Among the selections to be performed by the widely-praised Cantare Choir will be an Algonquin prayer written by Kenneth Swift Eagle Custalow of the Mattaponi Native American Tribe and A Prayer of Desmond Tutu by British Composer and Conductor James Whitbourn.

The city of Richmond will host a Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11, at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon in Byrd Park.

“The City of Richmond is proud to honor the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces, and we will never forget their courage and commitment to protecting our freedom and fighting for the rights of the oppressed,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

The City’s department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is organizing the event which will include an invocation from Reverend Angelyn Poe, a concert on the Carillon bells by City carillonneur Larry Robinson, vocal selections by the Cantare Choir of the Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, and the presentation of a memorial wreath in honor of the Nation’s veterans.

For more information, call (804) 646-1031.

Highlighting the annual festival will be the city’s Fourth of July Celebration at the Dell. This year, beginning at 4 p.m., it will feature local hip hop group Kids in Da Biz, jazz by Sharon North, a concert on the Carillon bells, and a selection of rousing patriotic music by the Richmond Concert Band concluding with a fireworks extravaganza.

Other highlights of the annual summer festival include a Gospel Music Fest on Sunday, July 10, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival on Saturday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a special tribute to local musician Page Wilson on Sunday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that will feature Terry Garland and Lil’ Ronnie, Wilson’s band Reckless Abandon, and the Janet Martin Band performing rock, blues and Americana music.

In addition to a wide variety of musical entertainment, the festival also brings dance, movies, and theater to the Dell, as well as an entire lineup of morning and afternoon entertainment especially for young audiences on the Ha’Penny Stage, which is adjacent to the Dell.

Families are encouraged to bring picnics and blankets to performances, however no alcohol or pets are allowed. The outdoor amphitheatre is located in Byrd Park at 1300 Blanton Avenue, which is just north of the Boulevard Bridge.

The Festival of the Arts is produced by the Cultural Arts Division of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. The complete schedule of programs can be downloaded from the city’s website.

– The information above was provided by Christy Everson with the City of Richmond.

Call it “Romeo and Juliet” meet “Bonnie and Clyde” or — well, no matter. Nothing from fiction could quite do justice to this based-on-true-life story of teenage killers Charlie Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. “Love Kills” is the latest work of Kyle Jarrow, the New York City-based playwright and rock musician who also wrote “A Very Merry Un-authorized Children’s Scientology Pageant” (produced at the Firehouse two seasons ago). Not only is the subject matter shocking, but Jarrow chose to make it a musical — a “new emo rock musical,” to be precise.

Click here to read the rest of the review. Click here to visit the Firehouse Theatre’s wed site for more information, tickets, etc.

June 24-Aug. 1; each Thur.-Sun.

The Firehouse Theatre Project proudly presents its 2010 summer production – Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.”

Directed by Jase Smith, the show runs from June 24-Aug. 1, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and with “pay-what-you-will” matinees at 4 p.m. on Sundays. The Sunday, July 4, matinee will benefit the Fan Free Clinic and be followed with a special talk-back event including the director and cast.

“Rent” is a rock opera with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La bohème.” It tells a story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

On Broadway, “Rent” gained critical acclaim and won a Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards. The musical is largely responsible for helping to increase the popularity of musical theater amongst the younger generation.

The Broadway production closed in September 2008 after a 12-year run and 5,124 performances, making it the eighth-longest-running Broadway show by that time, nine years behind “The Phantom of the Opera” as of December 2009. The production grossed over $280 million.

Click here to read about the cast and crew.

Tickets to this special summer production are sure to sell quickly. They are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors 65 and older, and $12 for students and RAPT members with ID. To make reservations, call the Firehouse box office at 804-355-2001 or click here.

2010-11 Season Subscribers: Take advantage of a special offer to purchase tickets to “Rent” for just $20. Call 804-355-2001 to order yours or to purchase a 2010-11 season subscription.

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Founded in 1993, The Firehouse Theatre Project produces contemporary theater of the United States in an authentic urban space – the 101-year-old former Station House #10 of the Richmond Fire Department at 1609 W. Broad St.

FTP’s presentation of recent Off-Broadway shows and original works, through main stage productions, readings, and the annual Festival of New American Plays, has brought to Richmond audiences a New York City black box theater experience – but at far lower ticket prices and with greater emphasis on the actor.

Click here for more information about the Firehouse Theatre.

– The information above was provided by Bill Farrar with the Firehouse.

Dogwood Dell is a 2,400 seat amphitheatre owned and operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities and located in Byrd Park.

Since 1956, it has been home to the Festival of Arts; a summer long celebration of the arts featuring art exhibits, concerts, dance and theatre. In addition to these events, the Festival of Arts also incorporates a children’s series with performances at our Ha’ Penny stage.

For more information, call (804) 646-1437 or call the Dell hotline at (804) 646-DELL.

Festival of Arts

With its eclectic mix of old and new, the Festival of Arts has become one of Richmond’s cultural treasures. Through our programming, the Festival of Arts strives to bring the Richmond community some of the most innovative and avant-garde performers, while also respecting the value and importance of traditional and classical works.

Throughout June, July, and August, a variety of shows can be enjoyed at the “Dell” including classical music and dance; drama, comedy, and musical theatre; reggae, pop, swing, rhythm and blues, rock, jazz and contemporary music concerts. The Festival of Arts is flavored for every taste. Come early for a seat in the amphitheatre or bring a blanket to sit in the surrounding park.

Although the dance concerts and programs presented at Dogwood Dell are normally purchased packaged shows for which we provide technical assistance, our three theatre productions are produced fully in-house. While many of our theatre productions are Richmond premieres, we also stage contemporary favorites. These productions continually prove to be some of Richmond’s favorites and have even won awards.

Click here to visit the page with more information about Dogwood Dell, including the entire schedule for the Festival of Arts.

Click here to go to the Firehouse’s web site.

The Firehouse’s 2010 Fireball annual fundraising gala will be held from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, March 27.

Featuring:
- Complimentary beer, wine & soft drinks,
- Musical entertainment from MC/DJ Manny Green,
- Fabulous food from Catering by Jill,
- Silent auction & raffles throughout the evening,
- Raffle and martini tickets available for $5 each, payable by cash, check, and credit card,

Tickets are just $65 per person and may be purchased from the Firehouse box office by calling 804-355-2001 or online by clicking this link.

Attire is theatrical black tie. Free parking is available across Broad Street courtesy of our fine neighbor Lowe’s.

The power songs Stephen Schwartz wrote for this deconstruction of “The Wizard of Oz” (based on Gregory Maguire’s dark and often murky novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”) have already conquered the hearts of millions of listeners. Layer on top of that the stunning design—an intricate clockwork set by Eugene Lee, wildly inventive costumes by Susan Hilferty and spectacular lighting by Kenneth Posner—and you have an eye-popping environment for this ambitious show.

Click here to read the entire review.

Click here for tickets.

From the Richmond Forum’s web site:

As campaign manager for Barack Obama, David Plouffe is credited with building the most innovative presidential campaign in U.S. history, boldly using Internet-based technologies to set new records for fundraising and grassroots mobilization. Now he brings to the Forum his perspective on the future of the American democratic process in a world of tweeting senators, blogging constituents, social networks for every special interest and policy position, and untold new ways for administrations to communicate directly with citizens, bypassing the media. Plouffe will explore how these new technologies could reshape the political process in America.

Single tickets range from $36 to $70. Click here to buy tickets at the Richmond Forum web site, if they are still available.

Click here for more information from the Richmond Forum.

Click here to visit the Richmond Forum’s Facebook page.