“Little Shop of Horrors”

Virginia Theatre Festival’s season takes a mad twist with the wonderfully weird stage adaptation of the black comedy film Little Shop of Horrors. In the sci-fi story, a flower shopkeeper named Seymour discovers a plant thirsty for blood while he schemes to win over his love interest, Audrey. The new succulent breed presents itself as […]

Discovering place, family, and memory in Annie Woodford’s poetry

“Poetry allows you to preserve a certain moment, a certain place. It’s giving voice to something that otherwise I would just carry around mutely,” says poet Annie Woodford, author of Where You Come From Is Gone and winner of the Weatherford Award for Best Books about Appalachia. “Then, when you think about economic systems or […]

The Elixir of Love

Inspired by Le Philtre, premiered at the Paris Opera in 1831, The Elixir of Love uncorks a romantic drama in the Italian countryside. The contemporary libretto is written by Felice Romani and stars a cheap bottle of red wine as the agent to activate affection. Nemorino, roused by the wine and blinded by love, boldly […]

Shakespeare at the Ruins

Experience the magic of Shakespeare at the Ruins, set among the historic remains of Governor James Barbour’s mansion, designed by Thomas Jefferson and destroyed by fire in 1884. Following a short hiatus due to wear and tear, the summer tradition (launched in 1990) returns with a performance of The Comedy of Errors, a collaboration between […]

Lust for Lana dance party

Get your dreamy, vintage groove on in tribute to pop queen Lana Del Rey at the Lust for Lana Dance Party, a rave-inspired evening for the coquette set. The soiree revolves around Del Rey’s Lust For Life album, released in 2017, and the promotional tour that followed. Baltimore sound and visual artist Amy Reid provides […]

Michael Franti & Spearhead brings sunny vibes to the Pavilion

By Thomas Crone arts@c-ville.com For Michael Franti and his band Spearhead, summers are about touring across America. Churning out smiley hits like “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “The Sound of Sunshine Going Down,” the singer, musician, and documentarian says he typically performs about 60 shows timed to coincide with outdoor amphitheater opportunities, mixed with […]

Mosh Bit

Charlottesville’s first music and gaming event in more than a decade, Mosh Bit features casual gaming tournaments and punk performances by NIJI SAGA, Steel Samurai, and 14£bs. Each band combines nostalgic video game melodies with energetic sets packed with a punch. Superbit, a new outpost of the popular gaming store from northern Virginia, and local […]

Pete Davidson

You may have seen him performing on “Saturday Night Live,” or perhaps in one of several critically acclaimed films like The King of Staten Island. Maybe you’ve encountered him on your Instagram feed with Kim Kardashian or Ariana Grande and wondered, who is this guy? The answer: Pete Davidson, who’s bringing his Prehab Tour to […]

Arts for All FestivALL

Charlottesville is a town full of performing arts, andthis weekend you can find pretty much all the entertainment you could want in one place: the Arts for All FestivALL. Children and adults can explore dancing, singing, drawing, radio-broadcasting, and playing musical instruments at tents hosted by the Virginia Theatre Festival, Light House Studio, Empowered Players, […]

Rebecca Porter

Rebecca Porter heralds her act as “Virginia’s country music powerhouse,” and you’d be right to put your Stetson boots on. Porter and her backing band the Rhinestone Roses ride high on the wave of modern country while delivering a kick to the genre’s classic tropes. As a Pacific Islander living in rural Virginia, Porter writes […]