Are you a bluegrass fanatic? Or maybe Shakespeare is more your style? Perhaps it’s musical theatre that peaks your interest. Whatever you enjoy, Averett’s Arts@Averett series offers this and more. Averett University is excited to invite you to check out and join the University in celebrating the arts with its 2017-18 Arts@Averett lineup, which includes the 1859 Coffeehouse Lecture Series. The first event is in just a few weeks and events run through April. Ticket pricing varies, and some events are free. All events are open to the public. Averett students get in free with a Student I.D. For more information about our events this season, visit https://www.averett.edu/about-us/arts-averett/averett-arts-schedule/ or call (434) 791-5867.
Following is the list of events for 2017-18 season:

Aug. 24, 7 p.m.
Ethan Uslan Ragtime Piano
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $5

This event features ragtime piano scoring from the silent movie “The Freshman” which is a 1925 comedy film that tells the story of a college freshman trying to become popular by joining the school football team. As with old-time silent movies, live piano music accompanied the action on the screen.

Sept. 14-15, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16, 2 p.m.
“School House Rock Live”
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)

The Averett Theatre for Young People’s Series is proud to present “School House Rock Live.” Based on the Emmy Award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs instructing a whole new generation to “Unpack Your Adjectives” and “Do The Circulation.”

Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Tango Buenos Aires
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $25 adults, $10 students

Averett is proud to sponsor the Danville Concert Association’s Tango Buenos Aires. A heady blend of Spanish and African traditions, the tango developed in the brothels and communal backstreets of Buenos Aires’ poorer port districts in the 1880s. As an art form, the tango demonstrates the first decades of the 20th century when the language of the streets formed the poetic lyrics of tango.

Sept. 29-30, 7 p.m.
Musical Theatre Cabaret
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)

The Averett Theatre and Music departments present a performance of a variety of musical numbers.

Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
Jason Springs
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $5

Jason Springs is a folk/roots rock artist from Danville, Va., who has recently gained momentum in the area as an up-and-coming local songwriter. He released his debut album, “Blue Collar Bones & Busted Knuckles,” in November 2016. His music is inspired by real-life experiences, producing honest and thought-provoking lyrics.

Oct. 23-Nov. 27
Averett Student Fall Art Show
Jut’s Café, in the Student Center (204 Woodland Dr., First Floor), and Blount Library (344 W. Main St.)

Oct. 24, 7 p.m.
Women Composers
West Main Baptist Church (450 W. Main St.)
Free Admission

The Averett Music Department presents a faculty recital of women composers by Dr. Janet W. Phillips, flute, and Dr. Anne Lewis, piano.

Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
AU Cougar Band POPS Concert
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Free Admission

Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Low & Lower
Blount Chapel, in Frith Hall (160 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $5

Cellist Brooks Whitehouse and Bassist Paul Sharpe are Low & Lower, America’s no. 1-selling cello bass duo. This ensemble’s performances are a mashup of artistry, virtuosity and satire. With MacGyver-like determination they create, inspire and commission works using only the limited materials at hand – a cello, a bass, two voices, a sense of humor, a touch of theater and a willingness to do almost anything.

Nov. 16-18, 7 p.m.
“Doubt”
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)

Averett’s Theatre Department will perform the stage version of “Doubt.” An Oscar-nominated film, the play is set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church School, in the Bronx, during the fall of 1964. Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn are put into direct conflict when she learns the priest met one-on-one with St. Nicholas’ first African-American student. Mysterious circumstances lead her to believe that sexual misconduct occurred. Sister openly confronts Flynn with her suspicions. He angrily denies wrongdoing. She is left with great doubt in herself and her faith. The audience is left with its own doubt.

Nov. 30, 7 p.m.
Averett Celebrates Christmas
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Free Admission

The Averett Music Department renews the tradition of “Averett Celebrates Christmas” with a collaboration of student and community performers. Join us to awaken your Christmas spirit.

Jan. 25, 7 p.m.
Opera on the James – Cinderella
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $5

This fast-paced, 75-minute family version of Cinderella, sung in English, uses the beautiful music of composer Gioachino Rossini to tell the familiar story – with a few interesting twists! Join the Tyler Artists, five young professional opera singers, for an evening of fun as they bring characters to life through song. Following Cinderella, the singers will also perform a few opera and Broadway favorites to complete the musical evening. Appropriate for all ages, but enjoyed most by adults and youth age 6 and above.

Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
Black History Month Film – “Loving”
Student Center Multipurpose Room (204 Woodland Dr., Second Floor)
Free Admission

In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Andrew Canady will discuss the historic significance after airing the film “Loving.” This is the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court’s historic 1967 decision.

Feb. 15-17, 7 p.m.
“Les Liaisons Dangereuses”
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)

**Mature content**
Averett’s Theatre Department will perform “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” From the sumptuous private drawing rooms of 18th-century Paris to the decadent estates and chateaus of the French countryside, La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont hatch a long-distance plan of vengeance and seduction.

Feb. 22, 7 p.m.
Black History Month Performance – Winston-Salem State University Singing Rams
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Free Admission

The Winston-Salem State University Choir is the oldest student organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. Under the leadership and baton of Maestra D’Walla Simmons Burke, the choir has traveled to the Bahamas, Czech Republic and South Africa, performing with major symphony orchestras including the D’Vorak Symphony Orchestra, Colour of Music Symphony Orchestra and Gateways Festival Orchestra to name a few. They have recorded nine CDs, performed at Carnegie Hall, John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Alice Tully Hall of the Lincoln Center and have been nominated for a Grammy.

Mar. 17, 7 p.m.
Dogtown Dance Theater
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets: $5

The Arts@Averett series is proud to present the Dogtown Dance Theater. The RVA Dance Collective out of Richmond, Va., sprung from the creative collaboration between artistic directors Jess Burgess (of Danville) and Danica Kalemdaroglu in 2007. RVA Dance Collective’s artistic goal is the union of all forms of art – visual artists, film, musicians, photographers and theater. As part of its performances, the troupe educates audiences through explanation, humor and insight to promote understanding of dance.

Mar. 19-Apr. 16
Averett Student Spring Art Show
Jut’s Café, in the Student Center (204 Woodland Dr., First Floor) and Blount Library (344 W. Main St.)

Apr. 5-7, 7 p.m.; Apr. 8, 2 p.m.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical”
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Tickets $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)

Averett’s Theatre Department presents “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” The play explores the relationships between the tenants at the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Florida, particularly between Pippi, “the stripper on the run,” the Dr. Phil-loving agoraphobic Jeannie, and Jeannie’s tollbooth-collector husband, Norbert. It’s a raucous, good fun, good time.

Apr. 21, 7 p.m.
AU Cougar Band Spring Concert
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Free Admission

Apr. 22, 2:30 p.m.
Averett Singers and Averett Ringers Spring Concert
Pritchett Auditorium, in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.)
Free Admission

1859 Coffeehouse Lecture Series 2017– 2018

Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Landscaping Preparation and Maintenance
Student Center Multipurpose Room
Free Admission

Jason Ferrell, North Campus facilities director, is a 2008 graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in crop and soil environmental sciences. Jason will present on preparation for beautiful backyards, including preparing the soil, tools to use, taking care of the lawn, pesticides and what is harmful to animals. Ferrell has received national recognition from Pioneer Athletics Field of Excellence. This award is given to colleges and universities whose athletic fields are maintained and kept in an outstanding condition.

Dec. 12, 7 p.m.
Dr. Betty Heard Christmas Readings for Children
Student Center Multipurpose Room
Free Admission

For the past seven years, we have presented Christmas Readings for Children. Our dear  friend and colleague, the late Dr. Betty Heard, was our first reader for the children. Because of her love for children’s literature and her love for the Christmas Readings, we named this special night at Averett in her memory.

Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Landscaping through Propagation and Free Plans
Student Center Multipurpose Room
Free Admission

Pat Morgan, a master gardener, will share some of the ways she and her husband, Don Ethington, transformed their yard from basically a blank slate into an inviting, attractive yard, using inexpensive techniques. Morgan will share propagation methods you can use in your own yard. If you have a plant you want to propagate, bring the name of the plant and you will be able to look up the specific recommendation for propagating that plant.

Apr. 10, 7 p.m.
Backyard Birding: Bringing Birds to Your Yard
Student Center Multipurpose Room
Free Admission

Laura Meder, associate professor of biology, coordinates the Danville Christmas Bird Count for Audubon every year. Meder will share ideas about how attracting birds is easy and fun and can ignite a passion you never knew you had. Learn how to bring the birds in, why this is important and also how you can become part of growing citizen-scientist programs across the country.

Tickets

Tickets for Averett Players’ productions may be purchased in advance or on the night of the show from the Pritchett Auditorium Box Office (434) 791-5867. Seating is general admission. Individual ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for students/senior citizens (60+). Season tickets for Averett Players’ productions may be purchased for $36 for adult season tickets and $28 for students/senior citizens season tickets.