2025 Annual UVA Arts Welcome Picnic
Come learn about curricular, extra-curricular, programmatic, and volunteer opportunities from the Visual & Performing Arts & Architecture departments, programs, and community.
May 21, 2026
https://news.virginia.edu/content/meet-students-behind-sound-uvas-battle-bands-winners
https://as.virginia.edu/news/finding-her-voice-priyanka-shettys-mfa-journey-uva-world-stage
https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-alumna-artist-big-miniature-artworks
Come learn about curricular, extra-curricular, programmatic, and volunteer opportunities from the Visual & Performing Arts & Architecture departments, programs, and community.
The Virginia Theatre Festival has announced the cast and creative team for its production of Disney’s Newsies. Set to run July 9-19 in the Culbreth Theatre at the University of Virginia, Disney’s Newsies will be directed and choreographed by Matthew Steffens. A favorite of VTF audiences for his acclaimed direction and choreography of 2023’s smash-hit Cabaret and last season’s highly acclaimed Into the Woods.
https://virginiatheatrefestival.org/casting-announcement-for-newsies/
The Virginia Theatre Festival has announced the cast and creative team for its production of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure. Set to run June 20-28 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre at the University of Virginia, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty will be directed by noted theater, film, and television director Nicolas Minas, who returns to VTF following his acclaimed 2024 production of The 39 Steps.
https://virginiatheatrefestival.org/casting-announcement-for-moriarty/
The Thursday, April 9th, performance of Hypocrite The Musical has been canceled by the promoter. All tickets purchased for this performance have been transferred to the performance on Friday, April 10th at 7:00PM.
https://www.wtju.net/art-this-week-hypocrite-the-musical/
Priyanka Shetty came to Charlottesville in 2016 to study acting at UVA—and left envisioning herself not just as a performer, but a creator.
https://as.virginia.edu/news/finding-her-voice-priyanka-shettys-mfa-journey-uva-world-stage
From Thursday through April 3, the Ruth Caplin Theatre will travel back in time to 19th century Russia for the debut of the University drama department’s production of “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.” Decorative sets, dance interludes and passionate ballads make up the spirited narrative and energetic dance sequences of this immersive musical experience. The production features undergraduate, graduate and alumni performers with a wide range of talents and experience, all of whom have dedicated themselves to months of intense rehearsals in preparation for opening night.
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2026/03/uva-drama-brings-natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812-to-the-stage?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured
The recent passing of historic UVA Arts benefactor Tessa Ader marked the final chapter of a life filled with love, art, a sense of adventure, and a legacy that will enrich the UVA and Charlottesville communities for generations to come. Ader’s historic lead $50 million gift to fund the building of a performing arts center is the largest gift to the arts in the University’s history and will transform the arts landscape by providing a state-of-the-art home for concerts, dance, theater and interdisciplinary art forms.
The Virginia Theatre Festival’s 2026 season will open on Saturday, June 20 with the melodramatic madcap romp, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty. VTF’s 52nd season runs through July 26 and will also feature the Tony Award-winning musical Disney’s Newsies and Frida…A Self Portrait, a one-woman show that explores and celebrates the life, art, and enduring legacy of legendary artist and cultural icon Frida Kahlo. The Virginia Theatre Festival is a program of the University of Virginia, with support from the Office of the Provost, Vice Provost for the Arts, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Drama, and The Caplin Foundation.
https://virginiatheatrefestival.org/virginia-theatre-festival-announces-2026-season/
The Incident, Amuse Bouche and The Whethermen joined forces Friday in Warner Hall for their semesterly tradition — a free, three-group comedy show. Aptly titling the show “Good Things Come in Threes,” the three groups each brought their own unique humor to the performance over a hilarious evening.
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2026/01/joint-comedy-student-group-performance-proves-that-good-things-come-in-threes?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured
As students fret over perfecting their schedules last-minute, some struggle to select a holistic courseload to engage in all that the University has to offer. There are many exciting art-related classes available every semester, in which students often take advantage of the opportunity to broaden their horizons, fulfill graduation requirements and in certain cases boost their GPA. Whatever the case, here is a list of a few, waiting to be added to schedules and hidden in the Student Information System.
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2026/01/intriguing-and-imaginative-arts-courses-to-take-this-spring-semester?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured
Experience critically acclaimed British performances with National Theatre Live in HD’s presentation of The Fifth Step. Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (“Slow Horses,” Dunkirk) and Emmy- and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, “The Responder”) star in the subversively funny play by David Ireland, directed by Finn den Hertog. In a story built around recovery from alcoholism, the lead characters trade stories, bond over black coffee, and build a fragile friendship based on shared experiences before dangerous truths emerge.
https://c-ville.com/the-fifth-step-at-the-paramount-theater-1-8/
Founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, Don’t Tell Comedy has since expanded to over 200 cities around the country. Recently, they found a new home in Charlottesville and have put on several events around Albemarle County. Local comedian Chris Alan brought this chapter to Charlottesville in 2024 after establishing a comedy open-mic presence in the City and performing at Don’t Tell shows in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Washington, D.C..
https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/12/dont-tell-comedy-is-charlottesvilles-most-mysterious-new-forum-for-laughs?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest