Coming soon: Bevy of events scheduled
By Casey Gillis on Jan. 19, 2010
(434) 385-5525
Our last arts roundup, which ran back in the fall, was such a hit that we’ve decided to do it again.
The following pages will list 20 events — think plays, concerts, art exhibits, film screenings and more — that we here at The Burg think are worth your time.
These are by no means all Lynchburg has to offer in the coming months; it’s just a snapshot of the Hill City’s rich arts and cultural scene.
Dates and times are always subject to change, so make sure to call or check each group’s Web site for up-to-date information.
Thursday, Jan. 21
Liberty University’s annual opera production, “Figaro’s Wedding,” is full of twists and turns, says director Wayne Kompelien.
The comic opera, which opens at 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Lloyd Theatre, is a retelling of Mozart’s “The Wedding of Figaro” set in a New York City restaurant during more modern times.
“The basic foundation is still there,” says Kompelien, who wrote the adaptation a few years ago with fellow music professor John Hugo. “We thought it should take place during our current time and be set in New York, where these characters could be developed into very interesting and colorful personalities.”
He decided to revive the piece, which actually incorporates some spoken dialogue, again this year.
“Mozart’s music is so good, and we have the people to pull it off.”
The story centers on Tony Figaro, a restaurant manager engaged to Susanna, a waitress at the same establishment. In order to buy her ring, Tony had to borrow money from Marcy, another waitress. But when the play picks up, she’s sold the contract to mafia kingpin Don Bartolo, with whom Tony has a sordid past: years ago, he helped restaurant owner Al Maviva woo a woman away from Bartolo.
Now Bartolo wants revenge and tells Tony if he doesn’t pay the loan back by the end of the day, he’ll have to either marry Marcy, who is in love with him, or have his arm chopped off at the elbow.
The ever-resourceful Tony finds a way out of his predicament, but not without plenty of complications along the way.
“He is the master manipulator,” Kompelien says, “even if he is flying by the seat of his pants.”
Other show dates are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, 23, 26, 28, 29 and 30. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and LU faculty/staff and $6 for students. They can be purchased at the box office, located in Liberty’s Performing Arts Hall, or by phone at (434) 582-2085.
Friday, Jan. 29
Randolph College’s senior theater majors are putting on a production of Eugene Ionesco’s “Exit the King,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Lab Theatre. The absurdist comedy is about a once-powerful king coming to terms with a loss of power and his own mortality. Other show dates are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and Feb. 1-6 and 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://faculty.randolphcollege.edu/theatre/.
Thursday, Feb. 4
Sweet Briar College’s Fringe Festival will feature a series of theater, music, dance, literature and art-related events, held across campus through Feb. 7.
Some highlights include Medieval Mystery Plays at 9 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Pannell Gallery; illusionist Nate Staniforth at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Fitness and Athletic Center’s Robertson Recreation Lounge; an Arts and Crafts Walk in the Fitness Center’s field house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6; a Celtic dance performance at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 6 in the Robertson Recreation Lounge; and a staged musical reading of “Hard Times,” put together by Endstation Theatre (and loosely based on Charles Dickens’ book), at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Memorial Chapel.
For a full list of events, call (434) 381-6350 or visit http://www.fringefestival.sbc.edu.
Saturday, Feb. 6
The Nighthawks, often considered one of the world’s best bar bands, will hit The Ellington stage with their unique blend of blues, rock, soul, R&B, rockabilly and swing at 8:30 p.m. The band has released more than 20 albums, toured the world and played along legends like Muddy Waters, BB King and Gregg Allman. More recently, they’ve gotten some exposure on the small screen with appearances on “Homicide: Life on the Streets” and “The Wire.” Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Call (434) 845-2162 or visit http://www.theellington.org.
The FACination Chorus will celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early with “Let’s Fall in Love,” a concert of love songs at 7:30 p.m. in the Academy of Fine Arts’ Warehouse Theatre. Another show is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 7. Tickets are $17 for adults, $13 for seniors and $9 for students and can be purchased by calling (434) 846-TIXX or visiting http://www.AcademyFineArts.com.
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Riverviews Artspace resumes its Documentary Film Series with a screening of “The Difference Between Us,” the first in a three-part PBS documentary exploring ideas and misconceptions about race, at 7:30 p.m. The first hour follows a dozen students, who sequence and compare their own DNA to see who is more genetically similar. Parts two and three will be shown on Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, respectively, and the film series continues March 9 with a screening of “Mine,” a documentary about animals displaced after Hurricane Katrina. For more information, call (434) 847-7277 or visit http://www.riverviews.net.
Friday, Feb. 12
Amherst’s Endstation Theatre Company is holding its annual Sonnets and Chocolates fundraiser, which raises money for their Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival, at 7:30 p.m. at Tresca on 8th (724 Commerce St., formerly the Swann Ballroom). The night will include love-themed monologues, comedy, songs and poetry. Dessert is included with the price of admission, which is $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tables of 12 can be reserved for $220. Call (434) 381-6537 or visit http://www.endstationtheatre.org. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.LynchburgTickets.com.
The Jefferson Choral Society will be celebrating a milestone with its 20th Anniversary Gala fundraiser at 7 p.m. at the Academy of Fine Arts. Music will be provided by the James River Swing and Sway Band, barbershop group The Harmoneers and ragtime pianist Bryan Wright. There will also be heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased by calling (434) 528-5700 or (434) 385-8664.
Saturday, Feb. 13
The Friends of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra are kicking off 2010 with their annual Valentine Gala from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Boonsboro Country Club. This year, they’re giving the fundraiser a French flavor with a life-sized Paris street scene, where vocalist Marcia Thom will perform “La Vie En Rose” with strolling concertina player Chet Wrosos. There will also be a Paris flea market silent auction, a four-course dinner, a cash bar and dancing to the music of BC’s Big Rhythm Sound. Attire is black tie optional. Tickets — $125 per person or $1,000 for a table of eight — can be purchased by calling (434) 525-9058 or (434) 525-7484 or by visiting http://www.LynchburgTickets.com.
Friday, Feb. 19
The Academy of Fine Arts’ annual Art Raffle is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in the Warehouse Theatre, with a reception catered by Isabella’s from 6 to 7 p.m. The all-media show will feature more than 100 pieces of art, which will be on display in the Warehouse lobby for preview starting Feb. 1. Tickets to the reception are $100 per person, $130 per couple with one ticket for art and $200 per couple with two tickets for art. All proceeds benefit the Academy’s Visual Arts Program, and each ticket buyer is guaranteed to take home a piece of art worth at least $100. Call (434) 846-TIXX for tickets.
E.C. Glass will open its production of “The Music Man,” at 7:30 p.m. the same night. Two Glass alums are participating in the production: Matt Fletcher, who recently started his own theater company in Chicago, will star as lead character Harold Hill, and Enrique Brown, fresh from Broadway’s “Little Mermaid” and who has also appeared in revivals of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Music Man,” is directing and choreographing.
Other show dates are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 25, 26 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28. Tickets, $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, can be purchased online (http://www.ecglasstheatre.org) or in person at the box office lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the week prior to the show or at the door one hour before the performance. For more information, call (434) 522-3712 or visit http://www.eclgasstheatre.org.
And if that wasn’t enough, Feb. 19 also marks the next Friday “Winter” Cheers event, a Mardi Gras Madness Party featuring deejay Alma Hesson, at the Holiday Inn downtown. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., dancing begins at 8 and it’s all over by 11. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Lynch’s Landing office at 1023 Commerce St., online at http://www.LynchburgTickets.com or at the door. Food and drinks will be sold separately. Costumes and masks are encouraged but not mandatory. Call (434) 528-3950.
Thursday, Feb. 25
Heritage High School’s production of the musical “Peter Pan,” based on J.M. Barrie’s play, opens at 7 p.m. Other show dates are 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and March 4, 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Call (434) 582-1147.
Sweet Briar College’s theater department will present “Under Milk Wood,” which tells the story of “one spring day” in a seaside town in south Wales, at 7:30 p.m. Other dates are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28. All students and teachers get in free to the Feb. 25 performance. For all other performances, admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students and free for children younger than 12 and SBC community members. For more information, call (434) 381-6120 or visit http://www.LynchburgTickets.com.
Lynchburg College will mount its annual musical production, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the same night, also at 7:30 p.m., in the Dillard Fine Arts Center. The jazzy comedy is set in the 1920s, just as the rules of love and women’s status were changing. Other show dates are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older and $5 for students. The box office opens Feb. 22. Call (434) 544-8380.
Saturday, Feb. 27
The Friends of the Bedford Public Library are bringing in Ugandan musician Kinobe, who performs a mix of Ugandan roots music and original compositions that reflect a wealth of African and world influences, at 7:30 p.m. for the latest show in its concert series.
He’s also an instrument-maker whose solo shows feature the kora, a 21-string harp used in West Africa; the kalimba, a sound box with metal keys attached to the top to give the different notes; plus drums and guitar. Admission to the concert is a donation of $10. For more information, visit http://www.friendsofbedfordlibrary.org.
Saturday, March 6
All-woman Irish group Cherish the Ladies is returning to the area for a pre-St. Patty’s Day concert, courtesy of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, who brought the Celtic singers, instrumentalists and dancers here two years ago. The concert, which is part of the Minds Wide Open statewide celebration of women in the arts, is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the E.C. Glass auditorium. Visit http://www.lynchburgsymphony.com.
Thursday, March 11
Hill City native Phil Vassar is returning to the area for a concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at E.C. Glass High School, to benefit the Miller Home of Lynchburg. He’ll be joined by country music star Rodney Atkins. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Miller Home (2134 Westerly Drive) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (434) 845-0241.
Friday, March 12
The famed Second City Touring Company will hit the Hill City for two shows, at 7 and 10 p.m. (the late-night show will be geared toward a younger crowd, organizers say). The Chicago-based group was the training ground for comedians like John Belushi, Bill Murray, John Candy, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, among others.
The Touring Company produces a two-act revue of the Second City’s brand of topical sketch comedy, with songs and on-the-spot improvisations that change with every performance.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and $15 for students, with ringside seats for $36 (adults), $33 (seniors) and $18 (students). Call (434) 846-TIXX or visit http://www.AcademyFineArts.com.
Friday, March 19
Another country music star, another night in Lynchburg.
This time, “Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson will headline the last Winter Cheers of the season. Doors open at 7 p.m., and she hits the Holiday Inn’s ballroom stage for an acoustic set at 8. Tickets are $10 general admission and $20 for reserved seats by the stage. Tickets can be purchased at the Lynch’s Landing office at 1023 Commerce St. or online at http://www.LynchburgTickets.com. Call (434) 528-3950.
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