Virginia Arts Festival brings the culture

If you see Rob Cross walking his dogs on the beach, don’t let his relaxed manner fool you. His feet may be in the sand, but his head’s darting through concert halls and theaters around the world. The international performing arts festivals from Tanglewood to Salzberg, to the Edinburgh Fringe, the highest echelon of classical music competitions, and the best-of lists across major media. He’s got top-flight agents for the most iconic artists and the most heralded newcomers on speed dial. His focus? Bringing the world’s great artists to stages in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg and venues throughout Southeast Virginia under the banner of the Virginia Arts Festival.

Gathering the artists, conceiving collaborations, arranging the venues and managing the logistics of the dozens of performances that make up the Virginia Arts Festival every year “is like putting together a big, beautiful puzzle,” Cross said. “And seeing it all come together, catching up with these brilliant performers, hearing from the audiences…it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

When Cross first conceived the Virginia Arts Festival in 1997, area performing arts fans with a serious hankering for internationally renowned artists had few choices

By Jo Manley

locally. The closest a ballet or modern dance lover could get to see top companies was a trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., or the Lincoln Center in New York. Classical music lovers who longed to experience top soloists beyond recordings were in the same fix. Although Hampton Roads has always been home to a thriving jazz and folk/ Americana scene, road trips were needed to catch the performers who topped fans’ must-hear lists.

A classically trained musician who has served as principal percussionist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1987, Cross has formed years-long friendships with music lovers and other artists in the region. He saw a need and sought to fill it by creating the Virginia Arts Festival. Over the years, festival patrons have heard world-class classical artists, savored great voices from opera and Broadway and seen some of the world’s great ballet and dance. They have also enjoyed top stars of jazz, pop, R&B, Americana and world music. Every year reveals new treasures, and fans keep flocking back—including not just locals, but travelers from across the U.S. and countries around the world.

If you build it, they will come Cross and his visionary funders have built new performance spaces such as the Clay & Jay Barr Education center, the Virginia Arts festival’s own dedicated building in downtown Norfolk. They have also filled venues like Virginia Beach’s Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall, Newport News’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Norfolk’s historic Attucks Theatre. The Robin Hixon Theater accommodates audiences up to 200 with adaptable staging for musical ensembles, speakers, cabaret acts and more. The Virginia Arts Festival also created its own outdoor performance venue, the Perry Pavilion, in the heart of Norfolk’s arts district just steps from Chrysler Hall and Scope Arena. The Perry Pavilion has hosted some of the most heralded performers in Americana/roots music, jazz, classical, theater and even opera. Perhaps the most unique performance space has been the site of Virginia Arts Festival’s Williamsburg. A live three-day outdoor music festival that takes over the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg each June, drawing thousands of fans each year.

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

2023: A spectacular 26th season Brilliant dance

The 2023 Virginia Arts Festival lineup boasts any rival in its star-studded history. The undisputed leader in dance programming in the region (and beyond), the Festival will present a brilliant array of dance from classical ballet to contemporary. These performances offer more than 15,000 seats for dance lovers to claim. It begins with the most beloved ballet of all time, “Swan Lake’’, performed by one of the most acclaimed ballet companies in the U.S., the beautiful Philadelphia Ballet. The romantic tale —with its enchanted maidens turned into swans, a handsome prince and an evil sorcerer—leaps to life in a production that shimmers with moonlight, with gorgeous costumes. The performance is a rare treat for ballet fans who are more accustomed to performances set to recorded music as the lush Tchaikovsky score will be performed live by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Audiences young and old will love this breathtaking experience and can choose from three performances in Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall in April.

Beloved around the world, the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Festival in April. Hailed as “unbelievable… change-your-life good” by NBC, the company was founded by the iconic dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey who famously said, “Dance is for everybody.” Ailey has set about proving it in the company’s meteoric rise from small struggling troupe to a major force in dance around the world with millions of fans on six continents. In a special residency, the Virginia Arts Festival will present six performances of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and provide opportunities for area school children to participate in workshops and in-school events with the dancers.

Each performance will close with Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece “Revelations,” set to classic spirituals including “Wade in the Water,” “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham,” “I Wanna Be Ready” and more. A rousing tradition that lifts audiences to their feet, Revelations pays homage to African American cultural heritage which Ailey thought of as one of America’s richest treasures.

Rounding out the Virginia Arts Festival’s dance presentations will be two Sandler Center performances in Virginia Beach in May. The brilliant “Ballet Hispaníco” showcases electrifying rhythms driven by traditional and contemporary music reflecting Latinx culture.

The critically acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group will perform a new work co-commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival, “The Look of Love,” created by Morris and set to music of pop icons Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Mark Morris has melded music from Bach to the Beatles with dance that charms and thrills audiences. In his newest work, Morris takes on unforgettable Bacharach hits like “Alfie,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and more to create a whirling, dazzling and joyful feast of dance with bright pop-flavored costumes by famed designer and author Isaac Mizrahi.

Incomparable classical

It’s hard to imagine a more diverse and eclectic selection of classical music performances than the roster that the Virginia Arts Festival brings each year. Known for inspired collaborations with area arts organizations, the Festival sparks unique projects like this season’s presentation of Grammy Award-winning mandolin wizard Chris Thile and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Thile, who is a genrebending artist, will join the Symphony to perform the world premiere of his new mandolin concerto this May. He burst onto the music scene at the tender age of eight when his family launched the popular bluegrass band Nickel Creek. He describes his new concerto as “a big ol’ narrative song cycle/mandolin concerto that tells, plays and sings the true story of the time I attempted to impress a Starbucks executive and accidentally met Carrie Fisher as a result.”

Music lovers will have another opportunity to hear a stunning new work when composer Jessie Montgomery brings her “Five Freedom Songs” to the Attucks Theatre stage in June. Montgomery has caught the attention of critics in recent years, who have hailed her “wildly colorful” music “exploding with life” (The Washington Post). She conceived this new work with soprano Julia Bullock, who will perform her music with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. “Five Freedom Songs” honors African American heritage and the tradition of the Negro spiritual, resonant with history and reimagined for today’s audiences.

Classical music fans couldn’t pick a better place to live than Hampton Roads, where the Festival’s chamber music programming is curated by Van Cliburn Gold Medalawarded pianist Olga Kern. One of the top piano competitions in the world, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has only awarded 18 gold medals since its founding in 1962—and the pianist planning the Virginia Arts Festival’s season of chamber music holds one of them. The season will include performances by acclaimed artists like violinist Tianwa Yang. The Emerson String Quartet will include a celebration of the 150th anniversary of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth. Russian-born Kern has a special regard for this passionate composer’s popular works as she was born into a musical family with direct ties to Rachmaninoff.

Music for every taste

If classical music is not your thing, you’ll find plenty of genres to choose from in the 2023 calendar. One of the most exciting early events is the February performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. In a groundbreaking new project with the Virginia Arts Festival, members of this legendary orchestra and its staff will work with student bands from historically Black colleges and universities. They will provide mentorship, master classes, and invaluable advice and support. Then individuals who are participating in the HBCU ensembles will perform onstage opening for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis, a nine-time Grammy winner and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, is passionate in his support of education, and this new collaboration supports young artists at a critical point in their development—work that will echo far into the future.

Another music legend coming this season is Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Smokey Robinson, who performs at Chrysler Hall in May.

In May, Banjo master Béla Fleck brings an ensemble of musicians who between them claim 21 of the Grammy statuettes! Fleck fans will follow this adventurous virtuoso anywhere the music takes him—from bluegrass to jazz to classical. In this concert, the trip is international as he joins bassist Edgar Meyer, tabla (Indian hand drum) legend Zakir Hussain and Indian flutist Rakesh Chaurasia for a sound journey not soon to be forgotten. That’s just one of the musical adventures that await in the Virginia Arts Festival’s inviting Norfolk outdoor venue, the Perry Pavilion.

In June, The Wood Brothers return to Williamsburg Live, in Colonial Williamsburg. Dubbed the “masters of soulful folk” by Paste magazine, the Grammy Awardwinning trio delivers “impressive musicianship, relatable lyrics and mesmerizing stage antics” (Charleston City Paper). In sell-out shows across the U.S. Opening for The Wood Brothers is another fan favorite, Shovels & Rope, the husband-and-wife duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. Their “gritty rhythms, full throated vocals, and powerful piano” (Americana Highways) never fail to move the listener.

Also in June, iconic singersongwriter Kenny Loggins performs. With a new memoir out and a catalog of songs that include indelible pop hits like “Danny’s Song” and “What A Fool Believes” and film score anthems like “I’m Alright” (Caddyshack) and “Danger Zone” (Top Gun), his new compositions are sure to please his fan base. And blues/roots rocker legend and five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ will take the Williamsburg Live stage for a feel-good closer to music under the stars.

An Experience Like No Other: The Virginia International Tattoo

When Rob Cross first envisioned the Virginia Arts Festival in 1997, he had a novel idea to bring a worldclass Tattoo to the Hampton Roads region. For the uninitiated, the tattoo in reference is not the familiar inky stamp but a spectacular celebration of military music. In this case, the word “tattoo” is an Anglicization of “doe de Tap-toe,” which is Dutch for “turn off the tap”—the centuriesold signal to soldiers to leave the taverns and return to their barracks. That parade of returning soldiers often accompanied by bagpipes, drumming and bands became known worldwide as Tattoo. Norfolk, which is home to the only North American Headquarters for NATO and the world’s largest Navy base, is at the center of an area with the largest population of active duty and retired military in the United States. It was the perfect spot for a Tattoo to rival the greatest in the world.

Under the guidance of Cross and his colleague Scott Jackson, the Virginia International Tattoo is now the largest such event in the

United States bringing hundreds of international performers annually. Each year is different, but the common threads of stirring music, patriotism and international friendship bind the audiences and artists alike.

With the moving theme “Tribute to Military Families,” the 2023 Virginia International Tattoo will feature a spectacular international cast of more than 800 performers. Bands from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps will be joined by civilian and military performers from seven countries including the Singapore Armed Force Central Band, the Latvian Central Band, and the Massed Pipes and Drums from four nations.

Tickets for the 2023 Virginia Arts Festival events are on sale now. Visit vafest.org for show dates, ticket information and more details.

Jo Manley is the director of marketing and communications at Virginia Arts Festival, with more than 25 years of strategic planning in performing arts comunications with organizations such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Joffrey Ballet and Shakespeare Theatre, to name a few.

February 4–5

Chris Rock

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Chris Rock brings his comedic brilliance to the Chrysler Hall for a 2 night, phone free experience. This intimate setting is a perfect excuse to have a night out with family and friends.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $46.50 www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/chris-rock

February 4–26

Black History Month at the Virginia Living Museum

Newport News | Virginia Living Museum

Every Saturday and Sunday in February, a STEM science activity will be held for guests of the Virginia Living Museum. Additionally, the museum will spotlight a different Black scientist weekly through their social media platforms and their onsite monitors.

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

COST: Free with valid membership; $19.95 to $23.95 for ages 13 and above; $16.95 for children ages 3–13; children age 2 and under free thevlm.org/museum-events

February 11, 12 and 14

Spirit of Norfolk’s Valentines

Dinner Cruise

Norfolk | Waterside

Make plans to board this luxurious ship for a romantic dinner cruise with your significate other. You will sail the Elizbeth River and see the most beautiful vistas of the Norfolk waterways as you enjoy dinner and dancing the night away.

TIME: Departure times vary due to the date chosen

COST: Package prices begin at $99 www.cityexperiences.com/norfolk/ city-cruises/valentines-signaturedinner-cruise

February 13

Cirque Zuma Zuma

Virginia Beach | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

As seen on America’s Got Talent. Described as “an African-style Cirque du Soleil,” Cirque Zuma Zuma pushes the envelope of human possibility with astonishing and unbelievable human feats of balance, agility and flexibility, all set to African music, drumming, and dance.

TIME: 7 p.m.

COST: $21–$41 www.sandlercenter.org/events/ detail/cirque-zuma-zuma

February 17–18

Gospel According to Swing with Byron Stripling

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Newport News | Ferguson Center

Experience this jubilant concert bursting with the spirit of gospel music, and bubbling with the influences of jazz and blues. Joined by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $25–$114 virginiasymphony.org/gospelaccording-to-swing-with-byronstripling-2-17-2-18

February 23

The Incomparable Yo-Yo Ma

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Yo-Yo Ma joins the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for what will be a brilliant master class of music. This world class celloist has been here before to entertain us and is always an area favorite. Prepare yourself for a night that you will not soon forget.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $84 www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/yo-yo-ma

February 25

Jazz at the Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

The Virginia Arts Festival has collaborated with jazz at Lincoln Center to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians with this unique three-day residency that features jazz ensembles from historically Black colleges and universities. The residency culminates in this special concert showcasing the top performing ensembles during the first half, followed by the illustrious Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $28 www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/jazz-at-lincoln-centerorchestra

February 25–26

Antique Show & Sale

Suffolk | King’s Fork Middle School

The 39th Annual Antique Show & Sale, sponsored by the Suffolk Art League, will feature multiple antiques and collectibles dealers from the mid-Atlantic region offering a wide variety of items for sale including silver, jewelry, porcelain, artwork, linens, art glass, furniture, and much more. In addition, clock repair by Father Time Antiques and crystal repair by Art Glass of Tidewater will be available. Proceeds support the League including exhibits and student programs.

TIME: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

COST: $7 tinyurl.com/5tekj6u5

March 3–5

Newport News One City Marathon

Newport News | Various locations

Now in its 9th year, the Newport News One City Marathon is a great point-to-point marathon option located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The course is known for fast times and a high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifying times. There are also additional race distances available including half marathon, 5K and Nautical Mile Fun Run. If you are up for a challenge, run the 5K on Saturday and either the half or full marathon Sunday.

TIME: Friday: packet pick up noon–7 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

COST: Depends upon race $20–$170 (prices go up after Feb. 28) www.onecitymarathon.com

So many performances are coming to the area! From music to dance, the cultural scene is rich across our region.

Read more about the Virginia Arts Festival beginning on p. 18.

For tickets and a schedule of performances, visit vafest.org.

March 8–11

The MEAC Basketball Tournament

Norfolk | Scope Arena

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the academic school year. The tournament games are played at the Norfolk Scope Arena. Both the men’s and women’s champions will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.

TIME & COST: Check website for tickets and schedule. www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/meac-basketball-tournament-1

March 10

Shamrockin’ in Ghent

Norfolk | Historic Ghent /Colley Ave.

The much-anticipated annual St. Patrick’s Day block party in Norfolk’s historic Ghent district. The event launches the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Thousands of people come out to celebrate with live music from The Fighting Jamesons. The Tidewater Pipes and Drums kick off the event on the street. There are beer trucks, Irish whiskey and local food vendors. Sponsored by Hope House.

TIME: 6–10 p.m.

COST: NA hope-house.org/events/shamrockinin-ghent-information

March 11

Margret Cho; Live and Livid!

Hampton Coliseum www.hamptoncoliseum.org/events/ detail/margaret-cho-comedy-thecoliseum

This comedian, actress, musician, and activist brings her trailblazing comedy to the Hampton Coliseum as a part of the Comedy at the Coliseum, American Theater Series.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets starting at $55. Add a VIP, meet and greet ticket for only $100.

March 11

Stargazing Night: Dark Side of the Moon

Newport News | Virginia Living Museum

This album and band have always represented the ultimate in laser show experiences. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd’s groundbreaking album Dark Side of the Moon with laser lights set to music in the planetarium. Earlier shows that evening highlight other Pink Floyd albums.

TIME: 10 p.m.

COST: $5 members; $8 per show thevlm.org/museum-events

March 12

The Peking Acrobats

Newport News | Ferguson Center for the Arts

The Shanghai Circus has created a very special acrobatic extravaganza unlike any other. This breathtaking afternoon will leave you mesmerized!

TIME: 3 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $28.50 www.fergusoncenter.org/events/ detail/peking-acrobats

March 16

Stephen Marley

Norfolk | The NorVA

Eight-time Grammy award-winning singer, musician and producer Stephen Marley is a true pioneer of reggae music. The second son of music icons Bob and Rita Marley, Stephen is a legend in his own right, producing a robust collection of prolific music that infuses reggae with hip hop, soul, jazz, doo-wop and much more. In his “Old Soul Unplugged 2023” tour, Marley performs a powerful acoustic set with his full band, playing songs from his catalog as well as some of his dad’s classics. $1 from every ticket sold will go to the Ghetto Youth Foundation.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $28 www.thenorva.com/events/ detail/458556

March 28–April 9

HAMILTON

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by LinManuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

TIME: Multiple show dates and times. See website for details

COST: TBA www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/hamilton-1

April 1

Guns N Hoses Hockey

Norfolk | Scope Arena

13th Annual Guns N Hoses game is back at the Scope. Local area police officers and firemen will battle it out on the Admirals’ ice to raise money for the Hero Kids Foundation.

TIME: 1 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $19 tinyurl.com/m7s5v9fh

April 1

KAIVON

Norfolk | The NorVA Kaivon established himself as a unique force in the electronic music scene in 2016 with his first single release ‘Reborn’. Following a theme of rebirth and transformation in life, he released prominent independent singles like “I Love You”, “Heartbeat”, “First Breath” and more, gaining global listeners. His “Awakening” album, released in 2022, relays the messages of living in the now and you are never alone.

TIME: 9 p.m.

COST: $38–$48 www.thenorva.com/events/ detail/464711

April 6

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane Tour

Virginia Beach | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Postmodern Jukebox’s (PMJ) Life In The Past Lane Concert Tour is a celebration of the greatest 20th-century musical genres, fused with the recognizable hits of our own modern era, for the perfect patina of “vintage” and “modern.” As always, the PMJ Universe comes to life with a cast full of today’s most exciting vocalists, instrumentalists, and tap dancers, to bring you the top-shelf entertainment experience for which PMJ is known.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $38–$58 www.sandlercenter.org/events/ detail/pmj

April 8

An Evening with Bernadette Peters Newport News | Ferguson Center for the Arts

This Broadway baby has dazzled audiences of the stage, film and small screen and has earned her Tony Awards, Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her accomplishments are too numerous to list but one thing can be assured: Your evening with Bernadette will be glamorous and memorable. Come see this entertainment icon.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $48.50 www.fergusoncenter.org/events/ detail/bernadette-peters