The heading of Arts and Entertainment can be applied to a large number of activities at the University, but the excitement of having a close to limitless source of subjects is tempered by one small fact. Hardly anyone ever goes to the events.
It's a shame that with so many opportunities around Grounds and in the surrounding areas, most students are content to see the same Dave Matthews rip-off bands each weekend. So, in an effort to inform all incoming students, as well as encourage returning students, here is a brief guide to the wealth of both artistic and entertaining possibilities awaiting in the fall.
Music: Big name concerts are few and far between around the University. The only shows that qualified for that distinction last year were the Ani DiFranco concert at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center and Outkast at University Hall. Red Light Management produced an excellent, although chilly, show at the Downtown Amphitheater with regional acts Baaba Seth, Everything, and the eclectic alternative rock band Soul Coughing.
Outside these concerts, which made one week in April very exciting, the shows in Charlottesville are usually low-key and frequent. Trax consistently brings national acts to West Main Street in the Downtown area. Tokyo Rose, the Prism Coffeehouse, the Outback Lounge and Durty Nelly's also provide live band performances during the week.
Outdoor concerts in the warmer months are a frequent occurrence; the University presents shows on Thursday nights for its Sunset Concert Series. The City of Charlottesville also produces a concert series on Friday nights called "Fridays after 5" at the Downtown Mall Amphitheater. Local favorites Baaba Seth will close the 1999 series October 1.
Popular music, however, only makes up a fraction performances on the University Grounds. The Old Cabell Hall Auditorium regularly hosts classical music performances. The Tuesday Night Concert Series will open September 28, and the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra will commence their seasons October 9. Classical fans should be advised to keep close tabs on the music department's Web site, as new concerts and special events are always being announced.
The auditorium is also one of the favorite venues for the many a cappella groups around Grounds. The groups advertise their concerts heavily, so knowing about a show in advance is not a problem.
Movies: University Union's Cinematheque presents a full schedule of movies in the basement of Newcomb Hall. A typical weekend features three films: a blockbuster, an arthouse film and a midnight movie that is usually a cult classic. Outside the University, a host of movie theaters can keep cinema fans up to date on most releases. The Jefferson Theater offer limited release fare on the Downtown Mall, while the Regal Cinemas on the Downtown Mall, Seminole Square, and Carmike 6 remain the best places to catch wide release flicks. The Vinegar Hill theater, also on the Downtown Mall, carries independent features, although it also fulfills the local demand for 3-D pornography on Friday nights. Seriously.
One of the best opportunities for movie viewing during the year is the Virginia Film Festival. This year's festival, to be held October 21-24, has the theme "TechnoVisions," and looks to chronicle the progression of film from the first movies to the virtual reality works of recent times.
Theater: Dramatic performances are some of the most popular events at the University. The Drama Department's presentations of musical and drama productions in the Culbreth Theater attract large crowds through their entire run. This year's schedule includes the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel," Jose Rivera's "Marisol," and Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."
In addition to Culbreth Theater, the smaller Helms Theater, located in the Drama Building as well, hosts experimental and student plays that appeal to smaller audiences.
The theater realm isn't limited to the Drama Department, as several student acting groups put on shows throughout the year. The best known is the First-Year Players, whose biannual musicals give incoming students a chance to get stage experience.
Art: The vast majority of University students overlook the art facilities on Grounds. In fact, most students would be hard pressed to describe where the two galleries are located. For reference, the Bayly Art Museum and Fayerweather Gallery are along Rugby Road, right next to the President's house on Carr's Hill.
The Bayly will have two photography exhibits ready when school begins, one focusing on marriage and the other on street life. The Fayerweather Gallery concentrates more on student work.
Libraries: The libraries may not exactly qualify as art institutions, but Alderman Library defies the general conception of a library.
The library currently is housing "All the Hoos in Hooville: 175 Years of Life at the University of Virginia," a collection of photos and other artifacts that trace the University's history. The library system also has two online exhibits covering the paintings of former University student Richard C. Pullinger and the letters of James Rogers McConnell, a University graduate that died in World War I.
Opportunities to explore the various realms of art are all around the students of the University. Take the opportunity to attend one of the many events around Grounds. Explore strange art forms, or increase your knowledge of an already familiar one.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
