ARTS Pick: Two Ladies: A Musical Revue

What’s sweeter than the sound of one beautiful voice? Two beautiful voices harmonizing on popular tunes. Such is case in Two Ladies: A Musical Revue, the first offering from the recently rebooted Play On! theatrical group. The live show is an ode to the beauty of the duet featuring sixteen classic songs from pop and […]

ARTS Pick: Bob Newhart

When he’s not cradling a tearful Will Ferrell in Elf, comedy legend Bob Newhart is stirring up laughs with his offbeat, deadpan stand-up routine. Famous for his relaxed delivery and subtle wit, the comic explores universal moments of the human experience and shines a light on the ridiculous. His routines are marked by clever reenactments […]

ARTS Pick: Bent Theatre

Forgo the late night reruns of your favorite variety shows for Bent Theatre’s wacky, unpredictable live improv comedy. Established in 2004, the dynamic ensemble of 25 comedians group offers a distinctive mix of styles, drawing from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” “Saturday Night Live,” and “Second City.” The audience is always a source, so be […]

Play On! Theatre begins a new era in a new space

Nothing screams summer like weekend yard sales, and on this sunny Saturday in late April, one lot at The Ix Project stands apart from the rest. Instead of the typical hand-me-down clothes and dated board games, bargain hunters comb through overflowing costume trunks, warehouse shelves of lighting equipment, and table after table of stage props […]

Charlottesville’s newest race is a splash for the arts

Between last week’s Discovery Dash, the annual Ten Miler, the Women’s and Men’s Four Milers, and many others, Charlottesville is hardly in need of another running event. However, need and desire are different beasts—and this is a town that’s addicted to the runner’s high. To satisfy this craving, there’s a new 5K that aims to […]

ARTS Pick: Bedroom Farce

Four marriages go through a series of situational calamities over the course of an evening in the contemporary British play Bedroom Farce. Through brilliant comic timing, several bed swaps, and a surprising lack of hanky-panky, the tale of generational differences cleverly reveals itself as a relationship survival guide. Through Sunday 5/25. $12-16, times vary. Four […]

ARTS Pick: Little Red Riding Hood

Countless adaptations of the famous folk tale “Little Red Riding Hood” portray the young hooded girl and her lone perilous pilgrimage to grandma’s house. The Albemarle Ballet Theatre’s rendition, however, is a lighthearted musical featuring friendly forest creatures and an antagonist that is more Wile. E. Coyote than Big Bad Wolf. This tippy-toe version of […]

Live Arts adapts cult novel

Peter DeMartino might never have spent nine months translating a 1920s Russian novel about Jesus, the devil, and a nine-foot-tall cat into a full-scale theatrical production if not for one strange affinity. “I met Julie [Hamberg, artistic director at Live Arts] after I got to play Edna in Hairspray,” said DeMartino, who works as the […]

Monticello High opens doors of opportunity with Urinetown

Madeline Michel doesn’t care for musicals. “I hate them,” she laughed. “They’re boring, and I can almost never sit through the second act.” Which begs the obvious question: Why in the name of Stephen Sondheim does the Monticello theater director devote countless hours every spring to putting together a high school musical? “It’s all about […]

Knit stop: All you need is Two Arms!

Picture this: It’s a sunny day, and new leaves rustle overhead as you walk along the Downtown Mall. In the distance you see people moving their arms, loaded with cloud- or cocoon-like substances. As you approach, you realize they’re actually knitting, using their arms like needles to weave thick skeins of yarn made from old […]