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.

It’s Jekyll and Hyde with a twist! The internationally renowned PUSH Physical Theatre presents an innovative and harrowing retelling of the iconic classic Jekyll and Hyde with their own adaptation. This “perennial powerhouse” (City News) stretches the boundaries of conventional theatre, presenting work that blends humor with intense athleticism, gravity-defying acrobatics, and soulful artistry. Experiencing PUSH’s unique blend of theatre is “a rare treat.” (New York Theatre Guide). Meet Edward Hyde. He has rented a theatre, put on his fanciest suit, and hired a couple of actors to tell his side of the story. His lofty ambitions to be a superstar careen off the rails when his special guest is late and his actors go off script. Can he keep his emotions in check and pull off the greatest event of the century? Come and experience this incredible night of theatre and find out! HYDE won the coveted Critics Choice: Best Play-Drama Award at the Orlando Fringe Festival. Recommended for ages 13 and above. Adult content and adult language.

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)

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE dazzles with a brilliantly breathtaking holiday spectacular for the whole family. As the original cirque holiday theatrical event, this annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around awe-inspiring contemporary circus arts.

Guests will be on the edge of their seats as a cast of holiday characters come to life, captivating audiences while defying gravity. Reimagined for 2025, CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE features original music, fresh twists on beloved holiday favorites sung live, new sets, dazzling scenery, and stunning costumes – making it the ultimate holiday gift!

Sell Me: I Am From North Korea
Written and performed by Sora Baek

Sora Baek is an award-winning actor, writer and producer from South Korea whose masterful one-woman show is inspired by the true stories of North Korean defectors and survivors who risk everything to escape one of the world’s most repressive regimes. This acclaimed show was a sell-out sensation at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Baek delivers a brutally honest performance filled with vulnerability, humor, and boundless energy as she explores questions about women’s rights, social justice and empowerment. Playbill called Baek’s vivid play “breathtaking” whose impoverished lead character 15-year-old Jisun makes the heart-wrenching decision to sell herself to buy medications for her dying mother. A second-generation North Korean refugee herself, Baek’s grandparents fled the North during the Korean War with her father when he was only four years old. Featuring historical photos, real-life footage and public testimony, this startling multimedia play is a “powerful, riveting experience. A must see!” (William Patterson University).

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.

Suni and Mae are dreamers. As young girls, they dreamt about journeying far beyond our solar system, singing among the stars and discovering all that was unknown to them - the secrets of space. Using magical illusions and a state-of-the-art digital LED wall, the sisters and the audience embark on an interactive journey across the galaxy. The wonders of outer space are explored with dazzling imagery and key ideas and inventions in science, technology, and engineering. Brought to you by Cahoots NI, the award-winning team behind Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries, Secrets of Space has been developed with leading space industry experts. Recommended for audiences ages 7 and up.

The show weaves a joy-filled family celebration with a re-telling of one of the most beloved tales in Chinese folklore - the origin story of the Chinese Zodiac. Meet Po Po and Kung Kung, as they celebrate Chinese New Year by making dumplings and sharing the story of The Great Race with their grandkids, Freddie and Ivy. Learn how each animal earned its place in the Chinese Zodiac through this incredible performance from the acclaimed Honolulu Theatre for Youth, featuring traditional Chinese music, Jingju, martial arts and a whole lot of fun! Recommended for audiences ages 4 and up.

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.