Lynchburg VA center for arts, culture, and community building
Iam Tongi had America tearing up from the moment he started singing, “Monster” by James Blunt. An emotional tribute to his father who’d encouraged him to audition for Idol but passed away before he made it in front of the judges, the performance instantly became a viral sensation.
The quiet yet powerful maturity in this 18-year-old Samoan, Tongan from Hawaii’s voice, is unparalleled. An old soul, his beautiful rasp, with a light island influence permeates every note in every song he sings, invariably taking listeners on an emotional journey. Although Iam himself is rarely serious, preferring to approach Iife with a laugh and a joke, his musical taste and styling shows a depth of range far beyond his years.
In his current single, “I’ll Be Seeing You”, Iam gorgeously laments about the loss of his father. His formidable vocal ability brings a yearning to those moments when, although you’ve lost someone, you realize they are never truly gone; you see them everywhere you look. Iam said, “This song is very beautiful, and it resonates with me, it means a lot to me. It is about my father and if you think about it, this song talks about “I’ll be seeing you wherever I go” because when a loved one passes away you are going to remember them in everyday life. My dad had to go to dialysis and every time we drive past the place, he had to get it done we always point and say, ‘Oh, look, dad.’ We never say, ‘Oh look that’s where he used to get it done’ we always just say ‘dad.’”
Note that the event producer and Artist may change dates, times, and/or venues depending on the current COVID-19 environment. Ticket buyers will be updated by the Academy Center of the Arts staff, should any change to schedule or venue occurs.
Academy Member Presale begins Monday, September 4, 2023. Remaining tickets will be released to the public on Friday, September 8, 2023. All sales begin at 10 AM EST.
Academy Members Level 5+ Pre-Sale: Monday, September 4, 2023
Academy Members Level 4+ Pre-Sale: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Academy Members Level 3+ Pre-Sale: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Academy Members Level 1+ Pre-Sale: Thursday, September 7, 2023
General Public On-Sale: Friday, September 8, 2023
Standard Seat: $35.00*
Premium Seat: $45.00*
Value Seat: $30.00*
Obstructed Seat: $25.00*
Box Seat: $65.00*
Pit Seat: $55.00*
For more information or to purchase tickets to this performance, contact our Bank of the James Ticketing Office at (434) 846-8499.
All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket for this event unless otherwise stated. All ages are welcome.
Videography and audio recording during the performances are prohibited. Photography of the set on stage is allowed pre-show, post-show, and during intermission. But we do ask that you show our designers and visiting performers some love by crediting them (and by tagging us) in your social media posts.
The Academy Center of the Arts offers a diverse selection of entertainment. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every guest or for all ages. Ticket buyers should take responsibility for making informed decisions regarding their purchases. We recommend visiting the official show website of each show you are coming to see at the Academy. If you ever have questions about the content or appropriateness of a show, please contact us at [email protected].
Unless otherwise noted, our lobby doors open 60 minutes prior to show time and house doors open 30 minutes prior to show time for seating.
Parking is available on-site and throughout downtown Lynchburg. Our parking map (linked below) shows all of the free public and paid parking available. In addition, street parking is also available on most streets.
Ticketing purchases are non-refundable. By purchasing a ticket to an event at The Academy Center of the Arts, you are agreeing to our ticketing policy. View our full ticketing policy.
Want to volunteer and see this show for free? Contact Mele Thompson, [email protected], for more information.