News

A joint message from Virginia Opera and the Center for the Arts. 

You’d be just as likely to spot GRAMMY Award-winning musicians Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing hiking a backwoods trail through the Rockies as you would be to catch them playing a sold-out concert. Coming to the Center on April 21, The Okee Dokee Brothers' passion for nature inspires their lively original folk music for kids and their families.

Whether it’s wagging your tail or exploring the great outdoors, it’s not too late to experience the Center’s Family Series with Mutts Gone Nuts or The Okee Dokee Brothers this April.

One of Germany’s premier orchestras, Bamberg Symphony, and virtuoso pianist Hélène Grimaud join forces to perform a program inspired by The New Yorker music critic and Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Ross’s book Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music on April 27. The program explores and emerges music from Wagner with his German contemporizes, Schumann and Brahms, to create an evening of unforgettable classical music.

On April 13, the oldest modern dance ensemble in the country, Martha Graham Dance Company, returns to the Center with a program that celebrates the company’s 100th anniversary through iconic classics and new work. The spectacular program features pieces by choreographers Agnes de Mille, Jamar Roberts, and of course, Martha Graham, including a special performance by Mason School of Dance students.  

Right before Earth Day, Small Island Big Song presents a "jaw-dropping" (Billboard) concert experience at the Center for the Arts on April 20, combining music, spoken word, and stunning projections to showcase unique oceanic grooves and soulful island ballads, while shining a light on the devastating effects of climate crisis on our world’s oceans. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Small Island Big Song will also deeply engage with the community through a series of education and engagement programs.

Dedicated to performing every note ever composed by Frédéric Chopin, the internationally celebrated pianist Brian Ganz continues his quest in "Romantic Revolutionary" at the Center for the Arts on May 4. Maryland Theatre Guide notes that when attending a concert by Brian Ganz, audience members are sure to be enraptured by “one of the foremost pianists of his generation.”

Join the Friends of the Center for the Arts for just $100 by Wednesday, April 24 to receive an exclusive invitation to the 2024-2025 Season Announcement event on Wednesday, May 1. This complimentary Friends-only event offers a first look at the upcoming season at the Center, a fantastic opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres.

The Center for the Arts Development Staff is preparing to implement some new changes to the Friends of the Center for the Arts membership program, which will take effect on July 1, 2024.

On February 17, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham presented a thrilling collection of works by acclaimed choreographers, including its artistic director and MacArthur Genius Award-winning choreographer Kyle Abraham. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, members of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham worked with Mason as well as communities within Manassas, Washington, D.C., and local communities in a variety of activities ranging from classroom visits to A.I.M Movement Workshops that brought participants up on their feet.

Members of the Friends of the Center for the Arts (FCFA) have unique opportunities to interact with performers showcased in each Great Performances at Mason season. These can occur during Artists in Conversation discussions, backstage tours, Grand Tier Society events, or Friends post-performance receptions.

Any audience would be considered lucky when witnessing Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) “sophisticated and commanding” (Los Angeles Times) performance that combines traditional Irish step dance with contemporary movement. On March 24, TIDC invites audiences to celebrate a belated St. Patrick’s Day with a captivating and joyous program that blends sheer percussive power with aerial grace.