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Season 2026–27

Your Home for Live Performance

A Mason Arts Venue

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Season

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2026–27

A New Season Awaits Welcome to the 2026–27 season at the Center for the Arts, a Mason Arts venue. With each performance, we invite you to step beyond the everyday and into the extraordinary.

Experience transcendent dance with gravity-defying Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI, New Zealand’s explosive Black Grace, the spectacular Shanghai Ballet, captivating Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, and the pioneering Martha Graham Dance Company.

For soul-stirring music, catch the return of African music icon Angélique Kidjo, reigning virtuoso of the violin Itzhak Perlman with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, radically collaborative Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, impeccable a cappella ensemble VOCES8, the esteemed National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Virginia Opera’s powerful Pagliacci and Turandot, festive holiday concerts from Spanish Harlem Orchestra and multilingual sensation Pink Martini All-Stars, and more.

ADRIENNE BRYANT GODWIN Director of Programming

Simply Choose Three or More Performances

Discover What Moves You

Learn more on p. 20.

Subscriber Benefits Include:

• Prime Seats • Savings on Tickets* • Discounts All Season Long • No-Fee Ticket Exchanges* Learn more about subscriber benefits on p. 20. * Applies to Great Performances at Mason and Family Series events only

Enjoy jaw-dropping circus arts from the audacious ensemble Gandini Juggling, evocative drama from Aquila Theatre, and whimsical Family Series performances including magnetic mad scientist Mario the Maker Magician and science-packed game show WOW in the World Presents: Make It WOW! Our three Mason Artists-in-Residence build community beyond their time onstage, leading interactive workshops and discussions to catalyze creativity and connections: Music From The Sole, an electrifying tap dance and live music company; Third Coast Percussion, known for its unexpected and virtuosic musical explorations; and Silkroad Ensemble—returning for its fifth consecutive year—with daring jazz musician Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Join us for this season of awe-inspiring performances and deep engagement!

Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI

703-993-2787 cfa.gmu.edu Ticket Office

Check website for updated hours

Front cover, clockwise from top left: Angélique Kidjo, Mario the Maker Magician, Martha Graham Dance Company, Third Coast Percussion, Jeff Goldblum.

2 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Center for the Arts

Individual Tickets

Table of Contents

Tickets for individual 2026–27 performances go on sale August 4.

Until then, tickets are available only as part of a subscription.

Special Event: ARTS by George!...........4 Great Performances at Mason................5 Family Series................................................. 17 Mason Artists-in-Residence.................18 College of Visual and Performing Arts.....................................18 Become a Friend.........................................19 Subscriptions...............................................20 Plan Your Visit............................................. 22 Accessibility and Seating Chart......... 23

Ensure your tickets are authentic.

Only purchase from cfa.gmu.edu.

Prices listed throughout brochure include fees.

PPD = pre-performance discussion

ALL = all ages

SF

= sensory-friendly

= audio described

= ASL interpreted

= open caption

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Explore the Season Online

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Great Performances at Mason

T Mason Artist-in-Residence

Music From The Sole I Didn’t Come to Stay

Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. $60, $52, $38

ARTS by George!

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra Saturday, October 3 at 8:30 p.m. $145, $105, $75

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra headline the 21st annual ARTS by George! in a wickedly entertaining performance you won’t want to miss. Goldblum—currently The Wizard of Oz in the global box office hit Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo—has enjoyed a celebrated six-decade career spanning film, television, and stage, with credits including Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. He founded the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra more than 30 years ago, and together they have performed for audiences worldwide, reimagining jazz classics and American Songbook favorites with signature charm and swing. Time Out raves, “Goldblum tickles the ivories as well as the audience… We’re smitten.” ALL

This concert is part of the annual ARTS by George! benefit, supporting College of Visual and Performing Arts student scholarships, the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts.

Full-experience benefit tickets include premiere orchestra seating for concert, a variety of student showcases, a buffet dinner, and a post-performance reception onstage with the artist.

Learn more: artsbygeorge.gmu.edu.

Tickets to ARTS by George! and Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are not available as part of a Center for the Arts 2026–27 subscription package or at a discount. Concert-only tickets go on sale August 4. Prior to August 4, subscribers may purchase tickets as a Special Event add-on.

Vibrant tap dance and live music company Music From The Sole “breaks down walls between music and movement” (The Boston Globe). Led by Brazilian choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and composer Gregory Richardson, the ensemble embraces tap’s unique blend of sound and movement, incorporating a spectrum of influences like samba, passinho (Brazilian funk), AfroCuban, jazz, and house. As a Mason Artistin-Residence, Music From The Sole will also bring its “jolt of good energy” (The New York Times) directly to the community through classes and workshops in conjunction with its performance. PPD ALL

VOCES8 Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. $65, $55, $45

Grammy Award-nominated British a cappella ensemble brings a performance that’s sure to inspire. As the world’s top streaming classical vocal group, VOCES8 is praised for “gorgeous sound, impeccable ensemble and intense responsiveness to text, harmony and melodic shape—all of the highest quality” (BBC Music Magazine).

The group has performed at many notable venues from Wigmore Hall to Sydney Opera House with an extensive repertory that ranges from pop and jazz to classical music more than 800 years old. “Close harmony singing doesn’t get much more flawless than this” (The Times). PPD ALL

ARTS by George! Presenting Sponsor: Atlantic Union Bank

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Subscribers get no-fee ticket exchanges (see p. 20)

Great Performances at Mason

Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI

Canadian Brass

Making Spirits Bright

Sol Invictus

Saturday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. $70, $60, $45

Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. $65, $55, $45

“With their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor” (The Washington Post), Canadian Brass returns with a delightful program of original arrangements and signature takes on beloved classics, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Christmastime is Here.” The Toronto Star raves, “Nothing proclaims celebration and festivity like the sound of brass instruments. And if those instruments are played by Canadian Brass, there is even greater cause for celebration.”

Led by the Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi, Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI makes its thrilling Center for the Arts debut. Drawing from Algerian and Mediterranean culture, the company combines contemporary and urban dance, capoeira, and martial arts with powerful imagery and entrancing choreography. In this latest program, Sol Invictus—named after the “invincible sun” deity—dancers defy gravity to the music of Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, as well as excerpts by Steve Reich and digital composer Maxime Bodson. “Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI renders movement into poetry” (The New Yorker). PPD ALL

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Spanish Harlem Orchestra Salsa Navidad

Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. $60, $52, $38

Shanghai Ballet

Shanghai Ballet

Choreography by Xin Lili / Music by Xu Jianqiang

Choreography by Marius Petipa / Adaptation by Xin Lili

Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 8 at 4 p.m.

In Butterfly Lovers, the company blends classical precision with poetic Chinese storytelling. Often described as the nation’s Romeo and Juliet, this timeless tale of love and sacrifice unfolds with sweeping choreography, sumptuous design, and “rare beauty and technical perfection” (CriticalDance). PPD ALL

“Technically exquisite and emotionally moving” (Ottawa Citizen), the production traces a young peasant girl’s love, heartbreak, and transformation into one of the ethereal Wilis.

One of China’s foremost ballet companies, Shanghai Ballet has captivated audiences worldwide since 1979. PPD ALL

Butterfly Lovers $70, $60, $45

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Giselle $70, $60, $45

Spanish Harlem Orchestra brings its vibrant sound to the Center for the Arts for Salsa Navidad, a celebration of Puerto Rican holiday traditions. Led by pianist and founder Oscar Hernández, the three-time Grammy-winning ensemble has released 10 albums over the past 25 years. Newsday calls the group “the leading light of the salsa reconstruction movement.” The program blends aguinaldo—the island’s lively caroling tradition—with beloved American Christmas favorites in Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s electrifying salsa dura style. As The New York Times writes, “This band reminds you of the excitement that is central to the salsa orchestra.” PPD ALL

Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase

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Great Performances at Mason

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Pink Martini All-Stars

Aquila Theatre

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Present

A Season of Stars

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 23 at 2 p.m.

$115, $75, $45

$60, $52, $38

Thomas Lauderdale’s globe-trotting “little orchestra” Pink Martini makes its Center for the Arts debut with an all-new holiday show featuring three of the band’s favorite singers and long-time collaborators: NPR’s dashing Ari Shapiro, the soulful Edna Vazquez, and the sensational America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod. “This is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody...”

(The Washington Post). PPD ALL

This New York-based company, with origins in London, is one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the U.S. Aquila Theatre is recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities as a company of distinctive cultural significance in traditional British performance. In this gothic horror tale, audiences will be exposed to the terrifying nature of a fractured self. “Aquila’s productions are beautifully spoken, dramatically revealing and crystalline in effect” (The New Yorker).

This performance is recommended for ages 12 and older. PPD

Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase

Sponsored by Dianne and Gerard Blais

American Festival Pops Orchestra Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season Peter Wilson, conductor

Saturday, December 12 at 4 p.m. $70, $60, $45

The American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) spreads musical goodwill and cheer in this annual favorite! Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season returns under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson, former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House. The AFPO comprises more than 60 professional musicians, including faculty members from George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music, as well as instrumentalists from U.S. Armed Forces music ensembles and local orchestras. PPD ALL

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Black Grace Saturday, January 30 at 7:30 p.m. $65, $55, $45

Hailed as one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance companies, Black Grace masterfully blends contemporary and Samoan dance genres to create innovative work that “crosses geographic and social boundaries, often with innovative flair and theatricality” (The Boston Globe). Founded in 1995 by acclaimed choreographer Neil Ieremia, the company has wowed audiences around the world with its explosive physicality and rich storytelling. Audiences won’t want to miss the “exhilarating, seemingly inexhaustible energy” (The New York Times) of this troupe. PPD ALL Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase

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Friends Get Insider Benefits (see p. 19)

Great Performances at Mason

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason

Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m.

Program: Handel: Water Music, Suites Nos. 1 and 3 (selections) Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major Katie Jenkins: OCO Commission (for strings) Haydn: Symphony No. 91 in E-flat major

Volodymyr Sirenko, conductor Dymytro Udovychenko, violin $70, $60, $45

The Kyiv-based National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is recognized as one of the most distinguished orchestras in Eastern Europe. Grammy Award-winning conductor Volodymyr Sirenko leads the ensemble in a program including Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 5; works by Ukrainian composers Dmitry Bortniansky and Valentin Silvestrov; and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, featuring the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition winner Dymytro Udovychenko. PPD ALL

Sunday, February 21 at 2 p.m. $70, $60, $45

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra returns to the Center for the Arts with an exhilarating program including returning audience favorite, “phenom” (San Francisco Chronicle) pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. Celebrated for its conductorless performances, Orpheus has spent more than 50 years bringing fresh energy to classical music.

“Playing with perfect unanimity, their performances have polish and spirit, and display an infectious love for making music” (The New York Times). PPD ALL

Sponsored by the Tom and Evelyn Kiley Fund

Sponsored by Joyce Goche-Grimes

Mason Artist-in-Residence

Third Coast Percussion

Ripples in the Water: Philip Glass at 90 Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. $65, $55, $45

This Grammy Award-winning quartet brings an electrifying program celebrating the music and influence of composer Philip Glass, as he turns 90 in 2027. The ensemble commissioned Glass in 2018 to compose his first work for a percussion ensemble, included on this program. “Third Coast Percussion continues to push percussion in new directions, blurring musical boundaries and beguiling new listeners” (NPR). PPD ALL This Mason Artist-in-Residence is sponsored by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

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Gaelic Storm Sunday, March 7 at 7 p.m. $70, $60, $45

Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with this Celtic rock juggernaut known for its high-energy live shows packed with witty banter, “musical bravura,” and an “infectious love for performance” (Cornell Daily Sun). Since bursting onto the scene with its appearance in the blockbuster movie Titanic (performing “Irish Party in Third Class”), the band has toured worldwide, drawing throngs of devoted fans to its more than 2,000 performances and racking up six No. 1 albums on the Billboard World Albums chart. Experience Gaelic Storm’s blustery blend of Celtic tradition with modern rock, bluegrass, and folk influences in this unforgettable, fun-filled stage show. PPD ALL Sponsored by Susan and Michael Murphy

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Great Performances at Mason

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Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra

World Premiere

Mason Artist-in-Residence

Jim Carroll, artistic director

Silkroad Ensemble featuring Cécile McLorin Salvant

Saturday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.

$80, $65, $50

The Divas of Cool

Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.

$65, $55, $45

Joined by U.S.-raised French-Haitian composer and vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, the Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble returns for the fifth consecutive season. With a deep passion for storytelling through music ranging from blues and folk to baroque and vaudeville, Salvant is “one of the most daring and resourceful vocalists in jazz—or any other genre, for that matter” (Uncut). Salvant has won three consecutive Grammy Awards for best jazz vocal album, as well as a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship. PPD

Audience favorite the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra returns with a stylish celebration of the women who defined the cool jazz era.

Led by founder, artistic director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll, the orchestra— comprised of many of the region’s finest musicians—sets the stage for an evening of smoky ballads and finger-snapping swing.

Vocalists Darden Purcell (pictured) and Sara Jones bring to life the music of Peggy Lee, June Christy, Chris Connor, and Anita O’Day. This sparkling program captures the wit, elegance, and irresistible groove of mid-century American song at its coolest. PPD ALL

Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase This Mason Artist-in-Residence is sponsored by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

Martha Graham Dance Company GRAHAM100 Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.

12 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman Cinema Serenade

$70, $60, $45

Christopher Zimmerman, conductor

Widely regarded as a pioneer of modern dance, Martha Graham transformed the art form with a technique and expressive language. Honoring a century of groundbreaking artistry, this program showcases iconic masterworks alongside contemporary voices inspired by Graham’s enduring legacy. Founded in 1926, the company remains one of the most influential forces in modern dance. As The Washington Post declares, it is “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe.”

Witness a century of innovation come to life in a performance that continues to shape the future of modern dance. PPD ALL

Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. $135, $105, $75

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) joins 16-time Grammy winner and legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman for Cinema Serenade, an evening celebrating some of the most beloved music in film history. This special co-presentation with the Center for the Arts and FSO promises to be an unforgettable concert where the magic of cinema meets the brilliance of a live orchestra. As The New York Times writes, “Perlman’s violin sings with unmatched warmth and humanity.” PPD ALL

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Explore the Season Online

Great Performances at Mason

Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE

Gandini Juggling

Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1 at 4 p.m.

Heka

$65, $55, $45

$60, $52, $38

A Guggenheim Fellow and Astaire Award–winning choreographer, Ronald K. Brown has created an “irresistibly kinetic” (The New York Times) body of work bridging contemporary dance and African diasporic traditions. At just 19, he founded EVIDENCE, a Brooklyn-based company dedicated to reflecting the stories, cultures, and shared experiences of communities through movement. Blending contemporary, West African, and Caribbean influences, his choreography explores themes of identity, spirituality, and resilience. EVIDENCE performances are “breathtaking and lifesustaining and hopeful” (The Boston Globe).

PPD

Formed in 1992 by celebrated jugglers Sean Gandini and Kati Ylä-Hokkala, Gandini Juggling is a world leader in contemporary circus—redefining what juggling can be with daring creativity and jaw-dropping skills. After more than 6,000 performances across 50 countries, they bring to the stage Heka, a thrilling collision of juggling and magic where objects vanish, reappear, float, and transform before your eyes. Clever, charming, and endlessly entertaining, Heka delivers big laughs, astonishing “how did they do that?” moments, and pure wonder. “A delightful blend of high skill, silliness and surrealism” (The Times). PPD ALL

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Angélique Kidjo Sunday, April 25 at 7 p.m. $80, $65, $50

Five-time Grammy Award winner and “towering figure of cross-cultural music” (New Yorker), Angélique Kidjo returns to the Center for the Arts following her electrifying 2025 performance. A global icon from Benin, West Africa, and the most awarded African solo artist, Kidjo brings a dynamic live show shaped by four decades of music-making.

Blending West African traditions with R&B, funk, jazz, and Latin influences, her sound is both deeply rooted and internationally celebrated. With 18 albums and collaborations spanning artists from Peter Gabriel to Pharrell to Yo-Yo Ma, her artistry continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

As NPR declares, she is “Africa’s greatest living diva.” Kidjo offers a simpler invitation: “Bring your dancing shoes.” PPD ALL

Virginia Opera

Virginia Opera

Music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo

Composed by Giacomo Puccini

Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m.

A traveling troupe of comedians arrives in a lively town, ready to bring laughter to the stage. But behind the painted smiles and playful costumes lie secrets, jealousy, and a hidden love affair that threatens to tear the group apart. As the story they perform begins to mirror their own turmoil, the line between stage and reality starts to blur. What begins as an evening of lighthearted entertainment erupts into a suspenseful tale of heartbreak, suspicion, and revenge. Recommended for ages 13 and older. PPD

In a kingdom ruled by fear, Princess Turandot has vowed never to marry. Anyone who seeks her hand must answer her three impossible riddles―and those who fail lose far more than love.

Blending high-stakes drama, breathtaking spectacle, and one of opera’s most famous scores, Turandot is an unforgettable legend of danger, desire, and transformation. Recommended for ages 13 and older. PPD

Pagliacci $115, $75, $45

2 p.m. performance =

14 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Turandot $115, $75, $45

2 p.m. performance = Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase

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Great Performances at Mason

2026–27 Season | Center for the Arts

Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel

Choose 3 or more and save 15% Individual tickets go on sale August 4.

®

Glorious Musical Jewels – Beethoven and Schubert

Chopin in Paris

Sunday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

The repertoire includes the joyful Ballade No. 3, the devilish Scherzo No. 3, the dreamy Nocturne in D-flat, and the uplifting Polonaise in A major. ALL

The program includes Beethoven’s joyous Polonaise, the beloved Für Elise, and humorous Bagatelles, alongside Schubert’s tender Waltzes, fiery F minor Impromptu, and the heavenly Ave Maria. ALL

The Brahms I Love Sunday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

Buy all four Keyboard Conversations® as a series and SAVE 20%

Sunday, March 14 at 7 p.m.

Virtuoso Variations Sunday, April 4, at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by Woodleigh Chase

The program features exuberant Hungarian Dances, charming Waltzes, the passionate B minor Rhapsody, and deeply personal intermezzos. ALL

Prices listed include fees.

The repertoire includes Beethoven’s variations on “God Save the King”; Mendelssohn’s Variations Sérieuses; Tchaikovsky’s melodious Variations, Op. 19, No. 6; and Rachmaninoff’s famous 18th variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. ALL

All programs conclude with Q&A with the audience.

Tickets: Single Performance $60, $52, $38 / Series $192, $166, $122

WOW in the World Presents:

Make It WOW!

Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m.

This fast paced science-packed, laughter-inducing interactive game show features two teams of Wowzer contestants who— with the help of the live audience—turn their wildest (and weirdest) ideas into jaw-dropping inventions! ALL Recommended for ages 5 and up. $75, $55, $35

4 p.m. performance =

The Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund Joyce Goche-Grimes

16 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Dianne and Gerard Blais

Susan and Michael Murphy

SF

Teams photos are for Billy Goats Gruff and Three Little Pigs...???

Saturday, February 20 at 4 p.m.

The Seeley Foundation

Harris Theatre

*Price per person; subject to availability

Mario the Maker Magician

amplified.gmu.edu

Sunday, February 28 at 1 and 4 p.m.

VIP Meet and Greet Experience: $55* The add-on includes a post-show meet and greet with performers plus a collectible lanyard.

The Tom and Evelyn Kiley Fund

Watch Mason Arts Amplified:

Three Little Pigs and Other Tales

Weaving together Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff, this fresh and engaging reimagining follows a brave raccoon and a clever mouse on a treasure-seeking journey, as they unknowingly— yet heroically—help the bears, pigs, and goats avoid disaster.

Recommended for ages 3–7. $25

Thank You to Our 2026–27 Season Sponsors Mason Arts Amplified hosts filmed performances, conversations, lectures, and other creative projects from across the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Center for the Arts, and Hylton Performing Arts Center. By offering curated programming on demand, the platform makes Mason Arts experiences available to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community virtually anytime, anywhere.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

Mario infuses classic magic tricks and illusions with high-tech robotic innovation to create an assortment of homemade contraptions that do his comedic bidding. Infectiously positive and bursting with heart, Mario is on a mission to entertain and inspire future computer programmers, AI specialists, and robotic engineers along the way. He has shared his “gleeful insanity” (Vogue) on Sesame Street, NBC’s Universal Kids, The Tonight Show, and a 2018 tour with illusionist David Blaine, who calls him “the best kids’ magician in the world!”

Recommended for ages 4–12. $25

TheaterWorksUSA

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System Sunday, April 11 at 1 and 4 p.m.

Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson Book by Marshall Pailet Hop on the Magic School Bus for an out-of-this-world adventure! When Ms. Frizzle’s class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, their ordinary field trip turns into an epic journey through the solar system. Recommended for ages 5–9. $25 4 p.m. performance =

SF

For Family Series only, children under the age of two who are held by an adult and do not occupy a seat may receive a lap ticket free of charge at the Ticket Office on the day of the performance. All patrons must have a ticket.

Family Series is sponsored by Pohanka Automotive Group and the Scott A. and Phyllis P. Crabtree Family Foundation.

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Mason Artists-in-Residence In deep collaborations on campus and in the wider community, Mason Artists-in-Residence lead interactive workshops, conversations, and other events beyond the stage.

Learn more at cfa.gmu.edu/residence.

Music From The Sole Saturday, September 26 Learn more on p. 5.

Third Coast Percussion Saturday, February 6 Learn more on p. 10.

World Premiere

Silkroad Ensemble featuring Cécile McLorin Salvant Saturday, April 10 Learn more on p. 13.

Silkroad Ensemble Community Jam

Help us reimagine the future of the Center for the Arts. Learn more: cfa.gmu.edu/givevoice.

Advancing the Future of the Arts Mason Arts is the collective presence of the arts embedded throughout George Mason University. The academic programs, community arts programs, and public-facing venues of the College of Visual and Performing Arts create the largest arts presence in Northern Virginia.

As a Mason Arts venue managed by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), the Center for the Arts creates a powerful bridge between the classroom and the professional stage. This unique connection offers students an arts education enriched by direct access to world-class artists. Whether through masterclasses that refine technical skills or conversations that illuminate pathways into the field, Mason Arts students engage firsthand with the professionals shaping today’s cultural landscape.

George Mason students receive free tickets to performances, experiencing both local and internationally renowned artists as part of their academic journey. Students pursuing studies in Art and Design, Arts Management, Dance, Film, Computer Game Design, Music, and Theater perform, create, and exhibit work across Mason Arts venues—from the Center for the Arts Concert Hall to TheaterSpace and the Gillespie Gallery of Art. The Center for the Arts is proud to serve as a catalyst for the next generation of artists, where academic study and professional practice intersect to prepare students for meaningful careers in the arts.

Learn more at cvpa.gmu.edu.

Emerging Artists, Real Opportunities The College of Visual and Performing Arts presents inspiring and imaginative artistry all year long, offering events and exhibitions that invite our community to expand their perspective and engage more deeply with the arts.

Each season, talented students, accomplished faculty and staff, and distinguished alumni share work that reflects their ongoing artistic growth—shaped by an environment that connects academic study with professional practice. Many of these performances, exhibitions, screenings, and conversations are open to the public for little or no cost, while ticketed events help support the continued work and scholarship of these artists.

Learn more and explore the full calendar of Mason Arts events at cvpa.calendar.gmu.edu.

Friends at an exclusive backstage tour with Cirque Mechanics

Friends of the Center for the Arts The Friends of the Center for the Arts membership program makes a world of difference by ensuring Center for the Arts programming remains vibrant and diverse each year. Through their contributions, Friends enable the Center for the Arts to provide the community with educational programming and unparalleled access to artists and experts around Great Performances at Mason and Family Series performances.

The continuous support of the Friends helps introduce hundreds of performances, masterclasses, workshops, lecture/demonstrations, and special events to the communities surrounding Washington, D.C. Patrons and learners of all ages continue to benefit from our members’ time and generosity. In acknowledgement of their generous gifts, Friends of the Center for the Arts receive early access to subscription purchases, access to the Friends Hospitality Area during Great Performances at Mason and Family Series performances, and an invitation to the Friends-exclusive Season Announcement event.

THE GRAND TIER SOCIETY The Grand Tier Society plays a visionary and leadership role in ensuring that Center for the Arts performances remain affordable for all audiences. In grateful acknowledgement of their leadership giving, they receive exclusive benefits such as opportunities to meet artists and invitations to Grand Tier Society receptions, featuring artists and experts from Mason Arts and the wider community.

Yo-Yo Ma with Dewberry School of Music students

Join the Friends of the Center for the Arts today to support the Center for the Arts and start making memories that will last a lifetime!

Visit cfa.gmu.edu/friends or call 703-993-3927.

Concept rendering by Quinn Evans

18 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Gifts to the Center for the Arts are made through the George Mason University Foundation (GMU-F). GMU-F is a registered 501 (c)(3), EIN: 54-1603842. Your gift is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by the law.

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Center for the Arts Subscribers Save 15% Choose your own package of any three or more Great Performances at Mason and Family Series performances to subscribe. Add more events any time throughout the season and get your 15% subscriber discount by calling or visiting the Ticket Office.*

Learn More About Subscribing

Subscribers Enjoy

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Subscribers can exchange into another season performance without fees. If a performance has to be canceled or rescheduled, you will get your choice of account credit towards future tickets or a refund.

Use our convenient plan to spread payments out over three months.

Please request a payment plan when ordering by phone or in person. The deadline to enroll in a payment plan is June 17. Payment plans must be charged to a credit card that must remain current until the final payment has been received. Payments will be divided into three equal parts.† The first payment will be charged on June 17, the second payment will be charged on July 17, and the final payment will be charged on August 17. Tickets will not be distributed until the final payment has been received.

Subscribers may exchange tickets without fees for another event in the same season. Tickets must be returned to the Ticket Office either by email, mail, or in person no later than the day before the performance date that appears on the ticket(s).

For more information, visit cfa.gmu.edu/tickets/ticket-policies.

• Great Savings Save 15% on a choose-your-own package • Discounts All Season Use your 15% subscriber discount on future ticket purchases

Subscribe Today and Save 15% Subscriptions are available now.

Individual tickets for all 2026–27 performances go on sale August 4.

• No-Fee Ticket Exchanges Exchange tickets without a fee Music From The Sole

703-993-2787 cfa.gmu.edu/ subscribe Ticket Office

• Pre-Paid Parking Add parking vouchers for the adjacent parking deck to your order (Free parking is available in Lot K, but you may add parking deck vouchers to your order for convenience.)

Piano Lovers Save More

Buy all four performances of the Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel series (p. 16)

and SAVE 20%

Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.**

*

Applies to Great Performances at Mason and Family Series events only when ordering by phone or in person. Exclusions apply.

Special Events are not available as part of a subscription or at a discount.

** Summer Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May 11 to August 21, and two hours prior to ticketed events in the Concert Hall.

20 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

†Please note: Gifts to the Center for the Arts and ARTS by George! tickets are not included in the payment plan. Payment for these items will not be divided into three equal parts but will be charged in full in addition to your first payment. Payments that are declined will be resubmitted until authorized. Regardless of any authorization issues, the established payment plan schedule will not change.

Gandini Juggling

Seating Priority: How Orders Are Filled Seating priority is first based on the date a subscriber’s order is received at the Ticket Office. Friends of the Center for the Arts members receive highest priority. Friends of the Center for the Arts priority period begins prior to the general public on-sale date for subscriptions. See p. 19 for details on how to become a Friend of the Center for the Arts.

Additional Tickets Discount Subscribers may order additional tickets along with their subscription or throughout the season at a 15% discount.* It may be used, for example, when a subscriber wants to bring a guest to one of the performances in their series. Seating will be assigned on a best-available basis. It is likely these seats will be neither adjacent to the seats for your subscription nor the same for each event.

No More Subscriber Fees

Itzhak Perlman / Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

Ensure Your Tickets Are Authentic The Center for the Arts can only authenticate tickets purchased through the Center for the Arts Ticket Office and through our website, cfa.gmu.edu. Tickets.com is our current authorized ticket provider. The Center for the Arts at George Mason University maintains no relationship with third-party ticket vendors.

Beginning with the 2026–27 season, all ticket prices listed in this brochure and online include all fees. The one-time subscriber fee previously charged each season has been removed, making it easier to calculate the total cost upfront.

A Subscription Built Around You! cfa.gmu.edu | 703-993-2787 | 21

Plan Your Visit

Our Commitment to Accessibility

Directions

Visiting the Ticket Office

Accessible Seating

The Center for the Arts is conveniently located on Mason Pond Drive on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University, six miles west of the Beltway exit 54, at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123.

For more information, visit cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit.

Purchasing or exchanging a ticket? Free 15-minute temporary parking is located on Mason Pond Drive in front of the Center for the Arts.

GPS Address: 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030

• • • •

Accessible seating is available through all avenues of ticket sales on a first-come, first-served basis.

The accessible seating locations consist of a space appropriate for a patron-provided wheelchair or venue-provided size inclusive chair. Wheelchair accessible seats are spaces are in rows G, N, and V. Patrons requesting accessible seating are acknowledging that they, or a member of their party, require accessible seating due to a mobility disability (visible or non-visible) as defined by the ADA or they require the features of an accessible seating location.

Parking for Great Performances at Mason and Family Series Free parking is available in Lot K, just off Patriot Circle, during Great Performances at Mason and Family Series events. The Center for the Arts and Harris Theatre are a short walk away, directly across Mason Pond.

GPS address for Lot K: 4584 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Accessible parking is available along Mason Pond Drive on a first-come basis with a DMV-issued permit.

Covered parking is available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck. It is adjacent to the Center for the Arts.

A flat fee is charged during most events held in the Concert Hall.

K COUR

T

Visit cfa.gmu.edu for more information about directions and parking.

M AS

ON PO

ND DR

B A N IS TE

R C R EE

HT

IVE

TS CH

DPS

Parking Lot J

Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CH) Dance Performance Studio (DPS) Harris Theatre (HT) TheaterSpace (TS)

Cancellations Extraordinary circumstances, such as weather or public health concerns, may cause an event to be canceled or rescheduled. Performance updates are emailed to all ticket buyers and posted on our website.

Performance Times The Center for the Arts strives to start all performances on time. Please allow extra time to reach the Fairfax Campus and be seated. Patrons arriving after the start of a performance will be seated at the discretion of house management and as dictated by artists’ requirements.

Youth Discount Tickets

PAT R I O T C

Half-price tickets are available for youth through Grade 12 for all Great Performances at Mason events. (No discounts are available for Special Events, such as Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.) All patrons, regardless of age, require a ticket. In an effort to ensure an exceptional experience for all of our patrons, we recommend that children attending events other than Family Series events be at least six years of age. Children through Grade 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Students Grades 9–12 may attend without an adult, but must have a valid student ID.

Pre-Performance Discussions

IRC

LE

Parking Lot K

Center for the Arts Concert Hall TheaterSpace and Dance Performance Studio Harris Theatre

Venues

➊ Lot K: Free Parking ➋ Adjacent Paid Parking ➌ Accessible Parking ➍ 15-minute Ticket Office

Many performances are accompanied by a lively forum led by local experts or the artists themselves.

The pre-performance discussions begin one hour prior to the performance start time. Seating is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more at cfa.gmu.edu.

Seating Chart

Accessible Services Requests for audio description, captioning, interpretive services, or braille programs must be made at least two weeks prior to the event; more advance notice is appreciated. Assistive listening devices are available at the Concert Hall Courtesy Desk (located behind the Ticket Office) prior to each performance. Large-print programs will be available upon request. Please call (voice) 703-993-8881 or email (text) cfatix@gmu.edu with any accessibility requests beyond wheelchair-accessible seating.

Accessibility icons appear alongside performances with pre-planned services. For the latest accessibility service details, visit a performance’s event webpage.

Learn more about accessibility services at the Center for the Arts at cfa.gmu.edu/accessibility.

Sensory Kits Adult and child-safe sensory kits can be checked out at the Courtesy Desk prior to performances.

Quantities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each kit includes a pillowcase to drape over the seat, over-the-ear headphones, sensory fidgets, dark glasses for light sensitivity, and a pen and notepad.

A detailed version of this seating map as well as instructions on how to preview views from each seat can be accessed at cfa.gmu.edu/seating-charts.

Row E is the first row for Virginia Opera and select performances.

Group Sales Group discounts are offered for groups of 10+ beginning July 7. Contact (voice) 703-993-8600 or visit cfa.gmu.edu/groups.

Tickets for George Mason Students Most ticketed in-person events presented by the Center for the Arts or the College of Visual and Performing Arts will have a set quantity of free tickets available for all George Mason University students. Visit cvpa.gmu.edu/freetickets.

Questions About Your Visit?

Contact the Ticket Office 703-993-2787 or cfatix@gmu.edu.

PPD = pre-performance discussion

Parking

22 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

cfa.gmu.edu | 703-993-2787 | 23

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA PERMIT NO. 1532

4400 University Drive, MS 2F5 Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444 703-993-2787 cfatix@gmu.edu

Follow us on social media: @gmucfa @GMU_CFA @gmu_cfa @masoncenterforthearts

The Center for the Arts Advantage

World-Class Performances in Fairfax, Virginia

Save 15% When You Subscribe!

Low Ticket Prices Convenient Location

Choose 3+ Performances

*

Flexible Season Ticket Exchanges* Free Parking Available*

Learn more on p. 20.

Tickets for individual events go on sale August 4.

Until then, tickets are available only as part of a subscription.

703-993-2787 cfa.gmu.edu/subscribe Ticket Office

Check website for updated hours *Applies to Great Performances at Mason and Family Series events only.

Ensure your tickets are authentic. Only purchase from cfa.gmu.edu.

Program, artists, and dates are subject to change. All patrons must have a ticket.

24 | Center for the Arts | 2026–27 Season

Isata Kanneh-Mason