AbouT
JORGENSEN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
A Legacy of Artistic Excellence
Opened in December of 1955, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is one of the largest college-based presenting program in New England.
Each season, Jorgensen events attract several thousand students, faculty, and staff from the University of Connecticut, as well as residents from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
A Stage for Every Passion
Jorgensen presents 25-30 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles annually, ranging from classical music to world music and dance, classical and contemporary dance, comedy, family programming and contemporary entertainment.
Beyond the Stage
Our Commitment to You
Albert Jorgensen’s Vision
Dedicated to University of Connecticut president Albert N. Jorgensen, the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts continues to follow his vision of the University as the state’s educational and cultural leader. Jorgensen’s founding of the Auditorium represents the zenith of the University’s enormous growth during his tenure.
Our Leadership History
Under the guidance of dedicated directors Willard M. Sistare (1955-65), Michael Brotman (1965-72), Jack Cohan (1973-89), Edmund Seagrave (1989-90), Arppie Charkoudian (1990-96), and current director Rodney Rock, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts remains an active center and symbol of UConn’s commitment to the arts in education, especially in this era of astounding expansion with UConn 2000 and 21st Century UConn.
Presentation, Education, and Outreach
Presentation, education, and outreach are at the center of the Jorgensen mission. In addition to performances, visiting artists augment the formal educational process with Convocation and master classes for the Department of Music, informal Q & A’s and panel discussions, and participation in First Year Experience classes taught by the Jorgensen director.
About the Jorgensen Outreach for Youth (JOY!) Program
The Jorgensen Outreach for Youth (JOY!) program provides hundreds free tickets to select cultural events at Jorgensen to disadvantaged youth in Eastern Connecticut. The award-winning JOY! Conservatory Program provides approximately thirty annual scholarships to area youth for the comprehensive study of music history and theory, as well as private lessons.
Financial Support
The Jorgensen staff works closely with Student Activities, campus cultural centers and academic departments, producing events and presentations that are topical, and which enhance the quality of the college experience at the University of Connecticut. Jorgensen enjoys significant private financial support from members of the University and surrounding communities.
Learn About Our Initiatives
With the Jorgensen CoStars, our active patron volunteer organization, and other fundraising initiatives like the Jorgensen Circle of Friends annual campaign, Event Sponsorship Program, Director’s Fund, Lenard Chamber Music Endowment, and the Jorgensen Legacy Circle, Jorgensen provides opportunities for individuals who understand the value of the arts in Connecticut to support the arts at Jorgensen and the University in meaningful and important ways.
Facilities
With over 2,300 seats in a flexible space, Jorgensen’s attractive architectural features highlight the breadth of its presentations. Jorgensen also houses the Jorgensen Gallery and Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, which is the home of Connecticut Repertory Theater.
Message from the Director
Dear Jorgensen Patrons,
Get ready to step into a world of music, magic, and imagination at Jorgensen this fall! We are delighted to introduce you to our unique season and invite audiences of all ages to experience the extraordinary power of live performance — to be moved, inspired, surprised, and transported.
From the groundbreaking artistry of jazz legend Pat Metheny and the dazzling virtuosity of Jake Shimabukuro to the spellbinding theatricality of Terry Fator and Hocus Pocus Live, this season celebrates creativity in all its forms. You’ll discover breathtaking dance, unforgettable voices, family-friendly spectacles, the return of beloved holiday traditions, and artists who continue to redefine the boundaries of performance.
At the heart of every event is the shared experience that only the performing arts can create — moments of connection, discovery, and joy that stay with us long after the curtain falls. And we couldn’t present any of it without the Jorgensen CoStars and Circle of Friends. We thank them for their continued financial support and generosity.
Enjoy browsing our new website! Tickets go on sale Monday, June 29 at 10 am. Reserve the best seats early, and I look forward to seeing you in those Jorgensen seats this fall
Warmly,
Rodney Rock, Director
Our Mission
About the Center
Founded in 1955, the Albert N. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Connecticut strives to be one of the leading presenters of the performing arts in the nation.
Facilities
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is a complex which consists of a 2,300 seat auditorium, the 500 seat Harriet S. Jorgensen Theater and the Jorgensen Gallery. Located on the Storrs campus, Jorgensen is a vital component of the flagship public higher education institution in the state of Connecticut.
Our Promise
Through presentation of the performing arts, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts attempts to enlighten, entertain and inspire the intellectual curiosity in the University’s students, faculty and staff, as well as the community at large. Thus, Jorgensen supports the University’s achievement of its major goals and objectives.