"I need you to know this other story about this place,” Kern Jackson’s godmother, Valena McCants, said to him 30 years ago when he visited Mobile originally to study Mardi Gras culture. This ultimately led to his documentary, "Descendant," that explores the history of The Clotilda.
Live Arts Theater’s 2022/23 Transformations Season leaps into the new year with the Virginia premiere of Jez Butterworth’s hauntingly lyrical THE RIVER, directed by Robert Chapel. THE RIVER will have 16 performances in the Founders Theater, January 20 through February 11, 2023, at Live Arts Theater, 123 E. Water Street, Charlottesville. Tickets are $27 for adults or $24 for students and senior citizens and are available through the Box Office at boxoffice@livearts.org, by phone at 434-977-4177 x123, or online at livearts.org/tix.
The credits have rolled on a remarkable 35th Anniversary Virginia Film Festival that combined more than 100 films with an unforgettable array of special guests and fascinating discussions that captivated, challenged, and delighted audiences over five days in Charlottesville. The 35th Annual Virginia Film Festival saw a total of 17,292 total attendances, including both paid and free events. The Festival recorded 28 sold out screenings and welcomed 72 industry guests as well as 42 discussants and subject matter experts from around the globe to shed light on and add depth and context to films that both entertained audiences and tackled some of the most important topics of our time.
Live Arts Theater announces two nights of theater and poetry at Vault Virginia this December. The Live Arts Playwrights’ Lab presents a staged reading of local playwright John Paul Mandryk’s new play When Liberty Is Sieged at 7:30pm on Monday, December 5, and the next POETRY LIVE! showcase is hosted by local poet James Cole at 7pm on Sunday, December 11. Both events will be presented at Vault Virginia, 300 E Main Street, in Charlottesville. To enter Vault Virginia, audience members should use the door on Third Street SE.
Second Street Gallery is pleased to present Visions of Mary, a solo exhibition featuring installation and linocuts of Marian Imagery by Charlottesville-based artist Ramona Martinez, to be held in the Dové Gallery from December 2, 2022 - January 21, 2023. The exhibition will open on First Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5:30-7:30PM. The artist will be present during the opening evening to chat with visitors.
Second Street Gallery is pleased to present Her Deeds, an exhibition of mixed media works and installation by Richmond, Virginia-based artist Mariana Parisca and collaborators Larí García, agustine zegers, Christine Buckley, Sandy Williams IV, and Paul van den Bijgaart, to be held in the Main Gallery from December 2, 2022 -January 21, 2023. The exhibition will open on First Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5:30-7:30PM. The artist will be present during the opening evening to chat with visitors.
The Dance Program of the Department of Drama at the University of Virginia presents its Fall Dance Concert on November 17 – 19 at 8:00 p.m. in the Culbreth Theatre. This fall’s concert will feature the works of faculty, students, and guest choreographer Julia A. Vessey for an evening of performance that explores multiple perspectives and themes through the medium of dance.
It’s no secret that many people affiliated with the University of Virginia have behind-the-scenes roles in the annual Virginia Film Festival. It is a UVA-sponsored program, after all. This year’s festival, which begins Wednesday and runs through Sunday, features several directorial debuts and films made by UVA alumni, faculty and staff. The alumni credit their educations at the University for much of their successes in the film industry. More than 50 faculty members are participating in events as moderators and panelists, with almost all film screenings followed by discussions.
Rising star Jonathan Majors will accept the Breakthrough Star Award and present his latest film and “This Is It” star Chrissy Metz will be on hand for a screening and conversation during the 35th annual Virginia Film Festival.
The Virginia Film Festival will team up with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to present “The Levys of Monticello” during the 35th annual festival, which will take place from Nov. 2 to 6.
If you’ve been scrolling through the selections on the Virginia Film Festival’s website and trying to figure out where to begin your personal schedule of screenings, you might want to consider starting with some sheer entertainment in the Opening Night Film!
