ARTS Pick: Golden Dragon Acrobats

Award-winning Chinese acrobatics meet traditional dance, theater and a blend of ancient and contemporary music onstage with the Golden Dragon Acrobats. The company, led by impresario Danny Chang and his wife and choreographer, Angela Chang, is composed of nearly 30 trained athletes, actors and artists who have performed in more than 65 countries worldwide. Friday […]

Volunteer core: ‘Tis the season to give back

The holiday season is a time when giving and sharing is on everyone’s mind. And that is especially true of volunteers who give their time and share their skills with numerous organizations in the community year-round. So many organizations rely on volunteers for not only day-to-day upkeep tasks such as touching up paint or mending […]

Now Try This: Victory Hall Opera lets singers choose their role

When Victory Hall Opera, Charlottesville’s newest opera company, raises the curtain on its first show, it will also unveil a world premiere inside the industry itself. “We are developing a process that doesn’t exist yet—anywhere,” says Miriam Gordon- Stewart, artistic director, soprano and one of the company’s three co-founders. “We’re interested to hear what the […]

ARTS Pick: Our Town

With a sly twist on casting, director Robert Chapel makes the most of Our Town’s minimalist appeal by putting UVA drama grad student Carolyn Demanelis in the lead role of stage manager (played notably by Paul Newman on Broadway). Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play pulls back the curtain on the citizens of a close-knit, idyllic […]

ARTS Pick: United Nations of Comedy Tour

Back by popular demand, the United Nations of Comedy Tour once again boasts a rising star lineup of talented comedians. Aaron Berg, Jordan Rock (Chris’ brother), Jackie Monahan, Funnyman Skiba and Brendan Eyre dole out sidesplitters from the stage at what’s become an annual local highlight. Saturday 11/14. $34.50-45, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main […]

ARTS Pick: Bach Comes to America: Virginia’s Baroque Heritage

The namesake of a colonial route that once spanned much of Central Virginia, Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble was founded in 2011 by local period instrumentalists. The group performs Bach Comes to America: Virginia’s Baroque Heritage featuring guest artists Jessica Petrus (soprano) and Peter Walker (bagpiper and bassist) as part of the Music […]

ARTS Pick: The Free Bridge Quintet

When trumpet genius John D’earth isn’t playing his weekly gig at Miller’s (Thursdays) or monthly set at Fellini’s (first Saturdays), he’s performing with The Free Bridge Quintet, UVA’s official faculty jazz outfit. This week he’s doing it all—and in conjunction with the Virginia Film Festival, Free Bridge will play D’earth’s original score to accompany the […]

Miraculous music: Early-music group Mira hosts a choral sing-in at The Haven

The term early music mostly refers to Medieval and Renaissance compositions, and it’s easy to imagine it as haunting choral melodies echoing off the vaulted ceilings of a stone cathedral in the 15th century. Other-worldly? Yes. Imposing? Pretty much. But this week, one of Charlottesville’s early-music ensembles, Mira, is taking a different approach to the […]

Screen scene: Afrikana Independent Film Festival comes to town

There’s a film festival coming to town, but it’s not the one you’re thinking of. Beginning on October 30, the Richmond- based Afrikana Independent Film Festival will launch a series of screenings at Second Street Gallery. “Afrikana started with the mission of showcasing cinematic works of art from people of color from around the world, […]