“We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.” – Japanese Proverb
Warm weather has arrived – and with it fabulous opportunities to grab a friend and jump into local RVA arts & culture. This week we have theatre and music, history and puppets. And, of course, there’s dance! With so many events and experiences, we just might find ourselves dancing as well!
To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.
1. NEW VOICES IN DANCE
Dance
Friday, March 31, 8 PM
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, 147 Warsaw Avenue, Harrisonburg, 22801
$16 adults | $12 students
This annual concert at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts features dances by selected James Madison University dance majors, former JMU dance professor Cynthia Thompson, and JMU’s College of Visual & Performing Arts’ Dean Rubén Graciani, who—in collaboration with The Madison Singers, JMU Chorale, a marimba ensemble and JMU dance students—will premiere Triptych, a fast-moving, three-movement work by Grammy-nominated composer Tarik O’Regan. Purchase tickets online.
2. THE CLOWN CAR ROLLS ON!
Puppetry
Sunday, April 2, 8 PM
Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
$10-$25 (pay what you will)
Ages 13+
Join the fun as Rabbit Foot Puppetry rolls through Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre in the circus-revue-clown-horror-puppet-show event of the year! This touring ensemble tour de force brings to life a zany mixture of shadow puppetry, hand and rod puppetry, large-scale spooky puppets, stilt walking, and clowning. Step right up and become shook, revel in delight, and bask in amusement as they roll through existentialism, love, the Cow of Creation, and America’s newest cryptic cryptid! Clown costumes encouraged. Suitable for 13 and older. Purchase tickets online.
3. JASON NARDUCY WITH STRING SECTION
Music
Sunday, April 2, 6 PM
Chilton House, Forest Hill Neighborhood (address is provided at ticket purchase)
$30
Jason Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Split Single) returns to Chilton House with a string section for his most unique show yet. We are excited to welcome him back! 100% of the proceeds go to the artist. Show is in the Forest Hill area of Richmond (address is provided at ticket purchase). This is a BYOB event. Purchase tickets online.
4. THE FALL OF RICHMOND
Music
Sunday, April 2, 7 PM
Gallery 5, 200 West Marshall Street, Richmond, 23220
Join Classical Revolution and their 2022 Featured Composer, Curt Sydnor, at Gallery 5 for the premiere of The Fall of Richmond, a new chamber symphony. The piece evokes the turmoil and exultation which overtook Richmond on April 2-4,1865 as Confederate forces burned and abandoned the city. Composed in Richmond during the protests of 2020, the work is an ode to the U.S. Colored Troops regiment which led the march into Richmond, to President Lincoln’s famous visit the following day, and to the concurrent liberation of Richmond’s enslaved population. No registration required for this free event.
5. MAKING SENSE OF THE ART WORLD: HOW DID ART GET MIXED UP IN POLITICS?
Visual Art, History
Tuesday, March 28, 6 PM
Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU, 601 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
$10 admission | free for educators, students, artists
The ICA at VCU brings a discussion on how to see and understand contemporary art. Explore the intersection of politics and contemporary art in this second course of a three-part series. For centuries, art has taken sides in the political struggles of its day. Art history has been the story of artists who sought to be the vanguard not just of artistic change, but of social and political change too. That is what we mean when we talk about art being avant-garde. How and why is politics so present in the art of our time? Purchase tickets online.
6. SILENT SKY
Theatre
Through April 2
Fridays & Saturdays, 8 PM
Sunday matinees, 2:30 PM
Atlee High School, 9414 Atlee Station Road, Mechanicsville, 23116
$24
Chamberlayne Actors Theatre presents Silent Sky, the true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt exploring a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in “girl hours” and has no time for the women’s probing theories. Purchase tickets online.
7. A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE...OF DELEGATES
History
Wednesday, March 29, 6 PM
Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, 23219
109 women have served in the House, with a record number of 36 women in 2023. Virginia has often lagged the nation in the percentage of women in its governing bodies. How have women battled Virginia's "old boys' network" and pushed through barriers to take their place in the halls of power? Join the Library of Virginia in celebrating a century of Women in the House. A group of House members will discuss the challenges, opportunities and changes they have experienced in Capitol Square. Registration required for this free event.
8. GREENING RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Landscape Art
Friday & Saturday, March 31 & April 1
East End Branch, Richmond Public Library, 1200 North 25th Street, Richmond, 23223
Join the James River Association for a community tree planting event at East End Branch Library, as part of their Greening Richmond Public Libraries initiative! Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and a bottle of water. Tools and planting instructions will be provided by James River Association staff members. Register online for this free, volunteer event.
9. PAMUNKEY NUNOWÁM EXHIBIT & OPENING WEEKEND
Visual Art, History, Culture
Saturday & Sunday, April 1 & 2
Pamunkey Indian Museum & Cultural Center, 175 Lay Landing Road, King William, 23086
The Pamunkey Indian Museum & Cultural Center reopens to the public for the 2023. The museum is very excited to announce that the exhibit Pamunkey Nunowám opens to the public. The exhibition celebrates the modern Pamunkey people through the lens of contemporary Pamunkey photographer, Rebecca Hill.
10. SABOTAGE BY SOUND EFFECTS
Radio Theatre
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 28 & 29, 7:30 PM
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, 23060
On the Air Radio Players presents Sabotage By Sound Effects. When Gabby is stuck at the sound effects table for yet another live radio production, she decides to sabotage the production and seek revenge on the director, technical director and especially the voice actors the only way she can – with the sound effects! No registration required for this free event.
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, the Library of Virginia and VCUarts are sponsors of VPM.
