIP-HOP ORCHESTRA
Saturday, May 2, 2026 • 11:30 a.m.
Marian Anderson Hall

This high-energy, family-friendly concert brings together the powerful beats of hip hop and the sweeping sounds of a live orchestra.

Experience classic and contemporary tracks reimagined with strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion in a show that celebrates rhythm, creativity, and unity. Perfect for music lovers of all ages, Hip-Hop Orchestra is an exciting introduction to live performance that bridges genres and generations.

Whether you’re dancing in your seat or just soaking in the sound, this one-of-a-kind concert will have the whole family moving to the beat.

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Tickets
Multi-show packages are on sale now and start at $27 per show. Single tickets for select shows in the 2025-26 Family Discovery Series are available for purchase now. All single tickets are available for purchase starting Thursday, June 25, 2025.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. Exclusions apply. More information at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/family. 

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 About Ensemble Arts Philly 

About The Philadelphia Orchestra

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategies (IDEAS) 

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