CFA

Returning for their second of three years as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad Ensemble and Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens present the world premiere of American Railroad, an initiative that maps American music through the various communities involved in building the late-1800s Transcontinental Railroad and its connecting railways. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad artists will also work with the community through classes and workshops surrounding the performance, which are detailed within.

The holidays are right around the corner and if you listen closely, you can hear the quiet jingle bells and merriment heading to the Center this season. From family-favorite classics to brand-new traditions in the making, the Center has a wide offering of performances that will leave your heart shining with holiday spirit!

Get ready to laugh and cheer for everyone’s favorite barber! Virginia Opera’s 2023-2024 season continues with Gioachino Rossini‘s beloved masterpiece The Barber of Seville running at the Center for the Arts November 11—12.

Audio describer Ermyn King will be joining the Center for the Arts to audio describe the following performances: Virginia Opera: The Barber of Seville on Nov. 12, Virginia Opera: Sanctuary Road on Feb. 4, Peking Acrobats on Mar. 10 at 1 p.m., and Virginia Opera: Madama Butterfly on Mar. 17.

ARTS by George! returned on Saturday, September 30, 2023, hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at George Mason University. The benefit event, which was headlined by GRAMMY and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, raised more than $275,000 for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts.

Four local restaurants are pleased to offer a 10% discount to ticket buyers, subscribers, and Friends of the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center. When dining, show your ticket stub (physical or digital) or Friends membership pin to receive the discount.

“Mixing Big Band Jazz with James Brown Soul” (The Observer), eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning bassist Christian McBride joins Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on October 28 at the Center for the Arts. Met Jazz will be led by founder, artistic director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll, in an unforgettable night of bravado, improvisation, and jazz swagger. McBride will participate in a pre-performance discussion on Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain. Following the concert, audience members are invited to enjoy the sounds of Mason Jazz students over drinks in the Center’s lobby for the first installment of Jazz Club at the Center. 

Virginia Opera (VAO) opens its 2023/2024 season with a continuation of Wagner’s epic “Ring” cycle, presenting the third installment, Siegfried, on October 7 and 8. Floridian tenor Cooper Nolan whose “powerhouse voice” (Opera News) is increasingly gaining him attention as an important interpreter of some of opera's most demanding tenor roles, makes his debut with Virginia Opera in the title role of Siegfried.

The “sparklingly present… and remarkably strong” (The New York Times), Malpaso Dance Company visits the Center for the Arts on October 20 for a spectacular performance with a perfect balance of head and heart. Recently announced, the evening’s program features the following repertoire: Indomitable Waltz by Aszure Barton, Why You Follow by Ronald K. Brown, and A Dancing Island by Osnel Delgado.

Between the fun costumes and delicious candy, it’s hard to decide what the best part of Halloween is. Stand out during trick-or-treating this year with some family costume ideas from the Center’s Family Series!