A teller of truths: Sixty years on the road with Hal Holbrook

“I think that this film gains its emotional integrity from the fact that everybody is speaking the truth. It was very moving to watch it. The one thing I was hoping that they would get was for everyone to stop acting like Hollywood people, and just tell the truth—about the mistakes we’ve made, the struggle that […]

Perspective shift: Denise Stewart plans for change in The Sugar

Local playwright, actor, UVA drama lecturer, and wellness coach Denise Stewart is on a sugar fast. “I’m on day four because I thought it would be interesting and fun and maybe something to blog about. It’s already hard,” she said. But not as hard as the 30-day raw food fast she did earlier this year. […]

Rising Star Awards allow students to shine

Take a moment to remember what you were like at age 16—whether it was learning to drive, passing a chemistry test, or finding a date to the prom, you probably felt like you had your hands full with the basic American rites of passage. Well, 24 high school juniors and seniors are about to make you […]

ARTS Pick: Every Tongue Confess

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust—a series of church burnings sets UVA Drama’s new season in motion with Marcus Gardley’s acclaimed 2010 play Every Tongue Confess. Weaving Biblical lore with the true history of a small Alabama town, this Southern spectacle also mixes gospel and blues hits for a soaring metaphysical journey. Director Theresa Davis […]

ARTS Pick: Fiesta del Sol

Despite being a ballet company, there are no tutus or relevés in this celebration of movement by the Latin Ballet of Virginia. You will find dazzling costumes and acrobatics mixed with the electric flair of Latino dance in a high-energy performance that celebrates Central American traditions. “Fiesta del Sol” fuses technical perfection and rich narratives […]

ARTS Pick: Smallprov

Big laughs come out in small spaces when improv is the stage—at least that’s what Smallprov sets out to accomplish. The Big Blue Door comedy gathering focuses on powerful bursts of wit rather than long-winded monologues. The brief skits are unrehearsed and based entirely on audience suggestions, adding an edge of anticipation to every gut-busting […]

ARTS Pick: Pericles, Prince of Tyre

If a high seas adventure delivered in iambic pentameter isn’t enough to get you off the couch, then maybe the added splendor of seeing it performed on an authentic Shakespearean stage—in the same manner that the bard himself would’ve produced—will get you searching for your shoes. Staunton’s famous replica theater is staging Pericles, Prince of […]

ARTS Pick: Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase

Eight master artisans flex their talents at the 11th annual Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase. Chow down on comfort food classics like Brunswick stew and fried apple pies as you groove to the sounds of Flory Jagoda’s Sephardic Jewish ballads, Buddy Pendleton’s bluegrass fiddle, or Cheryl Maroney’s traditional gospel music. Quilters, beekeepers, chair makers, and more […]

Cville Sabroso’s Latin celebration

Fanny Smedile is not a professional dancer. But at last year’s Cville Sabroso, she put on a colorful dancing dress and found herself transformed. “When I wore the costume, I felt my folklore,” she said. “When I listened to the music, it took me back to my country. In that moment, I felt it in […]

ARTS Pick: Lindustrial Revolution

If you’re looking for some movement that challenges the monotony of modern dance, then take part in the Lindustrial Revolution, a three-day dance fest that celebrates the glamor and freedom of ’30s swing. Hosted by a core of expert dancers determined to get you hopping with instruction in two classic American styles: Balboa and the […]