"It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Spring is finally here with her poetry, music, and dance floating on warm breezes and colorful petals! As we turn into a new season, take time this week to embrace the many opportunities RVA has this week for stories, concerts and art. Check out below what's on tap for this week!
To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.
1. ART NIGHT
Visual Arts
Thursday, March 23, 6 PM
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, 23060
Join the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen for Art Night! Enjoy four exhibits and a wine & beer cash bar that helps support the Center's outreach programs. All exhibits are family-friendly. Whether it's date night or a fun outing with the whole family, fun awaits at The Cultural Arts Center! No registration required for this free event.
2. ONE BOURBON, ONE SCOTCH, ONE BEER - DEAN KING BOOK LAUNCH
Literary Art
Thursday, March 23, 5 PM
Candela Books + Gallery 214 West Broad Street Richmond, 23220
A new book from award-winning author Dean King is reason for a BIG celebration! Candela Gallery brings a band, refreshments, and special guests: Ron Smith and James McLaughlin to launch King’s new book Guardians of the Valley. Register online for this free event.
3. GELLMAN ROOM CONCERT: COMMONWEALTH CONCERT OPERA
Music
Saturday, March 25, 2 PM
Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, 23219
Richmond Public Library brings Commonwealth Concert Opera to present "Heroes from the Operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini." This concert features arias from La Forza del Destino, Simon Boccanegra, Il Trovatore, La Boheme, La Fanciulla del West, and Tosca, focusing on the male voices associated with the composers of these operas, who brought such a change to the art form. No registration required for this free event.
4. CAPITAL COMEDY SHOWCASE
Comedy
Thursday, March 23, 8 PM
Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House, 619 East Main Street, Richmond, 23219
$10 advance | $15 day of
Capital Comedy Showcase hosted by Charlie Waring. Show features Devon Simmons, plus Taylor Knight, Francesca Lyn, Taylor O'Sullivan, Josh Ward. Purchase tickets online.
5. 4TH FRIDAY ART SHOWS AND OPENING RECEPTION
Visual Art
Friday, March 24, 6 PM
Art Works Gallery, 320 Hull Street, Richmond, 23224
Join Art Works for their opening reception. Meet the artists Cary Loving in the main gallery, Bev Ulrich in the Centre Gallery, James Torres in the Corner Gallery. Helene Ruiz in the Port Gallery, and the Recycled All Media Show in the Skylight Gallery. There will be music and parking is free. Cary Loving, Helene Ruiz and James Torres continue through April 9th, Bev Ulrich and the Recycle Show exhibit continue through April 22, 2023. This event is free and open to the public.
6. STUDIO THREE: NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
Dance
Tuesday, March 21 – Saturday, March 25, 6:30 PM
Sunday, March 26, 1:30 PM & 4:30 PM
Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre, 407 East Canal Street, Richmond, 23219
$25-$105
Four choreographers, all new to working with Richmond Ballet, have 25 hours each to create a sketch of a work to be presented at the New Works Festival. A fan-favorite Studio performance, the New Works Festival has introduced some of the Ballet’s most beloved choreographers, including both Ma Cong and Katarzyna Skarpetowska, to Richmond audiences. This year’s festival will feature the diverse talents of Norbert De La Cruz III, Nancy Paradis, Claudia Schreier, and Yury Yanowsky, four remarkable choreographers of today. Purchase tickets online.
7. HOUSE SPECIAL
Comedy
Friday, March 24, 9 PM
Coalition Theatre, 8 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
$10
Every Friday at 9pm, the Coalition Theater presents a selection of house-teams performing long form improv comedy inspired by your suggestions. This week features Wolf Night and Petey! Purchase tickets online.
8. OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES
Music
Saturday, March 25, 4 PM
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 815 East Grace Street, Richmond, 23219
$16
Join One Voice Chorus for their winter concert, "Our Journey Continues," featuring their new Artistic Director, John W. McLean, Jr. This concert offers works by composers from Handel to Jester Hairston and styles from classical to spirituals to showtunes. There's something for everyone! Pre-concert conversation begins at 3 PM. Purchase tickets online.
9. BEETHOVEN’S FIRST
Music
Saturday, March 25, 7:30 PM at Louis F. Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School, 6010 Fergusson Rd., Richmond, 23226
Sunday, March 26, 2 PM at Blackwell Auditorium at Randolph-Macon College, 205 Henry St, Ashland, 23005
$15-$25
Vienna – 1800. A struggling young composer completes a symphony - the first of nine that will change the course of music and electrify audiences for two centuries. Chia-Husan Lin conducts Beethoven’s First Symphony, Haydn’s last Symphony, and works by two masters of our time – Vivian Fung and James Lee III. Presented in two venues by Richmond Symphony. See links above to purchase tickets online.
10. MAKIN' CAKE
Theatre
Tuesday, March 21, 8 PM
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, 147 Warsaw Avenue, Harrisonburg, 22801
$32 adults | $12 students
Wisconsin Poet Laureate and Milwaukee’s 2021 Artist of the Year, Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a widely-respected writer, performance artist and creative change agent. In Makin’ Cake, presented by JMU’s Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, she slices into American history, exploring race, culture and class in a refreshing and fun way. Dessert and dialogue with a cake reception will follow the performance. Purchase tickets online.
11. SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER - GAYLE TURNER TELLS STORIES OF MOSES
Storytelling
Saturday, March 25, 7 PM
Church of the Holy Comforter, 4819 Monument Avenue, Richmond, 23230
$20
The story of Moses is engaging, enriching, and the way Gayle Turner tells it, entertaining. Come in from the cold and fall under the spell of this magnificent tale. Americans have found meaning and sustenance in this story of escaping captivity and pursuing their destiny, since before the nation was formed. You may think you remember the story, but here's your chance to share it with family and friends. Purchase tickets online.
If you are an arts or cultural organization with lectures, exhibitions, performances, or even book readings, submit your events to Artsline here.
If you are an artist or an arts or cultural organization in need of resources and tools, check out the list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts and Richmond Ballet are sponsors of VPM.
