Potomac News Online | Cultural Arts
Area residents interested in experiencing and participating in the cultural arts, can find plenty of options in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.
For information on current arts events, call the Prince William County Cultural Arts Council’s 24-hour arts “Parkline” information line at (703) 792-PARK, Ext. 311, and read the Arts and Entertainment section of the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger every Thursday.
The following list shows the variety of arts and entertainment options in the county:
CULTURAL ARTS
? The Friends of Brentsville holds its monthly meetings on Saturdays in Brentsville One Room School House, 12239 Bristow Road. The group sponsors a variety of events, including the schoolhouse’s anniversary celebration in September, an “open courthouse” in December and the annual chili cook-off in the spring. (703) 361-2318 or http://www.brentsville.org.
? Historic Manassas Inc. promotes Old Town Manassas and its revitalization. April through October, the group sponsors a Farmers Market Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the parking lot across from the Manassas Journal Messenger. The group also sponsors the annual Fall Jubilee, the Christmas parade, the Merry Old Town Weekend and the Manassas Railway Festival. The Historic Manassas Visitor’s Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (703) 361-6599 or visit http://www.visitmanassas.org.
? Historic Prince William Inc., a citizens’ group working to preserve and protect historic resources of the county, meets quarterly at the McCoart Administration Center. For details, visit http://www.historicprincewilliam.org.
? Prince William County Genealogical Society encourages and organizes genealogical research through education and publication and promotes the preservation of genealogical records and resources of Prince William County. Call (888) 927-9247 or visit http://www.pwcgs.org.
VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS
? Bull Run Cloggers promote and teach the folk art dance of clogging, a fast-paced, handclapping, country-style dance done to a variety of music from bluegrass to modern country. The group performs throughout the county and the cloggers are available for bookings. Instructional classes run from September to December. Call (571) 228-2618 or visit http://www.bullruncloggers.org.
? Bull Run Troubadours perform traditional American barbershop singing with small ensembles and large choruses. The group meets Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Old Town Manassas. Call (703) 221-3361 or visit http://www.brtva.org.
? Cabin Branch Quilters promote excellence and proficiency in the art of quilting through workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. It meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Ridge Baptist Church. It holds a quilt show the first weekend of every October at Lake Ridge Middle School. Visit http://www.cabinbranch.org.
? Castaways Repertory Theater runs year-round theater programming and produces drama, comedy, melodrama and children’s shows. The group offers a variety of presentations to expand theatrical experience and foster creativity of actors and entertain audiences. The group preforms three full-length plays a season and submits one or two one-act plays to the Northern Virginia Theater Alliance’s One-Act Play Festival each year. Call (703) 508-5418 or visit http://www.castawaystheatre.org.
? Center For The Arts presents year-round classes in the arts, drama, music and creative writing for all ages, local artists’ exhibits and recitals. It sponsors the Pied Piper Children’s Theater, and a theater day camp and the Shakespeare Adventure and Whodunit Mystery Workshops in the summer. The Center for the Arts also sponsors the SummerSounds concert series, held on the lawn of the Manassas Museum in Old Town Manassas.
The Center for the Arts moved to the old Hopkins Candy Factory in Old Town Manassas in November 2002. The new facility features an art gallery for rotating art exhibits, a theater and several multipurpose classrooms.
Call (703) 330-ARTS or visit http://www.center-for-the-arts.com.
? Degrasse Dance Studio is a dance school and company dedicated to enhancing the cultural interests of the community. The company presents several full-length ballets each year and will perform for civic institutions and educate children. Call (703) 670-0003.
? Magic Window, sponsored by the Park Authority, offers a series of Saturday morning performances October through March for children at the Cramer Center in Old Town Manassas. Call (703) 792-4234 for more information.
? Manassas Art Guild encourages dialogue among artists, students, craftsmen and others engaged in artistic activities and promotes exhibits, juried competitions and workshops. It meets once a month on Monday at 7 p.m., September through June, at Central Century 21 Capital Realty office, 8803 Sudley Road. Visit http://www.manassasartguild.org?for more information.
? Manassas Community Concerts brings artists and attractions from throughout the world to our community. Performances are held at Stonewall Jackson High School. Membership subscriptions and a limited number of tickets to individual concerts are available. Call (703) 368-0883.
? Manassas Dance Company is a professional ballet dance company with a full season of performances. The company lets dancers train and perform with the highest quality professional dancers. The group has four productions accompanied by the Prince William Symphony Orchestra each year. Call (703) 257-1811 or visit http://www.manassasdance.org.
? Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club promotes the art of photography through workshops, lectures, field trips, critiques and competitions. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Manassas City Hall. Call (703) 590-5921 or visit http://www.mwcc-photo.org.
? New Dominion Choraliers appeals to singers who love music and wish to share that love with the community. The group preforms for several community organizations and events throughout the year. Call (703) 590-2147.
? Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas hosts a number of events open to the public throughout the year. Art exhibits are displayed monthly in Colgan Hall. Call (703) 257-6600 for general information about events on the campus.
? The NOVA/Manassas Community Orchestra is a college/community organization composed of residents of the Manassas campus area and students at Northern Virginia Community College’s Manassas campus. Call (703) 257-6632.
? Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge holds cultural and arts events. It hosts one theater production and two or three art exhibits each semester. Call (703) 878-5715.
? Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra is a group of trained musicians who perform unique concerts for the Woodbridge community. The orchestra has four performances each year at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodbridge. Call (703) 451-4510 or visit http://www.obco.org.
? Prince William Art Society provides activities and instruction for all artists and fine craftsmen through exhibits, workshops and demonstrations. The society sponsors several art shows during the year. Monthly meetings are free and open to the public. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, February through June and September through November at Canterbury Woods Community Center, 12184 Chaucer Lane in Lake Ridge. Call (703) 791-5767 or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/artsociety/index.htm.
? Prince William Chorale is an “audition-only” musical group striving to provide the highest quality vocal performances in the area. It also consists of Allegro, for small-group events, and the Junior Prince William Chorale. The group meets Tuesdays at the Antioch Church of Christ in Manassas. Call (703) 369-6837 or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/pwchorale/.
? Prince William Community Band encourages musicians of all experience and ability levels. It plays a wide range of music, from Broadway show tunes, to standards, to classical. The group rehearses every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the band room at Saunders Middle School, 13557 Spriggs Road in Dale City. For rehearsal and concert information, call (703) 494-1085 or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/pwcb.
? Prince William Little Theatre provides opportunities to participate in theatrical experience (both performing and technical work), offering musical and dramatic entertainment to the community. It performs four times each year at the Jennie Dean Elementary School in Manassas and participates in the Northern Virginia One-Act Festival in July. Call (703) 330-PRWM or visit http://www.pwlt.org.
? Prince William Symphony Orchestra, a professional orchestra led by conductor Carl Long, performs five concerts each year and accompanies the Manassas Dance Company performances. It also offers small ensemble performances and sponsors master classes and workshops in local schools. Call (703) 580-8562 or visit http://www.pwso.org.
? Vpstart Crow Productions strives to make theater, especially Shakespeare, more accessible to the public. This is the only professional theatre company in the immediate area and provides educational services and performs Shakespeare and original productions seven times a year at the Cramer Center in Old Town Manassas. Call (703) 365-0240 or visit http://www.vpstartcrow.org.
? Woodbridge Community Choir offers two admission-free choral concerts the first weekend in May and two in December. It also provides vocal training for participants. Call (703) 670-8779.
? Woodbridge Flute Choir consists of more than 20 flutists who perform classical music with concerts and special events. Call (703) 461-0818 or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/woodbridgeflutechoir.
? Woodbridge Music Club is open to musicians and non-musicians alike. It sponsors three competitions and three recitals each year as well as lectures and workshops. The club also offers a music teacher referral service to the public. Performance meetings held at St. Paul United Methodist Church and are free and open to the public. This year’s performance meetings will be held in September, November, January and March. Call (703) 491-5790.
? Woodbridge Youth Chorale provides local children an opportunity to participate in various choral and musical activities that promote vocal skills, drama and choreography training, culminating in scheduled performances. Call (703)791-6798, e-mail [email protected]?or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/wyc.
? Writers Roundtable provides fellowship, editorial assistance and resources for local authors. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays at Center for the Arts in Manassas. Call (703) 494-4260 or (703) 730-1697 or visit http://www.pwcweb.com/writers.
? Youth Orchestras of Prince William offers training and performances for area student musicians in four orchestras from September to May. Students are encouraged to audition for orchestra placement. Call (703) 590-7083.