Digital Downtown: Bringing the Arts Home
Our latest round up to support and enjoy Downtown and our partners virtually features ways to enjoy the arts from home. Whether you are already a fan of the arts or want to take advantage of the opportunity to experience something new while social distancing (or realize maybe it’s time take a break from Netflix), this roundup will give you lots of options.
Virginia Opera
While live performances aren’t possible, the Virginia Opera is encouraging everyone to enjoy the free nightly Metropolitan Opera streams. They have also teamed up with WHRO to broadcast the audio from previous productions and stream previous education tours. Check in on their YouTube, Facebook, and website for more content.
Follow Virginia Opera on Facebook and Instagram
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Now is your chance to have a personal mini-concert from some of the talented musicians from the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. They are posting inspiring messages, updates and performances on the symphony’s Facebook page on a regular basis. Not only do you get performances, but you get to hear how these musicians are coping and still bringing their talent to the community.
WHRO is also teaming up with Virginia Symphony Orchestra and broadcasting archived live recordings of Virginia Symphony Orchestra concerts. These archived concert recordings will be available each Friday at 9pm for the next several weeks by tuning in to WHRO Classical Music at 90.3 FM, or by streaming online.
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has also launched the Music Learning Lab, expanding free access to educational and enrichment programming through a series of videos designed to serve all ages and levels of playing ability. Videos will feature the professional musicians of the VSO in short segments about everything from introducing young children to the instruments of a symphony orchestra to addressing more advanced level musical skill-building, including playing technique through virtual master classes. Check it out here.
Follow Virginia Symphony Orchestra on Facebook and Instagram
Virginia Arts Festival
Virginia Arts Festival is sharing performances from some of the festival’s favorite performers on their Facebook page. Think mini-master classes, new music and a releases from Festival favorites.
The Virginia Arts Festival is also teaming up with WHRO to occasionally broadcast past performances, as well as posting regularly to their Facebook and YouTube pages. Check back often!
Follow Virginia Arts Festival on Facebook and Instagram
Virginia Stage Company
Unprecedented times call for innovation, and the Virginia Stage Company has created their own Virtual Stage experience featuring workshops, interactive performances and more. They recently featured a Meet Mark Twain live event on their Facebook page, and more experiences will be posted regularly. Check out their Virtual Stage page to keep track of all of their events.
Follow Virginia Stage Company on Facebook and Instagram
Todd Rosenlieb Dance
Join TRDance for virtual or in-person classes and summer camps. TRDance offers classes in modern, ballet, Broadway jazz and Pilates mat. Click here for class schedules and to register.
Follow TRDance on Facebook and Instagram
Push Comedy Theater
In need of a laugh? Push Comedy Theater is hosting live streaming performances on their Facebook page. They are also hosting their Open Gym online via Zoom video conference, allowing you to practice sharpening your improv skills while still practicing social distancing.
Follow Push Comedy on Facebook and Instagram
Chrysler Museum of Art & Glass Studio
Get your Chrysler fix from home with Virtual Tours, video archives form Third Thursdays and Visiting Artists Series performances, and coloring sheets. Chrysler Museum is also open to the public, with strict social distancing practices. See all information here.
Follow Chrysler Museum of Art on Facebook and Instagram
Hurrah Players
The Hurrah Players are participating in their Together at Home Academy with Zoom dance and voice classes, regular updates from Hugh, and theater class assignments. Hurrah is keeping everyone’s spirits up with funny video clips and sharing links to free streaming theater performances for the family to watch together. They are also hosting a Story Book Reading every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, which they are sharing on their Facebook page.
Hurrah Players are also offering virtual and in-person Summer Camps. See information here.
Follow The Hurrah Players on Facebook and Instagram
Young Audiences of Virginia
Arts for Learning, Young Audiences of Virginia, has initiated a new program called Take Ten! to make the arts virtually accessible to youth and families through live and recorded performances and workshops. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm, a ten minute live stream of #ArtsforLearning content will stream on their Facebook page, including a variety of music, dance, and storytelling, and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they will be sharing videos on demand as well on their YouTube page. Be sure to check in each week for new content!
Follow Young Audiences of Virginia on Facebook and Instagram
Stay in the Know
Be sure to follow all of these arts organizations on their social media channels for updates on what they are sharing to keep you educated, entertained and inspired during this time, as well as information on how you can help support these valuable organizations.