Tag: Picks

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Culture

Virginia Humanities 50th Birthday Bash

Virginia Humanities’ Executive Director Matthew Gibson. Supplied photo.

With the mission of connecting people and supporting ideas to explore the human experience, Virginia Humanities celebrates half a century with its 50th Birthday Bash, marking a golden anniversary as the commonwealth’s humanities council. Community members are invited to revel in the achievements of the council and enjoy conversations, food, drink, and entertainment with the many partners and friends who have helped Virginia Humanities during its decades of good work. The evening features the Commonwealth’s Humanities proclamation by Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds, remarks by Virginia Humanities’ Executive Director Matthew Gibson, short poetry presentations from Empowered Players led by Jessica Harris, and more. Tickets are required for this free event.

Thursday 12/12. 6:30–8:30pm. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, 233 Fourth St. NW. virginiahumanities.org

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Arts Culture

“Let There Be Light”

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“Let There Be Light,” the annual outdoor exhibition of light-centered artworks, returns as the days get shorter and the nights get longer. The show features glowing art installations, performances, and an appearance by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ VMFA on the Road—an artmobile showcasing the exhibition “Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions.” Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flashlights and enhance the evening by dressing as an enlightened being. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Saturday, December 14.

Friday 12/13. Free, 6–9pm. Piedmont Virginia Community College, V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. pvcc.edu

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Arts Culture

Gallery Rally

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The scene is set for a sideshow spectacular at this year’s Gallery Rally. Showcasing an eclectic collection of local artists creating works live in the gallery, the event gives visitors an opportunity to meet creators, witness the artistic process, and purchase freshly made pieces on the spot. All artworks are priced at $100, and all proceeds support upcoming exhibitions and programming. This annual fundraiser also features raffle prizes, DJ sets, caricatures, an afterparty, and entertainment inspired by acts staged alongside the big top circus tents.

Saturday 12/7. Free, 5–9pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

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Arts Culture

Willie Watson

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Willie Watson, Americana singer-songwriter and founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show, brings more than 30 years of musical experience to the stage with songs exploring torment and redemption. Through stories of heartbreak, hurt, hope, and growth, Watson channels old-time American folk, weaving in contemporary reflections on loss, love, addiction, and burdens in a complex world. Expect tunes that function as testimonials to life’s tough times and resilience, and effectively pull on your heartstrings as Watson strums his guitar and banjo.

Saturday 12/7. $25–30, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 First St. S. thesoutherncville.com

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Arts Culture

“A Christmas Carol”

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There are plenty of reasons why Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has spawned so many adaptations. And whether you prefer the lead miser be played by Michael Caine surrounded by Muppets, Bill Murray learning lessons about 1980s corporate greed, or an animated Jim Carrey in Disneyfied 3D, the main plot point stays the same: Can Ebenezer Scrooge change his ways before his proverbial (and literal) goose is cooked? In a tale of supernatural transformation, the American Shakespeare Center mounts this holiday classic where Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future haunt the dreams of a mean old man and work to thaw his icy heart.

Thursday 12/5 Through Sunday 12/29. Ticket prices and showtimes vary. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

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Arts Culture

Palmyra x Ramona & the Holy Smokes

Photo by Tristan Williams.

Beat the Black Friday blues with a night of Americana holler-core and down-home honky-tonk. Palmyra (above) and Ramona & the Holy Smokes take the stage for a post-holiday double bill sure to shake you out of your tryptophan stupor and take the edge off holiday shopping. It’s always a foot-stomping, booty-shaking, sing-along good time when these local faves do their thing. Is there a better way to celebrate the festive season than by sweating out your Thanksgiving meal under low ceilings and stage lighting with your loved ones? Probably not.

Friday 11/29. $15–18, 8pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 First St. S. thesoutherncville.com

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Arts Culture

“Coney Island Christmas”

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Get into the holiday spirit early with Coney Island Christmas, a seasonal show that’s poised to become a classic. Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies has penned a story filled with memories and mirth that should appeal to folks of all ages and faiths. Centering on a young Jewish girl cast to play Jesus in her school’s Christmas pageant, at its core, this is a tale about what it means to be an American during the holidays.

Through 12/15. $12–20, times vary. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

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Arts Culture

Lucinda Williams

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Following the 2023 release of her 16th studio album Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart and candid memoir Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, Lucinda Williams and her band bring a unique stage show functioning as a career retrospective. Though Williams can no longer play the guitar in the wake of a stroke she suffered in 2020, the multi-Grammy-winning musician is still a consummate songwriter. Featuring short films, photos, visual supplements, and songs with her full band, this evening will see Williams recount some of the singular moments in her life and career.

Wednesday 11/20. $49.75–84.75, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Categories
Arts Culture

“The Wizard of Oz”

Photo by Will Kerner.

Leave the prairies of Kansas and head over the rainbow into a magical land with The Wizard of Oz. Featuring all your favorite songs from the classic 1939 film, the show follows Dorothy Gale as she navigates the yellow brick road and encounters fantastical friends and foes along the way. Train your brain, steel your heart, and summon your courage for encounters with winged primates, wicked witches, and the great and powerful wizard. The beloved classic is directed by John Gibson, who returns to town with his own uniquely personal take on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage adaptation. Recommended for ages 10+.

Friday 11/22 Through Sunday 12/15. Ticket prices and curtain times vary. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Categories
Arts Culture

Nurse Blake

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They say laughter is the best medicine, and comedian Nurse Blake is on call with a heavy dose of hilarity. From Level 1 trauma centers to stages around the country, Blake Lynch has taken his unique experiences as a nurse to find the humor in humerus bones, the lighter side of liver disease, and the fun in hospital funding. Celebrating health care practitioners, this tour features live skits, videos, and interactive stories drawn from real life. And there’s likely to be plenty of care providers in the audience should you bust a gut, break a rib, or slap a knee too hard.

Monday 11/25. $45–59.50, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net