Blog - Academy Center of the Arts

Mike Super Wages Psychic Abilities Against the Price of Audiences’ Tickets

December 13, 2019 Brittany Griffith

Mike Super Wages Psychic Abilities Against the Price of Audiences’ Tickets (Lynchburg, VA) On Friday, December 13, 2019, representatives from the Academy Center of the Arts, BWX Technologies, inc., Bank of the James, and Campbell Insurance broadcasted live from the Academy’s social media pages to reveal exciting information regarding “America’s Favorite Mystifier” Mike Super, and his performance at the Historic Academy Theatre, 524 Main St., this January. Before a live online audience, it was revealed that Mike Super had made an official prediction of the News and Advance for January 24, 2020, the date of Mike Super’s performance in Lynchburg, Virginia. The prediction was recorded by Mike Super, sealed into an envelope, and shipped to Lynchburg via FedEx to the Academy Center of the Arts. The Academy broadcasted live at 10:30am on December 13, 2019, as two officers from the BWX Technologies’ Police Department transported the envelope by foot to the Bank of the James’ downtown Lynchburg branch, where it was then locked inside a large safety deposit box and sealed it into the safe deposit box room, secured under lock and key and behind a high-security level gate. Prior to locking the envelope away, the BWX […]

Nebraska Theatre Caravan Cancels National Tour of ‘A Christmas Carol’ After Crash

December 12, 2019 Brittany Griffith

NEBRASKA THEATRE CARAVAN CANCELS NATIONAL TOUR OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL AFTER CRASH Nebraska Theatre Caravan, the professional touring wing of the Omaha Community Playhouse, has just announced the cancellation of the national tour of A Christmas Carol. This includes the December 19, 2019 performance at the Academy Center of the Arts’ Historic Academy Theatre in Lynchburg, VA. The tour bus for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan production of A Christmas Carol was in an accident near Waterville, ME on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 11:30pm, when the charter bus, owned and operated by Arrow Stage Lines drifted off the right side of the road and subsequently overturned on its passenger side and came to rest down an embankment. While no major injuries were sustained, the accident has resulted in the cancellation of the remaining dates of the national tour. “While we are sad to see the tour cut short, we consider our theatre a family, and the safety and physical health and wellbeing of those involved is most important,” said Kate Whitecotton, Company Manager. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out in support of our touring members of A Christmas Carol. We have immense respect and deep appreciation for […]

Virginia Artists Featured in VMFA Artmobile Exhibition in Lynchburg

November 20, 2019 Morgan Yeatts

This past weekend, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Artmobile took up temporary residency in our Historic Theatre courtyard. The mobile art museum was free to the public and over 200 visitors viewed the exhibition over the course of the weekend. “It was great partnering with the Academy Center of the Arts to share works by prominent Virginia artists with the people of Lynchburg,” said Sean Kane, VMFA Artmobile staff. “The Artmobile’s debut exhibit, How Far Can Creativity Take You: VMFA Fellowship Artists, focuses on works made by 12 fellows who have achieved acclaim in the art world and are represented in the museum’s permanent collection.” Lynchburg local Lauren Barnes and her daughter visited the artmobile during its stay. “We are huge art lovers and were thrilled to have the VMFA artmobile visit Lynchburg! The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming or knowledgable. Thank you to the Academy for bringing this incredible and free gift to Lynchburg.” Academy Board of Trustees Member Elizabeth Stroud was thrilled for the opportunity to expose her kids to local art. “The VMFA artmobile was a great opportunity to introduce my kids to some truly brilliant Virginia artists,” she said. “My 5 year […]

Audition Notice for ‘Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’

November 15, 2019 Brittany Griffith

AUDITION NOTICE The Academy Center of the Arts’ Community Through Theatre Committee is excited to announce open auditions for their upcoming production of: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Based on the novel by Mark Haddon and Adapted by Simon Stephens Directed by: Corey Wilson Based on the novel by Mark Haddon, fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptional at mathematics but ill equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Now it is seven minutes after midnight, and Christopher stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world. AUDITION INFORMATION Roles are available for actors ages 17+. The Academy and CTT are fully committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities and all ethnicities and backgrounds are encouraged to audition. Please note that this production requires most […]

Brian Setzer Forced to Cancel Performance in Lynchburg, VA Due to Injury

November 11, 2019 Brittany Griffith

Contact: Brittany Griffith Director of Communications and Marketing (434) 528-3256 x131 bgriffith@academycenter.org For Immediate Release: 11/11/2019 BRIAN SETZER FORCED TO CANCEL PERFORMANCE IN LYNCHBURG, VA DUE TO INJURY Under doctor’s orders, iconic guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and three-time Grammy-Award winner Brian Setzer has been forced to cancel his 16th annual “Christmas Rocks! Tour” by The Brian Setzer Orchestra due to a severe case of tinnitus. This includes his November 23, 2019 performance at the Academy Center of the Arts’ Historic Academy Theatre in Lynchburg, VA. The over 20-city annual and critically acclaimed holiday extravaganza by SETZER and 19-piece ORCHESTRA was his best-selling Christmas tour to date and set to start this week, running from November 15 in Minneapolis through December 21 in Los Angeles. Setzer says he deeply regrets this inconvenience to his fans and thanks them in advance for their love and support. “It’s heartbreaking to disappoint my fans who have shared my Christmas seasons with me for over fifteen years,” says SETZER. “I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused all of the amazing people who make my tour happen and to my unbelievably loyal and devoted fans. I hate to let you down and I hope you’ll understand.” Box […]

Academy to Host Mobile Art Exhibition

October 21, 2019 Morgan Yeatts

This November, the Academy is partnering with Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to host the VMFA Artmobile in the courtyard of the Historic Academy Theatre during a weekend of events on our campus. This incredible mobile museum features art from acclaimed artists who all have a connection to Virginia in some way. Artists include Ann Chenoweth, Esther Worden Day, Emmet Gowin, and Benjamin Wigfall, among others. The very first Artmobile opened in 1953 and in just three weeks attracted over 5,000 visitors. Through the years, the traveling exhibit was well received by Virginians in all corners of the state, but unfortunately the program ended in 1994 due to budgetary constraints and concerns about protecting the art on the road. In 2015, the museum was able to resurrect the Artmobile in an 18 wheeler that features a 640 feet temperature controlled display space that comfortably holds the art and visitors. The VMFA on the Road program was created with the mission of reaching as many people in Virginia as possible with stops all over the state. The Academy is the VMFA Artmobile’s second to last stop on their 2019 tour. They will be staying November 15-17. Join […]

Looking Forward to Ain’t Misbehavin’

Morgan Yeatts

This coming November, Community Through Theatre will be presenting the 1978 Tony Award winning musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’. This jazzy show won 4 Tony Awards in its prime, including Best Musical, and is a musical celebration of legendary musician, Fats Waller. Joshua Carter will be directing our production, which will be performed in the Warehouse Theater. “I think that this show is a perfect balance of sugar and spice,” he says. “It is a celebration of simpler times and a reminder of what good music sounds like.” This will be the most intimate show yet, with a small cast of 11 actors. Carter’s vision for the staging of the production is to immerse the audience in the Harlem club scene. The audience will be arranged to surround three-fourths of the stage, seated right in the thick of the performance. “I want to bring the Harlem Renaissance to life,” says Carter, “not only to revue the timeless music of the era, but also the stories, lives, and people of that time.” We invite you to join us for this incredible production. Showtimes are at 7:30pm November 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, and 2:00pm November 2, 3, and 10. […]

Painting Without Brushes

October 14, 2019 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts Currently on display in the back room of the Ann White Academy Gallery is a collection that is perhaps one of the most unique features yet. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Lavely Miller-Kershman is an artist who pushes the norms of painting technique in an extraordinary way; she paints with her fingers. “I began painting with my fingers when I ran out of brushes in college and didn’t have enough money to replace them,” she says. “Luckily for me, I found painting with a finger to be easier than using a brush. Basically anything is possible; a finger really isn’t that much different from a brush when it really comes down to it.” Lavely has been painting since childhood and can’t remember a time when she wasn’t a painter. Her father’s side of the family is strewn with artists, so it was natural for her to follow the fold. “I guess I have a genetic inclination towards artistic expression and also I grew up in a household where that sort of thing was valued and appreciated.” Lavely believes that the quality of a piece is not found in the materials used, but in […]

Host and Creator of This American Life Speaks in Lynchburg

September 30, 2019 Morgan Yeatts

Ira Glass is visiting the Academy Center of the Arts for a special, one-night appearance that you won’t want to miss! The host and creator of the public radio program This American Life will be sharing personal stories of Americans, what inspires him to create, and lessons he’s learned through his successes and failures. This unique and thought-provoking stage show, Seven Things I’ve Learned, is presented through audio clips, music, and video as Ira mixes stories live onstage. Glass began his career in radio as a 19 year old intern at National Public Radio’s network headquarters. He began This American Life in 1995, growing the show to now have 2.2 million weekly listeners and air on over 500 public radio stations. This American Life takes journalism to a different level by gathering stories every week and weaving them into a show that is both funny and complex. With over 600 episodes, the show also has two spin-off podcast shows, Serial and S-Town. In 2007, Showtime produced a TV version of This American Life, which won three Emmys. This event will take place Saturday, October 12th at 7:30pm in the Historic Academy Theatre. Click here to purchase […]

2019 National Juried Photography Exhibition Winners

September 9, 2019 Morgan Yeatts

The Annual National Juried Photography Exhibition at the Academy Center of the Arts opened on Friday, September 6, 2019, and the winners have been chosen! Over $3000 in cash awards was presented to the ten photographers listed below. Best in Show: $1000 awarded to James O. Phelps for “Emancipation Park” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts 2nd Place Award: $600 awarded to Joel Coleman for “Natsukashii” Sponsored by Cary and Robert Roberts 3rd Place Award: $400 awarded to Melanie Franz for “What Have We Become” Sponsored by Jamerson-Lewis Construction Juror’s Choice Award: $300 awarded to Jessica Jackman for “Isle of Wight Culture” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $250 awarded to Michelle Sons for “A Brief Dreamy Kind of Delight” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $200 awarded to Chris Walker for “Jordan and Andrew, Sauk Centre, Minnesota” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $200 awarded to Alan Raasch for “Progress” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award: $150 awarded to Sandra Chen […]