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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

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ARTS by George! Features the Talents of College of Visual and Performing Arts Students

Zoe Harr — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:12:22 +0000

ARTS by George! Features the Talents of College of Visual and Performing Arts Students Zoe Harr Thu, 08/31/2023 - 15:12

In This Story

Dr. William Lake, Jr.

Lawrence M. Jackson

Learn about ARTS by George!

Become a Sponsor

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! returns on September 30 for an evening that raises support 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 Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason.

Prior to the special performance of Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert headlining the evening, College of Visual and Performing Arts students showcase their talents in visual arts, music, game design, dance, and more. Read on to learn more about some of the stellar performances and experiences you can partake in when visiting ARTS by George!

Mason School of Theater

Mason School of Theater students will perform selections from 9 to 5, The Musical and The Originals!

Future performers of stage and screen from Mason School of Theater delight their audience with selections from two upcoming fall productions, The Originals! and 9 to 5, The Musical.

A one-act play entitled “So, Two Spies Walk Into a Restaurant” by School of Theater student Dyllan Hutchinson will be featured in The Originals! at ARTS by George! As one of six student-written and directed pieces, The Originals! offers Mason’s creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms, whether it be a "bite-sized operetta” or the traditional ten-minute play.

Based on the hit 1980s movie starring Dolly Parton, 9 to 5, The Musical features three female coworkers pushed past their boiling point by workplace sexism. In this hilarious story of friendship and revenge, the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic. Mason School of Theater students will perform a preview of musical selections from this upcoming production, which will run October 20 through 29.

Dewberry School of Music

A collaboration between Dewberry School of Music and Mason School of Dance, Come Sunday features the composition of Omar Thomas, musical direction of Mason’s Dewberry School of Music assistant professor Dr. William Lake, Jr., and the choreography of Mason School of Dance associate professor Lawrence M. Jackson. Reuniting to bring this spectacular piece—originally performed in February 2023—to life, Come Sunday will be performed at ARTS by George! with Mason’s Dance and Music students.

Want to learn more about the impact of Come Sunday? Read more on the website.

The beloved Green Machine Ensembles will also appear with performances by Emerald Desire, Fife and Drum, and Green & Gold Soul. Catch a preview of the fan-favorite Green Machine below in a video from Mason Madness 2022.

Mason School of Dance students will perform at Arts by George! on September 30.

In addition to performances from the students above, there will be a spectrum of other special experiences for visitors to partake in. At The Mix, students from Mason’s School of Art will demonstrate techniques in experimental letterpress and printmaking, inviting participants to create their own special works of art. Presented by Mason Computer Game Design and Mason Exhibitions, selections from the 2023 Progress@Play Competition will be available to play. The Progress@Play Competition seeks to raise public awareness of social issues through computer games or digital art to demonstrate their potential for serious and positive impacts.

Performances from additional groups within Mason’s School of Dance, Dewberry School of Music, and Film and Videos Studies program will be scattered throughout, providing an opportunity to the work that donations and sponsorships support.

It’s not too late to become a sponsor!

Your gift makes it possible for Mason to attract and retain talented arts students, for the Center for the Arts to bring first-class performances to our region, and to provide enriching arts education to our community. To learn more about becoming a sponsor and the benefits that it includes, please visit the ARTS by George! website.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

Dewberry School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

School of Art

Film at Mason

Green Machine

ARTS by George! Returns with Headliner Renée Elise Goldsberry

Zoe Harr — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:02:41 +0000

ARTS by George! Returns with Headliner Renée Elise Goldsberry Zoe Harr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 13:02

Learn about ARTS by George!

Subscribe Today!

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! returns on September 30 for an evening that showcases the remarkable talents of Mason students amid an array of spectacular food and beverages, culminating with a special performance by Broadway superstar, Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert.

Star of stage and screen, Renée Elise Goldsberry, is a Tony-, GRAMMY-, and Emmy Award winner, best known for her portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. In an interview with NPR, Goldsberry recalls being cast in the role, stating, “I knew the role was special. I knew there was just magic everywhere. . . It was like nothing I had ever encountered.” As a member of the original cast, she also received a GRAMMY Award when the original cast album won Best Musical Theater Album in 2016, featuring her show-stopping rendition of “Satisfied.” In addition to her most recent Broadway appearances, she has also starred in The Color Purple (original cast, Nettie), Lion King (Nala), and Rent (Mimi Marquez). Watch Goldsberry capture “commanding power, laced with vulnerability” (Houstonian) in a clip from Hamilton below.

Audiences will also recognize Goldsberry for her many television roles on shows including ABC’s One Life to Live, CBS’s The Good Wife, and Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Her most recent role in Peacock’s Girls5eva sees her as a multi-faceted diva and leader of the reunited 90s musical girl group featuring fellow performers Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Ashley Park, and Busy Philipps Both funny and heartfelt, the television show features themes surrounding aging, fame, friendship, and family. Filmed during the height of COVID-19, Girls5eva released its first season in 2021, followed by its second season the following year to rave reviews by fans and critics alike. In a recent interview with TIME Magazine, Goldsberry discusses the experience of making this show and its importance during a global pandemic, "It sounds basic, but we’ve shot the show two seasons in a row in a surprising COVID winter and the show has really saved us. That’s what we’ve learned about humanity and what’s so crucial about art— how it helps us survive impossible challenges. In a world that is increasingly unrecognizable, here we are in the middle of it laughing.” Goldsberry’s performance earned her a nomination at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

Renée Elise Goldsberry performs at the Center on September 30.

Aside from her artistic endeavors, Goldsberry aims to use her platform and talents to inspire conversation about social justice and arts education. In a 2018 interview with the National Endowment for the Arts, Goldsberry states, “There’s a new Mozart, a new Miles Davis, a new Misty Copeland, a new Matisse potentially languishing in a math class somewhere. If we fail to introduce them to art, we fail humanity.” By discussing these issues, Goldsberry aims to provide a future that emphasizes the importance of arts being offered in schools. She continues, “If there is anything young people need, it is confidence and an identity and a purpose. Arts education gives that to so many people regardless of what careers they choose. Arts education also enables students to find out who they are.”

To see Renée Elise Goldsberry in action, whether it be receiving a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Hamilton, 2016) or performing a rendition of Justin Timberlake’s “Sexyback”, check out a YouTube playlist of her highlights below.

ARTS by George! raises support 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 Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason. For more information about ARTS by George!, visit the website.

Individual tickets to Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert go on sale August 1. Subscribe to the Center for the Arts today and receive early ticket access to this event as well as additional benefits including discounts all season long, free ticket exchanges, and priority access to seating. For more information, visit the subscriptions website.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Center for the Arts

Green Machine

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

School of Art

Mason Community Arts Academy

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at Mason and Raises Scholarship Funds

Zoe Harr — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:06:54 +0000

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at Mason and Raises Scholarship Funds Zoe Harr Tue, 09/06/2022 - 13:06

In This Story

Rick Davis

ARTS by George!

Kristin Chenoweth in Concert

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! makes its in-person return on September 24. The philanthropic event, headlined by Emmy^® and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, raises support 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 Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason.

“More than any single performance or exhibition or screening could ever do, ARTS by George! offers a window into the life and work – the very heart – of this great College of Visual and Performing Arts,” notes Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). “In fact, it’s kind of a stained-glass window, composed of many colors and shapes and designs representing the many programs we offer, and it casts a beautiful light on the interplay of students, faculty, professional guest artists, and the communities that we all serve.”

School of Music students perform at a previous ARTS by George! event.

ARTS by George! begins by bringing hundreds of CVPA students and faculty together to collaborate in a series of behind-the-scenes showcase performances and exhibits, ranging from musical cabarets to virtual reality demos. From the School of Music, a taste from the many offerings including jazz, piano, symphony orchestra, opera, as well as special performances by The Green Machine. Introducing its upcoming production of the laugh-out-loud love story Head Over Heels, Mason School of Theater will perform highlights from the musical featuring music of the Go-Go’s and more! Additionally, guests will be invited to performances from the School of Dance, student film screenings from the School of Film, and Computer Game Design demonstrations. Programming begins at 5 p.m., presented across 10 open studios and rehearsal halls on Mason’s Fairfax campus, which will also have sumptuous beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

Co-chairs of ARTS by George! Anne Bolger and Steven Golsch emphasize the importance of the event, stating, “This benefit raises important scholarship funds to help our talented students and community arts partners and share their art and inspire the world. We are proud to support these programs and students as they fulfill their lifelong dreams.”

Kristin Chenoweth headlines the event on September 24.

After the thrilling showcase festivities, guests will transition to the Center for the Arts for a Live Fund-A-Student Auction, leading up to the performance by Kristin Chenoweth. In this 8:30 p.m. concert, Chenoweth will sing music from her album For The Girls, a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton, and more. To learn more about Kristin Chenoweth, please visit her website. The evening culminates with a special champagne toast onstage with ARTS by George! ticketholders and Ms. Chenoweth.

This year, the winner of the Arts by George! 2023 scholarship is Film and Video Studies student, Tiffany Vu. Past recipients include Erblin Nushi (Film and Video Studies, 2018), Mariah Rogers (The Green Machine, 2020), and Alana Lyons (Mason School of Theater, 2021). Student scholarships allow for the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (CVPA) students to explore creative projects while cultivating Mason’s enriching arts education and first-class performances.

Rick Davis encapsulates Mason and its community’s excitement, stating, “We’re delighted to be back to our full expression of CVPA’s contribution to the dynamo that is George Mason University.”

To learn more about Arts by George!, visit the website.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

Green Machine

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Mason Community Arts Academy

At Arts Emerging, the Arts Return In-Person to George Mason

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:31:57 +0000

At Arts Emerging, the Arts Return In-Person to George Mason Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/30/2021 - 11:31

In This Story

Shaun Boyle D'Arcy

Gregory Washington

Dr. Michael Nickens

Arts Emerging raised more than $155,000 to support the arts at Mason.

A welcome return to live, in-person arts performances and exhibitions was celebrated September 25 at the George Mason University Center for the Arts.

Arts Emerging: A Celebration of Renewal brought more than 300 people to the Fairfax Campus on a Saturday evening for a festive event that pulsed with artistic energy and the spirit of community.

Combining outdoor and indoor performances by students, faculty, and alumni, art exhibits, film screenings, hands-on activities, and more, Arts Emerging launched the 2021-22 Center for the Arts season, while also marking the 20^th anniversary of the university’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“The arts have become one of Mason’s signature tools for the university to engage with its community,” said Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Arts Emerging is a powerful example of that in action.”

A highlight of the outdoor performances presented on Holton Plaza was a performance of Pause: Reset, delivered by School of Dance students and choreographed by faculty member Shaun Boyle D’Arcy. One performer, senior dance major Hadiya Matthews, reflected afterward on the challenges of the past year and how students have rallied. “During Covid and everything that was happening in the world, it was pretty heavy and kind of sad,” Matthews said. “I think that when we had discussions and ‘collabbed’ and really talked about how we felt, a big thing that kept us strong was community, and how—no matter what we’re going through—we’re all related to one another. That’s something that we can come back to, so building this piece of community was really special.”

Meanwhile, in the adjacent Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, viewers enjoyed a major exhibition, Women of the Same Blood, combining photography and family history by Zia Palmer, BFA Photography ’19, with the opportunity to meet and talk with the artist. Buchanan Hall also hosted screenings by Film and Video Studies alumni, and an interactive virtual reality experience by the Computer Game Design program.

Later, inside the Center for the Arts, Mason President Gregory Washington welcomed a mix of students, supporters, and Mason faculty and staff. “The arts are the front door to the university,” Washington said. “Many of you found that great big front door and you came through it to become involved with our College of Visual and Performing Arts. And then that introduced you to the larger university.”

Guest appearances on the Concert Hall stage included a duet by Green Machine alumni Chelsea Mohindroo, BS Mathematics ’16, MS Operations Research ’20, and Brandon Showell, BA Music and English ’14, both of whom have been contestants on NBC’s The Voice. They were followed by School of Theater alumni Garvey Dobbins, BFA Theater ’20, and Lauren Fraites, BA Theater ’20, and a finale performance by current Dewberry School of Music opera students. Members of the Green Machine, led by associate professor of music and director of the Green Machine Ensembles Michael W. Nickens (Doc Nix), also played throughout the event.

Finally, School of Dance alumna Sasha (Hollinger) Henninger, BFA Dance ’09, who made her Broadway debut in Hamilton as #thebullet, spoke about her career and her time at Mason. “I was blessed to spend 11 years in New York making a living doing what I love. I toured the country, I toured the world, and I spent my last few years there performing in two incredible shows on Broadway—easily one of my biggest dreams come true,” Henninger said. “My time, my teachers, my peers here at George Mason prepared me for that. My time at George Mason prepared me well.”

Henninger presented a special merit scholarship to current Film and Video Studies senior Taj Kokayi, whose film Woken From a Dream won the Best Student Film Award at the London Web Fest. Kokayi was a producer on the short film The Vine, which premiered during Saturday’s event. The Vine featured current Masters in Arts Management student Bobby Lacy, BA Music ’16, in a stirring spoken word performance inspired by the question of what it means to be an arts manager.

Sandy Spring Bank returned as the event’s presenting sponsor for the fourth consecutive year. “By sponsoring events like this we’re literally helping the students you saw tonight on stage realize their hopes and dreams, or give them an opportunity to,” said Jay O’Brien, executive vice president for commercial and retail banking at Sandy Spring. O’Brien has three daughters currently attending Mason—two graduate students and one undergraduate.

Arts Emerging raised more than $155,000, with proceeds supporting CVPA student scholarships, the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. The event was co-chaired by Arts at Mason Board members Steven Golsch, a vice president at NowSecure, and Annie Bolger, a bank officer at Sandy Spring Bank.

Topics

arts emerging

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

forward together

giving to Mason

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater