The Arts in Metro Richmond

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So many Richmonders flock to New York when the Richmond Ballet performs in Manhattan that they fill the Joyce Theatre for one performance during the company's one-week engagement.

A number of followers are making plans to fly to London in June for Richmond Ballet's International debut at The Royal Opera House.

http://richmondballet.com/london2012.aspx

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Prolific novelist, David L. Robbins, has adapted his novel called SCORCHED EARTH into a play which has been optioned by Barksdale Theatre.

Robbins, who lives in Richmond, is sitting in on rehearsals.

Barksdale has four operations in Metro Richmond -- the original playhouse in a historic stage coach tavern dating to 1736 at Hanover Court House 13 miles north of the city on US301 and its 200-seat theatre at Willow Lawn. It owns, operates and produces plays in collaboration with Theatre IV at a large 600-seat proscenium theatre as well as a 100-seat black box playhouse in the Empire Theatre complex (now known as The November Theatre) in downtown Richmond.

SCORCHED EARTH will have its world premier April 10th at the Barksdale location in the Willow Lawn Shopping Center on West Broad Street.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ed--ar-1801556/

[burt]

Next time you cross the new foot bridge at the bottom of 5th Street to Brown's Island you'll see a new piece of art.

From Phil Riggan at Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...and-ar-1812417/

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While European artists are painting murals on a number of downtown Richmond buildings, VCU fashion design students are mimmicking artist Christo who, several years ago, "wrapped" New York's Central Park in fabric.

The students are adorning Trees in Maymont Park with skirts.

Video courtesy of the RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...14585-vi-36404/

[burt]

The World Cycling Championship event is tentatively set to begin September 19th, 2015 in Richmond and potentially could attract almost half a million visitors over a 9 day period.

Local arts, music, dance and theatre groups should begin now to coordinate activities so that visitors from all over the world can appreciate the talent in Virginia.

Also, major venues should start now to book big name entertainers into their facilities during September of 2015.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/business/2012/apr/14/tdbiz01-flohr-picked-to-head-richmond-2015-ar-1841415/

[burt]

The 18th Annual James River Film Festival is underway at various venues in Richmond until Wednesday, April 18th.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ond-ar-1832437/

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The VCU Institute for Contemporary Art planned for the southwest corner of Broad and Belvidere Streets will put Richmond on a lofty art level.

VMFA is alread recognized as the 10th largest contemporary art museum in the nation, and the art department at VCU is ranked number 1 in the US.

Richmond's cultural future is bright.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/list/gallery-vcu-unveils-design-new-art-institute/gallery/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Here's something interesting:

ART 180, the local nonprofit art group based here in Richmond, finally is opening a true home and base territory for itself.

The new YOUTH ART CENTER will be built throughout the summer and hopes to be completed by October.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/flair/2012/may/15/tdmet01-art-for-youths-sake-finds-home-of-its-own-ar-1914714/

Art 180 is the group that commissioned the tall portraits painted by Richmond City Public School kids that ended up coming under a firestorm when there was a mishap involving permits.

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Beginning this fall, Richmond will have a professional theatre with a $5.1 million annual budget -- approaching the budgets of The Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet and The Virginia Opera.

The company will be known as Virginia Repertory Theatre and is an amalgation of Theatre IV and Barksdale operations.

Adult plays, musicals and programs will occupy the downtown November Theatre and its adjoining Theatre Gym (the complex was formerly called The Empire.)

Children's plays will be presented in Barksdale's old Willow Lawn space, while the playhouse at Hanover Tavern will continue to offer light entertainment under the VRT banner.

From today's Richmond dot com. (click the Related box for programming.)

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2012/may/21/barksdale-theatre-iv-become-virginia-repertory-the-ar-1921846/

[burt]

In preparation for its International debut, the Richmond Ballet is presenting 4 performancs of the programs that will be offered later in june at The Royal Opera House in London.

The performances will be June 6, 7, 8 and 9 at the Ballet's Studio Theatre, 407 East Canal Street.

http://richmondballet.com/london2012.aspx

[burt]

Little Carrie may be a tad young for this exhibit at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts but her Dad, RVA, should find it heart-warming.

The exhibit which opened this week is called MAHARAJA: The Splendors of India's Great Kings

http://www2.richmond...aja-ar-1931375/

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The city-approved Downtown Richmond Arts District will extend along the Broad/Marshall/Grace corridor from Belvidere Street on the west to Capital Square.

Here is an opinion piece fom today's RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/n...velopment/61253

Warning: This is a pdf file with a diagram and a list of attractions in the area:

http://www2.timesdis.../arts-district/

[burt]

The VCU Institute for Contemporary Art planned for the southwest corner of Broad and Belvidere Streets will put Richmond on a lofty art level.

VMFA is alread recognized as the 10th largest contemporary art museum in the nation, and the art department at VCU is ranked number 1 in the US.

Richmond's cultural future is bright.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...titute/gallery/

The Times Dispatch link (above) is Holl's design for VCU.

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So that there is no confusion, the RVANews story about the city's new Arts District posting directly above this one includes a link to the VCR Institute for Commercial Art. That link is an example of Steven Holl's architectural designs but is NOT his design for Richmond.

[burt]

The Richmond Ballet will appear at The Linbury Studio Theatre at The Royal Opera House this month -- between The Queen's Jubilee and The Olympics.

Prior to the company's departure, the London program will be performed at The Richmond Ballet's Studio Theatre , 5th and Canal Streets, June 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th..

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...but-ar-1953428/

[burt]

The Richmond Ballet is well received in London.

A full house, including Virginia's Governor as well as many Richmonders, attended the opening performance at The Linbury Theatre in The Royal Opera House.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...don-ar-1997019/

[burt]

Cultsha Xpo, which features local representatives of dance, theatre, music and other arts drew over 5,000 last year to The Science Museum of Virginia in the 2500 block of West Broad Street. This Saturday, June 23rd, the Xpo expects to attract considerably more.

From today's RTD (click Cultsha Xpo Performances on Related page:)

http://www2.timesdis...t-c-ar-2002446/

[burt]

It's the beginning of a new month and that means FIRST FRIDAY.

Why not browse the art galleries and dine in one of the excellent restaurants (new ones east of The Gallery District are PASTURE and 525 AT THE BERRY BURK.)

If you're a fan of in-your-face theatrical reality (not for the squeamish or kids) check out Virginia Rep's highly praised musical SPRING AWAKENING at The November Theatre.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/top-features/2012/jul/03/8/first-fridays-artwalk-july-6-ar-2032074/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

I'm not sure whether to post this in VCU Developments, Richmond Developments, or this one.... honestly, all fit the bill!

Anyways, basically there is more hype over the new VCU INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS (ICA).

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/commentary/2012/jul/08/tdcomm01-vcus-institute-for-contemporary-art-proje-ar-2039280/

It is in today's RTD Commentary section.

http://ica.vcu.edu/

[burt]

I'm not sure whether to post this in VCU Developments, Richmond Developments, or this one.... honestly, all fit the bill!

Anyways, basically there is more hype over the new VCU INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS (ICA).

http://www2.timesdis...oje-ar-2039280/

It is in today's RTD Commentary section.

http://ica.vcu.edu/

TBurban or 540-804 could clarify the exact location of this:

I have seen somewhere (but am unable to retrieve it) a footprint for the ICA that shows a proposed parking area. It is a strip of land running north/south from the ICA to Grace Street between the old renovated apartment building on Pine Street and the gas station on Belvidere.

I assume it would be a parking lot rather than a parking deck.

Rao's story about the gallery is an excellent and encouraging piece. I wonder how much money has been raised and when construction will get underway?

[burt]

I inadvertently misplaced a Richmond dot com piece about the upcoming VMFA exhibit of glass art.

Check out the thread titled "A Few Richmond Stories" if you'd like to see it.

[burt]

VMFA hasn[t officially announced it, but a blockbuster exhibit of costumes designed for Hollywood movies will open in 2013.

The collection originated at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London and includes actual clothes and costumes worn by celebrity performers in major films.

From Melissa Scott Sinclair in the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1747556

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Maggie Small, a ballerina who trained with The Richmond Ballet and is one of its stars has acheived International status. She appeared with the company in its recent London debut and is on the cover of the September issue of DANCE Magazine.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ght-ar-2161669/

[burt]

More on Maggie Small's cover girl break-through.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...s-i-ar-2190038/

[burt]

Steven Holl, whose architectural firm designed VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art, will speak on campus at The Singleton Center Saturday,September 15th.

Prior to Holl's appearance, the same exhibit I saw at New York's Meulensteen Art Gallery last April will open for public viewing at The Virginia Center for Architecture on Thursday, September 13th. The exhibit features 30 models and concept drawings depicting the evolution of VCU's ICA.

The Center for Architecture is the large Tudor mansion at 2501 Monument Avenue (at the intersection of Monument and Davis Avenues in The Fan.)

The new ICA at southwest corner of Belvidere and Broad Streets is scheduled to open in late 2014.

From Nathan Cushing in today's RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/e...this-week/66954

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

It wil open 2014? That's good, considering that the original opening date was 2015