Hampton Arts 2017-2018 Season Announce
Hampton Arts celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season with a dynamic roster of programming that honors a legacy of diverse artistic experiences. Paying tribute to the performing arts as well as visual arts, more than 30 musical concerts, theatrical productions, and dance ensembles will grace the historic American Theatre, while The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center will play host to a series of dynamic curated exhibitions and related programming.
The season kicks off on September 30, 2017, with Hampton Arts 30th Birthday Gala, “Broadway Under the Stars,” featuring Television and Broadway star Megan Hilty. The American Theatre highlights include Golden Globe-nominated Tony Danza (October 27, 2017), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love (December 9, 2017), the first-ever Coastal Virginia Bluegrass & Brew Festival (January 26-28 2018), GRAMMY Award-winner Cécile McLorin Salvant (February 24, 2018), iconic film star Molly Ringwald (March 24, 2018), legendary comedienne and performer Sandra Bernhard (April 28, 2018) and many more. The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center celebrates the works of Coastal Virginia artists with The Virginia Glass Guild Juried Exhibition (October 14 – December 3, 2017) and Lives of Artists with Tim O’Kane, Akiko Tanaka, Kacey Sydnor Carneal, Walt Taylor (May 5 – June 17, 2018), among others.
“As we embark on the 30th Anniversary Season, I am awed by the caliber of artists that will take the stage at The American Theatre and appear at The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center. Our stage and our galleries will reflect our community’s diversity as well as a global perspective that explores the influences of the world around us,” said Hampton Arts Artistic Director Richard M. Parison, Jr.
“Hampton Arts has become a valuable resource and focal point for the community to come together and participate in cultural engagement,” continued Mr. Parison. “Making the arts accessible and resonant is our day-to-day mission—I am thrilled to be at the helm of Hampton Arts as we celebrate 30 years of doing just that.”
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Hampton Arts 30th Birthday Gala: Broadway Under the Stars featuring Megan Hilty
Tony Award nominee Megan Hilty performs a one-night only concert in celebration of Hampton Arts’ 30th Anniversary. The Television, Stage and Recording star’s Broadway credits include Wicked, Noises Off, and 9 to 5 as well as a lead role on NBC’s Smash. Additionally, Hampton Arts and Hampton Arts Foundation will honor Ross and Martha Mugler and POMOCO with the Coastal Virginia Renaissance Award, recognizing their long-term commitment to the performing and visual arts in Hampton and Coastal Virginia. September 30, 2017
PREMIER PERFORMANCE SERIES
Sweet Honey in the Rock
October 7, 2017
Feel the rhythm and hear the soulful sounds of the GRAMMY-nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock as the all-female performance ensemble explores African American musical genres including blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, reggae, African chants, hip-hop, and jazz improvisation.
Festival of South African Dance
October 14, 2107
The rhythms of South Africa come alive with the Festival of South African Dance’s pulsating production of Gumboots — Stimela the Musical, a dance masterpiece that follows the tale of rural African men who come by train from all walks of life in search of greener pastures in the city of gold, Johannesburg.
The Colors of India: A Bollywood Spectacular
October 21, 2017
This world-renowned production features brilliant dancers, breathtaking aerialists and acrobats, live musicians, and opulent costumes. Expect an explosion of color and energy as the ensemble takes you on a celebratory journey through India and a progression of Bollywood films via a stunning display that fuses dance, theater, and spectacular special effects.
Tony Danza: Standards and Stories
October 27, 2017
Stage and screen star Tony Danza pays tribute to the legendary Great American Songbook in a musical evening packed with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele! Known for his starring roles on two of television’s most cherished series, Taxi and Who’s the Boss?, Danza is also a terrific song and dance man and will perform some of his favorite songs while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to music.
The Second City: The Cure for the Common Comedy
November 4, 2017
Chicago’s legendary sketch and improv comedy theater brings The Cure for The Common Comedy to Hampton.
Presidio Brass: Sounds of the Cinema
November 11, 2017
Prepare for a sweeping musical journey through Hollywood unlike anything you’ve heard before. Representing a bold new generation in brass entertainment, Presidio Brass’s unique arrangements have wowed audiences worldwide.
An Evening of Smooth Jazz: Nick Colionne & Vincent Ingala
November 17, 2017
Two jazz greats take to the stage for one incredible evening. Multi award-winner Nick Colionne’s guitar skills push musical boundaries and make him one of the most in-demand urban jazz musicians in the country. A multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Vincent Ingala has blasted into an exciting stratosphere of his own making.
Lightwire Theater: A Very Electric Christmas
December 2, 2017
Audiences of all ages will be captivated by Lightwire Theater’s dazzling visuals and unique menagerie of characters that magically appear out of the darkness. Combining the arts of puppetry, theater and dance with the music of timeless holiday hits, this magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope creates a truly one-of-a-kind and exhilarating holiday experience.
A Darlene Love Christmas: Love for the Holidays
December 9, 2017
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will bring holiday cheer to The American Theatre with songs that span her celebrated career in the music industry. From her early days as part of Phil Spector’s wall of sound hit factory to Broadway roles in Hairspray and Grease and a subject in the Academy Award-winning film, 20 Feet From Stardom, Love will rock the house with her warm, gracious stage presence and superb performance.
Tony DeSare Jazz Trio
January 19, 2018
Join a celebration of great music filled with joy, playfulness and virtuoso musicality. DeSare is introducing jazz standards and the Great American Songbook to a new generation with robust arrangements backed by guitar and bass, smooth vocals and agile piano skills.
Coastal Virginia Bluegrass & Brew Festival
For the first time, The American Theatre welcomes a trio of legendary, genre-defining bluegrass acts and some of Coastal Virginia’s best local breweries. See all three concerts and sample some of the best breweries Hampton Roads has to offer:
The Whiskey Rebellion
January 26, 2018
Skillful picking and expert three-part harmonies are just part of what you can expect from these high-energy showmen! January 26
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band
January 27, 2018
Imagine the music of the Fab Four shaken up with infusions of bluegrass and jazz and topped off with a classical twist. Sponsored by Virginia Health Services.
The Crooked Road on Tour
January 28, 2018
Experience firsthand how music is woven into the rich tapestry of tradition in Southwest Virginia through old-time string bands, a cappella gospel, blues, 300-year-old ballads, bluegrass, and more.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
February 3, 2018
Established as a major dance phenomenon around the world, this hilarious and talented all-male comedic company has appeared in over 30 countries. Affectionately known as “the Trocks,” the troupe’s repertoire includes a full range of ballet and modern dance performed in faithful renditions.
The Blind Boys of Alabama
February 17, 2018
The original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the 1930s and have flourished over the decades with a unique sound that blends the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel. Today, the GRAMMY Award-winning group draws from a variety of musical genres, including music by Tom Waits and The Rolling Stones.
Cécile McLorin Salvant
February 24, 2018
The GRAMMY Award-winner’s natural curiosity for the history of American music and the connections between jazz, vaudeville, blues, and folk music, informs Salvant’s unique performance style, which often includes rarely recorded, forgotten songs with strong stories.
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
March 2, 2018
Laughter is “elementary my dear Watson.” Ken Ludwig’s acclaimed adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles, is full of intrigue and laughs. Five actors play 40 quirky characters, and venture deep into a world filled with disguises, silly accents and murderous deceit.
The Revelers
March 17, 2018
With origins that came out of New Orleans, Memphis and Detroit in the 1950s, The Revelers embrace this unstoppable sound and add their own special mix of Cajun, Country, Blues and Zydeco into a powerful tonic of Roots Music.
An Evening with Molly Ringwald
March 24, 2018
A Golden Globe-nominated actress for generation-defining performances in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles, Molly Ringwald gives a fresh spin on American Songbook standards and pops classics like nobody else, with a smile and charm that has illuminated hundreds of venues throughout the world.
Sandra Monica Blvd.: Coast to Coast
April 28, 2018
Sandra Bernhard wears many hats: comedian, chanteuse, actress, and Sirius/XM radio host... but one thing that ties them all together is her brand of humor that is uniquely Sandy. In her latest show, she’ll take you on a journey to find America’s soul while weaving in a soundtrack “that you might hear on an AM radio station you pick up from Oklahoma.”
An Evening of Smooth Jazz: Marion Meadows & Marc Antoine
May 5, 2018
Two jazz greats come together for one spectacularly smooth evening. Meadows’ latest album, Soul Traveler, combines the intoxicating sounds of smooth jazz, fusion, and contemporary jazz. Keeping his deep melodic flow and exotic melodic textures front and center, Antoine has established himself as a global star in contemporary jazz.
NEW - BROADWAY AT THE AMERICAN
Tuesdays with Morrie Starring Jamie Farr
October 12, 2017
Filled with humor and humanity, Tuesdays with Morrie is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Bringing Tuesdays with Morrie to life is acclaimed actor Jamie Farr, beloved by television viewers for his role on the award- winning television series, M*A*S*H.
Million Dollar Quartet
March 29, 2018
Imagine rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all in a recording session together. That’s exactly what happened on December 4, 1956, when these four legendary musicians gathered at Sun Studios in Memphis for what is considered one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. This Tony Award-winning, hit Broadway musical is inspired by that true story and features including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog” and more.
Pump Boys and Dinettes
April 13-15 and April 20-22, 2018
Produced by Hampton Arts and 5th Wall Theatre Company. This Tony Award-nominated musical pays tribute to the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. The ‘Pump Boys’ work hard on Highway 57, while ‘Dinettes’ Prudie and Rhetta Cupp run the Double Cupp diner next door. With heartbreak and hilarity, these versatile performers kick up their heels on guitars, piano, bass and, yes, even kitchen utensils!
LIGHTHOUSE SERIES
Ella at 100
February 25, 2018
Celebrating the 100th birthday of Ella Fitzgerald, a native of Newport News, Award-winning jazz artist and Virginia Native, Desirée Roots brings to life Ella’s most noted songs. Joining her on stage will be Scott Wichmann as Frank Sinatra, Billy Dyeas Louis Armstrong, and Anthony Cosby as Nat “King” Cole.
Hampton Roads Philharmonic
Totentanz & Brahms’ Symphony No. 2
October 15, 2017
To celebrate its fifth Anniversary, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic kicks off its season with an energetic and dramatic program of Berlioz, Liszt and Brahms.
Winter Classics & Holiday Favorites
December 10, 2017
Join the Hampton Roads Philharmonic for a winter-themed classical program with a pops-style twist.
Young Artist Showcase Competition Performance
March 11, 2018
Mendelssohn’s concert overture,“The Hebrides,” opens the program. The winner of the orchestra’s 2nd Annual Young Artist Competition will also be featured. The orchestra will perform Haydn’s festive “London” Symphony No. 104 to close out the concert.
Riddick Dance
The King Project
October 20, 2017
In collaboration, choreographers David Riddick and Marshall Swiney are creating a full evening of multimedia dance theater collage. The performance is in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speeches and letter from Birmingham jail.
MINDZ
March 23, 2018
MINDZ has the power to send natural vibration through the earth, which causes people to come from around the world. Join us and celebrate MINDZ. This creation of movement belongs to all of us.
Songwriters Collaborative
October 17, 2017; January 13, March 17, and May 5, 2018
These jam sessions promise to provide a supportive opportunity for anyone with a desire to work on their songwriting skills or to explore an urge to try songwriting for the first time.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
October 26, 2017
Audiences will “Time Warp” back to the 1970s and shimmy the night away to the voices of Magenta, Frank-N-Furter & Riff Raff on the American Theatre’s silver screen.
FAMILY FUN SERIES
Disney’s The Lion King Experience
October 28, 2017
The Hurrah Players bring the African savanna to majestic life with Simba, Rafiki, Mufasa and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey to the jungle and back again in this dazzling adventure celebrating the inescapable circle of life.
NEW - Saturday Morning Club
Fun for the whole family! From sing-a-longs and fairy tales to juggling like you’ve never seen before, Saturday mornings have never been more entertaining.
Silly Bus
November 18, 2017
Silly Bus offers a fun-filled morning of radio-friendly children’s music perfect for kindergarten through second grade students. With lyrics that cover educational topics and different musical styles, Silly Bus will have kids singing-a-long in no time!
Little Red & The Gingerbread Man
January 20, 2018
Two tales rolled into one! Join Barefoot Puppet’s Little Red as she pursues a mischievous Gingerbread cookie through the woods to Grandma’s house.
Magic with Mark Nizer
April 7, 2018
World-class juggler and comedian Mark Nizer incorporates amazing technology with special 4D glasses for a live performance that will mesmerize audiences with his world-renowned skills.
CREATING WELLNESS SERIES
The Mystical Arts of Tibet
Various events, August 8 – 13, 2017
A week of reflection and inspiration as Tibetan monks create a sand-painted mandala, used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. The sand mandala will be deconstructed during the closing ceremony, and sand will be distributed to the audience and a nearby body of water.
Tibetan Meditations for Anxiety & Stress
August 12, 2017
In this three-hour intensive workshop, Geshe Logsang Tenzin Negi, Ph.D., will explore Tibetan Meditations for eliminating and reducing stress and anxiety in challenging times.
SOULCollage®
October 14, 2017 and March 10, 2018
Developed by Seena Frost, SOULCollage® is a creative process that allows participants to access intuition, deep inner wisdom and healing by creating small, focused cards using images from magazines and other media.
ART of Daily Living
November 11, 2017 and April 21, 2018
Workshops are a combination of mindfulness practice, artistic creativity, and energy renewal infused with art and conversation.
A Gentle Approach to Yoga
October 4 – December 6, 2017
January 10 – May 23, 2018
Piary Sobhan takes a gradual approach that gently explores pain-free range of motion to catalyze the many benefits of yoga for body, mind, and spirit.
Your Authentic Voice & The Power of Story
Part performance, part conversation, The Power of Story is a look at how the stories we repeat to one another and the ones we come to believe in shape the lens through which we understand the world. Join Brian Andreas (master storyteller and creator of StoryPeople) and Fia Skye (actress and teacher of whole body/whole voice), for a lively evening that will challenge you to create towards the life you want to live.
Community Conversation - February 16, 2018
The Power of Story Retreat - February 17, 2018
THE CHARLES H. TAYLOR ARTS CENTER
For more than 60 years the historic building in downtown Hampton served as the city’s library. Built by Mrs. Grace Taylor Armstrong in honor of her father, it was meticulously restored and renovated, opening in 1989 as The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center to showcase the work of artists from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.
“The two main roles of an arts center are presenting visual art exhibitions and programs in art education,” said Gallery Manager James Warwick Jones. “This coming year will continue many of Hampton Arts’ educational programs as well as classes and workshops with new instructors and media and a new program with Hampton City Schools, called Artists in the Schools, bringing visiting master artists in our community into the high school art classes.”
Virginia Artists 2017 Juried Exhibition
August 19 – October 8, 2017
This annual competition, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the state, will showcase the talents of many of Virginia’s best artists and craftsmen. It features more than 115 artworks including drawing, printmaking, painting, photography, crafts, watercolor, mixed media, and sculpture.
Kristin Skees — Mother/Artist: Photographs, Sculpture and Installations
August 19 – October 8, 2017
The show will feature photography, sculpture and installation, and relies on the absurd humor found in Kristin Skees’ previous works. This exhibition is a result of her Best in Show Award in Virginia Artists 2016 Juried exhibition.
Virginia Glass Guild Juried Exhibition 2017
October 14 – December 3, 2017
This 30th annual juried exhibition presents the many forms of glass created by members of the Virginia Glass Guild, a membership organization of glass artists working all across the state of Virginia. This exhibition offers a wide range of creative glass processes, including blown, carved, cast, painted, flame-worked, fused, leaded, neon, sandblasted, and stained glass.
Suzanne Peterson — De-tached: New Work
October 14 – December 3, 2017
Peterson’s newest works are experimentally blown forms that attempt to highlight our inability to fully share with another. The exhibition is a result of her Best in Show Award in the 2016 VGG Exhibition.
Miniatures and Small Works by Tidewater Artists
December 9, 2017 – January 21, 2018
Over 250 artists living in Coastal Virginia will be invited to create miniature or small artworks in any media. Media represented will include drawing, painting, watercolor, pastel, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and crafts.
Hampton Arts League Open Members Exhibition 2018
January 27 – March 11, 2018
This annual exhibition features artwork by many of the over 350 Hampton Arts League Members in all media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, crafts, sculpture, and watercolor. Artworks in a wide range of styles, content, and sensibilities will be included.
Artists Who Teach Juried Exhibition 2018
March 17 – April 29, 2018
In addition to teaching artists from the four peninsula colleges and universities, as well as its public, private, and parochial schools, the art departments from six southside colleges, universities and art institutes have also been invited to participate.
Barbara Stephenson: Wrapped, Stacked and Rooted
March 17 – April 29, 2018
Best in Show Winner in Artists Who Teach 2017, Stephenson is featured in this one person show of drawings in a variety of media which she describes as “Visual metaphors that allow me to share very personal events, creating a portrait of myself.”
The Lives of Artists
May 5 – June 17, 2018
This series of exhibitions highlights the artwork of four diverse artists, who have each spent several decades in their own personal art journeys.
Tim O’Kane: Retrospective Five Decades/A Devotion to Realism
Using drawing as an artistic foundation, O’Kane has pursued life-long project of making representational art.
Akiko Tanaka: Evolutions Clay Sculpture
Akiko Tanaka is an award winning ceramic artist who divides her time between Tokyo, Japan and Hampton, Virginia. Akiko’s work is a combination of traditional Japanese hand-building and modern influences. She was influenced by such artists as Lee Bontecou, but it was the experience of the art by Peter Voulkos which dispatched her on a life-long quest to break with tradition.
Kacey Sydnor Carneal: This is Called Happiness
Kacey Sydnor Carneal is largely self-taught and paints colorful and patterned filled works, often with a significant message or depicting personal episodes from her life.
Works by Walt Taylor: My Sketchy Life
A master of many media, Taylor’s works are not to be missed and will appear in three different exhibitions throughout the year.
Graphic Design in Coastal Virginia
June 23 – August 12, 2018
A few of the many categories of graphic design included in this exhibit include advertising, cartooning, illustration, logos, package design, print design, signage, typography, video design and web design.
Sponsor Acknowledgement
Hampton Arts is proud to thank the following businesses, foundations, and sponsors who have helped support our programs on stage, in the classroom, in our galleries, and in our community.
Platinum Season Sponsor: Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau
Gold Season Sponsors: Holiday Inn Express at Coliseum Central, The Point at Phoebus
Premier Performance Series Sponsor: Coliseum Central
Broadway at the American Sponsors: Paragon City Center 12
Family Fun Series Sponsor: POMOCO
Performance Sponsors: Jeff’s Flowers of Course, Virginia Health Services
Television Media Sponsor: ABC13
Magazine Media Sponsor: Coastal Virginia Magazine
Hampton Arts is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and Art Works for The National Endowment for the Arts.
Season Subscription
New and exciting FLEX PASS OPTIONS available for 2017-2018. Inquire in person or by phone at The American Theatre Box Office at (757) 722-ARTS or Hampton Coliseum Box Office at (757) 838-4203.
Subscribe now with a NEW FLEX PASS* and Save! Buy a FLEX PASS before August 1st and get the best seats before they go on sale to the General Public. Shows must be chosen at the time of purchase.
4 for 4 Flex Pass — 4 tickets to use in any way you choose with $4 discount per ticket
6 for 6 Flex Pass — 6 tickets to use in any way you choose with $6 discount per ticket
8 for 8 Flex Pass — 8 tickets to use in any way you choose with $8 discount per ticket
PLEASE NOTE: Discounts cannot be applied to Family Fun Series or Lighthouse Series. FLEX PASSES go on sale June 15–October 2, 2017. Single event tickets go on sale to the general public on August 1, 2017.
Single Ticket Sales
Individual performance tickets are available on August 1, 2017 and may be purchased in person at The American Theatre Box Office or Hampton Coliseum Box Office. Tickets may be ordered online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.