Past Field Trips

Friday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m.
Recommended for high school students
Run time: approx. 60 min.

Puno, Sewing Memories

Indonesia’s innovative Papermoon Puppet Theatre presents a spellbinding, non-verbal puppetry work. Founded in 2006 by illustrator, writer, and theater performer Maria (Ria) Tri Sulistyani and visual artist Iwan Effendi, Papermoon has traveled the world with its mixed media productions that are personal, yet universally resonant. A bittersweet and hopeful piece, Puno tells the story of Tala, a young girl who is coping with her father’s passing, exploring how we can hold and appreciate what has been left to us. Join us to “…delight in the innocence, the beauty and the expert puppetry” (The Sydney Morning Herald).

Venue:
Harris Theatre

Please note:
Since this event takes place in the intimate Harris Theatre, seating is more limited than other field trip performances taking place in the Center for the Arts. Per the artist's request, this October 3 experience is targeted to grades 9-12 specifically, so requests will be fielded on a first-come, first served basis from high school students and their chaperones only. Please contact Jess Singley (jsingle8@gmu.edu) for the registration form.  Additionally, there will be two ticketed October 4 performances which are open to ages 7+, as part of the Great Performances at Mason series.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m.
Recommended grades 4-6
Run time: Approx. 70 min.

The Mason Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Professor Soo Han, presents this fun and exciting program, including excerpts from Star Wars (Main Theme) (Williams, arr. Sayre), "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo (Copland), Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns), Overture from Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), "Les Toreadors" from Carmen Suite No. 1 (Bizet), Finale from Symphony No. 2 (Sibelius), and Overture from Orpheus in the Underworld (Offenbach, arr. Bergonzi). 

Venue:
Center for the Arts

Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
Recommended for middle to high school students
Run time: Approx. 60 min. plus 30 min. Q&A

This program of faculty and student work showcases the talented dancers of the George Mason School of Dance in a wide range of stories, ideas, and styles. 

Venue:
Center for the Arts

Friday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.
Recommended grades Pre-K-3
Run time: Approx. 60 min.

Music by John Kavanaugh 
Book and Lyrics by Jeremy Desmon 
Based on the books by Margret and H.A. Rey and the play owned by Universal Stage Productions 
Produced by Wishing Star Productions, LLC 

Monkey around with the mischievous, lovable star of books, movies, and the award-winning PBS television show in this fun-filled musical adventure, Curious George: The Golden Meatball! All-You-Can-Eat Meatball Day comes just once a year and George has been waiting excitedly for the big event. When it arrives, George and his friend Chef Pisghetti are ready to cook for a hungry crowd, but their audience is nowhere to be found, lured away by a speedier Meatballs-o-Matic machine. Determined to help his despairing friend, George goes on a mission to enter Chef in the Golden Meatball Contest in Rome, learning along the way about the secret ingredient to cooking!

Venue:
Center for the Arts

Friday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m.
This performance is appropriate for all ages
Run time: Approx. 60 min. plus 30 min. Q&A

The National Dance Company of the Republic of Guinea
A Performance for the World

Les Ballets Africains brings Africa’s rich tradition of music and dance to the Center for the Arts. Founded in 1952 to serve as cultural ambassador for the Republic of Guinea, the company has toured the world—including a run on Broadway—and become known for “dazzling, high-speed footwork” (LA Times) as well as “sheer physical energy and beauty” (New York Times). Now for the first time in its history, the ensemble presents a program featuring works by its first-ever female artistic director, Mañana Cisse. Through extraordinary demonstrations of Guinean instruments, acrobatics, and colorful costumes, Les Ballets Africains thrills audiences, combining “high-gloss finish” and “spontaneous excitement” (Independent).

Venue: 
Center for the Arts

Rooted Rhythms
Friday, February 14, 2025 at 11 a.m.

Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style Street Dance Company immerses its audience in the electrifying world of Hip Hop and street dance culture. To mark its 20th anniversary, the troupe presents Rooted Rhythms, a mixed repertory program of its most popular works, paying homage to street dance styles such as whacking, popping, and house dance, as well as a blend of Afro-Latin styles including salsa and West African. This “stylistic smorgasbord” (New Yorker), representing the diverse experiences of the BIPOC communities of Los Angeles, provides an “uplifting and joyous” (Maryland Theatre Guide) performance. 

Recommended for grades 6-12
Run time: approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the City of Fairfax Non-Profit Grant Program.

Monday, April 7, 2025 at 11 a.m.    

Called absolutely incredible” by Rolling Stone magazine and featured as a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent, Lightwire Theater uniquely combines technology and theater to bring stories to life in complete darkness through its signature brand of electroluminescent artistry, “an eye-popping display of storytelling that’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen” (Broadwayworld.com). In this production, Marvin the Mouse wants to be popular, but is constantly bullied by the “cool” rats. He retreats into his science books and a world of fantasy as respite, longing to have adventures and be the hero. Join Marvin on the space adventure of a lifetime: a trip to the surface of the moon on his homemade rocket where he meets a strange cast of misfit creatures and views awesome beauty in this cosmic adventure about celebrating differences.

Recommended for ages 10 and under
Run time: approximately 60 minutes, no intermission
Note: the auditorium will be fully dark due to the nature of this performance.

PLEASE NOTE:
We are currently at capacity for attendees for this performance. You can join the waitlist to be notified if seats open up, and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is included on the form.

Tickets are also available for purchase for the Sunday, April 6 Family Series performances at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Friday, October 4, 2024 at 11 a.m.

Recognized as one of America’s cultural treasures, Ballet Hispánico celebrates the multifaceted Hispanic diasporas through vibrant dance in this Hispanic Heritage Month performance. “Everything about Ballet Hispánico is smashingly theatrical—from the stunning individuality and flamboyant, expressive style of its dancers to its use of sets, lighting, costumes and sound” (Chicago Sun-Times).

Monday, November 25, 2024 at 11 a.m. 

Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery Honor-winning book My Father’s Dragon, Enchantment Theatre Company brings this story to life by blending original music, puppets, and creative scenic effects. “Everything about this world-class production is inventive and endearing; it fully captures the spirit of the beloved stories, the essence of childhood, and the imagination of the audience, both young and old” (Phindie).