FROM THE PRESIDENT
We are thrilled to raise the curtain on a new season of the arts at William & Mary. The university with the longest history of innovation in this country, William & Mary pioneered the study of art in the United States. Today, the cradle of coaches & comedians has offerings for everyone. Students dance, act, sing, play, and make art in so many materials and modes. Guests from around the world take in performances and shows. During William & Mary’s signature Year of the Environment, inventive exhibits celebrate our planet’s most valuable resources.
Please join us to see how the arts are blossoming at William & Mary. We look forward to hosting you at our beautiful new Arts Quarter. On with the show!
Katherine A. Rowe President
As we begin the new year, we are proud to offer exceptional performances that both educate and inspire. Last year, we welcomed nearly 50,000 people to more than 275 events across Phi Beta Kappa Hall and the Music Arts Center alone, while the Muscarelle Museum presented extraordinary exhibitions, lectures, special events, and classes. William & Mary PRESENTS! brought audiences multi-GRAMMY Award–winning musicians, films, groundbreaking dance from the Mark Morris Dance Group, and acclaimed theatre with Actors from the London Stage. This season, we invite you to experience even more legendary artists and extraordinary collaborations. Highlights include 19time GRAMMY winner Béla Fleck with his BEAT Trio, the boundary-defying Kronos Quartet in their milestone
50th season, and the electrifying Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. We are also proud to deepen our partnerships with the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society, the Ampersand Arts Festival, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Arts Festival, bringing world-class artistry to campus and to our community.
Alongside these special events, our vibrant arts departments offer a full season of exhibitions, lectures, concerts, recitals, and productions in Theatre & Performance, Dance, Music, Art & Art History, Film & Media Studies, and Creative Writing. Together, these experiences celebrate creativity, connection, and discovery, inviting all to share in the joy of the Arts at William & Mary.
Eric Despard Executive & Artistic Director of the Arts
It is a joy to welcome you to another exciting season of the arts at William & Mary. Each year, our campus comes alive with performances, exhibitions and other forms of artistic expression that remind us of the power of creativity to inspire and connect us.
This year’s program highlights the extraordinary talents of our students, faculty and guest artists across disciplines. From music and theatre to visual art and literature, the arts at William & Mary continue to enrich our
community and spark conversation.
I hope you will join us often, whether in a concert hall, a gallery, or a theatre, to celebrate the creativity that thrives here.
Thank you for being part of this vibrant community. Your enthusiasm ensures that the arts thrive at William & Mary.
Warmly,
Suzanne Raitt Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
WILLIAM & MARY PRESENTS!
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?
PERFORMANCE
Friday, January 30 & Saturday, January 31, 2026, 7:30 PM Glenn Close Theatre, Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall
The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? are proud to present their new improv tour: WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? This is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent right before your eyes. Audience participation is key to the show so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage! WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? showcases some of the improv games made famous on the long-running TV show as well as some exciting new ones, featuring William & Mary alum Charles Esten and music direction by Laura Hall. All ages are welcomed, but please note that some “PG-13” language will be used during the performance.
Artist lineup for Whose Live Anyway? is subject to change without notice, including but not limited to Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray.
KRONOS STRING QUARTET
CONCERT
Sunday, February 8, 2026, 7:30 PM
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
MASTERCLASS
Monday, February 9, 2026, Time Available Online
Location Available Online
For over 50 years, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet— David Harrington (violin), Gabriela Díaz (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), and Paul Wiancko (cello)— has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be. Founded at a time when the form was largely centered on long-established, Western European traditions, Kronos has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the string quartet into a living art form that responds to the people and issues of our time.
IRINA KULIKOVA
CONCERT
Friday, February 13, 2026, 7:30 PM
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
Acclaimed for the rare beauty of her sound and her enchanting presence on stage, Irina Kulikova is one of the most captivating guitarists in the world. Her performances span across the globe, from prominent European festivals to significant stages in North America and Asia, including iconic venues like the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, Valencia’s Palau de la Musica, Tokyo’s Musashino Hall, and the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai.
Presented in partnership with Tidewater Classical Guitar Society
NICOLE ZURAITIS
CONCERT
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 7:30 PM Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
Nicole Zuraitis is a 2X GRAMMY winning and 6X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singersongwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole is a trailblazing artist who is redefining vocal jazz and jazz songwriting, or as she has coined “modern songbook”, earning her a place as one of the top artists and “prolific songwriters” (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE ENSEMBLE
MASTERCLASS
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Time Available Online
Glenn Close Theatre, Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall
PERFORMANCE
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 7:30 PM
Glenn Close Theatre, Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble is internationally esteemed as one of America’s foremost modern dance companies. Under the direction of Cleo Parker Robinson, the Ensemble performs a dynamic body of works inspired by the African American experience and rooted in ethnic and modern dance traditions worldwide. Legendary and emerging artists alike are drawn by the spirit of the company to create works that transcend the boundaries of culture, class and age while unequivocally communicating the complexity of the human condition. Seen by an estimated 2,000,000 fans throughout the United States and more than 40 countries on five continents, CPRDE continues to be a leader in dance innovation and the promotion of American dance heritage.
ALISA WEILERSTEIN(Project
Creator and Cello)
FRAGMENTS 5
CONCERT
Sunday, April 12, 2026, 5:00 PM Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
Alisa Weilerstein’s FRAGMENTS 5 marks the next chapter of her groundbreaking, multi-year solo cello project, which interweaves movements from J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites with 27 newly commissioned works by leading contemporary composers. Each installment is crafted as an immersive, theatrically staged experience, performed without interruption.
FRAGMENTS 5 features new works by composers including Gabriela Lena Frank, Gabriella Smith, Gerard McBurney, Mathilde Wantenaar, and Osvaldo Golijov, thoughtfully paired with J. S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 5. The result is a singular, multisensory journey that invites listeners to experience the cello repertoire in a completely new way.
Presented in the intimate Concert Hall at William & Mary as part of the Virginia Arts Festival’s 2026 season and co-presented with William & Mary’s Office of the Arts, this special 60-minute performance offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience Weilerstein’s visionary project just before she performs it at Carnegie Hall.
Presented in partnership with the Virginia Arts Festival
DAVID RUSSELL
CONCERT
Friday, April 17, 2026, 7:30 PM
Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
MASTERCLASS
Saturday, April 18, 2026, Time Available Online Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
GRAMMY Award winner for his CD AIRE LATINO in the category of best instrumental soloist in classical music, classical guitarist David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997.
Presented in partnership with Tidewater Classical Guitar Society
AN EVENING CELEBRATING STEPHEN SCHWARTZ:
CONVERSATION AND MUSIC FROM HIS WORKS
CONCERT
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 7:30 PM
Glenn Close Theatre, Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall
William & Mary is honored to welcome Tony, Oscar, and GRAMMY Award–winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for an evening that celebrates his extraordinary contributions to musical theatre and film. With credits including Godspell, Pippin, Wicked, and lyrical work for Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted, Schwartz’s music has inspired audiences worldwide. The program features performances by Tiffany Haas, former Glinda in Broadway’s Wicked and current William & Mary voice faculty member, along with others performing selections from his celebrated catalog. The evening concludes with an exclusive Q&A with Stephen Schwartz.
WORD
THE LAST WORD
COMEDY FESTIVAL
Sponsored by the City of Williamsburg
The Last Word Comedy Festival returns to Williamsburg, Virginia January 29-February 1, 2026! The festival hosts a packed weekend of shows, workshops, and receptions featuring improv and stand up comedy acts from around the country. Additional details are available at lastwordfestival.com.
AMPERSAND
FESTIVAL
Sponsored by the City of Williamsburg
The Ampersand Festival is a week-long celebration of the arts featuring special guests, films, author talks, and live music, theatre, dance performances in Williamsburg, Virginia, March 16–22, 2026. Additional details are available at ampersandfestival.com.
ARTS QUARTER MUSIC SERIES
WASHINGTON SAXOPHONE QUARTET
CONCERT
Friday, February 6, 2026, 7:30 PM Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
VIOLINIST KIRSTIN LEE AND PIANIST JOHN NOVACEK
CONCERT
Friday, February 27, 2026, 7:30 PM Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
DC CAFÉ AMAN
CONCERT
Saturday, March 28, 2026, 7:30 PM Concert Hall, Music Arts Center
THE MUSCARELLE MUSEUM OF ART
VISIT
With a constantly rotating display of art from both the permanent collection and special exhibitions, there is always something new to see in our 14 galleries.
DINE and SHOP
The expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art offers three times the space of the original museum, with more art, more special exhibitions, and more amenities for visitors to enjoy!
HOURS
Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM Sunday 12 – 5 PM muscarelle.org
Enjoy a light lunch or stop in for a glass of wine and a cheese plate in the Muscarelle Café after exploring the galleries — then shop the Museum Store for unique, art-inspired gifts.
LEARN and MAKE
Attend exhibitions, workshops, lectures and other events to broaden your understanding of the visual arts.
SUPPORT
Become a member or volunteer your time to expand the impact of the museum.
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
LIQUID COMMONWEALTH: THE ART AND LIFE OF WATER IN VIRGINIA
November 14, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Explore the essential importance, richness and beauty of water in this juried exhibition curated by W&M Art History students.
ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTS: THE WOMEN
January 23, 2026 — April 26, 2026
Drawn from the renowned Christian Levett Collection and the FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins Museum), France, Abstract Expressionists: The Women will spotlight nearly fifty paintings created by thirty-two important women artists between 1936 and 1977. It underscores the critical contributions these artists made to the growth of Abstract Expressionism worldwide by studying the stylistic crosscurrents between women working not only in New York but also in California and Paris during the movement’s inception, peak years, and beyond.
ACADEMIC ARTS COMMUNITY
WILLIAM & MARY ACADEMIC ARTS
AT W&M
HISTORY
The Department of Art & Art History at William & Mary explores art and architecture through creative studio practice and historical inquiry. Students learn to use a variety of approaches and perspectives to create art and do research. They develop visual literacy, critical thinking, aesthetic judgement, and a range of practical skills. These skills enable students to pursue diverse experiences, educational paths, and careers.
CREATIVE WRITING
Like every creative endeavor, good creative writing is partly art and partly skill. The art comes from within - a talent and ear for composing words, and a passion for the subject matter at hand. Skill results from a learned understanding of the chosen genre and a great deal of practice. Students are immersed in contemporary and traditional creative writing methods, both American and others from around the world. By learning and mastering the art of creative writing, students become better writers overall - a communications skill that is fundamental to future success in virtually any professional field.
THEATRE & PERFORMANCE
Theatre & Performance at William & Mary is a liberal arts experience that emphasizes a vital breadth of knowledge and creative process. Theatre Majors become knowledgeable about all facets of theatrical practice, including direction, design, technical production, and performance. Through a variety of courses in the history, theory, and practice of theatre, students also study applied theatre, performance activism, devising, and intercultural theatre. Dance students take courses in various techniques, dance composition, history, and performance. With opportunities to participate in both student and faculty choreographic research through Orchesis Modern Dance Company and Dance Minor concerts, students may choose to Minor in Dance, create an Interdisciplinary Studies Major, or study dance on an elective basis. Theatre & Performance students develop into dedicated artists and technicians, and they experience the excitement of working closely with faculty and fellow students in classes and productions.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
THE MINUTES
February 26, 2026 – March 1, 2026
Written by Tracy Letts
Newly appointed Big Cherry city council member Mr. Peel starts to question the town’s leadership after discovering that the minutes from a previous meeting have mysteriously disappeared. What begins as a mundane bureaucratic session devolves into a darkly comic, sometimes unsettling exploration of civic pride, historical revisionism, and small-town politics. How far will people go to avoid becoming history’s losers?
AN EVENING OF DANCE FEATURING ORCHESIS
MODERN DANCE COMPANY
March 26–29, 2026
An Evening of Dance is an annual concert in which students explore and develop original choreography performed by their peers in the Orchesis Modern Dance Company,
MACHINAL
April 23–26, 2026
A powerful expressionist play that explores societal control and the objectification of women in the 1920s, based on the true story of Ruth Snyder, a woman executed for murdering her husband.
MUSIC
Faculty in the Music department at William & Mary are committed to teaching the discipline of music through its interrelated subdisciplines (music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, music technology, performance, and composition) in the context of the liberal arts curriculum. Music faculty strive to create a learning environment that encourages the intellectual and personal development of student and teacher alike by integrating the transmission of knowledge with original research, composition, and performance. Course offerings represent a commitment to the study of diverse musical styles and the musics of many cultures while recognizing the importance of continuing to teach the traditions that have historically informed the practice of music in the United States and Europe.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
WILLIAM & MARY CHOIR DOMESTIC TOUR
Friday, March 27, 2026
BARKSDALE TREBLE CHORUS SPRING CONCERT
Friday, April 10, 2026
EBONY EXPRESSIONS GOSPEL EXPLOSION CONCERT
Sunday, April 19, 2026
SPRING COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT
Saturday, April 25, 2026
BOTETOURT CHAMBER SINGERS SPRING CONCERT
Sunday, April 12, 2026
FILM & MEDIA STUDIES
The interdisciplinary program is dedicated to exploring the significance of film and media in representing and shaping cultures, societies, histories, and collective and personal identities. Core courses challenge students to think critically, creatively, and globally about how media works as an aesthetic and cultural practice. Production classes bring students “inside” video production. Many graduates work in a wide range of media industries, from screenwriting to journalism, from film production to marketing. Others pursue careers in professions like education, law, and business.
SPRING 2026 SEASON CALENDAR
JANUARY 2026
30
FRIDAY
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? 7:30 PM Glenn Close Theatre
31 SATURDAY WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? 7:30 PM Glenn Close Theatre
FEBRUARY 2026
06
FRIDAY
08
SUNDAY
13
WASHINGTON SAXOPHONE QUARTET 7:30 PM Concert Hall
KRONOS STRING QUARTET 7:30 PM Concert Hall
FRIDAY IRINA KULIKOVA 7:30 PM Concert Hall
19
THURSDAY
PERSONAL BELONGINGS (SECOND SEASON) FEB 19 – 22 Studio Theatre
MARCH 2026
03
TUESDAY
04
WEDNESDAY
26
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE MASTERCLASS TIME AVAILABLE ONLINE
Glenn Close Theatre
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE 7:30 PM Glenn Close Theatre
THURSDAY AN EVENING OF DANCE FEATURING ORCHESIS MODERN DANCE COMPANY MARCH 26 – 29
Glenn Close Theatre
21
SATURDAY
26
THURSDAY
27
FRIDAY
NICOLE ZURAITIS 7:30PM Concert Hall
THE MINUTES FEB 26 – MAR 1
Glenn Close Theatre
VIOLINIST KRISTIN LEE AND PIANSIT JOHN NOVACEK 7:30PM Concert Hall
27
FRIDAY
WILLIAM & MARY CHOIR DOMESTIC TOUR “HOME CONCERT” 7:30 PM Concert Hall
28 SATURDAY DC CAFÉ AMAN 7:30 PM Concert Hall
APRIL 2026
10
FRIDAY
12
SUNDAY
12
SUNDAY
16
THURSDAY
BARKSDALE TREBLE CHORUS SPRING CONCERT 7:30 PM Concert Hall
BOTETOURT CHAMBER SINGERS SPRING CONCERT 2:00 PM Wren Building Great Hall
ALISA WEILERSTEIN: FRAGMENTS 5 5:00 PM Concert Hall
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (SENIOR DIRECTORIAL) APR 16 – 19 Studio Theatre
17
FRIDAY
DAVID RUSSELL 7:30 PM Concert Hall
18
SATURDAY
19
SUNDAY
23
THURSDAY
25
SATURDAY
30
THURSDAY
DAVID RUSSELL MASTERCLASS TIME AVAILABLE ONLINE Concert Hall
EBONY EXPRESSIONS GOSPEL EXPLOSION CONCERT 7:30 PM Concert Hall
MACHINAL APR 23 – 26 Glenn Close Theatre
SPRING COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT 7:30 PM Concert Hall
AN EVENING CELEBRATING STEPHEN SCHWARTZ: CONVERSATION AND MUSIC FROM HIS WORKS 7:30 PM Glenn Close Theatre
artsatwm
Arts at William & Mary
wm.universitytickets.com (757) 221-2674
PARKING INFORMATION
FREE WEEKEND PARKING
Beginning Friday at 5:00pm
Use Faculty/Staff and Visitor spaces
PASSPORT PARKING
Monday-Thursday after 5:00pm, $2.50/hour
Use Faculty/Staff and Visitor spaces in PBK Circle lot (Zone 1479), Boswell lot (Zone 1484), or Ukrop parking garage
4 EVENT BUNDLE
Enjoy a discounted price if you buy tickets to any 4 of our W&M Presents! Season with this bundle!
BUNDLE PRICES
$120 Individual
$100 Military/Senior Citizen
$35 Child
$85 W&M Faculty & Staff
The Charles Center Arts Masterclass Series is made possible by the Elliot E. and Helen Y. Cohen Forum Endowment
Kronos String Quarter
Cleo Parker
David Russell
SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AT WILLIAM & MARY PROVIDED BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
