The Arts & Music Scene

The American Shakespeare Center rediscovers the joys and accessibility of Shakespeare's theatre, language and humanity by exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education. The ASC's Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, is open year-round for Shakespeare productions, which have been hailed by The Washington Post as "shamelessly entertaining" and by The Boston Globe as "phenomenal... bursting with energy." Founded in 1988 as Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, the organization became the American Shakespeare Center in 2005.

Located on the east end of the historic downtown mall, the Charlottesville nTelos Wireless Pavilion is the city's premier outdoor venue for live performance. Open since July of 2005, it features premium seating, a spacious lawn, and professional stage and sound, all within easy walking distance of Downtown Charlottesville's many restaurants and other attractions. The Charlottesville nTelos Wireless Pavilion presents acclaimed live musical acts and is host to the Friday's After Five free concert series from April through September.

Founded in 1973, Four County Players is Central Virginia's longest continuously operating community theater. For more than 35 years, the players have delighted audiences with a full range of theater experiences. Located in the small town of Barboursville, the theater is the cultural hub for the community, serving as both an artistic and educational center. The Players are well known for their masterful musicals, hilarious comedies and magical productions of Shakespeare. Every year, Four County Players presents five main stage shows. These productions include at least one musical, a Shakespeare play and a family Christmas show.

Built in 1931, Charlottesville's Paramount Theater has held a starring role both now and in the past. Once a home for movies and community events, The Paramount's doors were closed for thirty years before recent restoration returned the theater's former glory. The Paramount Theater boasts 1,040 seats in a hall with excellent sight lines and acoustics. The Paramount's state-of-the-art facility provides a wonderful opportunity to see world-class artists perform in an intimate setting. Located on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, the Paramount Theater hosts a variety of music, dance, drama, Broadway, comedy and family performances each season.

Play On! is Charlottesville's only all-volunteer, local community theatre. Founded in 2005, it produces staged performances of plays and Broadway-style musicals. Additionally, Play On! offers theatre education and supports the production of new works by local writers. The group operates The Theatre at Ix, a 170-seat space in the revitalized Belmont neighborhood. Play On! welcomes the participation of all community members (regardless of previous experience) on stage, backstage or in the audience. As a not-for-profit arts organization, Play On! is entirely supported by the local community through ticket sales, donations and sponsorships.

Live music on the Downtown Mall! Check our website for upcoming shows.

WMRA is committed to fostering informed, engaged and culturally enriched communities, with NPR News & NPR Talk on weekdays, evening classical music, and weekends with folk and blues music as well as favorite programs such as "Car Talk," "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," "A Prairie Home Companion" and "This American Life." The news, music, conversations and entertainment you enjoy on WMRA are available at 103.5FM, at 90.7 in some parts of the Charlottesville region, as well as streaming at www.wmra.org.