One of the preeminent young vocalists in the U.S. will sing next year in Hampton Roads, courtesy of the Virginia Arts Festival.
Samara Joy, who won two 2023 Grammy Awards — for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist — will bring her captivating voice and commanding stage presence to Virginia Beach in June.
The festival lineup, announced Thursday, includes dance performances by renowned troupes like the Martha Graham Dance Company — celebrating its 100th anniversary with the ballet “Appalachian Spring,” in May at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
Audiences will also get to see Step Afrika! display a distinctive blend of traditional African dances fused with contemporary steps and some “dances styles of historically African American fraternities and sororities,” according to the festival.
Then there is “something totally, really quirky” and different, said Robert Cross, the festival’s artistic director.
The 360 All Stars combine breakdancing with BMX bikes and incorporate beatboxing, acrobatics and basketball into their highly physical performances inspired by street culture — “like an urban circus,” Cross said.
And what would the festival be without a bit of theater?
In April, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will accompany a group of Broadway soloists for a concert version of the musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
And a Hampton Roads native, Adrienne Warren — who won the 2020 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her starring role in the Broadway production of “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” — will be back for a one-night-only show in the spring.
Tickets are on sale. Check out the season’s full lineup below.
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December
Hometown Heroes Holiday Benefit Concert, benefiting ForKids, Cocoa & Carols featuring Adam Turner and music by musicians of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Opera. 3 p.m. Dec. 3, Harrison Opera House, Norfolk.
“When You Wish Upon A Star: A King’s Singers Christmas,” The King’s Singers. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond. 3 p.m. Dec. 17, Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk.
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January
Anthony Hervey, John Toomey, Jim Masters, Frank Russo. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20, Attucks Jazz Club, Attucks Theatre.
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February
Janis Siegel, John Toomey, Jim Masters, and Emre Katari. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Attucks Jazz Club, Attucks Theatre.
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March
Collage Dance Collective. 7:30 p.m. March 7, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.
Troy Roberts, John Toomey, Jim Masters and Frank Russo. 7:30 p.m. March 16, Attucks Jazz Club, Attucks Theatre.
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April
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” an orchestra concert with Broadway soloists. 7:30 p.m. April 13, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.
Step Afrika!. 3 p.m. April 14, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.
Virginia International Tattoo. 7:30 p.m. April 18-20, Scope arena, Norfolk. 2:30 p.m. April 21, Scope.
Grisha Goryachev. 7:30 p.m. April 24, Robin Hixon Theater, Norfolk.
Les Violons du Roy with MILOŠ. 7:30 p.m. April 29, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk.
Dance Theatre of Harlem. 7:30 p.m. April 30, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. 7:30 p.m. May 3-4, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. 2 p.m. May 5, Chrysler Hall.
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May
“Trailblazing Women of Country: A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta and Dolly” featuring Miko Marks and Kristina Train. 7:30 p.m. May 1, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk.
Takács Quartet and Olga Kern. 7:30 p.m. May 8, Williamsburg Library, Williamsburg. 7:30 p.m. May 9, Robin Hixon Theater, Norfolk.
360 ALLSTARS. 7:30 p.m. May 10, TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, Norfolk.
Martha Graham Dance Company with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. May 11, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
The Chenaults. 4 p.m. May 12, Christ & St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk.
Jessie Montgomery with the Virginia Arts Festival Players. 7:30 p.m. May 16, Robin Hixon Theater, Norfolk.
Apollo’s Fire Chamber Ensemble. 10:30 a.m. May 23, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. 10:30 a.m. May 24, Williamsburg Library, Williamsburg.
Adrienne Warren. 7:30 p.m. May 30, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk.
Storm Large. 7:30 p.m. May 31, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk.
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June
“Light in the Eastern Sky with Special Guests,” Aoife O’Donovan. 7:30 p.m. June 1, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk.
Music from the Operas of Anthony Davis. 4 p.m. June 2, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk.
Wu Han, David Finckel and Olga Kern. 7:30 p.m. June 4, Robin Hixon Theater, Norfolk. 10:30 a.m. June 5, Miller Studio Theatre, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
Olga Kern with the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players. 10:30 a.m. June 6, Robin Hixon Theater, Norfolk. 10:30 a.m. June 7, William & Mary Concert Hall, Williamsburg.
Samara Joy. 7:30 p.m. June 8, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
“Attention!: A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra by Chris Thile,” Chris Thile featuring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. June 13, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk; June 14, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach; June 15, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News.
Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8138, [email protected]