Pre-Performance Discussions


Sponsored by the Friends of the Center for the Arts.

Join us 45 minutes prior to the curtain for our Great Performances at Mason events, and enjoy our lively and popular Pre-Performance Discussions. These forums are led by local experts and, occasionally, by the artists themselves. Here, patrons are encouraged to ask questions and are able to gain a bit of insight and knowledge about our world-renowned guest artists. Held on the spacious and comfortable Grand Tier Lobby, these captivating exchanges provide a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of a great performance!

Date Event Curtain Speaker
September 26, 2009Arts by George! Brian Stokes Mitchell and The American Festival Pops Orchestra8:00 pm7:15 pm; Vincent Oppido, Composer
October 10, 2009Richard Alston Dance Company8:00 pm7:15 pm; Richard Alston, Artistic Director
October 11, 2009The Flying Karamazov Brothers4:00 pm3:15 pm; Patricia Krauss, Local Performer, Director, Choreographer and Arts Educator
October 16, 2009Virginia Opera: La Bohème8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
October 18, 2009Virginia Opera: La Bohème2:00 pm1:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
October 23, 2009L.A. Theatre Works: War of the Worlds and The Lost World8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
October 24, 2009Shaolin Warriors8:00 pm7:15 pm; Jie Tien, Former Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Asst
October 25, 2009Shaolin Warriors4:00 pm3:15 pm; Jie Tien, Former Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Asst
October 31, 2009MOMIX: Best of MOMIX8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dan Joyce, Professor, GMU School of Dance
November 6, 2009The King’s Singers8:00 pm7:15 pm; Paul Phoenix and Chris Gabbitas of The King's Singers
November 7, 2009Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company2:00 pm1:15 pm; Company Member
November 7, 2009Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
November 8, 2009Circo Aereo: Espresso4:00 pmUPDATED 11-6-09: The Pre-Performance has become a Post-Performance Dicsussion. See Event listing.
November 14, 2009Shanghai Symphony Orchestra8:00 pm7:15 pm; David Srebnik, Virtuoso Voices
November 20, 2009Aquila Theatre: As You Like It8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
November 28, 2009Chanticleer: A Chanticleer Christmas8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
December 4, 2009Virginia Opera: The Daughter of the Regiment8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
December 5, 2009Doc Watson: Hills of Home8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
December 6, 2009Virginia Opera: The Daughter of the Regiment2:00 pm1:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
December 11, 2009George Winston: The Winter Show8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
December 12, 2009Canadian Brass: A Canadian Brass Christmas8:00 pm7:15 pm; David Srebnik, Virtuoso Voices
December 18, 2009Natalie MacMaster: Christmas in Cape Breton8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
December 19, 2009Rockapella: A Rockapella Holiday2:00 pm1:15 pm; Guest Speaker
December 19, 2009Rockapella: A Rockapella Holiday8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
January 24, 2010Band of the Irish Guards with the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland2:00 pm1:15 pm; Company Member
January 24, 2010Band of the Irish Guards with the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland7:00 pm6:15 pm; Company Member
February 5, 2010Mark Morris Dance Group8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dan Joyce, GMU School of Dance, and Nancy Umanoff, Exec. Dir., Mark Morris Dance Group
February 6, 2010Mark Morris Dance Group8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dan Joyce, GMU School of Dance, and Nancy Umanoff, Exec. Dir., Mark Morris Dance Group
February 13, 2010Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
February 14, 2010The Acting Company: Romeo and Juliet4:00 pm3:15 pm; Guest Speaker
February 20, 2010Simply Sinatra with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra8:00 pm7:15 pm; Jim Carroll, Founder and Director
February 26, 2010Virginia Opera: Don Giovanni8:00 pm7:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
February 27, 2010Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: Masters of the Fiddle8:00 pm7:15 pm; Mary Sue Twohy
February 28, 2010Virginia Opera: Don Giovanni2:00 pm1:15 pm; Dr. Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
March 6, 2010Black Grace8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
March 14, 2010Eileen Ivers: Beyond the Bog Road4:00 pm3:15 pm; Guest Speaker
March 20, 2010TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
March 21, 2010TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming4:00 pm3:15 pm; Guest Speaker
April 3, 2010Lang Lang, piano with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra8:00 pm7:15 pm; Nicole Lacroix, Classical WETA 90.9 FM
April 10, 2010Garth Fagan Dance8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
April 11, 2010African Children’s Choir: Journey of Hope4:00 pm3:15 pm; Guest Speaker
April 16, 2010Moscow Festival Ballet: Giselle8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
April 17, 2010Moscow Festival Ballet: Coppélia8:00 pm7:15 pm; Company Member
April 18, 2010Academy of St. Martin in the Fields4:00 pm3:15 pm; Academy Administrator, Academy of St. Martin in the Field
April 23, 2010Virginia Opera: Porgy and Bess8:00 pm7:15 pm; Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
April 24, 2010Cherryholmes and Dr. Ralph Stanley with the Clinch Mountain Boys8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker
April 25, 2010Virginia Opera: Porgy and Bess2:00 pm1:15 pm; Glenn Winters, Community Outreach Musical Dir., Virginia Opera
May 8, 2010Olympia Dukakis: Rose8:00 pm7:15 pm; Guest Speaker