The Year of the Arts at William & Mary continues with a fall semester featuring a broad palette of offerings from animation instruction to classical music to satirical theatre.
Perhaps the highlight, scheduled for later this fall, is the re-opening of the Muscarelle Museum of Art, which has expanded into the new Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts, tripling the size of the museum and creating a state-of-the-art venue.
“Whether you come with a class to see and study works from our permanent collection, take an art-making workshop to hone your own skills, attend a special exhibition featuring art from around the globe or simply find a comfortable study spot and a delicious cup of coffee, we hope the museum will be a place where you feel welcomed and connected,” said David Brashear, the museum’s director.
The entries below are just a sample of the events that are currently planned in the categories of art, dance, literature, music, photography and theatre. While construction is finishing on its new home, the Muscarelle is continuing to host pop-up exhibitions, workshops and special events around town.
Tickets to all events are now available through a single site, wm.universitytickets.com, which will allow patrons to create one account for all performances that require ticketed admission.
Art
Chaos Frames: Advanced Animation Exploration
Oct. 2
5 – 8 p.m.
Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Dr., York Room
Member price: $25, Non-member price: $30
This hands-on workshop encourages participants to use their smartphones and a simple animation app to push the boundaries of traditional animation. Designed for ages 18+ but all skill/experience levels welcome. Participants should bring their own mobile phones and be prepared to download a free animation app. All other materials will be provided. Discounts available for Muscarelle Museum members.
Imaginary Beasts and Stranger Things Youth Workshop
Oct. 4
9 a.m. – Noon
Campus Center
104 Jamestown Rd.
Member price: $20, Non-member price: $30
Students will explore the fantastical world of creating imaginary animals, beasts, and stranger things with oil pastels and tempera paint. Designed for youth ages 6-12. All materials will be provided, and all skill levels are welcome. Discounts available for Muscarelle Museum members.
Art in the Afternoon: Museum Origin Stories and AI: It’s Here!
Oct. 9
2-3 p.m.
Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre
515 Scotland St.
Journey through centuries of colorful history, from the 18th century to cutting-edge artificial intelligence that is revolutionizing the art world. Presented by docent Harry Chancey, Art in the Afternoon is a four-part lecture series presented by Muscarelle docents every Wednesday in October at the library.
Art in the Afternoon: Hogarth’s Gritty London: The Birth of Visual Storytelling
Oct. 16
2-3 p.m.
Williamsburg Regional Library Auditorium
515 Scotland St.
Step into the salacious world of William Hogarth’s 18th-century England. Discover how this master of satire laid the groundwork for the modern comic strip. From bawdy taverns to corrupt politicians, Hogarth’s prints offer a scandalous peek into a society on the brink of change. Presented by docent Sandra Stephan.
Art in the Afternoon: Degas Decoded: The Work of a Grumpy Genius
Oct. 23
2-3 p.m.
Williamsburg Regional Library Auditorium
515 Scotland St.
This virtual tour takes you backstage in Belle Époque Paris to witness Degas’ revolutionary techniques up close. Unravel the complexities of an artistic giant who helped birth Impressionism while keeping the world at arm’s length. Presented by docents Harry Chancey and Sandra Stephan.
Art in the Afternoon: Framing the Future: Muscarelle Reimagined
Oct. 30
2-3 p.m.
Williamsburg Regional Library Auditorium
515 Scotland St.
Get an exclusive first look at the Museum’s breathtaking transformation through an illustrated lecture by Director David Brashear.
Distinguished Lecture Series: Andrew Raftery
Oct. 31
4:30 p.m.
Andrews Hall
605 Jamestown Rd.
Andrew Raftery is an artist specializing in fictional and autobiographical narratives of contemporary American life. He uses seemingly antiquated techniques, such as engraving, to treat contemporary subject matter. He is Professor of Printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design and is represented by Ryan Lee Gallery in New York. His home and studio are in Providence, Rhode Island.
Catron Scholars Exhibition
Nov. 11-22
Sadler Center, Hart Gallery
200 Stadium Dr.
The Department of Art & Art History and the Charles Center will celebrate recipients of this summer’s Catron Scholarship for Artistic Development. Featured works by the scholars will be on display in The Hart Gallery from Nov. 11-22. On Nov. 14, from 5-7 p.m., a reception will be followed by brief presentations from each of the artists.
Dance
W&M Presents!: Leah Glenn Dance Theatre
Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
551 Jamestown Rd.
Led by William & Mary Professor of Dance Leah Glenn, this modern dance company is dedicated to “cultivating to a greater understanding of the world in which we live through thought-provoking works of art that entertain, inspire and challenge audiences.”
Literature
Hayes Writers Series: Remica Bingham-Risher
Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Tucker Hall Theatre
350 James Blair Dr.
The Affrilachian poet and essayist Remica Bingham-Risher will talk about her book, “Soul Culture: Black Poets, Books and Questions that Grew Me Up (Beacon Press, 2022). Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Writer’s Chronicle and Essence magazine.
Concord Scholarship Presentation
Oct. 17, 5 p.m.
Tucker Hall Theatre
350 James Blair Dr.
The 2024 recipient of the Concord Traveling Scholarship, Sasha Rinkevich ‘27, will give a talk entitled “The Magic of Noticing,” about her summer in England and the writing and reflection it inspired.
Hayes Writers Series: Xandra Nur Clark
Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Phi Beta Kappa, Studio Theatre
601 Jamestown Rd.
Xandra Nur Clark, an Indian-American actor, journalist and adjunct professor in playwriting at the University of Rochester, will discuss her work.
Music
W&M Presents!: Julian Lage
Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theatre
601 Jamestown Rd.
The jazz guitarist, now 37, has been performing for more than 30 years. A child prodigy, Lage was the subject of the 1996 short documentary film “Jules at Eight.” At 12, he performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Three years later, he joined the faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop at Stanford University. Classically trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2008.
William & Mary Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert
Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
551 Jamestown Rd.
The program will include selections by Verdi, Berlioz, and a contemporary work by Jean-Christophe Rosaz, all along the theme of nature appreciation. The featured soloist, tenor Vincent Karche, is a botanist and park ranger who has written many books about operatic voice, nature and particularly trees. He has created “The Lyric Hikes” in Europe, taking hikers through forests and mountains, explaining things about trees and giving singing demonstrations during breaks.
The program also includes two lesser-known symphonic works: “In the Forest” by Lithuanian composer Ciurlionis (very rarely performed) and the symphony, “The Poem of the Forest,” by Albert Roussel, a contemporary of Debussy and Ravel.
William & Mary Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert
Dec. 7
7:30 p.m.
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
551 Jamestown Rd.
Conducted by Director of Orchestras David Grandis, the program will include contemporary selections by John Williams, John Powell as well as selections from Bizet’s “Carmen.”
Photography
America in Black & White: Depression-Era Photographs from the Farm Security Administration
Through Dec. 31
Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stryker Center Gallery
412 N. Boundary St., Williamsburg
The Muscarelle Museum of Art presents a selection of photographs from the Farm Security Administration, a New Deal-era project that created a pictorial record of American life between 1935 and 1944 and launched the careers of American photographers such as Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks. Docent-led tours of the exhibition will be available Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Theatre
Men On Boats
Oct. 3-6
7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, Studio Theatre
601 Jamestown Rd.
A satirical retelling of the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition, where a crew of 10 men journeyed down the Colorado River to explore the Grand Canyon. Subverting traditional gender roles, blending historical accuracy with modern sensibilities, the cast creates a high-energy exploration of power, privilege and the myths of American exploration. Directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Abbie Cathcart.
Fun Home
Nov. 14-17
7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall
601 Jamestown Rd.
This Tony Award winner for best musical is based on the memoir by graphic novelist Alison Bechdel, who grew up in a family-run funeral home. Moving between past and present, she relives her unique childhood, her growing understanding of her own sexuality and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires.
Susan Corbett, Communications Specialist