Things To Do 
Theater & Dance
Doña Ana Arts Council
The Doña Ana Arts Council a non-profit organization working to improve the quality of life in Las Cruces and Southern New Mexico by ensuring that the performing, visual, and literary arts are an integral part of education, economic growth, and community development. DAAC's early efforts include helping to establish the Branigan Cultural Center and, in 1980, taking over the 10 year-old annual Renaissance CraftFaire. 2006 marked the now-named Renaissance ArtsFaire's 35th anniversary.
Offices of DAAC are located on the second floor of the historic Rio Grande Theatre
211 N. Downtown Mall
(575) 523-6403
NM Performing Arts Academy
NMPAA (formerly CityDance Theatre), a non-profit organization, established in 1998 to provide the residents of Las Cruces and its surrounding area with the opportunity to explore their dreams of dance in non-threatening, community-oriented, and diverse curriculum. The Academy offers a wide variety of classes for both youth and adults alike.
Located in the Mesilla Valley Mall
(575) 521-0274
American Southwest Theatre Company
A partnership between visiting guest artists, theatre professionals, and NMSU's Department of Theatre Arts' students. Performances at NMSU's Hershel Zohn Theatre.
Located in the NMSU campus
(575) 646-4517
Las Cruces Chamber Ballet
The ballet puts on two major performances a year, including the traditional holiday version of The Nutcracker Ballet. Call for show times.
NMSU Music Center Recital Hal
(575) 523-1654
Las Cruces Community Theatre
Las Cruces Community Theatre is an all volunteer non-profit organization with many opportunities for involvement. We welcome participation at all levels - from box office to set construction to performing on stage.
313 N. Downtown Mall
(575) 523-1200
No Strings Theatre Company/Black Box Theatre
Presenting contemporary or little known works overlooked by other companies in the city and providing an opportunity for local playwrights to develop new works.
430 N. Downtown Mall
(575) 523-1223
NMSU Dance Program
The program and the Pan American Dance Institute are host to three performing companies (Dance Sport Team, Contemporary Dance, and Sol Y Arena) and three dance clubs (ASNMSU Dance Club, Dance Society, DanceSport Club.) Performances are scheduled throughout the year.
Performance locations vary, call for information and ticket purchases.
Pan Am Box Office
(575) 646-1450
Music
City of Las Cruces Music in the Park
Music in the Park is a 14-week musical extravaganza offering Las Crucens an eclectic mix of music performed by local, regional and nationally recognized artists, at Apodaca Park, Klein Park, and Young Park. Music types include: Jazz, rhythm and blues, Mariachi, classical, country, Tejano, bluegrass, new wave and pop, among others. All concerts listed begin at 7:00 p.m.
Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra
A select professional ensemble which performs a wide variety of literature from the standard orchestral repertoire. Each year this 80-member ensemble performs six back-to-back classical concerts and four educational outreach programs.
For information call the Symphony Office at (575) 646-3709.
Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference
A performance of international recording artists joined by world-renowned Mariachi groups at Pan American Center at NMSU. The concert showcases over 750 workshop students in performance with world-class musicians and dancers during the staged opening numbers. An audience of over 7,000 attends the traditional performance held over 4 days each November.
For general information visit the website or call (575) 525-1735.
Choral Ensembles at NMSU
Choral ensembles at NMSU include the University Singers, Masterworks Chorus, Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, Campus Choir, Crimson Chord Company and the Doña Ana Lyric Opera. The opera presents four shows a year, including a Broadway musical using high school students in the summer. Shows are at the NMSU Music Center Recital Hall.
(575) 646-2067
Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music
Providing vibrant musical experiences earmarked by excellence in musicianship performed in intimate settings, bringing together fine musicians, varied repertoire, and creative ways to share chamber music with Las Cruces and all of Southern New Mexico, as well as El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
Mesilla Valley Concert Band
Formed in 1987 as the Mesilla Valley Community Band, the group began with 30 participants who answered an advertisement placed in the local newspaper. The concert band has now grown to an ensemble of around 100 performers, ranging in age from 18 to 90, with many full-time musicians and music teachers, local business people, educators, retirees and students.
Call (575) 646-1582 for information.
Venues
NMSU Pan American Center
The Pan American Center is a 13,000 seat multi-purpose arena located on the grounds of NMSU. The Center is the home court for the men and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team of New Mexico State University. Additionally, some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry have graced the Pan American Center's stage.
1810 University
(575) 646-1420
NMSU Music Recital Hall
With its 512 seat capacity and newly installed state of the art sound system, performances in the Music Recital Hall are truly an excellent entertainment experience. Annual events include the ASNMSU Cultural Series, the Doña Ana Lyric Opera Series and the NMSU Choirs Series.
1075 North Horseshoe
(575) 646-2421
Rio Grande Theatre
The Rio Grande Theatre is a 422-seat, state-of-the-art performing arts facility with a forty-foot fly loft, dressing rooms, digital projector, sound and lighting equipment, acoustical panels, refrigerated air, a refurbished lobby, and gallery spaces. It also contains the offices of the Doña Ana Arts Council.
211 N Downtown Mall
(575) 523-6403
NMSU Hershel Zohn Theater
Theatre Arts come alive in the 377 seat capacity Hershel Zohn Theatre, home to the American Southwest Theatre Company which produces a variety of plays each season.
3014 McFie Circle
(575) 646-4515
Black Box Theatre
Expanding theatre horizons in Las Cruces by presenting contemporary or little known works overlooked by other companies in the city and providing an opportunity for local playwrights to develop new works. Home of the No Strings Theatre Company.
430 N Downtown Mall
(575) 523-1223
Fountain Theatre
Built in 1905, the Fountain Theatre is New Mexico's oldest movie house and in the early days presented both cinema and vaudeville performances. The theatre stands on the site of a Confederate army barracks, used during the Civil War, and is still owned by a member of the Fountain family. In addition to being the oldest theatre in New Mexico, the Fountain Theatre also bears the distinction of being the only continuously-operating movie theatre in the state.
2469 Calle De Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM
(575) 524-8287
