Community Calendar

Béatrice et Bénédict
Music and libretto by Hector Berlioz
Featuring the JMU Opera Theatre

Join JMU Opera Theatre for the operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. When a military regiment returns from war, Hero will marry Claudio! However, Hero’s cousin, Béatrice, is annoyed that this also means her nemesis, Bénédict, is back. As Béatrice and Bénédict bicker, everyone can see their banter is a symptom of love. What will it take for Béatrice and Bénédict to recognize it, too? Premiering in 1862 as an opéra comique, this musical gem was French composer Hector Berlioz’s love letter to the Bard. Written at the very end of his life, Béatrice et Bénédict defiantly celebrates love, hope, and the people who really get under our skin. Sung in French with English surtitles and dialogue.

Arts Council of the Valley invites you to join in the arts-focused fun on the First Friday* of EVERY month! Throughout Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, 38 venues offer a variety of new art exhibitions, live performances, poetry, comedy, music, artmaking activities, food, and so much more. You can find a list of venues, online map, and details for all First Fridays of the Valley events – all updated monthly – at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/! Thanks to Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Exclusive Sponsor for 2025 First Fridays of the Valley.

*In 2025, July's "First Friday" arts programming will be held on THURSDAY, July 3 (NOT JULY 4)

Please join the JMU Choral Area and special guests, the JMU Wind Symphony, for HolidayFest 2025: Holiday Pops! A sellout every year, this family-friendly event features a crowd-pleasing variety of contemporary holiday favorites, with guest readers and soloists sharing the inspiration of “A JMU Charlie Brown Christmas.” Don’t miss this spirited tradition that brings the community together in harmony and cheer! Prior to the December 7th matinee (at 1 pm), children can enjoy crafts, cookies, and cider in the lobby.

Join Champion Scottish fiddler, singer and harpist Seán Heely and a cast of nationally acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical journey through Scotland and Ireland during the holidays. The fiddle and bagpipes will sweep you away to Christmastime and Winter Solstice celebrations, along with dancers who are sure to lift your spirits and warm your heart. Kilts and tartan abound as the show travels through ancient Gaelic carols and songs, tucked in perfectly with lively Irish tunes and familiar seasonal melodies with a Celtic twist. An award-winning musician, Heely is one of the most creatively versatile and captivating young artists of his generation.

Renowned for their collaborative spirit, the GRAMMY Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras, performing with “edge-of-the-seat intensity” and displaying an “infectious love for making music” (The New York Times) Performing without a conductor, Orpheus is a radical experiment in musical democracy, proving for over fifty years what happens when exceptional artists gather with total trust in each other and faith in the creative process. A standard-bearer of innovation and artistic excellence, they perform annually at Carnegie Hall and have become a global sensation with tours of Europe and Asia. Violinist and Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Stella Chen ventures into the sultry, scintillating tango atmosphere of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. Tune into hidden nuances in the wondrous counterpoint of Bach’s Goldberg Variations and let the richness of the Orpheus strings carry you on a timeless reverie through Villa-Lobos’ Aria from Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5.

Dialogues of the Carmelites
Music and libretto by Francis Poulenc
Featuring the JMU Opera Theatre

In 1794, during the final days of the French Revolution, a group of Carmelite nuns joyously went to the guillotine singing psalms and hymns of praise. This defiant display of love and generosity in the face of certain death helped turn the tide of the Reign of Terror and has inspired countless individuals in times of crisis and turmoil. This fascinating moment in history became the subject of French composer Francis Poulenc’s 1956 opera. Written in the wake of World War II, Dialogues of the Carmelites is a profound meditation unlike any other work in the repertoire. Through beautiful choruses and intricate scenes, the opera explores how we live, how we die, how we fall apart, how we come together, and why we must keep singing to the very end. Sung in English with English surtitles.

Dialogues of the Carmelites
Music and libretto by Francis Poulenc
Featuring the JMU Opera Theatre

In 1794, during the final days of the French Revolution, a group of Carmelite nuns joyously went to the guillotine singing psalms and hymns of praise. This defiant display of love and generosity in the face of certain death helped turn the tide of the Reign of Terror and has inspired countless individuals in times of crisis and turmoil. This fascinating moment in history became the subject of French composer Francis Poulenc’s 1956 opera. Written in the wake of World War II, Dialogues of the Carmelites is a profound meditation unlike any other work in the repertoire. Through beautiful choruses and intricate scenes, the opera explores how we live, how we die, how we fall apart, how we come together, and why we must keep singing to the very end. Sung in English with English surtitles.

The esteemed Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) makes its Forbes Center debut in a program that celebrates famed Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s indelible mark on choral singing and classical music. The program features his works alongside other ethereal melodies brought to life by the choir’s resplendent sound. Well-versed in interpreting the spiritual depth that characterizes Pärt’s music, the EPCC has toured the world to critical acclaim and won countless accolades including two GRAMMY Awards for Best Choral Performance, 16 GRAMMY nominations and a Gramophone Award. Led by Tonu Kaljuste, the choir is renowned for its transcendent Gregorian chant and baroque repertoire. These “pure and impassioned, astounding choral artists” (The Wall Street Journal) will charm audiences in this virtuosic concert experience.

Solas is hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced.” Since 1995 they have been a galvanizing element in the Irish music scene - a lightning rod of talent and inspiration that set new standards for musicianship, repertoire, and intensity. Over the course of twelve critically acclaimed albums and significant international touring, Solas brought their love for the traditions of Irish music, and their sense of melodic and instrumental adventure to the world. In 2017, after a remarkable two-decade career, Solas decided it was time for a break. Now, after eight years, Solas is back and ready to celebrate its 30th Anniversary at the Forbes Center! Get ready to experience the joy of this magical performance.

PIPPIN
Music and lyrics by Steven Schwartz
Book by Roger O. Hirson
Originally produced on the Broadway stage by Stuart Ostrow
Originally directed on the Broadway stage by Bob Fosse
2013 Broadway revival directed by Diane Paulus
Theo ending originally conceived in 1998 by Mitch Sebastian

With an infectiously unforgettable score from four-time GRAMMY winner, three-time Oscar winner and musical theatre giant, Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN is the story of a man’s journey to the extraordinary. The son of a king, Pippin is stuck between what is expected of him and the possibilities that forging his own path holds. His epic journey blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, in search of something greater than what he knows. PIPPIN explores themes of identity, purpose, and the joy that comes from breaking a few rules. Don’t miss this five-time Tony Award-winning musical that is sure to transport its audience to a new world! Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance. PIPPIN is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com. Contains adult content, adult language, violence, and sexual content. Recommended for ages 13 and up.