One of the treasures of Virginia Tech is the Moss Arts Center. A diverse and intriguing center of all types of fine arts – from paintings to music to theater – it’s located right at the nexus of the university and downtown Blacksburg and stands as a landmark in the area.
Since it began entertaining visitors in 2013, Moss Arts Center has been bringing both regional and international artists together for some distinctive and compelling performances. From authors with acclaimed works to large-scale symphonies, there’s a lot of the unexpected being delivered as part of its ongoing season.
This is befitting the role that Patricia Buckley Moss had in the center’s construction. She is an artist and philanthropist who gave more than $10 million to make sure the center was built.
Here is a look at some of the performances on the books at Moss Arts Center for the winter months. As you’ll read, it’s a wide variety of pursuits for audiences of all ages.
Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Balancing a repertoire that includes both Hungarian composers and many classics, this orchestra has a reputation for intense performances that surprise audiences worldwide. They perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Kevin Young
Fans of poetry podcasts likely know Young well. The culture and poetry editor of The New Yorker, he’s the host of that magazine’s popular poetry podcast, and he also is the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His performances showcase his groundbreaking style, entertaining and enlightening. He performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Machine de Cirque
Not your typical cirque-style act, this group gives an artistic twist to its performances. For its current show, “La Galerie,” there are seven acrobats that blend skill with humor. Starting with just a monochrome set, they add color in explosive ways as part of this wildly entertaining show. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.
Publiquartet
Nominated for classical Grammy Awards, this group goes the extra mile to supercharge the world of chamber music. Using creative ideas with both its original and classic material, this string ensemble does its best to excite and sometimes even provoke with its performances. They play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.
“Hairspray”
A touring company for this exciting and humorous Broadway show is making its way to the Moss for a fun Valentine’s Day date opportunity. Based on the original and outrageous film by John Waters, “Hairspray” is the story of teens who turn a TV dance show in the ‘50s on its ear with wild dancing and some progressive ideas for the time. The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14.
“Akutagawa”
The title is the answer to this question: what stage show blends puppetry, videos and live music to startling effect? Composed by Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, “Akutagawa” features supernatural stories writ large, as magic comes to life through some stunning stage work. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and 18.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
One of the most vital dance troupes in history, the Ailey Theater performs a repertoire that spans 60 years. From brand-new works to the classics that sent the dance world into superlatives in the mid-to-late 20th century, the Ailey troupe has a distinctive and emotional style all of its own. The performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 28 and March 1.
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Representing the Vietnam War from a fresh perspective for American audiences, Nguyen has received acclaim for “The Sympathizer,” his debut novel and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He combines mixed media and the words he’s crafted for a one-of-a-kind performance. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16.
Enjoy your night on the town. You might consider grabbing a bite to eat at one of our fine establishments before the performance.
