Ticketed Events and Programs:
Tickets on sale now at the Center for the Arts Box Office and online at Tickets.com.
Events Index:
Opening Weekend, June 12-15
Quarterlife Weekend, June 18-22
Finale Weekend, June 25-29
Opening Weekend:
Thursday, June 12 - Sunday, June 15
Thursday, June 12, 8 PM:
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Friday, June 13, 8 pm:
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Saturday, June 14
11 AM:
Community Arts Weekend begins with the opening of the Arts Fair- see full schedule here
First Light Discovery Program High School Playwright Staged Reading: Boxes by Sarah Congress, Black Box
Theater
open seating
12 PM:
Mason Film Festival: FAVS Documentary Short Subjects:
A selection of documentary shorts created by students in GMU's Film and Video Studies program, (FAVS) including senior projects from the 2008 graduating class:
"Homeward Bound" by Kim Wolfe
"Nous Sommes la Maison" by Drew Hagelin
"Therapy" by Nathan Bennett
"My Grandfather" by Calvin Siler
"Out of Africa" by Abraham Stubblefield
"A Different Time, A Different Place.... Still Together" by Ada Funes
"Following Peter" by Blake Turner
"Beans & a Potato" by Jason McKenzie
"Taking the Dive" by Alex Evans
"Warcraft Pwned My Life" by Becky Varni
Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
12:30 PM
Gray Ghost Theatre: Son of Liberty, Black Box Theater
open seating
2:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
First Light Discovery George Mason Reading: The Death of Alexander Hamilton by Andrew Hawkins, Black Box Theater
open seating
Mason Film Festival: "Familiar Strangers"
A funny and heartfelt story of a family negotiating the changing relationships between parents and children, especially as those children grow into adults. Filmed in Virginia and produced by Charlottesville-based Cavalier Films. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
6:30 PM
Great Ghost Theatre: Ride to Freedom, Black Box Theater
open seating
8:00 PM
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents Dreams of America,
Concert Hall [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Sunday, June 15
12:00 PM
Arts Fair and Community Arts Weekend performances begin. Check here for details.
2:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
Mason Film Festival: "Winesburg, Ohio" and "Lost in Winesburg"
"Winesburg, Ohio" is an experimental narrative, freely adapted from the classic novel by Sherwood Anderson. "Lost in Winesburg", made by FAVS professor Tommy Britt, is a documentary that examines both the enduring legacy of Anderson's book and the attempt to adapt Winesburg, Ohio for the screen. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
5:00 PM
Generations Playwriting Project, TheaterSpace
open seating
7:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Quarterlife Weekend, June 18-22:
Wednesday, June 18, 8 PM:
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Thursday, June 19, 8 PM:
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Friday, June 20:
5:00 PM
Distinguished Hollywood writer, director, and producer Marshall Herskovitz visits Mason for an interview on GMU-TV's Studio A about his life and work, especially his current project, quarterlife, the ongoing web series about a group of twenty-something artists coming of age in the digital generation. Check local listings for air times. Email tfa@gmu.edu for more information.
7:30 PM
Mason Film Festival: Distinguished Hollywood writer, director, and producer Marshall Herskovitz visits Mason hosts a special free screening of quarterlife, the ongoing web series about a group of twenty-something artists coming of age in the digital generation. Johnson Center Cinema. Thanks to Mr. Herskovtiz's sponsorship, admission to this specials screening is free of charge. email tfa@gmu.edu for reservations.
8:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Saturday, June 21:
10 AM
First Light Discovery Program-
Death of the Fourth Estate by Kerry Gildea,
Black Box Theater; open seating
12 Noon
Theater Lover's Luncheon with keynote speaker Marshall Herskovitz, distinGeorge's Restaurant.
Call 703-993-ARTS for tickets to the luncheon & quarterlife screening or the whole Theater Lover's Day package. Questions? Email tfa@gmu.edu
Mason Film Festival: Experimental Short Films
A selection of experimental short videos created by students in Department of Art and Visual Technology (AVT) classes at Mason. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
2:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
Mason Film Festival presents a special encore screening of Marshall Herskovitz's quarterlife along with his Studio A interview; Johnson Center Cinema. Tickets to this screening available at the regular $5/day Film Festival admission rate, or as part of the special Theater Lover's Day packages.
First Light Discovery Program- Dirty Pictures by D.W. Gregory,
Black Box Theater; open seating
8:00 PM
Mason Festival Opera: Love's Comedy Concert Opera, Concert Hall [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Sunday, June 22
1:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Mason Music Students of Students Musiclink Benefit Recital, Grand Tier III
open seating
4:00 PM
Theater of the First Amendment: Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
Mason Film Festival: “Best of Video Fairfax”
Finalists in the “Video Fairfax” competition from K-12 students in Fairfax County Public Schools. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Concert Hall [Tickets]
Concert followed by a Jazz Cafe in Grand Tier III- $10 additional
Finale Weekend
Wednesday, June 25, 8 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Thursday, June 26, 8 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Friday, June 27
3 PM
Acting For Young People
Advanced Actor's Showcase: Radio Vega, Theaterspace
8 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Saturday, June 28
12 PM
Mason Film Festival:
“Freedom”
Winner of the Virginia Film Competition in the feature category, “Freedom” is a Civil War drama by Rick McVey of Bristol, VA. In a war to define political freedom, two men struggle with the truths of individual freedom and the courage that it takes to face what it really means to be free. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
2 PM
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
Mason Film Festival: “Lustig” and “The Person Most Real”
Winners of the Virginia Film Competition in the short and documentary categories, including “Lustig,” a Holocaust drama by John Francis Black II of Gainesville, VA and “The Person Most Real” by Olivia Dodson of Amherst, VA a personal and tragic reflection on the men in her life. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
8 PM
Fairfax Choral Society Presents Hollywood Goes Choral III, narrated by Arch Campbell,
Concert Hall [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
Sunday, June 29
2 PM
The World Children's Choir, Concert Hall [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea, TheaterSpace [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment:
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías, Harris Theater [Tickets]
4:30 PM
Mason Film Festival: “Dracula's Mother” and “Summer Scars”
“Dracula's Mother” by Reston filmmaker Paul Awad, is a short, comic look at what happens when Dracula brings his fiance home to meet his overbearing mother. In feature “Summer Scars” by Julian Richards, six teenagers skip school to play in the woods, but some hot-rodding on a stolen moped changes the fate of their day. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students. "Summer Scars" not recommended for young children
7 PM
Mason Film Festival: “Badass: The Documentary” and “Join Us”
In the short “Badass,” filmmaker John Kelly discovers that the path to becoming badass is often paved with good intentions. This charmingly frank introspective documentary follows Kelly's search for identity as he's transformed from detached suburban adolescent to aspiring hot rod junkie.
The Feature, “Join Us” explores the experience of members of just one of the thousands of cults in America. Filmmakers Ondi Timoner, Vasco Lucas Nunes, and Tim Rush infiltrate the cult and its leaders to create an emotional and human portrait, exploring why America is the number one breeding ground for cults in the world, and how mind control can happen to just about anyone. Johnson Center Cinema. Film Festival admission $5/day, at the door, half-price for students, free for Mason students.
Mason Festival
Concert Hall Performances:
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Dreams of America
Saturday, June 14 at 8pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall
The FSO teams up with TFA for the musical culmination of the year-long Harmony project – Celebrating Our Heritage through the Arts. The program includes James Beckel’s Liberty for All, combining stirring orchestral music with the inspirational words of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Kennedy, followed by Leonard Bernstein’s exploration of racism and the immigrant experience in New York in the ‘50’s, with Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. The evening concludes with Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America, celebrating the immigrant experience and the American dream through powerful symphonic music, historic images and spoken word performances from the Ellis Island Oral History Project. A multi-disciplinary celebration of America!
$45 / $35 / $25 / $15 [Tickets]
Family focused performance.
Mason Festival Opera
Love’s Comedy
A concert performance of a world premiere opera.
Music composition by Kim D. Sherman, libretto by Rick Davis.
Based on the play by Henrik Ibsen
Saturday, June 21 at 8pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall
First explored in last season’s Vision Series at Mason, this two-act lyric opera will receive its first complete performance in this unique concert-style presentation, featuring professional, student and community opera singers. Love’s Comedy is Ibsen’s exploration of the gap between romantic ideals and the facts of love and marriage in the real world. Soaring melodies, witty choruses, and a timeless story are the hallmarks of this world premiere operatic event.
$30 / $20 [Tickets]
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra:
Swingin' With the Met
Sunday, June 22 at 7pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall
Benny, Basie, the Duke and Beyond!
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra will present music from the swingingest bands of all time. In addition to the top jazz musicians in the D.C. Metropolitan area, Special Guest vocalist Delores King Williams will join the orchestra with her soulful, sultry, sound. Stay late and relax in the Jazz Club for only $10 more.
$35 / $25 [Tickets]
Fairfax Choral Society presents:
Hollywood Goes Choral III: Music That Moves!
Saturday, June 28 at 8:00 pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall
Arch Campbell narrates the music of film favorites like you’ve never heard it before! Back by popular demand, FCS presents choral classics from the cinema accompanied by a full orchestra. Featuring music and scenes from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Titanic, and more, this multimedia production highlights how music enhances and deepens our emotional experience at the movies.
$35 / $25 [Tickets]
Family focused performance.
World Children’s Choir
Sunday, June 29 at 2:00 PM in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall
One of our Festival closing events, we celebrate a regional organization with an international flavor. The WCC’s program gives voice to the interests of all children, celebrating cultural diversity through music, promoting positive international relations, and asking people to work together to create a peaceful, healthy world for children. Through singing, WCC members explore musical content, and use music, art, and special pre-show activities to mediate cross-cultural differences and become peacemakers.
$15 / $10 [Tickets]
Family focused performance.
Mason Festival Theater Events:
Theater of the First Amendment
Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías
Opens June 12 in the Harris Theater
How far will we go to free our creativity?
Mariela and José were once the golden couple of the Mexican artists’ inner-circle. Together they built a family and an artist colony to host friends Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Rufino Tamayo. But now their daughter has grown and run away, their friends are too famous to call, and artistic inspiration has been strangled by isolation and lies. Set in the Northern Mexican desert in 1950, Mariela in the Desert is a deadly mystery – a layered yet profoundly honest story of what happens to a family when creativity is forced to dry and wither away.
Thurs, June 12 at 8pm
Sat, June 14 at 2pm & 8pm
Sun, June 15 at 2pm
Wed, June 18 at 8pm
Fri, June 20 at 8pm
Sat, June 21 at 8pm
Sun, June 22 at 4pm
Thurs, June 26 at 8pm
Fri, June 27 at 8pm
Sat, June 28 at 2pm & 8pm
Sun, June 29 at 2pm
$30 / $25 [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea
Opens June 13 in TheaterSpace
Clay Bayliss is a dangerous bully and a brute, until he meets Sally Faye Redmond. Just as their incendiary love affair produces something magical, their small Missouri town votes to kill him. But to what end? Inspired by the true story of a still unsolved FBI case. Paul D'Andrea's work — including such plays as The Einstein Project, Nathan the Wise and The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay — has been a mainstay of TFA's history. Contains adult themes.
Fri, June 13 at 8pm
Sat, June 14 at 2pm & 8pm
Sun, June 15 at 2pm & 7pm
Thurs June 19 at 8pm
Fri, June 20 at 8pm
Sat, June 21 at 2pm & 8pm
Sun, June 22 at 1pm
Wed, June 25 at 8pm
Fri, June 27 at 8pm
Sat, June 28 at 2pm & 8pm
Sun, June 29 at 2pm
$30 / $25 [Tickets]
Theater of the First Amendment
First Light Discovery Program – Boxes
Saturday, June 14 at 11:00am the Black Box Theater
Our playwriting competition and mentorship program unites student, community and professional playwrights with actors, directors and dramaturgs in the creation of new work. A staged reading of the winning play from our area high school competition will be presented at 11am. The reading is followed by a discussion between playwright and audience.
Theater of the First Amendment
First Light Discovery Program –The Death of Alexander Hamilton
Saturday, June 14 at 4:30pm the Black Box Theater
Our playwriting competition and mentorship program unites student, community and professional playwrights with actors, directors and dramaturgs in the creation of new work. The winning play by a Mason playwright will be read at 4:30. The reading is followed by a discussion between playwright and audience.
Gray Ghost Theatre Company
Son of Liberty
Saturday, June 14 at 12:30 PM in the Black Box Theater
Experience the American Revolution from start to finish in thirty minutes with Son of Liberty, the story of a young man’s journey as he matures along with the vision of the nation. Free and open to all audiences.
Family focused performance.
Gray Ghost Theatre Company
Ride to Freedom
Saturday, June 14 at 6:30 PM in the Black Box Theater
In Ride to Freedom, a young woman traveling by bus from Washington, D.C. to Jackson, Mississippi faces her fears and finds her voice in the course of defending freedom and our national integrity. Free and open to all audiences.
Family focused performance.
Theater of the First Amendment, with OLLI & AFYP
The Generations Playwriting Project
Sunday, June 15 at 5:00pm in TheaterSpace
TFA, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and Acting for Young People (AFYP) join forces to present a series of new ten-minute plays written and performed
by students and seniors working together. Don’t miss this unique theatrical presentation!
Generations Plays Include:
Age Old Questions by Carolyn Sanders
Faith Transported by Thelma Weiner
Home by Kathie West
A New Generation’s Man Woes
by Emily Wilkins
A New Perspective by Anna Coughlan
An Unexpected Friend by Perry Melat
Free admission; arrive early for good seats!
Family focused performance.
Theater of the First Amendment
First Light Discovery Program – Death of the Fourth Estate
Saturday, June 21 at 10:00am in the Black Box Theater
Our play development program continues with work by two professional playwrights. Staged readings culminate a week long development process involving writer, director, dramaturg, and cast. The benchmark of TFA’s mission, this program provides playwrights the resources to create new work. Each reading is followed by a discussion between playwright and audience. Free.
Theater of the First Amendment
First Light Discovery Program – Dirty Pictures
Saturday, June 21 at 4:30pm in the Black Box Theater
Our play development program continues with work by two professional playwrights. Staged readings culminate a week long development process involving writer, director, dramaturg, and cast. The benchmark of TFA’s mission, this program provides playwrights the resources to create new work. Each reading is followed by a discussion between playwright and audience. Free.
Acting For Young People
Advanced Actors Showcase Final Performance
Friday, June 27 at 3:00pm in TheaterSpace
The final presentation of young actors from the AFYP Summer Arts Camp perform. Free and open to all audiences.
Family focused performance.
Theater Lover’s Day: Saturday, June 21
One $60 ticket buys an entire day of performances and special programming;
or just $20 for the luncheon and quarterlife screening alone.
10:00- TFA First Light Discovery Program:
Death of the Fourth Estate by Kerry Gildea
in Black Box Theater
12:00- Theater Lover’s Luncheon with keynote speaker Marshall Herskovitz in George’s Restaurant.
2:00- Your choice of TFA’s Mariela in the Desert
by Karen Zacarías in Harris Theater or
Two-Bit Taj Mahal by Paul D’Andrea
in TheaterSpace.
4:30- Your choice of TFA First Light Discovery Program:
Dirty Pictures by D.W. Gregory, in Black Box Theater;
Or a special screening of quarterlife and Marshall Herskovitz's Studio A interview in the JC Cinema.
8:00- Your choice of TFA’s Mariela in the Desert
in Harris Theater, Two-Bit Taj Mahal in TheaterSpace, or Mason Festival Opera’s
Love’s Comedy, by Kim D. Sherman and
Rick Davis, in the Concert Hall.