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The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts recently announced its new season of performances, with highlights including rescheduling of some shows that had to be canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be Executive Director Lorelei Costa’s first season with the center, and she said the first half of the season will focus on “Solace and Healing Through the Arts.”

“As individuals, as families, we have a lot of healing to do from the last 18 months, between the pandemic, community strife, losing loved ones, isolation, grief, loneliness,” she said.

The second half of the season, after the new year and into spring, will focus on celebration, with big acts planned.

In all, Costa said, the center wants to swing the doors wide and bring the community into the center.

“It’s all about welcoming the community back and welcoming a full diversity of the community back, no matter what their story is,” she said. “I think people are ready to dance again, to watch a live musical and live music, to applaud together and cheer together and laugh together. Many of us continued to experience the arts at home, and that got us through the pandemic, but it’s not the same as experiencing it with your community.”

The center will have a Welcome Back Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, and all are welcome — members and friends, but also those who may not be as familiar with the center. Visitors can tour the classrooms, talk to instructors and students, watch the season video showcasing performances and exhibits, attend the opening reception for Solace: Healing Through the Arts,” purchase tickets, shop in Jester’s, register for prizes and more.

The performance season schedule is below. Find more information or get tickets at www.suffolkcenter.org.

The Drifters

Oct. 2, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $32, $38, $42 & $48

The Drifters, one of rock & roll’s founding vocal groups, are the second most successful recording artist of all time, according to Billboard Magazine. The Drifters had 17 Top 40 songs, including “Up on the Roof,” “Under the Boardwalk,” “This Magic Moment” and “On Broadway.”

Moana Jr. LIVE — The Hurrah Players

Oct. 23, 2 p.m.

Tickets: $20 child, $25 adult

Bring the family to see Disney’s “Moana Jr.,” a live musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, bringing the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. The Hurrah Players, Virginia’s leading family theater company, presents Disney’s “Moana Jr.” under the direction of Hugh R. Copeland, the founder and artistic director of The Hurrah Players Family Theatre.

Jim Newsom & The Cloudless Sky — Downstairs at the Center

Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $17

Enjoy an evening with Jim Newsom and the Cloudless Sky Downstairs at the Center. Jim Newsom is an award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is well known and highly regarded throughout Southeastern Virginia. The Cloudless Sky features Gail Keller Smith on keyboards and harmony vocals and Rick Jebavy on drums.

Solace: Healing Through the Arts — Open Mic Night

Nov. 5, 8 p.m.

Tickets: FREE

Open-mic performances are for all performing arts (spoken word, poetry, song, dance). An audition is not required; however, an intent of participation will be encouraged. A range of classes and workshops will also be offered to the community, including but not limited to workshops for victims of violence, art classes for people with dementia and movement classes for people with Parkinson’s. For more information, visit suffolkcenter.org/solace.

Della Mae 

Nov. 13, 8 p.m.

Tickets $27, $31, $35 & $40

Get ready for an awesome night out with Della Mae! This Nashville-based, all-female string band has a completely original style — sensitive yet assertive, intense yet playful, steeped in tradition yet undeniably current. With timeless lyrical truth-telling they stand alongside such roots-conscious acts as the Avett Brothers and the Lumineers.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Dec. 17, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $28, $31, $34, $37

Ring in the holidays and experience the festive sounds of the season in a concert filled with virtuosity and glorious music of the holidays. This performance features the VSO brass and percussion sections.

Masters of Soul

Feb. 5, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25, $28, $35 & $40

Come sing and dance along as they celebrate the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown & Soul music. This show features stylishly costumed and choreographed performances of both male and female groups backed by a live band. Masters of Soul performs Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Barry White, James Brown and more.

Chatham County Line

March 12, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25, $28, $32 & $35

Kick up your heels for a night of amazing bluegrass music with Chatham County Line. Formed in Raleigh, N.C., in 1999, Chatham County Line has released seven albums, including six on the Yep Roc label and have become popular in Europe as well as their native United States.

The Hurrah Players LIVE  

March 26, 2 p.m.

Tickets: $20 child, $25 adults

Stay tuned for the 2022 announcement of the Hurrah Players’ March production! Hurrah Players is Virginia’s leading family theater company, under the direction of Hugh R. Copeland, the founder and artistic director of The Hurrah Players Family Theatre Company and performing arts academy.

Vinyl Radio

April 2, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25, $28, $32 & $35

Put on your tie dye and bell bottoms for a groovy night out to see Vinyl Radio. Vinyl Radio comes at you with a wash of vocal power and a righteous regard for the great rock-n-roll music of the ’70s. These music city pros combine their considerable talents in an experience that captures the essence of an era when guitars, grooves and melodies ruled the airwaves! Vinyl Radio performs the music of The Eagles, America, Bad Company, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Doobie Brothers, Boston, Aerosmith, Styx, Queen, Led Zeppelin and many more.

Chowan University Chorus

April 24, 3:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10

Relax and enjoy Chowan Singers and Chamber Choir, the premier student choral ensembles of Chowan University. The choral ensembles are under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Thorburn, director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Chowan University.

Glenn Miller Orchestra

April 30, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $32, $38, $42 & $48

The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all dance bandleaders back in the Swing Era of the 1930s and ’40s. Today, the 18-member ensemble continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements, plus modern selections performed in the Miller style and sound.